| Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block] | Note 2. Accounting Policies The interim consolidated condensed financial
statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies described in the notes to the consolidated financial
statements included in the Company’s fiscal year 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K. While management believes that the procedures
followed in the preparation of interim financial information are reasonable, the accuracy of some estimated amounts is dependent
upon facts that will exist or calculations that will be accomplished at fiscal year-end. Examples of such estimates include accrued
liabilities, such as management bonuses, and the provision for income taxes. Any adjustments pursuant to such estimates during
the quarter were of a normal recurring nature. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash and
cash equivalents includes bank deposits as well as short-term, highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months
or less. Revenue Recognition For ethanol and by-products segment
sales, the Company recognizes sales of ethanol, distillers grains and non-food grade corn oil when obligations under the terms
of the respective contracts with customers are satisfied; this occurs with the transfer of control of products, generally upon
shipment from the ethanol plant or upon loading of the rail car used to transport the products. For refined coal segment sales,
the Company recognizes sales of refined coal when obligations under the term of the contract with its customer are satisfied;
this occurs when title and control of the product transfers to its customer, generally upon the coal leaving the refined coal
plant. Refined coal sales are recorded net of the cost of coal as the Company purchases the coal feedstock from the customer to
which the processed refined coal is sold. Cost of Sales Cost of sales includes depreciation,
costs of raw materials, inbound freight charges, purchasing and receiving costs, inspection costs, other distribution expenses,
warehousing costs, plant management, certain compensations costs and general facility overhead charges. Selling, General and Administrative
(“SG&A”) Expenses The Company includes non-production
related costs such as professional fees, outbound freight charges, selling charges and certain payroll in SG&A expenses. Outbound
freight charges were approximately $5,596,000 and $1,323,000 in the first quarter of fiscal years 2021 and 2020, respectively. Financial Instruments Certain of the forward grain purchase and
ethanol, distillers grains and non-food grade corn oil sale contracts are accounted for under the “normal purchases and
normal sales” scope exemption of Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 815, “ Derivatives and Hedging The Company uses derivative financial
instruments (exchange-traded futures contracts) to manage a portion of the risk associated with changes in commodity prices, primarily
related to corn. The Company monitors and manages this exposure as part of its overall risk management policy. As such, the Company
seeks to reduce the potentially adverse effects that the volatility of these markets may have on its operating results. The Company
may take hedging positions in these commodities as one way to mitigate risk. While the Company attempts to link its hedging activities
to purchase and sales activities, there are situations in which these hedging activities can themselves
result in losses. The Company does not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes. The
changes in fair value of these derivative financial instruments are recognized in current period earnings as the Company does
not use hedge accounting. Income Taxes The Company determined that small changes
in estimated “ordinary” income would result in significant changes in the estimated annual effective tax rate. Thus,
the Company used a discrete effective tax rate method to calculate the provision or benefit for income taxes for the three months
ended April 30, 2021 and 2020. The Company provides for deferred tax liabilities
and assets for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing
assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. The Company provides for
a valuation allowance if, based on the weight of available positive and negative evidence, it is more likely than not that some
or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The Company paid no income taxes nor received refunds of income taxes
during the three months ended April 30, 2021. The Company paid income taxes of approximately $0.3 million and received refunds
of income taxes of approximately $0.2 million during the three months ended April 30, 2020. As of April 30, 2021, and January 31, 2021,
total unrecognized tax benefits were approximately $8,518,000 and $8,380,000 respectively. Accrued penalties and interest were approximately
$25,000 and approximately $20,000 at April 30, 2021 and January 31, 2021, respectively. If the Company were to prevail on all
unrecognized tax benefits recorded, the provision for income taxes would be reduced by approximately $8.3 million. In addition, the
impact of penalties and interest would also benefit the effective tax rate. Interest and penalties associated with unrecognized tax
benefits are recorded within income tax expense. On a quarterly basis, the Company accrues for the effects of open uncertain tax
positions and the related potential penalties and interest. Inventories Inventories are carried at the lower of
cost or net realizable value on a first-in, first-out basis. Inventory includes direct production costs and certain overhead costs
such as depreciation, property taxes and utilities associated with producing ethanol and related by-products and refined coal.
Inventory is written down for instances when cost exceeds estimated net realizable value; such write-downs are based primarily
upon commodity prices as the market value of inventory is often dependent upon changes in commodity prices. The Company recorded
approximately $1.0 million of inventory write-downs in cost of sales at January 31, 2021. There were no inventory write-downs
at April 30, 2021. Fluctuations in the write-down of inventory generally relate to the levels and composition of such inventory
and changes in commodity prices at a given point in time. The components of inventory are as follows as of the dates presented
(amounts in thousands):
April 30, 2021 January 31, 2021
Ethanol and other finished goods $ 6,102 $ 18,346
Work in process 5,213 4,374
Grain and other raw materials 15,372 15,160
Total $ 26,687 $ 37,880 Property and Equipment Property and equipment is recorded at cost
or the fair value on the date of acquisition (for property and equipment acquired in a business combination). Depreciation is
computed using the straight-line method. Estimated useful lives are 5 to 40 years for buildings and improvements, and 2 to 20
years for fixtures and equipment. In accordance with ASC 360-10 “ Impairment
or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets The Company did not identify any indicators
of impairment during the first quarter of fiscal year 2021. There were no impairment charges in the first three months of fiscal
year 2021. The Company tests for
recoverability of an asset group by comparing its carrying amount to its estimated undiscounted future cash flows. If the carrying
amount exceeds its estimated undiscounted future cash flows, the Company recognizes an impairment charge for the amount by which
the asset group’s carrying amount exceeds its fair value, if any. Investments The method of accounting applied to long-term
investments, whether consolidated, equity or cost, involves an evaluation of the significant terms of each investment that explicitly
grant or suggest evidence of control or influence over the operations of the investee and also includes the identification of
any variable interests in which the Company is the primary beneficiary. The Company accounts for investments in a limited liability
company in which it has a less than 20% ownership interest using the equity method of accounting when the factors discussed in
ASC 323, “ Investments-Equity Method and Joint Ventures The Company periodically evaluates its investments
for impairment due to declines in market value considered to be other than temporary. Such impairment evaluations include general
economic and company-specific evaluations. If the Company determines that a decline in market value is other than temporary, then
a charge to earnings is recorded in the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Operations and a new cost basis in the investment
is established. Short-term investments are considered held
to maturity, and therefore are carried at amortized historical cost. Comprehensive Income The Company has no components of other
comprehensive income, and therefore, comprehensive income equals net income. Accounting Changes and Recently Issued Accounting Standards In December 2019, the Financial Accounting
Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2019-12, “ Income Taxes (Topic
740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes |
