Receivables

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2020

Receivables as of August 31, 2020 and 2019, are as follows:


	2020		2019
	(Dollars in thousands)
Trade accounts receivable	$	1,476,585	$	1,803,284
CHS Capital short-term notes receivable	563,934		592,909

Other	491,068		511,821
Gross receivables	2,531,587		2,908,014
Less allowances and reserves	165,540		176,805
Total receivables	$	2,366,047	$	2,731,209

Trade Accounts Receivable

Trade accounts receivable are initially recorded at a selling price that approximates fair value upon the sale of goods or services to customers. Subsequently, trade accounts receivable are carried at net realizable value, which includes an allowance for estimated uncollectible amounts. We calculate this allowance based on our history of write-offs, level of past due accounts and our relationships with and the economic status of our customers. Receivables from related parties are disclosed in Note 18, Related Party Transactions. No third-party customer accounted for more than 10% of the total receivables balance as of August 31, 2020 or 2019.

CHS Capital Notes Receivable

Notes Receivable

CHS Capital, LLC ("CHS Capital"), our wholly-owned subsidiary, has short-term notes receivable from commercial and producer borrowers. The short-term notes receivable have maturity terms of 12 months or less and are reported at their outstanding unpaid principal balances, adjusted for the allowance of loan losses, as CHS Capital has the intent and ability to hold the applicable loans for the foreseeable future or until maturity or pay-off. The carrying value of CHS Capital short-term notes receivable approximates fair value given the notes' short-term duration and use of market pricing adjusted for risk.

Notes receivable from commercial borrowers are collateralized by various combinations of mortgages, personal property, accounts and notes receivable, inventories and assignments of certain regional cooperative's capital stock. These loans are primarily originated in the states of North Dakota and Minnesota. CHS Capital also has loans receivable from producer borrowers that are collateralized by various combinations of growing crops, livestock, inventories, accounts receivable, personal property and supplemental mortgages and are originated in the same states as the commercial notes.

In addition to the short-term balances included in the table above, CHS Capital had long-term notes receivable, with durations of generally not more than 10 years, totaling $101.5 million and $180.0 million at August 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The long-term notes receivable are included in other assets on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of August 31,

2020 and 2019, commercial notes represented 33% and 41%, respectively, and producer notes represented 67% and 59%, respectively, of total CHS Capital notes receivable.

CHS Capital has commitments to extend credit to customers if there are no violations of any contractually established conditions. As of August 31, 2020, CHS Capital customers had additional available credit of $714.5 million.

Allowance for Loan Losses and Impairments

CHS Capital maintains an allowance for loan losses that is an estimate of potential incurred losses inherent in the loans receivable portfolio. In accordance with FASB ASC 450-20, Accounting for Loss Contingencies, and ASC 310-10, Accounting by Creditors for Impairment of a Loan, the allowance for loan losses consists of general and specific components. The general component is based on historical loss experience and qualitative factors addressing operational risks and industry trends. The specific component relates to loans receivable that are classified as impaired. Additions to the allowance for loan losses are reflected within marketing, general and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The portion of loans receivable deemed uncollectible is charged off against the allowance. Recoveries of previously charged off amounts increase the allowance for loan losses. No significant amounts of CHS Capital notes were past due as of August 31, 2020 or 2019, and specific and general loan loss reserves related to CHS Capital notes were not material as of either date.

Interest Income

Interest income is recognized on the accrual basis using a method that computes simple interest on a daily basis. Accrual of interest on commercial loans receivable is discontinued at the time the receivable is 90 days past due unless the credit is well-collateralized and in process of collection. Past due status is based on contractual terms of the loan. Producer loans receivable are placed in nonaccrual status based on estimates and analysis due to the annual debt service terms inherent to CHS Capital's producer loans. In all cases, loans are placed in nonaccrual status or charged off at an earlier date if collection of principal or interest is considered doubtful.

Troubled Debt Restructurings

Restructuring of a loan constitutes a troubled debt restructuring, or restructured loan, if the creditor for economic reasons related to the debtor's financial difficulties grants a concession to the debtor that it would otherwise not consider. Concessions vary by program and borrower. Concessions may include interest rate reductions, term extensions, payment deferrals or the acceptance of additional collateral in lieu of payments. In limited circumstances, principal may be forgiven. When a restructured loan constitutes a troubled debt restructuring, CHS includes these loans within its impaired loans. CHS Capital had no significant troubled debt restructurings and no third-party borrowers that accounted for more than 10% of the total CHS Capital notes receivable or total receivables as of August 31, 2020 or 2019.

Loan Participations

For the years ended August 31, 2020 and 2019, CHS Capital sold $70.6 million and $92.3 million of notes receivable, respectively, to various counterparties under a master participation agreement. The sale resulted in the removal of notes receivable from the Consolidated Balance Sheet. CHS Capital has no retained interests in the transferred notes receivable, other than collection and administrative services. Proceeds from sales of notes receivable have been included in investing activities in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Fees received related to the servicing of notes receivable are recorded in other income in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. We consider the fees received adequate compensation for services rendered and, accordingly, have recorded no servicing asset or liability.

Other Receivables

Other receivables are comprised of certain other amounts recorded in the normal course of business, including receivables related to vendor rebates, value-added taxes, certain financing receivables and pre-crop financing, primarily to Brazilian farmers, to finance a portion of supplier production costs. We receive volume-based rebates from certain vendors during the year. These vendor rebates are accounted for in accordance with ASC 705, Cost of Sales and Services, based on the terms of the volume rebate program. For rebates that meet the definition of a binding arrangement and are both probable and estimable, we estimate the amount of the rebate we will receive and accrue it as a reduction of the cost of inventory and cost of goods sold over the period in which the rebate is earned. For pre-crop financing arrangements, we do not bear costs or operational risks associated with the related growing crops, although our ability to be paid depends on the crops actually being produced. The financing is collateralized by future crops, land and physical assets of the suppliers, carries a local market

interest rate and settles when the farmer's crop is harvested and sold. No significant troubled debt restructurings occurred and no third-party customer or borrower accounted for more than 10% of the total receivables balance as of August 31, 2020 or 2019.