Golden Growers Cooperative (GGROU) 10-K 31 Mar 14 2013 FY Annual report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 28, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Document and Entity Information	'	'	'
Entity Registrant Name	'Golden Growers Cooperative	'	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0001489874	'	'
Document Type	'10-K	'	'
Document Period End Date	31-Dec-13	'	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-31	'	'
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	'No	'	'
Entity Voluntary Filers	'No	'	'
Entity Current Reporting Status	'Yes	'	'
Entity Filer Category	'Non-accelerated Filer	'	'
Entity Public Float	'	'	$0
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	15,490,480	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2013	'	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'FY	'	'

BALANCE_SHEETS

BALANCE SHEETS (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
CURRENT ASSETS	'	'
Cash and Cash Equivalents	$3,154	$2,698
Short-Term Investments	218	218
Prepaid Expenses	10	1
Total Current Assets	3,382	2,917
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net	6	8
Investment in ProGold Limited Liability Company	35,032	40,070
Total Assets	38,420	42,995
CURRENT LIABILITIES	'	'
Accounts Payable	'	67
Accrued Liabilities	4	5
Total Current Liabilities	4	72
NON-CURRENT LIABILITY	'	179
Members' Equity	'	'
Membership Units, Authorized 60,000,000 Units, Issued and Outstanding 15,490,480 as of December 31, 2013 and 2012	38,416	42,923
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	'	-179
Total Members' Equity	38,416	42,744
Total Liabilities and Members' Equity	$38,420	$42,995

BALANCE_SHEETS_Parenthetical

BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
BALANCE SHEETS	'	'
Membership Units, Authorized	60,000,000	60,000,000
Membership Units, Issued	15,490,480	15,490,480
Membership Units, Outstanding	15,490,480	15,490,480

STATEMENTS_OF_OPERATIONS

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS	'	'	'
Corn Revenue	$82,925	$92,838	$79,376
Corn Expense	-83,016	-92,935	-79,478
Net Income from ProGold Limited Liability Company	5,746	6,596	6,157
General & Administrative Expenses	-869	-861	-733
Net Income from Operations	4,786	5,638	5,322
Interest Income	11	11	16
Net Income	$4,797	$5,649	$5,338
Weighted Average Units Outstanding	15,490,480	15,490,480	15,490,480
Earnings per Membership Unit	'	'	'
Primary and Fully Diluted (in dollars per share)	$0.31	$0.36	$0.34

STATEMENTS_OF_COMPREHENSIVE_IN

STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	'	'	'
Net Income Attributed to the Cooperative	$4,797	$5,649	$5,338
Other Comprehensive Income	'	'	'
Defined benefit pension plans Pension liability adjustment	179	-31	-4
Comprehensive Income	$4,976	$5,618	$5,334

STATEMENTS_OF_CHANGES_IN_MEMBE

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN MEMBERS' EQUITY (USD $)	Total	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	Members' Equity
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
BALANCE at Dec. 31, 2010	$51,187	($144)	$51,331
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity	'	'	'
Net income	5,338	'	5,338
Member distributions	-9,945	'	-9,945
Pension liability adjustment	-4	-4	'
BALANCE at Dec. 31, 2011	46,576	-148	46,724
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity	'	'	'
Net income	5,649	'	5,649
Member distributions	-9,450	'	-9,450
Pension liability adjustment	-31	-31	'
BALANCE at Dec. 31, 2012	42,744	-179	42,923
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity	'	'	'
Net income	4,797	'	4,797
Member distributions	-9,304	'	-9,304
Pension liability adjustment	179	179	'
BALANCE at Dec. 31, 2013	$38,416	'	$38,416

STATEMENTS_OF_CASH_FLOWS

STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES	'	'	'
Net Income	$4,797	$5,649	$5,338
Net (Income) from ProGold Limited Liability Company	-5,746	-6,596	-6,157
Depreciation	2	2	4
Changes in Assets and Liabilities	'	'	'
Prepaids	-9	'	'
Accounts payable	-67	43	-30
Accrued liabilities	-1	2	-202
Net cash used in operating activities	-1,024	-900	-1,047
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES	'	'	'
Purchase of investments available for sale	'	-1	-2
Purchase of equipment	'	-6	'
Distribution received from ProGold LLC	10,784	10,852	10,902
Net cash provided by investing activities	10,784	10,845	10,900
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES	'	'	'
Member distributions paid	-9,304	-9,450	-9,945
Net cash used by financing activities	-9,304	-9,450	-9,945
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	456	495	-92
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF YEAR	2,698	2,203	2,295
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF YEAR	$3,154	$2,698	$2,203

NATURE_OF_OPERATIONS

NATURE OF OPERATIONS	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
NATURE OF OPERATIONS	'
NATURE OF OPERATIONS	'
	NOTE 1 — NATURE OF OPERATIONS
	Organization - Golden Growers Cooperative was initially organized as a North Dakota member-owned cooperative incorporated on January 19, 1994 (“GG-ND”).  GG-ND and two other partners, one of whom was American Crystal Sugar Company (“ACSC”) entered into a joint venture that formed ProGold Limited Liability Company, a Minnesota limited liability company (“ProGold”) which designed and constructed a corn wet-milling facility in Wahpeton, North Dakota (the “Facility”).  Under the joint venture, GG-ND (and indirectly its members) had the right and obligation to deliver corn to be processed at the Facility.  After it was constructed and operated briefly by its members, the Facility was leased to Cargill Incorporated (“Cargill”) who continues to operate the Facility under a lease that runs through December 31, 2017.  Golden Growers Cooperative and ACSC are the current members of ProGold, with Golden Growers Cooperative holding a 49% interest and ACSC holding the remaining 51% interest.
	On July 29, 2009 GG-ND formed a wholly owned cooperative subsidiary in the state of Minnesota (GG-MN), organized under Minnesota Statutes chapter 308A, solely for the purpose of reincorporating into the state of Minnesota.  On September 1, 2009, GG-ND merged into GG-MN and reincorporated into the state of Minnesota.  Immediately after the merger, GG-MN statutorily converted into a cooperative association governed under Minnesota Statutes 308B.  As a result of its reincorporation and reorganization Golden Growers — North Dakota, a North Dakota cooperative association historically taxed as a tax-exempt cooperative under Subchapter T of the Internal Revenue Code, became Golden Growers Cooperative, a Minnesota cooperative association governed by Minnesota Statutes chapter 308B as a cooperative for state law purposes but taxed as a partnership under Subchapter K of the Internal Review Code for tax purposes.  Golden Growers Cooperative succeeded to the business of Golden Growers — North Dakota and except for changes to the structure and operations as a result of the reincorporation and statutory conversion, continues to operate the business of Golden Growers — North Dakota.
	As part of the Conversion, GG-ND’s members exchanged their shares of Class A Common Voting Membership Stock and Class B Non-Voting Equity Stock for identical and equal shares of such stock in GG-MN.  Each member’s single share of Class A Common Voting Membership Stock was redeemed for $150 and each member received membership units in GG-MN equal to the number of shares of Class B Non-Voting Equity Stock each member held in GG-ND prior to the Merger.
	Prior to September 1, 2009, ownership of membership stock, which signified membership in the Cooperative, was restricted to producers of agricultural products.  The ownership of equity stock was restricted to members of the Cooperative.  Preferred stock could be held by persons who were not members of the Cooperative.  At August 31, 2009 and 2008, the Cooperative had 10,000 shares of non-voting, $1,000 par-value preferred stock authorized, of which none were issued or outstanding.  Equity requirements, as determined by the board of directors, could be retained from amounts due to patrons and credited to members’ equity in the form of unit retains or allocated patronage.
	The Cooperative reserved the right to acquire any of its stock offered for sale and the right to recall the stock of any member.  In the event this right was exercised, the consideration paid for such stock was 25% of its book value.
	Beginning September 1, 2009, ownership of membership units is available to any person or entity residing in the Unites States of America.  Net proceeds or losses will be allocated to members on the basis of their patronage of the Cooperative.
	In connection with the Conversion, the Cooperative changed its fiscal year end to December 31.

