UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 10-K [ X ] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the fiscal year ended August 31, 1998 OR [ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 Commission file number 2-60372 FARMLAND INDUSTRIES, INC. (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter) KANSAS 44- 0209330 (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) 3315 NORTH OAK TRAFFICWAY, KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI 64116-0005 (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code) Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code: 816-459-6000 Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [ X ] No [ ] Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (Section 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [ X ] Farmland Industries, Inc. is a cooperative. Its voting stock can only be held by its members. No public market for voting stock of Farmland Industries, Inc. is established and it is unlikely, in the foreseeable future, that a public market for such voting stock will develop. Documents incorporated by reference: None PART I ITEMS 1 AND 2. BUSINESS AND PROPERTIES THE COMPANY Farmland Industries, Inc., founded in 1929 and formally incorporated in Kansas in 1931, is a farm supply and a processing and marketing cooperative. Its principal executive offices are at 3315 North Oak Trafficway, Kansas City, Missouri 64116 (telephone 816-459-6000). Farmland has grown from revenues of $310,000 during its first year of operation to approximately $8.8 billion during 1998. Unless the context requires otherwise, (i) "Farmland" or the "Company" herein refers to Farmland Industries, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries, (ii) all references herein to "year" or "years" are to fiscal years ended August 31, (iii) all references herein to "tons" are to United States short tons and (iv) the term "member" herein means (a) any voting member, (b) any associate member, or (c) any other person with which Farmland is a party to a currently effective patronage refund agreement (a "patron"). See "Business and Properties - Business - Patronage Refunds and Distribution of Annual Earnings." Farmland operates on a cooperative basis and is primarily owned by its members. Members are entitled to receive patronage refunds distributed by Farmland from the member-sourced portion of its annual net earnings. MEMBERSHIP Membership requirements are determined by Farmland's Articles of Incorporation and the Board of Directors of Farmland (the ''Board of Directors''). As of August 31, 1998, Farmland's membership, associate membership and patrons eligible for patronage refunds consisted of approximately 1,500 cooperative associations of farmers and ranchers and 5,800 pork or beef producers or associations of such producers. See ''Business and Properties Business - Patronage Refunds and Distribution of Annual Earnings." In the event the Board of Directors of Farmland shall determine that any holder of the common stock or associate member common stock of Farmland does not meet the qualifications as may be established by the Board of Directors for holders thereof, as described below in "Voting Members" and "Associate Members," such person shall have no rights or privileges on account of such common stock to vote for director(s) or to vote on the management or affairs of Farmland and Farmland shall have the right, at its option, (a) to purchase such common stock at its book or par value, whichever is less, as determined by the Board of Directors, or (b) in exchange for such common stock or associate member common stock, to issue or record on the books of Farmland capital credits in an equivalent amount. On the failure of any holder, following any demand by Farmland therefor, to deliver the certificate or certificates evidencing any common stock or associate member common stock, Farmland may cancel the same on its books and issue or record on the books of Farmland an equivalent amount of capital credits in lieu thereof. VOTING MEMBERS As of August 31, 1998, Farmland's requirements for voting membership were as follows: the voting member must (1) own a minimum of $1,000 of Farmland's common stock; (2) actively transact business with Farmland on a patronage basis (the Board of Directors may deem a member to be inactive when business is not transacted with Farmland for two consecutive years); (3) not be a significant direct competitor with Farmland in any of Farmland's major business lines; and (4) (a) be a natural person, a family farm corporation or a family farm partnership that (i) derives a majority of earned income from a farming operation (excluding any earned income of a spouse from other sources) and (ii) is a vendor of livestock to Farmland and/or a contract producer of livestock for Farmland; or (b) be an association of producers of agricultural products that (i) is organized and conducts business on a cooperative basis; (ii) distributes its earnings based on patronage; and (iii) is controlled directly by its voting producer members. ASSOCIATE MEMBERS To qualify for associate membership in Farmland, all of the following conditions must be met: the associate member must (1) own a minimum of $1,000 of Farmland's associate member common stock; (2) not be a significant direct competitor of Farmland in any business line in which the associate member expects to conduct patronage business with Farmland; and (3)(a) be a natural person, a family farm corporation, or a family farm partnership that (i) derives a majority of earned income from a farming operation (excluding any earned income of a spouse from other sources) and (ii) is a vendor of livestock to Farmland and/or a contract producer of livestock for Farmland; (b) be an association conducting business on a cooperative basis; (c) be a business entity owned 100%, directly or indirectly, by Farmland or its members or associate members; or (d) be a hog- and/or cattle-feeding business entity that agrees to provide Farmland with the information it needs to pass on patronage refunds from Farmland's hog- and/or cattle-marketing operations to those agricultural producer-members of Farmland who have conducted business with the entity. PATRONAGE AGREEMENTS WITH PATRONS All existing patronage agreements with patrons will remain in force until such time as either (a) the patron has been inactive with Farmland during any single fiscal year or (b) the patronage agreement is canceled by mutual consent. No new patronage agreements will be authorized without prior approval by the Board of Directors. BUSINESS GENERAL The Company is one of the largest cooperatives in the United States in terms of revenues. In 1998, Farmland had export sales in excess of $1.3 billion to customers in over 90 countries. Substantially all of the Company's foreign sales are invoiced and collected in U.S. Dollars. The Company conducts business primarily in two operating areas: agricultural inputs and outputs. On the input side of the agricultural industry, the Company operates as a farm supply cooperative. On the output side of the agricultural industry, the Company operates as a processing and marketing cooperative. The Company's farm supply operations consist of three principal product divisions: petroleum, crop production and feed. Principal products of the petroleum division are refined fuels, propane and by-products of petroleum refining. Principal products of the crop production division are nitrogen and phosphate-based fertilizers ("plant nutrients") and, through the Company's ownership in WILFARM, L.L.C. ("WILFARM") and Omnium, LLC ("Omnium"),(each 50%owned) a complete line of insecticides, herbicides and mixed chemicals. Principal products of the feed division include swine, dairy, pet, beef, poultry, mineral and specialty feeds, feed ingredients and supplements, animal health products and livestock services. Approximately 60% of the Company's farm supply products sold in 1998 was produced in plants owned by the Company or operated by the Company under long-term lease arrangements. Approximately 64% of the Company's farm supply products sold in 1998 was sold at wholesale to farm cooperative associations which are members of Farmland. These farm cooperative associations distribute products primarily to farmers and ranchers in states which comprise the corn belt and the wheat belt and who utilize the products in the production of farm crops and livestock. On the output side, the Company's operations include the processing of pork and beef, the marketing of fresh pork, processed pork and fresh beef and the storage and marketing of grain. In 1998, approximately 60% of the hogs processed, 30% of the beef cattle processed and 60% of the domestic grain marketed by the Company were supplied to the Company by its members. Substantially all of the pork and beef products sold by the Company in 1998 were processed in plants owned by the Company. No material part of the business of any segment of the Company is dependent on a single customer or a few customers. Financial information about the Company's industry segments is presented in Note 11 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included herein. The principal businesses of the Company are highly seasonal. Historically, the majority of revenues related to crop production, beef and grain occur during the spring, summer and fall, respectively. Revenues related to crop production and beef are lowest during the winter, while sales related to the grain and feed businesses tend to be lowest during the spring and summer, respectively. The Company competes for market share with numerous participants with various levels of vertical integration, product and geographical diversification, sizes and types of operations. In the petroleum industry, competitors include major oil companies, independent refiners, other cooperatives and product brokers. Competitors in the crop production industry include global producers (some of which are cooperatives) of nitrogen- and phosphate-based fertilizers and product importers and brokers. The feed, grain, pork and beef industries are comprised of a large variety of competitive participants. BUSINESS RISK FACTORS INCOME TAX MATTERS In July 1983, Farmland sold the stock of Terra Resources, Inc. ("Terra"), a wholly owned subsidiary engaged in oil and gas exploration and production operations and exited its oil and gas exploration and production activities. The gain from the sale of Terra amounted to $237.2 million for tax reporting purposes. On March 24, 1993, the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") issued a statutory notice to Farmland asserting deficiencies in federal income taxes (exclusive of statutory interest thereon) in the aggregate amount of $70.8 million. The asserted deficiencies relate primarily to the Company's tax treatment of the $237.2 million gain resulting from its sale of the stock of Terra and the IRS's contention that Farmland incorrectly treated the Terra sale gain as income against which certain patronage-sourced operating losses could be offset. The statutory notice further asserts that Farmland incorrectly characterized for tax purposes gains aggregating approximately $14.6 million and a loss of approximately $2.3 million, from dispositions of certain other assets. On June 11, 1993, Farmland filed a petition in the United States Tax Court contesting the asserted deficiencies in their entirety. The case was tried on June 13-15, 1995. The parties submitted post-trial briefs to the court in September 1995 and reply briefs were submitted to the court in November 1995. If the United States Tax Court decides in favor of the IRS on all unresolved issues raised in the statutory notice, Farmland would have additional federal and state income tax liabilities aggregating approximately $85.8 million plus accumulating statutory interest thereon (approximately $279.9 million through August 31, 1998), or $365.7 million (before tax benefits of the interest deduction) in the aggregate at August 31, 1998. In addition, such a decision would affect the computation of Farmland's taxable income for its 1989 tax year and, as a result, could increase Farmland's federal and state income taxes for that year by approximately $15.3 million (including accumulated statutory interest thereon). The asserted federal and state income tax liabilities and accumulated interest thereon would become immediately due and payable unless the Company appealed the decision and posted the requisite bond to stay assessment and collection. In March 1998, Farmland received notice from the IRS assessing the $15.3 million tax and accumulated statutory interest thereon related to the Company's 1989 tax year (as described above). In order to establish the trial court in which initial litigation, if any, of the dispute would occur and to stop the accumulation of interest, the Company deposited funds with the IRS in the amount of the assessment. After making this deposit, the Company filed for a refund of the entire amount deposited. The liability resulting from an adverse decision by the United States Tax Court would be charged to current earnings and would have a material adverse effect on the Company. In the event of such an adverse determination of the Terra tax issue, certain financial covenants of the Company's Syndicated Credit Facility (the "Credit Facility"), dated May 15, 1996, become less restrictive. Had the United States Tax Court decided in favor of the IRS on all unresolved issues and had all related additional federal and state income taxes and accumulated interest thereon been due and payable on August 31, 1998, Farmland's borrowing capacity under the Credit Facility was adequate at that time to finance the liability. However, Farmland's continued ability to finance such an adverse decision depends substantially on the financial effects of future operating events on its borrowing capacity under the Credit Facility. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations--Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources." EXTERNAL FACTORS THAT MAY AFFECT THE COMPANY The Company's revenues, margins, net income and cash flow may be volatile due to factors beyond the Company's control. External factors that affect agricultural conditions and Farmland's results of operations include: 1.REGULATORY: The Company's ability to grow through acquisitions and investments in ventures may be adversely affected by regulatory delays or other unforeseeable factors beyond the Company's control. Various federal and state regulations to protect the environment have encouraged and are likely to continue to encourage, farmers to reduce the amount of fertilizer and other chemical applications. 2.COMPETITION: Competitors may have better access to equity capital markets and may offer more varied products or possess greater resources than the Company. 3.IMPORTS AND EXPORTS: Factors which affect the level of agricultural products imported or exported including foreign trade and monetary policies, laws and regulations, political and governmental changes, inflation and exchange rates, taxes, operating conditions and world demand. Fluctuations in the level of agricultural product imports and exports will likely impact the Company's operations. 4.WEATHER: Weather conditions, both domestic and global, affect the Company's operations. Weather conditions may either increase or decrease demand and, thereby, affect selling prices and income of the Company's farm supply products (crop production, petroleum and feed). Weather conditions also may increase or decrease the supply of products and, thereby, affect costs related to the Company's pork and beef processing and marketing and grain storage and marketing. 5.RAW MATERIALS COST: Historically, changes in the costs of raw materials have not necessarily resulted in corresponding changes in the prices at which finished products have been sold by the Company. 6.YEAR 2000: The Company does not know with certainty all of the consequences of its most reasonably likely worst case Year 2000 scenario. The Company cannot with certainty address the virtually unlimited number of differing circumstances relating to what might be its most reasonably likely worst case. The Company has distributed a survey of its significant customers and vendors to determine their state of Year 2000 readiness. However, responses to the survey questionnaire have not provided a basis to conclude whether such customers and vendors are Year 2000 compliant. 7.OTHER FACTORS: Domestic variables, such as crop failures, federal agricultural programs and production efficiencies, and global variables, such as general economic conditions, conditions in financial markets, embargoes, political instabilities and local conflicts, affect the supply, demand and price of crude oil, refined fuels, natural gas and other commodities and may unfavorably impact the Company's operations. Management cannot determine the extent to which these factors may impact future operations of the Company. The Company's revenues, margins, net income and cash flow may be volatile as conditions affecting agriculture and markets for the Company's products change. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Results of Operations for Years Ended August 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998" and "Business and Properties - Business - Raw Materials" and "Crop Production - Raw Materials." LIMITED ACCESS TO EQUITY CAPITAL MARKETS As a cooperative, the Company cannot sell its voting common equity to traditional public or private markets. Instead, equity is raised largely from payment of the noncash portion of patronage refunds with common stock, associate member common stock and capital credits, from offerings of preferred stocks and from net income on transactions with nonmembers. See ''Business and Properties - Business - Patronage Refunds and Distribution of Annual Earnings'' and '' - Equity Redemption Plans." ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS The Company is subject to various stringent federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations, including those governing the use, storage, discharge and disposal of hazardous materials, which may impose liability for cleanup of environmental contamination. The Company uses hazardous materials and generates hazardous wastes in the ordinary course of its manufacturing processes. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations -- Financial Conditions Liquidity and Capital Resources -Matters Involving the Environment." PETROLEUM MARKETING The principal products of this business segment are refined fuels, propane and by-products of the petroleum refinery. Approximately 50% of petroleum refined fuels products sold in 1998 resulted from transactions with Farmland's members. The balance of the Company's refined fuels products sales were principally to retailing chains in urban areas. Other petroleum products include lube oil, grease and car, truck and tractor tires, batteries and accessories. Sales of petroleum products as a percent of the Company's consolidated sales for 1996, 1997 and 1998 were 11%, 15% and 13%, respectively. Competitive methods in the petroleum industry include service, product quality and price. However, in refined fuel markets, price competition is dominant. Many participants in the industry engage in one or more of the industry's processes (oil production, transportation, refining, wholesale distribution and retailing). The Company participates in the industry primarily as a mid- continent refiner and as a wholesale distributor of petroleum products. Effective September 1, 1998, Country Energy LLC, a joint venture with Cenex Harvest States, commenced operations. Country Energy LLC provides refined fuel, propane and lubricants marketing and distribution services for its owners. PRODUCTION The Company owns a refinery at Coffeyville, Kansas. Production volume for 1996, 1997 and 1998 was as follows: Barrels of Crude Oil Processed Daily Average Based on 365 Days per year 1996 1997 1998 (barrels) Coffeyville, Kansas 64,276 81,397 91,808 The refinery produced approximately 25 million barrels of motor fuels, heating fuels and other petroleum products in 1996, 32 million barrels in 1997 and 35 million barrels in 1998. In July 1994, the Company acquired a mothballed refinery in Texas for reassembly at the Coffeyville refinery site. Reassembly was completed during the fourth quarter of 1996, enabling the Company to increase production during 1997 and 1998 compared with 1996. Approximately 66% of refined fuel sales in 1998 represented products produced at this location. RAW MATERIALS Farmland's refinery was originally designed to process high quality crude oil with low sulfur content ("sweet crude"). Competition for sweet crude and declining production in proximity of the refinery has increased the cost and decreased the availability of raw material relative to the cost and availability for coastal refineries with the capacity for processing and access to lower quality crude with high sulfur content ("sour crude"). In April 1997, the Company entered various operating, service and lease agreements with Tessenderlo Kerley Inc. ("TKI"), whereby TKI's assets or technologies would be utilized to extract sulfur from the intermediate gas streams generated from crude oil. As a result of extracting this sulfur, crude oil supplies of lower quality were made available for processing by the refinery. This allowed the Company to decrease raw material costs as sour crude is lower priced. In 1998, the Company's pipeline/trucking gathering system collected approximately 17% of its crude oil supplies from producers near its refinery. Additional supplies are acquired from diversified sources, including sour crude oil from foreign sources. Crude oil is purchased approximately 45 to 60 days in advance of the time the related refined products are to be marketed. Certain of these advance crude oil purchase transactions, as well as fixed price advance sales contracts of refined products, are hedged utilizing various petroleum futures contracts. See "Business and Properties - Business - Business Risk Factors - External Factors That May Affect the Company" included herein. During periods of volatile crude oil price changes, or in extremely short crude oil supply conditions, the Company's petroleum operations could be affected to a greater extent than petroleum operations of more vertically integrated competitors with crude oil supplies available from owned producing reserves. In past periods of relatively severe crude oil shortages, various governmental regulations such as price controls and mandatory crude oil allocating programs have been implemented. There can be no assurance as to what, if any, government action would be taken if a crude oil shortage were to develop. CROP PRODUCTION MARKETING The Company's crop production business includes plant nutrients and, through the Company's ownership in WILFARM and Omnium, a complete line of crop protection products such as insecticides, herbicides and mixed chemicals. Sales of the crop production business segment as a percent of consolidated sales for 1996, 1997 and 1998 were 14%, 14% and 13%, respectively. Competition in the plant nutrient industry is dominated by price considerations. However, during the spring and fall plant nutrient application seasons, farming activities intensify and delivery service capacity is a significant competitive factor. The Company maintains a significant capital investment in distribution assets and a seasonal investment in inventory to enhance its manufacturing and distribution operations. The Company owns or leases plant nutrient custom dry blending, liquid mixing, storage and distribution facilities at over 150 locations throughout its trade territory to conform delivery capacity more closely to customer demands for delivery services. The Company's sales of crop production products are primarily at wholesale to local cooperative associations who are members of Farmland. In view of this member/customer relationship, management believes that, with respect to such customers, the Company has a slight competitive advantage. Domestic competition, mainly from other regional cooperatives and integrated multinational crop production companies, is intense due to customers' sophisticated buying tendencies and production strategies that focus on costs and service. Also, foreign competition exists from producers of crop production products manufactured in countries with lower cost natural gas supplies (the principal raw material in nitrogen-based fertilizer products). In certain cases, foreign producers of fertilizer for export to the United States may be subsidized by their respective governments. PRODUCTION The Company manufactures nitrogen-based crop production products. Based on total production capacity, the Company is the largest producer of synthetic anhydrous ammonia-based fertilizers in the United States. Natural gas is the major raw material used in production of nitrogen-based fertilizer, including synthetic anhydrous ammonia, urea, urea ammonium nitrate ("UAN") and other forms of nitrogen-based fertilizers. The Company operates seven anhydrous ammonia production plants (three of which are leased under long-term lease arrangements) at six locations in Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Louisiana. The Company and Mississippi Chemical Company are each 50% owners of a joint venture, Farmland MissChem, Limited ("Farmland MissChem"), which owns an anhydrous ammonia production facility located in The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. All output from this facility is sold to and distributed by the owners of the venture. Annual production for fiscal years 1996, 1997 and 1998 including Farmland's 50% share of the output of Farmland MissChem, totaled approximately 2.8 million tons, 2.8 million tons and 3.0 million tons, respectively. The Company further processes synthetic anhydrous ammonia products at five plants, one of which is leased under a long-term lease arrangement, at five locations in Kansas, Oklahoma and Nebraska. Production of urea, UAN solutions and other forms of nitrogen fertilizer from synthetic anhydrous ammonia for 1996, 1997 and 1998 approximated 1.5 million tons, 1.6 million tons and 1.9 million tons, respectively. Ammonia also is used to react with phosphoric acid to produce phosphoric acid products such as liquid mixed fertilizer, diammonium phosphate and monoammonium phosphate, which may be applied directly or blended with other fertilizers. The Company owns land in Florida which contains an estimated 40 million tons of phosphate rock and a phosphate chemical plant located in Joplin, Missouri. The Joplin plant produces ammonium phosphate which is combined in varying ratios with muriate of potash to produce 12 different fertilizer grade products. In addition, feed grade phosphate (dicalcium phosphate) is produced at this facility. Production of ammonium phosphate approximated 65,000 tons, 44,000 tons and 56,000 tons in 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively and production of feed grade phosphate approximated 160,000 tons, 163,000 tons and 167,000 tons in 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively. The Company and Norsk Hydro a.s. are each 50% owners of a joint venture, Farmland Hydro, L.P. ("Hydro"), which owns a phosphate fertilizer manufacturing plant at Green Bay, Florida. Hydro's plant produces products such as super phosphoric acid, diammonium phosphate and monoammonium. Annual production in tons of such products for 1996, 1997 and 1998 was 1,459,000, 1,504,000 and 1,428,000, respectively. The Company provides management and administrative services and Norsk Hydro a.s. provides marketing services to Hydro. Products of this plant are distributed principally to international markets. The phosphate rock required to operate Hydro's plant is presently purchased from outside suppliers and adequate supplies of sulfur are available from several producers. Hydro owns phosphate rock reserves located in Hardee County, Florida which contain an estimated 40 million tons of phosphate rock (and is in addition to the aforementioned phosphate rock which the Company owns in Florida). During 1998, Hydro began obtaining various permits and licenses necessary for mining the aforementioned properties. This process will take several years to complete and, therefore, neither the Company nor Hydro anticipate mining any of their respective phosphate rock reserves within the next year. The Company is a 50% owner of a venture, SF Phosphates Limited Liability Company ("SF Phosphates"), which operates a phosphate mine located in Vernal, Utah, a phosphate chemical plant located in Rock Springs, Wyoming and a 96-mile pipeline connecting the mine to the plant. The plant produces monoammonium phosphate and super phosphoric acid with annual production in tons for 1996, 1997 and 1998 of 483,000, 529,000 and 527,000, respectively. Under the venture agreement, the owners purchase the production of the venture in proportion to their ownership. Based on current recovery methods and the levels of plant production in recent years, the Company estimates that the phosphate rock reserves owned by SF Phosphates are adequate to provide the phosphate rock requirements of the plant for approximately 75 years. RAW MATERIALS Natural gas, the largest single component of nitrogen-based fertilizer production, is purchased directly from natural gas producers. Natural gas purchase contracts are generally market sensitive and contract prices change as the market price for natural gas changes. In addition, the Company has a hedging program which utilizes natural gas futures and options to reduce risks of market price volatility. See " Business and Properties - Business - Business Risk Factors - External Factors That May Affect the Company." Natural gas is delivered to the Company's facilities under pipeline transportation service agreements which have been negotiated with each plant's delivering pipeline. Natural gas delivery to the plants could be curtailed under regulations of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission if a delivering pipeline's capacity was required to serve priority users such as residences, hospitals and schools. In such cases, production could be curtailed. No significant production has been lost because of curtailments in pipeline transportation and no such curtailment is anticipated. FEED Products in the Company's feed line include swine, beef, poultry, dairy, pet, mineral and specialty feeds, feed ingredients and supplements, animal health products and farm and ranch supplies. The primary components of feed products are grain and grain by- products, which are generally available in the region in which the Company operates. This business segment's sales were approximately 6%, 7% and 6% of consolidated sales for the years 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively. Approximately 52% of the feed business segment's sales in 1998 was attributable to products manufactured in the Company's feed mills. The Company operates feed mixing plants at 15 locations throughout its territory, an animal protein plant in Maquoketa, Iowa, an animal protein plant and a premix plant located in Eagle Grove, Iowa, a premix plant in Marion, Ohio and a pet food plant in Muncie, Kansas. Feed production for 1996, 1997 and 1998, for feed mills owned by Farmland as of August 31, 1998, was as follows: Approximate Annual Production 1996 1997 1998 (tons) <1c> 20 feed mills (combined).................. 861,000 914,000 817,000 In June of 1998, the Company acquired six feed mills with an aggregate capacity of 520,000 tons through the acquisition of SF Services, Inc. In addition, feed mills with an aggregate capacity of approximately 469,000 tons were disposed of or sold to ventures in 1997 and 1998. The Company conducts research in animal health and nutrition. Through local cooperative associations of farmers and ranchers, the Company participates in livestock and hog services designed to produce lean, feed-efficient animals and help livestock producers select feed formulations which maximize weight gain. FOOD PROCESSING AND MARKETING PORK PROCESSING The Company's pork processing and marketing operations are conducted through a 99%-owned subsidiary, Farmland Foods, Inc. ("Foods"), which operates 11 food processing facilities, including leased facilities in Albert Lea, Minnesota and Omaha, Nebraska. Meat processing facilities at Springfield, Massachusetts and New Riegel, Ohio produce Italian-style specialty meats and ham products. Plants in Wichita and Topeka, Kansas and Albert Lea, Minnesota process fresh pork into a variety of products including ham, bacon and sausage. Additionally, the Wichita, Kansas facility processes pork, beef and chicken into hot dogs, dry sausage and other luncheon meats. Facilities in Denison and Dubuque, Iowa, Monmouth, Illinois and Crete, Nebraska function as pork abattoirs and have additional capabilities for