Segment Information

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Segment Information

Segment Information

The Company’s operations include five reportable business segments that are distinguished primarily on the basis of products and services offered. The Grain business includes grain merchandising, the operation of terminal grain elevator facilities and the investments in LTG and Thompsons Limited. The Ethanol business purchases and sells ethanol and also manages the ethanol production facilities organized as limited liability companies, one is consolidated and three are investments accounted for under the equity method. The Company performs services under various contracts for these investments. Rail operations include the leasing, marketing and fleet management of railcars and other assets, railcar repair and metal fabrication. The Plant Nutrient business manufactures and distributes agricultural inputs, primarily fertilizer, to dealers and farmers, along with turf care and corncob-based products. The Retail business operates large retail stores, a distribution center, and a lawn and garden equipment sales and service facility. In January 2017, the Company announced that the Retail business will be closed in the first half of 2017. Included in “Other” are the corporate level costs not attributed to an operating segment.

The segment information below includes the allocation of expenses shared by one or more operating segments. Although management believes such allocations are reasonable, the operating information does not necessarily reflect how such data might appear if the segments were operated as separate businesses. Inter-segment sales are made at prices comparable to normal, unaffiliated customer sales. The Company does not have any customers who represent 10 percent or more of total revenues.

	Three months ended March 31,
(in thousands)	2017		2016
Revenues from external customers
Grain	$	478,528	$	538,814
Ethanol	154,153		114,693
Plant Nutrient	146,587		166,991
Rail	40,390		39,609
Retail	32,358		27,772
Total	$	852,016	$	887,879

	Three months ended March 31,
(in thousands)	2017		2016
Inter-segment sales
Grain	$	66	$	1,451
Plant Nutrient	171		247
Rail	292		379
Total	$	529	$	2,077

	Three months ended March 31,
(in thousands)	2017			2016
Income (loss) before income taxes
Grain	$	(5,073	)	$	(17,405	)
Ethanol	1,716			(2,680		)
Plant Nutrient	6,672			1,704
Rail	6,078			9,375
Retail	(6,846		)	(2,076		)
Other	(8,171		)	(10,900		)
Noncontrolling interests	54			(926		)
Total	$	(5,570	)	$	(22,908	)

(in thousands)	March 31, 2017		December 31, 2016		March 31, 2016
Identifiable assets
Grain	$	884,870	$	961,114	$	948,802
Ethanol	170,020		171,115		177,987
Plant Nutrient	512,744		484,455		591,639
Rail	415,801		398,446		380,347
Retail	21,594		31,257		46,653
Other	156,724		186,462		174,210
Total	$	2,161,753	$	2,232,849	$	2,319,638