SUMMARY_OF_SIGNIFICANT_ACCOUNT

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	'
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	'
	NOTE 2 — SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
	Investments — The Cooperative’s investment securities are held to maturity and recorded at amortized cost.  The Cooperative’s investment in ProGold is recorded at historical cost plus its pro-rata share of ProGold’s net income and additional paid-in capital less distributions received from ProGold.  Unrealized gains or losses are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income within members’ equity.  Gains and losses are determined using the specific identification method.
	Cash and Cash Equivalents — The Cooperative considers all demand accounts to be cash equivalents and overnight sweep accounts.  Cash equivalents do not include money market accounts maintained by the Cooperative’s investment managers.  Cash equivalents do not include any investment with a stated maturity date, regardless of the term to maturity.
	Income Taxes — Beginning September 1, 2009, Golden Growers Cooperative is taxed as a limited liability company under Subchapter K of the Internal Revenue Code.  As such, the Cooperative will generally not be subject to income taxes.  Instead, net income will be reported by its members who will be responsible for any income taxes which may be due.  Prior to September 1, 2009, Golden Growers Cooperative was an exempt cooperative for federal income tax purposes.  As such, the cooperative was generally not subject to income taxes.  Instead, net proceeds were allocated to the Cooperative’s patrons who were responsible for any income taxes which may have been due.
	Property and Equipment — Property and equipment are stated at cost.  Depreciation on assets placed in service is provided using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives ranging from 5 to 10 years.
	Accounting Estimates — The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.
	Revenue Recognition —The Cooperative’s members are contractually obligated to annually deliver corn to the Cooperative by either Method A or Method B or a combination of both.  Under Method A, a member is required to physically deliver corn to the cooperative and under Method B a member appoints the cooperative as its agent to arrange for the acquisition and delivery of corn on the member’s behalf.  For an annual fee of $92,000 paid quarterly, the Cooperative contractually appoints Cargill as its agent to arrange for the delivery of the corn by its members who elect to deliver corn using Method A and to acquire corn on its behalf for its members who elect to deliver corn using Method B.  The price per bushel paid to the member who elects to deliver corn using Method B is equal to the price per bushel paid by Cargill to acquire the corn as the Cooperative’s agent.  Members who deliver corn under Method A are paid the market price or contracted price for their corn at the time of delivery.  The Cooperative pays members who deliver corn under Method A an incentive payment of $.05 per bushel while members who elect Method B to deliver corn pay the Cooperative a $.02 per bushel agency fee for the cost of having the Cooperative deliver corn on their behalf.  The board has the discretion to change the incentive fee and the agency fee based on the Cooperative’s corn delivery needs.  The incentive fee and agency fee are a component of Corn Expense.
	With respect to all Method A corn that is delivered, Cargill pays the aggregate purchase price for corn purchased from the Cooperative’s members to the Cooperative and then, on the Cooperative’s behalf, makes individual payments for corn directly to its members.  If a Method A member fails to fully satisfy the corn delivery requirement, Cargill purchases replacement corn for which the Cooperative reimburses Cargill the amount by which the underlying contracted corn price is less than the price of buying the replacement corn that was due on the delivery date.  The Method A member who fails to deliver corn is then invoiced by the Cooperative for the price of the corn.
	Based on what is to be delivered by its members using Method A, Cargill then purchases the remainder of the corn to be delivered by the Cooperative on behalf of its Method B delivering members.  Because Cargill purchases the corn on the Cooperative’s behalf of Method B delivering members, the purchase price for the corn that would be paid to the Cooperative’s members if they actually delivered the corn offsets against the payment to be made by the Cooperative to Cargill for the cost to purchase the corn, thus no payment is made from Cargill to the Cooperative for corn delivered using Method B.  The Cooperative has determined Corn Expense for Method B deliveries based on the average quarterly cost per bushel paid by Cargill to the Cooperative’s members for Method A quarterly deliveries.
	Concentrations - Several times during the year, the Cooperative maintained a cash balance in excess of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) limits.  At December 31, 2013, the Cooperative’s cash balance exceeded the FDIC insurance limits by approximately $2.8million.
	Fair Value Measurements - The Cooperative has determined the fair value of certain assets and liabilities in accordance with the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 820-10, which provides a framework for measuring fair value under generally accepted accounting principles.
	ASC 820-10 defines fair value as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date.  ASC 820-10 requires that valuation techniques maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.  ASC 820-10 also establishes a fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the valuation inputs into three broad levels.
	Level 1 inputs consist of quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the reporting entity has the ability to access at the measurement date.  Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the related asset or liability.  Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs related to the asset or liability.

PROGOLD_LIMITED_LIABILITY_COMP

PROGOLD LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
PROGOLD LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY	'
PROGOLD LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY	'
	NOTE 3 — PROGOLD LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
	The Cooperative has a 49% ownership interest in ProGold Limited Liability Company.  Following is summary financial information for ProGold Limited Liability Company:
		December 31,
	(In Thousands)	2013		2012		2011
	Current Assets	$	151	$	111	$	126
	Long-Term Assets	72,947		83,669		92,743
	Total Assets	$	73,098	$	83,780	$	92,869
	Current Liabilities	$	405	$	405	$	406
	Long-Term Liabilities	1,200		1,600		2,000
	Total Liabilities	$	1,605	$	2,005	$	2,406
	Members’ Equity	71,493		81,775		90,463
	Total Liabilities and Members’ Equity	$	73,098	$	83,780	$	92,869
	Rent Revenue on Operating Lease	23,674		$	25,223	$	24,063
	Expenses	11,948		11,762		11,498
	Net Income	$	11,726	$	13,461	$	12,565