processing pork into bacon, ham and smoked meats. These facilities also process fresh pork into primal cuts for additional processing into fabricated meats which are sold to commercial users and to retail grocery chains, as well as case-ready and label-branded cuts for retail distribution. The plant located in Carroll, Iowa is primarily a packaging facility for canned or cook-in-bag products. The facility located in Omaha, Nebraska, prepares primal beef and pork products into case-ready cuts of meat which can be shipped directly to retailers. In 1996, 1997 and 1998 total weekly pork processed approximated 16.2 million pounds, 16.8 million pounds and 16.7 million pounds, respectively. Average weekly head slaughter at the Company's four abattoirs (three abattoirs in 1996) was approximately 111,000, 132,000 and 148,000 in 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively. MARKETING The Company's pork products marketed include fresh pork, fabricated pork, smoked meats, ham, bacon, fresh sausage, dry sausage, hot dogs and packing house by-products. These products are marketed under a variety of brand names including: Farmland, Farmstead, OhSe, Maple River, Carando, Roegelein, Regal and Marco Polo. Product distribution is through national and regional retail food chains, food service accounts, distributors and through international marketing brokers. Pork marketing is a highly competitive industry with many suppliers of fresh and processed pork products competing for shelf space in retail food stores. Other meat products such as beef, poultry and fish also compete directly with pork products. Competitive methods in this segment include price, product quality, brand and product differentiation and customer service. BEEF PROCESSING The Company's beef processing and marketing operations are conducted through Farmland National Beef Packing Company, L.P. ("FNBPC") which at August 31, 1998, was 71.2%-owned by Farmland. The beef processing facilities are located in Liberal, Kansas and Dodge City, Kansas. These facilities function as beef abattoirs and process fresh beef into primal cuts for additional processing into fabricated or boxed beef. During 1996, 1997 and 1998, the two plants slaughtered an aggregate of 2.1 million, 2.1 million and 2.4 million cattle, respectively. MARKETING Products in the Company's beef processing and marketing operations include fresh and frozen beef, boxed beef and packing house by-products. Product distribution is through national and regional retail and food service customers as well as under the Farmland Black Angus Beef label. In addition, certain beef products are distributed in international markets. Beef marketing is a highly competitive industry with many suppliers of fresh and boxed beef. Other meat products such as pork, poultry and fish also compete directly with beef products. Competitive methods in this industry include price, product quality, brand and product differentiation and customer service. GRAIN MARKETING The Company, through its North American Grain Division ("NAGD") and through its international grain trading subsidiaries (collectively referred to as "Tradigrain"), markets wheat, corn, soybeans, milo, barley and oats, with wheat and corn constituting the majority of the marketing business. NAGD purchases grain from members and nonmembers located in the Midwestern part of the United States and assumes all risks related to selling such grain. Grain is priced in the United States principally through bids based on organized commodity markets. In 1998, the Company formed two 50%-owned alliances, Concourse Grain, LLC ("Concourse") and Farmland-Atwood, LLC ("Farmland- Atwood"), with ConAgra, Inc. ("ConAgra"). Concourse, a marketing alliance, will provide both domestic and international customers with multiple classes of wheat. Concourse is expected to improve access to international customers through its ability to export from multiple points across the United States. Farmland-Atwood will provide risk management services, financial and grain support services and grain brokerage to its customers. The Company is exposed to risk of loss in the market value of its grain inventory and on fixed price purchase contracts that require the Company to take delivery of grain at a specified date in the future if grain market prices decrease and is exposed to loss on its fixed price sales contracts if grain market prices increase. To reduce the price change risk associated with holding positions in grain, the Company takes opposite and offsetting positions by entering into grain commodity futures contracts. Generally, such contracts have terms of up to one year. The Company's strategy is to maintain hedged positions on as close to 100% of its grain positions as is possible. During 1996, 1997 and 1998, the Company maintained hedges on approximately 94.8%, 92.9% and 93.0%, respectively, of its grain positions. Based on total assets at the beginning and end of 1998, the average market value of grain positions not hedged during the year amounted to less than 1% of the Company's average total assets. While hedging activities reduce the risk of loss from changing market values of grain, such activities also limit the gain potential which otherwise could result from changes in market prices of grain. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations - Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources - Results of Operations for Years Ended August 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998 - Grain Marketing" included herein. Approximately 42%, 41% and 43% of grain revenues were from export sales or sales to domestic customers for export in 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively. Export-related sales are affected by the level of grain production in foreign countries. Furthermore, export- related sales are subject to international political events and changes in other countries' trade policies which are not within the control of the United States or the Company. Foreign sales of grain generally are paid in U.S. Dollars. The Company's international grain trading subsidiaries (collectively referred to as "Tradigrain") transact business in all major grains traded in international markets. Final consumers are either governmental entities, private companies or other major grain companies throughout the world. Tradigrain's purchases of grain are made on a cash basis and its sales of grain are mostly made against confirmed letters of credit. For purposes of the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company recognizes as sales the net margin on grain merchandised by Tradigrain rather than the gross value of such products merchandised. Furthermore, Tradigrain may take long or short grain positions. These positions are accounted for on a mark- to-market basis and the gain or loss is recognized as a component of net sales. PROPERTY The Company currently operates, through either ownership or lease, 24 inland elevators in the United States with a total capacity of approximately 147.6 million bushels of grain. RESEARCH The Company operates a research and development farm for the primary purpose of developing improvements in nutrition, breeding and feeding practices of livestock and pets. The Company also conducts research at its pork processing facilities directed toward product development and process improvement. Additionally, the Company formed a five-year alliance, beginning in 1997, with Kansas State University. Expenditures related to Company-sponsored product research and process improvements amounted to $2.4 million, $2.1 million and $2.4 million for 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively. CAPITAL EXPENDITURES AND INVESTMENTS IN VENTURES In 1998, the Company made capital expenditures and investments in ventures totaling $179.3 million. The Company has approved expenditures (of which $44.1 million was committed as of August 31, 1998) of $146.5 million for capital additions and improvements during the years 1999 and 2000. The majority of these expenditures are in the crop production, food processing and marketing and petroleum businesses and are primarily for plant improvements. From time to time, management may recommend additional capital projects to Farmland's Board of Directors for approval. The Company intends to fund its capital program with cash from operations, through borrowings or through other capital market transactions. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources." YEAR 2000 As the end of this century nears, there are concerns about potential problems which may arise at the turn of the millennium because many current computer systems and software products are coded to accept only two digit entries in date code fields. Before the year 2000, these systems and software products will need an upgrade in order to recognize differences between dates in the 21st century and dates in the 20th century. If not adequately addressed, these technology problems have a potential to cause widespread business interruptions, litigation and liability. Significant uncertainty exists, as to whether adequate resources are available to minimized these potentially serious problems by the year 2000. The Company is assessing, but has not completed assessing, its Year 2000 issues. Since the mid-1980's, the Company has strived to maintain Year 2000 compliance for all applications developed in- house. The challenge is that a substantial percentage of the applications used for normal business processing have been purchased from outside vendors. Historically, vendors were not required to commit to Year 2000 compliance. However, all new software contracts include Year 2000 compliance warranties. In April 1997, Farmland and Ernst & Young, LLP formed One System Group,LLC ("OSG"), a joint venture. OSG has approximately 400 employees and is the sole supplier of information technology ("IT") services to the Company. The initial focus of OSG involves the implementation of Systems, Applications, Products in Data Processing ("SAP") software as an enterprise wide solution for processing the Company's business transactions and for management reporting. One of the many important benefits of the implementation of SAP is that it is Year 2000 compliant and, therefore, its installation will eliminate a large amount of the Year 2000 risk inherent in the Company's systems and software. Mission critical (critical to the basic operation of Farmland's businesses)IT projects have not been deferred because of Year 2000 readiness efforts. The Company formalized its Year 2000 program with OSG in the fall of 1997. Through this program, Year 2000 readiness was defined by criteria which, if satisfied, would demonstrate that systems and applications programs function correctly after the turn of the century without abnormal results. In addition, systems and applications were categorized as "high risk" or "low risk" according to the respective level of impact on the continuation of business by the Company at the turn of the century. Further, the program established minimum acceptance testing procedures for evaluating whether systems and applications met Year 2000 compliant criteria. A comprehensive IT software inventory and assessment was then completed by OSG. As a result of this readiness assessment, the Company believes that certain of its systems and software are Year 2000 compliant and that substantially all noncompliant systems have been identified. To address the state of readiness condition, Farmland established an Oversight Committee consisting of the Chief Information Officer of OSG, the Chief Financial Officer and General Counsel of Farmland and a Year 2000 Program Office. The Oversight Committee has responsibility for both IT and non- IT systems (embedded technologies such as microcontrollers built into machinery) and has a direct reporting relationship to the Farmland Board of Directors. The Oversight Committee has delegated Year 2000 compliance responsibility for non-IT systems to management of the respective plants or facilities. Generally, progress with respect to non-IT systems is in an assessment phase. However, the Year 2000 issues of many process control systems and other non-IT systems have been identified and fixed or the respective system or application programs have been replaced and tested. The Company has not separately tracked the replacement cost and time related to non- IT systems. The Program Office organizes and administers Year 2000 projects related to IT systems. The Program Office maintains a detailed project plan to complete and test projects within discrete time frames. The Program Office continuously monitors the status of the SAP implementation and re-assesses the risk areas depending on movement of that system's implementation schedule. The Program Office provides a quarterly update of Year 2000 progress to the Oversight Committee. The Program Office has estimated that overall Year 2000 projects related to IT systems will require approximately $2.5 million (18,000 hours). Through October 1998, approximately 4,000 hours of such work had been performed. The targeted completion of the remaining work is September 1, 1999. The Company believes that the quantity and quality of resources it has committed to address its Year 2000 project are adequate to obtain a Year 2000 state of readiness and it believes all significant modifications required to reach a state of readiness for Year 2000 will be completed by the year 2000. However, despite all reasonable efforts of the Company to resolve its Year 2000 issues, as described above, no assurances can be given that the level of Year 2000 readiness actually attained will eliminate all potential material effects that Year 2000 problems might have on the Company's business, results of operation, or financial condition. It is not, and will not, be possible for the Company to represent that it has achieved complete Year 2000 compliance. The Company does not know all of the consequences of its most reasonably likely worst case Year 2000 scenario. The Company cannot address the virtually unlimited number of differing circumstances relating to what might be its most reasonably likely worst case. The Company is and intends to continue to address this uncertainty through activities of its Oversight Committee and Program Office, as described above. For all applications that are determined to be mission critical (critical to the basic operation of Farmland's businesses), a contingency plan will be developed to outline the actions that will be taken if Year 2000 complications are encountered. The plan will describe what will be done, both short-term and long-term, to minimize any interruption to Farmland's business. The Company has distributed a survey of its significant customers and vendors to determine their state of Year 2000 readiness. However, responses to the survey questionnaire have not provided a basis to conclude whether such customers and vendors are Year 2000 compliant. Further, the Company has not conducted and does not plan to conduct tests designed to confirm compatibility of its information systems as modified for Year 2000 issues with those of its significant customers and vendors. The Company will rely on the integrity of its vendors and customers to resolve their Year 2000 issues. GOVERNMENT REGULATION The Company's business is conducted within a legal environment created by numerous federal, state and local laws which have been enacted to protect the public's interest by promoting fair trade practices, safety, health and welfare. The Company believes that its operating procedures conform to the intent of these laws and that the Company currently is in compliance with all such laws, the violation of which could have a material adverse effect on the Company. Certain policies may be implemented from time to time by the United States Department of Agriculture, the Department of Energy or other governmental agencies which may impact the demands of farmers and ranchers for the Company's products or which may impact the methods by which certain of the Company's operations are conducted. Such policies may impact the Company's farm supply, food processing and marketing and grain storage and marketing operations. The Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act ("FAIR") represents the most significant change in government farm programs in more than 60 years. Under FAIR, the former system of variable price-linked deficiency payments to farmers has been replaced by a program of fixed payments which