Reconciliation of Income Taxes at Federal Statutory Rate to Preceding Provisions (Benefit) (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
May 31, 2012	May 31, 2011	May 31, 2010
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Taxes at statutory rate	$ 2,965	$ (37,382)	$ (21,697)
Additional statutory depletion	(2,793)	(2,512)	(3,128)
State income taxes	597	(1,226)	(862)
Nontaxable insurance benefits	(1,219)	(1,275)	(1,012)
Qualified domestic production activities			2,085
Stock-based compensation	823	909	863
Other-net	623	(408)	613
Income taxes (benefit)	$ 996	$ (41,894)	$ (23,138)

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The sum of the current income tax expense or benefit and the deferred income tax expense or benefit pertaining to continuing operations.

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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The portion of the difference between total income tax expense or benefit as reported in the Income Statement for the period and the expected income tax expense or benefit computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income from continuing operations attributable to the deduction for qualified production activities received under enacted tax laws.

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The amount of income tax expense or benefit for the period computed by applying the domestic federal statutory tax rates to pretax income from continuing operations.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 109

-Paragraph 47

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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The portion of the difference between total income tax expense or benefit as reported in the Income Statement for the period and the expected income tax expense or benefit computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income from continuing operations attributable to the different methods of depletion allowed under generally accepted accounting principles and enacted tax laws.

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The portion of the difference between total income tax expense or benefit as reported in the Income Statement for the period and the expected income tax expense or benefit computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income from continuing operations attributable to nondeductible life insurance premiums under enacted tax laws.

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The portion of the difference between total income tax expense or benefit as reported in the Income Statement for the period and the expected income tax expense or benefit computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income from continuing operations attributable to differences in the deductibility of incentive stock options and other equity-based compensation costs in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and enacted tax laws.

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The sum of other amounts reflected in the reconciliation of the statutory tax provision (benefit) to the actual tax provision (benefit).

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The portion of the difference, between total income tax expense or benefit as reported in the Income Statement for the period and the expected income tax expense or benefit computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income from continuing operations, that is attributable to state and local income tax expense or benefit.

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