INVESTMENTS

INVESTMENTS	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
INVESTMENTS	'
INVESTMENTS	'
	NOTE 4 — INVESTMENTS
	The Cooperative has determined fair value of its investments held to maturity based on Level 1 inputs.
	The Cooperative’s investments held to maturity are as follows as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 (in thousands):
		Amortized		Gross	Gross	Fair Value
		Cost		Unrealized	Unrealized
				Gains	Losses
	December 31, 2013:
	Money Market & CD’s	$	218	—	—	$	218
	December 31, 2012:
	Money Market & CD’s	$	218	—	—	$	218

INCOME_TAXES

INCOME TAXES	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
INCOME TAXES	'
INCOME TAXES	'
	NOTE 5 — INCOME TAXES
	The Cooperative follows the provisions of ASC 740-10 related to accounting for uncertainty in income taxes.
	The Cooperative had no unrecognized tax benefits on December 31, 2013 and 2012.  No interest or penalties are recognized in the statements of operations or in the balance sheets.  The Cooperative is no longer subject to U.S. Federal and State income tax examinations by tax authorities for fiscal years 2009 and earlier.
	The Cooperative recognized no income tax expense for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011.

EMPLOYEE_BENEFIT_PLANS

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS	'
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS	'
	NOTE 6 — EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
	Pension Plan — In December 2012, the Cooperative approved a change to freeze the Cooperative’s defined benefit pension plan. As a result, no additional benefits will accrue to participants in the plan and no new employees are eligible for the plan.  During the year ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, the pension expenses were $141,000, $75,500, and $42,000respectively.
	As of December 31, 2013, the pension plans were funded as required by the funding standards set forth by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).
	The Cooperative’s Compensation Committee has the responsibility of managing the operations and administration of the Cooperative’s retirement plans.  The Cooperative has an investment policy that establishes target asset allocations to reduce the risk of large losses.  Asset classes are diversified to reduce risk, and equity exposure is limited to 75% of the total portfolio value.  The stated goal is for each component of the plan to earn a rate of return greater than its corresponding benchmark.  The return objective of the plan is to achieve a minimum average total rate of return of four percentage points (4.0%) above the rate of inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index.  The real rate of return goal assumes a real rate of return for equities of 10.0% and a real rate of return for fixed income of 4.0%.
	The assumptions used in the measurement of the Cooperative’s benefit obligations are shown below:
		2013		2012
	Discount Rate	6	%	6	%
	Expected Return on Plan Assets	8	%	8	%
	Rate of Compensation Increase	4.73	%	4.73	%
	The following schedule reflects the expected pension benefit payments during each of the next five years and the aggregate for the following five years (in thousands):
		Expected
		Benefit
		Payments
	2014	$	54
	2015	54
	2016	54
	2017	54
	2018	54
	2019-2023	269
	Total	$	539
	The Cooperative expects to make contributions of approximately $48,000 to the defined benefit pension plan during the next fiscal year.
	The following schedules provide the components of the Net Periodic Pension Costs for the periods ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands):
		December 31,			December 31,			December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
	Service Cost	$	—		$	—		$	36
	Interest Cost	40			42			36
	Expected Return on Plan Assets	(59		)	(47		)	(31		)
	Amortization of Net (Gain) Loss	—			76			10
	Net Periodic Pension Cost	$	(19	)	$	71		$	51
	The following schedules set forth a reconciliation of the changes in the plan’s benefit obligation and fair value of assets for the periods ending December 31, 2013 and 2012 and a statement of the funded status and amounts recognized in the Balance Sheets and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 and (in thousands):
		December 31,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	Change in Benefit Obligation
	Obligation at the Beginning of the Period	$	703		$	515
	Service Cost	—			36
	Interest Cost	42			37
	Actuarial (Gain) Loss	(24		)	115
	Benefits Paid	(25		)	—
	Obligation at the End of the Period	$	696		$	703
	Change in Plan Assets
	Fair Value at the Beginning of the Period	$	524		$	367
	Actual Returns on Plan Assets	73			81
	Employer Contributions	141			76
	Benefits Paid	(25		)	—
	Fair Value at the End of the Period	$	713		$	524
	Funded Status
	Funded Status as of Period Ended	$	17		$	(179	)
	Net Amount Recognized	$	—		$	(179	)
		December 31,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	Amounts Recognized in the Balance Sheets
	Noncurrent Assets	$	—		$	—
	Current Liabilities	—			—
	Noncurrent Liabilities	—			(179		)
	Net Amount Recognized	$	—		$	(179	)
	Accumulated Gain (Loss) Recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
	Accumulated Gain (Loss) Beginning of the Period	$	(179	)	$	(148	)
	Recognized in Periodic Cost	71			51
	Amount Arising During the Period	108			(82		)
	Accumulated Gain (Loss) End of the Period	$	—		$	(179	)
	The accumulated pension benefit obligation was $0 and $179,000 as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
	401(k) Plan — The Cooperative has a 401(k) plan that covers employees that meet eligibility requirements. The Cooperative’s contributions to the plan totaled $5,158, $8,000 and $7,442 for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