decline over a seven-year period. In addition, FAIR eliminates federal planting restrictions and acreage controls. The Company believes that FAIR was intended to accelerate the trend toward greater market orientation and reduced Government influence on the agricultural sector. As a result, the Company expects the number of acres under cultivation to increase over a long period of time. This increase may favorably impact demand of producers for the Company's plant nutrients and crop protection products and fuels. Whether demand for the Company's products is favorably impacted depends in a large part on whether U.S. agriculture becomes more competitive in world markets as this industry moves toward greater market orientation, the extent which governmental actions expand international trade agreements and whether market access opportunities for U.S. agriculture is increased. The U.S. Congress has in the past considered and may consider trade measures which, if passed, could enhance agricultural export potential. The Company believes "fast-track" (legislation which would authorize the President to submit a trade agreement to Congress with the assurance that it will be voted on within 90 days and not be subject to amendments), China normal trading relations, removal of trade sanctions and language to prohibit embargoes could benefit U.S. agricultural interests by opening markets, increasing exports and expanding trade opportunities with countries which import agricultural products. Absent such legislation,the Company's access to international markets may be adversely impacted. Management is not aware of any newly implemented or pending policies, other than as discussed above, having a significant impact or which may have a significant impact on operations of the Company. EMPLOYEE RELATIONS At August 31, 1998, the Company had approximately 16,100 employees. Approximately 50% of the Company's employees were represented by unions having national affiliations. The Company considers its relationship with employees to be generally satisfactory. No labor strikes or work stoppages within the last three fiscal years have had a materially adverse effect on the Company's operating results. Current labor contracts expire on various dates through September 2001. PATRONAGE REFUNDS AND DISTRIBUTION OF ANNUAL EARNINGS{ TC "PATRONAGE REFUNDS AND DISTRIBUTION OF ANNUAL EARNINGS" \f C \l "1" } Farmland operates on a cooperative basis. In accordance with its bylaws, Farmland determines its annual net earnings from transactions with members ("member-sourced earnings"). For this purpose, annual net earnings means income is before income tax determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The bylaws of Farmland provide that the Board of Directors has complete discretion with respect to the handling and ultimate disposition of any member-sourced losses. The member- sourced earnings (after handling of membersourced losses) are returned to members as patronage refunds in the form of qualified and/or nonqualified written notices of patronage refund allocation. Each member's portion of the annual patronage refund is determined by the earnings of Farmland attributed to the quantity or value of business transacted by the member with Farmland during the year for which the patronage is paid. A qualified patronage refund must be paid at least 20% in cash. The portion of the qualified patronage refund not paid in cash (the allocated equity portion) is currently paid by Farmland in common shares, associate member common shares or capital credits (depending on the membership status of the recipient). The Board of Directors may determine to pay the allocated equity portion in any other form or forms of equities. The allocated equity portion of the qualified patronage refund is determined annually by the Board of Directors, but is limited to no more than 80% of the total qualified patronage refund. The Company is allowed an income tax deduction for the total amount (the cash portion and the allocated equity portion) of its qualified patronage refunds. Nonqualified patronage refunds paid by Farmland have been recorded as book credits in the form of common shares, associate member common shares or capital credits (depending on the membership status of the recipient). The Board of Directors may determine to record the nonqualified patronage refund in any other form or forms of nonpreferred equities. The Company is not allowed an income tax deduction for the year a nonqualified patronage refund is paid. The nonqualified patronage refund is deductible for federal income tax purposes only when such nonqualified written notices of allocation are redeemed for cash or other property. For the years ended 1996, 1997 and 1998, patronage refunds authorized by the Board of Directors were: Cash or Cash Equivalent Portion of Patronage Non-Cash Portion of Total Patronage Refunds Patronage Refunds Refunds (Amounts in Thousands) 1996............... $ 32,719 $ 60,776 $ 93,495 1997............... $ 40,228 $ 68,079 $ 108,307 1998............... $ 23,593 $ 35,528 $ 59,121 Nonmember-sourced income (earnings attributed to transactions with persons not eligible to receive patronage refunds, i.e. nonmembers) and nonpatronage income or loss (income or loss from activities not directly related to the cooperative marketing or purchasing activities of Farmland) is subject to income taxes computed on the same basis as such taxes are computed on the income or loss of other corporations. EQUITY REDEMPTION PLANS { TC "EQUITY REDEMPTION PLANS" \F C \L "1" } The Equity Redemption Plans described below, namely the base capital plan, the estate settlement plan and the special equity redemption plans (collectively, the "Plans") may be changed at any time or from time to time at the sole and absolute discretion of the Board of Directors. The Plans are also not binding upon the Board of Directors or the Company and the Board of Directors reserves the right to redeem, or not redeem, any equities of the Company without regard to whether such action or inaction is in accordance with the Plans. The factors which may be considered by the Board of Directors in determining when and under what circumstances, the Company may redeem equities include, but are not limited to, the terms of the Company's base capital plan, the Company's results of operations, financial position, cash flow, capital requirements, long-term financial planning needs, income and other tax considerations and other relevant considerations. By retaining discretion to determine the amount, timing and ordering of any equity redemptions, the Board of Directors believes that it can continue to assure that the best interests of the Company and its owners will be protected. BASE CAPITAL PLAN For the purposes of acquiring and maintaining adequate capital to finance the business of the Company, the Board of Directors has established a base capital plan. The base capital plan provides a mechanism for determining the Company's total capital requirements and each voting member's and associate member's share thereof (hereinafter referred to as the "Base Capital Requirement"). As part of the base capital plan, the Board of Directors may, in its discretion, provide for redemption of Farmland common shares or associate member common shares held by voting members or associate members whose holdings of common shares or associate member shares exceed the voting members' or associate members' Base Capital Requirement. The base capital plan provides a mechanism under which the cash portion of the patronage refund payable to voting members or associate members will depend upon the degree to which such voting members or associate members meet their Base Capital Requirements. ESTATE SETTLEMENT PLAN The estate settlement plan provides that equity holdings of deceased natural persons (except for equity purchased and held for less than five years) be redeemed at par value. This provision is subject to a limitation of $1.0 million in any one fiscal year without further authorization by the Board of Directors for such year. SPECIAL EQUITY REDEMPTION PLANS From time to time, the Company has redeemed portions of its outstanding equity under various special equity redemption plans. The special equity redemption plans