COMMITMENTS_AND_CONTINGENCIES

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	'
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	'
	NOTE 7 — COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
	The Cooperative contracted with Cargill, Incorporated in connection with the procurement of corn which includes payments of $92,000 annually and terminates December 31, 2017.
	On July 10, 2012, the Cooperative entered into a Services Agreement with Mark C. Dillon (the “Agreement”), the Cooperative’s former Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer. The Agreement was entered into in anticipation of Mr. Dillon’s retirement effective September 30, 2012. Pursuant to the Agreement, Mr. Dillon agreed to provide enumerated transitional consulting services to the Cooperative until March 31, 2013. In exchange for such services, Mr. Dillon was paid $37,250 per month. During the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Cooperative incurred $111,750 and $111,750 expense in connection with the Services Agreement. At December 31, 2012, the Cooperative had an account payable to Mr. Dillon totaling $37,250 in connection with the agreement.
	The ProGold LLC informed the Cooperative that it anticipates an estimated $2,300,000 capital expenditure related to facility repairs that may reduce income allocations and distributions to its members proportionately.  In anticipation of such an expenditure and a corresponding reduction in distributions from ProGold LLC, the Cooperative has increased the amount of cash it has available.

SUBSEQUENT_EVENTS

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
SUBSEQUENT EVENTS	'
SUBSEQUENT EVENTS	'
	NOTE 8 - SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
	In February of 2014, the Cooperative declared a distribution of $3,098,056, or $.20 per outstanding membership unit.
	Management has reviewed subsequent events through February 28, 2014 the date to which the financial statements were available to be issued.

SUMMARY_OF_SIGNIFICANT_ACCOUNT1

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	'
Investments	'
	Investments — The Cooperative’s investment securities are held to maturity and recorded at amortized cost.  The Cooperative’s investment in ProGold is recorded at historical cost plus its pro-rata share of ProGold’s net income and additional paid-in capital less distributions received from ProGold.  Unrealized gains or losses are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income within members’ equity.  Gains and losses are determined using the specific identification method.
Cash and Cash Equivalents	'
	Cash and Cash Equivalents — The Cooperative considers all demand accounts to be cash equivalents and overnight sweep accounts.  Cash equivalents do not include money market accounts maintained by the Cooperative’s investment managers.  Cash equivalents do not include any investment with a stated maturity date, regardless of the term to maturity.
Income Taxes	'
	Income Taxes — Beginning September 1, 2009, Golden Growers Cooperative is taxed as a limited liability company under Subchapter K of the Internal Revenue Code.  As such, the Cooperative will generally not be subject to income taxes.  Instead, net income will be reported by its members who will be responsible for any income taxes which may be due.  Prior to September 1, 2009, Golden Growers Cooperative was an exempt cooperative for federal income tax purposes.  As such, the cooperative was generally not subject to income taxes.  Instead, net proceeds were allocated to the Cooperative’s patrons who were responsible for any income taxes which may have been due.
Property and Equipment	'
	Property and Equipment — Property and equipment are stated at cost.  Depreciation on assets placed in service is provided using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives ranging from 5 to 10 years.
Accounting Estimates	'
	Accounting Estimates — The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Revenue Recognition	'
	Revenue Recognition —The Cooperative’s members are contractually obligated to annually deliver corn to the Cooperative by either Method A or Method B or a combination of both.  Under Method A, a member is required to physically deliver corn to the cooperative and under Method B a member appoints the cooperative as its agent to arrange for the acquisition and delivery of corn on the member’s behalf.  For an annual fee of $92,000 paid quarterly, the Cooperative contractually appoints Cargill as its agent to arrange for the delivery of the corn by its members who elect to deliver corn using Method A and to acquire corn on its behalf for its members who elect to deliver corn using Method B.  The price per bushel paid to the member who elects to deliver corn using Method B is equal to the price per bushel paid by Cargill to acquire the corn as the Cooperative’s agent.  Members who deliver corn under Method A are paid the market price or contracted price for their corn at the time of delivery.  The Cooperative pays members who deliver corn under Method A an incentive payment of $.05 per bushel while members who elect Method B to deliver corn pay the Cooperative a $.02 per bushel agency fee for the cost of having the Cooperative deliver corn on their behalf.  The board has the discretion to change the incentive fee and the agency fee based on the Cooperative’s corn delivery needs.  The incentive fee and agency fee are a component of Corn Expense.
	With respect to all Method A corn that is delivered, Cargill pays the aggregate purchase price for corn purchased from the Cooperative’s members to the Cooperative and then, on the Cooperative’s behalf, makes individual payments for corn directly to its members.  If a Method A member fails to fully satisfy the corn delivery requirement, Cargill purchases replacement corn for which the Cooperative reimburses Cargill the amount by which the underlying contracted corn price is less than the price of buying the replacement corn that was due on the delivery date.  The Method A member who fails to deliver corn is then invoiced by the Cooperative for the price of the corn.
	Based on what is to be delivered by its members using Method A, Cargill then purchases the remainder of the corn to be delivered by the Cooperative on behalf of its Method B delivering members.  Because Cargill purchases the corn on the Cooperative’s behalf of Method B delivering members, the purchase price for the corn that would be paid to the Cooperative’s members if they actually delivered the corn offsets against the payment to be made by the Cooperative to Cargill for the cost to purchase the corn, thus no payment is made from Cargill to the Cooperative for corn delivered using Method B.  The Cooperative has determined Corn Expense for Method B deliveries based on the average quarterly cost per bushel paid by Cargill to the Cooperative’s members for Method A quarterly deliveries.
Concentrations	'
	Concentrations - Several times during the year, the Cooperative maintained a cash balance in excess of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) limits.  At December 31, 2013, the Cooperative’s cash balance exceeded the FDIC insurance limits by approximately $2.8million.
Fair Value Measurements	'
	Fair Value Measurements - The Cooperative has determined the fair value of certain assets and liabilities in accordance with the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 820-10, which provides a framework for measuring fair value under generally accepted accounting principles.
	ASC 820-10 defines fair value as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date.  ASC 820-10 requires that valuation techniques maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.  ASC 820-10 also establishes a fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the valuation inputs into three broad levels.
	Level 1 inputs consist of quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the reporting entity has the ability to access at the measurement date.  Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the related asset or liability.  Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs related to the asset or liability.

PROGOLD_LIMITED_LIABILITY_COMP1

PROGOLD LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
PROGOLD LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY	'
Schedule of financial information for ProGold LLC	'
		December 31,
	(In Thousands)	2013		2012		2011
	Current Assets	$	151	$	111	$	126
	Long-Term Assets	72,947		83,669		92,743
	Total Assets	$	73,098	$	83,780	$	92,869
	Current Liabilities	$	405	$	405	$	406
	Long-Term Liabilities	1,200		1,600		2,000
	Total Liabilities	$	1,605	$	2,005	$	2,406
	Members’ Equity	71,493		81,775		90,463
	Total Liabilities and Members’ Equity	$	73,098	$	83,780	$	92,869
	Rent Revenue on Operating Lease	23,674		$	25,223	$	24,063
	Expenses	11,948		11,762		11,498
	Net Income	$	11,726	$	13,461	$	12,565

INVESTMENTS_Tables

INVESTMENTS (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
INVESTMENTS	'
Schedule of investments held to maturity	'
	The Cooperative’s investments held to maturity are as follows as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 (in thousands):
		Amortized		Gross	Gross	Fair Value
		Cost		Unrealized	Unrealized
				Gains	Losses
	December 31, 2013:
	Money Market & CD’s	$	218	—	—	$	218
	December 31, 2012:
	Money Market & CD’s	$	218	—	—	$	218

EMPLOYEE_BENEFIT_PLANS_Tables

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS	'
Schedule of assumptions used in the measurement of the entity's benefit obligations	'
		2013		2012
	Discount Rate	6	%	6	%
	Expected Return on Plan Assets	8	%	8	%
	Rate of Compensation Increase	4.73	%	4.73	%
Schedule of expected pension benefit payments	'
	The following schedule reflects the expected pension benefit payments during each of the next five years and the aggregate for the following five years (in thousands):
		Expected
		Benefit
		Payments
	2014	$	54
	2015	54
	2016	54
	2017	54
	2018	54
	2019-2023	269
	Total	$	539
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost	'
	The following schedules provide the components of the Net Periodic Pension Costs for the periods ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands):
		December 31,			December 31,			December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
	Service Cost	$	—		$	—		$	36
	Interest Cost	40			42			36
	Expected Return on Plan Assets	(59		)	(47		)	(31		)
	Amortization of Net (Gain) Loss	—			76			10
	Net Periodic Pension Cost	$	(19	)	$	71		$	51
Schedule of reconciliation of the changes in the plan's benefit obligation, fair value of assets and a statement of the funded status and amounts recognized in the Balance Sheets and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	'
	The following schedules set forth a reconciliation of the changes in the plan’s benefit obligation and fair value of assets for the periods ending December 31, 2013 and 2012 and a statement of the funded status and amounts recognized in the Balance Sheets and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 and (in thousands):
		December 31,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	Change in Benefit Obligation
	Obligation at the Beginning of the Period	$	703		$	515
	Service Cost	—			36
	Interest Cost	42			37
	Actuarial (Gain) Loss	(24		)	115
	Benefits Paid	(25		)	—
	Obligation at the End of the Period	$	696		$	703
	Change in Plan Assets
	Fair Value at the Beginning of the Period	$	524		$	367
	Actual Returns on Plan Assets	73			81
	Employer Contributions	141			76
	Benefits Paid	(25		)	—
	Fair Value at the End of the Period	$	713		$	524
	Funded Status
	Funded Status as of Period Ended	$	17		$	(179	)
	Net Amount Recognized	$	—		$	(179	)
		December 31,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	Amounts Recognized in the Balance Sheets
	Noncurrent Assets	$	—		$	—
	Current Liabilities	—			—
	Noncurrent Liabilities	—			(179		)
	Net Amount Recognized	$	—		$	(179	)
	Accumulated Gain (Loss) Recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
	Accumulated Gain (Loss) Beginning of the Period	$	(179	)	$	(148	)
	Recognized in Periodic Cost	71			51
	Amount Arising During the Period	108			(82		)
	Accumulated Gain (Loss) End of the Period	$	—		$	(179	)

NATURE_OF_OPERATIONS_Details

NATURE OF OPERATIONS (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Aug. 31, 2009	Aug. 31, 2008
Nature of operations	'	'	'
Redemption price of Class A Common Voting Membership Stock (in dollars per share)	$150	'	'
Non-voting preferred stock, issued (in shares)	'	0	0
Non-voting preferred stock, outstanding (in shares)	'	0	0
Non-voting preferred stock, authorized (in shares)	'	10,000	10,000
Non-voting preferred stock, authorized, par value (in dollars per share)	'	$1,000	$1,000
Percentage of book value of stock, paid as a consideration, in the event of right to recall stock of any member was exercised	25.00%	'	'
ProGold Limited Liability Company	'	'	'
Nature of operations	'	'	'
Number of other partners	2	'	'
Ownership percentage in joint venture	49.00%	'	'
ProGold Limited Liability Company | ACSC	'	'	'
Nature of operations	'	'	'
Ownership percentage in joint venture	51.00%	'	'

SUMMARY_OF_SIGNIFICANT_ACCOUNT2

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Revenue Recognition	'
Annual contractual payments to Cargill to arrange for the delivery of the corn by its members	$92,000
Incentive paid per bushel to members who deliver corn under Method A	0.05
Agency fee paid per bushel by the members who elect Method B	0.02
Payment made by Cargill for corn delivered using Method B	0
Concentrations	'
Cash balance in excess of the FDIC insurance limits	$2,800,000
Minimum	'
Property and equipment	'
Estimated useful lives	'5 years
Maximum	'
Property and equipment	'
Estimated useful lives	'10 years

PROGOLD_LIMITED_LIABILITY_COMP2

PROGOLD LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY (Details) (ProGold Limited Liability Company, USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
ProGold Limited Liability Company	'	'	'
ProGold Limited Liability Company	'	'	'
Interest ownership (as a percent)	49.00%	'	'
Financial information for ProGold LLC	'	'	'
Current Assets	$151	$111	$126
Long-Term Assets	72,947	83,669	92,743
Total Assets	73,098	83,780	92,869
Current Liabilities	405	405	406
Long-Term Liabilities	1,200	1,600	2,000
Total Liabilities	1,605	2,005	2,406
Members' Equity	71,493	81,775	90,463
Total Liabilities and Members' Equity	73,098	83,780	92,869
Rent Revenue on Operating Lease	23,674	25,223	24,063
Expenses	11,948	11,762	11,498
Net Income	$11,726	$13,461	$12,565

INVESTMENTS_Details

INVESTMENTS (Details) (Money Market & CD's, Level 1 inputs, USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Money Market & CD's | Level 1 inputs	'	'
Investments held to maturity	'	'
Amortized Cost	$218	$218
Fair Value	$218	$218

INCOME_TAXES_Details

INCOME TAXES (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
INCOME TAXES	'	'	'
Unrecognized tax benefits	$0	$0	'
Interest or penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits	0	0	'
Income tax expense	$0	$0	$0

EMPLOYEE_BENEFIT_PLANS_Details

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
	item
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS	'	'	'
Additional benefits accrued to participants under the plan	$0	'	'
Number of new employees eligible under the plan	0	'	'
Pension expenses	$141,000	$75,500	$42,000
Employee Benefit Plans	'	'	'
Minimum average total rate of return above the rate of inflation (as a percent)	4.00%	'	'
Equities	'	'	'
Employee Benefit Plans	'	'	'
Maximum equity exposure as a percentage of total portfolio value	75.00%	'	'
Actual rate of return assumed (as a percent)	10.00%	'	'
Fixed income	'	'	'
Employee Benefit Plans	'	'	'
Actual rate of return assumed (as a percent)	4.00%	'	'

EMPLOYEE_BENEFIT_PLANS_Details1

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS (Details 2) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Assumptions used in measurement of benefit obligations	'	'	'
Discount Rate (as a percent)	6.00%	6.00%	'
Expected Return on Plan Assets (as a percent)	8.00%	8.00%	'
Rate of Compensation Increase (as a percent)	4.73%	4.73%	'
Expected pension benefit payments	'	'	'
2014	$54,000	'	'
2015	54,000	'	'
2016	54,000	'	'
2017	54,000	'	'
2018	54,000	'	'
2019-2023	269,000	'	'
Total	539,000	'	'
Expected contributions to the defined benefit pension plan during the next fiscal year	48,000	'	'
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost	'	'	'
Service Cost	'	'	36,000
Interest Cost	40,000	42,000	36,000
Expected Return on Plan Assets	-59,000	-47,000	-31,000
Amortization of Net (Gain) Loss	'	76,000	10,000
Net Periodic Pension Cost	-19,000	71,000	51,000
Change in Benefit Obligation	'	'	'
Obligation at the Beginning of the Period	703,000	515,000	'
Service Cost	'	36,000	'
Interest Cost	42,000	37,000	'
Actuarial (Gain) Loss	-24,000	115,000	'
Benefits Paid	-25,000	'	'
Obligation at the End of the Period	696,000	703,000	515,000
Change in Plan Assets	'	'	'
Fair Value at the Beginning of the Period	524,000	367,000	'
Actual Returns on Plan Assets	73,000	81,000	'
Employer Contributions	141,000	75,500	42,000
Benefits Paid	-25,000	'	'
Fair Value at the End of the Period	713,000	524,000	367,000
Funded Status	'	'	'
Funded Status as of Period Ended	17,000	-179,000	'
Net Amount Recognized	'	-179,000	'
Amounts Recognized in the Balance Sheets	'	'	'
Noncurrent Liabilities	'	-179,000	'
Net Amount Recognized	'	-179,000	'
Accumulated Gain (Loss) Recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	'	'	'
Accumulated Gain (Loss) Beginning of the Period	-179,000	-148,000	'
Recognized in Periodic Cost	71,000	51,000	'
Amount Arising During the Period	108,000	-82,000	'
Accumulated Gain (Loss) End of the Period	'	-179,000	-148,000
Estimated amount to be amortized from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income into net periodic benefit cost	'	'	'
Accumulated pension benefit obligation	$0	$179,000	'

EMPLOYEE_BENEFIT_PLANS_Details2

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS (Details 3) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
401(k) Plan	'	'	'
Contributions to the plan	$5,158	$8,000	$7,442

COMMITMENTS_AND_CONTINGENCIES_

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	'	'
Annual contractual payments to Cargill for procurement of corn	$92,000	'
Amount paid to retired executive vice president and chief executive officer per month as per service agreement	37,250	'
Expense in connection with the Services Agreement	111,750	111,750
Account payable for expense in connection with the Services Agreement	'	37,250
ProGold LLC	'	'
Commitment and Contingencies	'	'
Estimated capital expenditure related to facility repairs	$2,300,000	'

SUBSEQUENT_EVENTS_Details

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS (Details) (Subsequent event, USD $)	1 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2014
Subsequent event	'
SUBSEQUENT EVENTS	'
Distribution declared	$3,098,056
Distribution declared (in dollars per unit)	$0.20