have been and may be changed at any time or from time to time at the sole and absolute discretion of the Board of Directors. The special equity redemption plans are not binding upon the Board of Directors or the Company and the Board of Directors reserves the right to redeem, or not redeem, any equities of the Company without regard to whether such action or inaction is in accordance with the special equity redemption plans. The special equity redemption plans are designed to return cash to members or former members of Farmland or Farmland Foods by providing a method for redemption of outstanding equity which may not be subject to redemption through other Plans, such as the base capital plan or the estate settlement plan. The order in which each type of equity is redeemed is determined by the Board of Directors. Presented below are the amounts of equity approved for redemption by the Board of Directors of Farmland and Farmland Foods under the base capital plan, the estate settlement plan and special equity redemption plans for each of the years in the three-year period ended 1998. During the third quarter of 1998, the Company approved and paid a special equity redemption of approximately $50.0 million. Substantially all other amounts approved for redemptions are paid in cash in the year following approval. Estate Base Capital Settlement and Plan Redemptions Special Equity Total Plan Redemptions(A) Redemptions (Amounts in Thousands) <c > 1996....... $ 14,024 $ 11,415 $ 25,439 1997....... $ 17,228 $ 11,492 $ 28,720 1998....... $ 8,868 $ 50,103 $ 58,971 (a)Includes redemptions of preferred stock. ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS The Company believes there is no litigation existing or pending against Farmland or any of its subsidiaries that, based on the amounts involved or the defenses available to the Company, would have a material adverse effect on the financial position of the Company except for the pending tax litigation relating to Terra, as explained in Note 6 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. See "Business and Properties - Business - Business Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources" included herein. ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF EQUITY HOLDERS No matter was submitted during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year covered by this report to a vote of equity holders, through the solicitation of proxies or otherwise. PART II ITEM 5. MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS There is no established public market for the voting common stock, associate member common stock and capital credits of Farmland. The Company believes that it is unlikely that a public market for these equities will develop in the foreseeable future for the following reasons: 1.the common stock, associate member common stock and capital credits are nondividend bearing; 2.the common stock, associate member common stock and capital credits are not transferable without consent of the Farmland Board of Directors. 3.the amount of patronage refunds a holder, who is eligible to receive patronage refunds, may receive is dependent on the earnings of Farmland attributable to the quantity or value of business such holder transacts with Farmland and not on the amount of equity held. See "Business and Properties - Business - Patronage Refunds and Distribution of Annual Earnings" included herein; and 4.Farmland intends to redeem its equities in accordance with the provisions of the Plans, which provisions may be changed at any time or from time to time at the sole and absolute discretion of the Board of Directors and which may be amended or otherwise changed at any time by the Board of Directors. See "Business and Properties - Business - Equity Redemption Plans" included herein. At August 31, 1998 there are approximately 3,500 holders of common shares, 680 holders of associate member shares and 6,200 holders of capital credits based on holders of record. ITEM 6. SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA The following selected consolidated financial data as of the end of and for each of the years in the five-year period ended August 31, 1998 are derived from the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company, which Consolidated Financial Statements have been audited by KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, independent certified public accountants. The Consolidated Financial Statements as of August 31, 1997 and 1998 and for each of the years in the three-year period ended August 31, 1998 (the "Consolidated Financial Statements") and the independent auditors' report thereon, are included elsewhere herein. The information set forth below should be read in conjunction with information appearing elsewhere herein: "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and the Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes. Year Ended August 31 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 (Amounts in Thousands) SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS:(1) Net Sales..................... $ 6,677,933 $ 7,256,869 $ 9,788,587 $ 9,147,507 $ 8,775,046 Operating Income of Industry Segments.................... 154,799 295,933 240,452 248,263 140,725 Interest Expense.............. 51,485 53,862 62,445 62,335 73,645 Net Income.................... 73,876 162,799 126,418 135,423 58,770 DISTRIBUTION OF NET INCOME: Patronage Refunds: Allocated Equity............ $ 44,032 $ 61,356 $ 60,776 $ 68,079 $ 35,528 Cash and Cash Equivalents................. 26,580 33,061 32,719 40,228 23,593 Earned Surplus and Other Equities.................... 3,264 68,382 32,923 27,116 (351) $ 73,876 $ 162,799 $ 126,418 $ 135,423 $ 58,770 BALANCE SHEETS: Working Capital............... $ 290,704 $ 319,513 $ 322,050 $ 242,211 $ 373,638 Property, Plant and Equipment, Net.............. 501,290 592,145 717,224 783,108 $ 827,149 Total Assets.................. 1,926,631 2,185,943 2,568,446 2,645,312 2,812,774 Long-Term Borrowings (excluding current maturities)......... 506,531 469,718 616,258 580,665 728,103 Capital Shares and Equities.................... 585,013 687,287 755,331 821,993 912,696 [FN] (1) See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources" included herein, for a discussion of the pending income tax litigation relating to Terra, a former subsidiary of the Company. ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FINANCIAL CONDITION, LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES The Company has historically maintained two primary sources for debt capital: a substantially continuous public offering of its subordinated debt and demand loan securities (the "continuous debt program") and bank lines of credit. The Company's debt securities issued under the continuous debt program generally are offered on a best-efforts basis through the Company's wholly owned broker-dealer subsidiary, Farmland Securities Company and through American Heartland Investments, Inc. (which is not affiliated with Farmland) and also may be offered by selected unaffiliated broker-dealers. The types of securities offered in the continuous debt program include certificates payable on demand and subordinated debt certificates. The total amount of such debt outstanding and the flow of funds to, or from, the Company as a result of the continuous debt program are influenced by the rate of interest which Farmland establishes for each type or series of debt security offered and by options of Farmland to call for redemption certain of its outstanding debt securities. During the year ended August 31, 1998, the outstanding balance of demand certificates decreased by $22.1 million and the outstanding balance of subordinated debt certificates increased by $33.4 million. In May 1996, Farmland entered into a five year Syndicated Credit Facility (the "Credit Facility") with various participating banks. The Credit Facility provides a $1.1 billion credit, subject to compliance with financial covenants as set forth in the Credit Facility, consisting of an annually renewable short-term credit of up to $650.0 million and a long-term credit of up to $450.0 million. Farmland pays commitment fees under the Credit Facility equal to 1/10 of 1% annually on the unused portion of the short-term credit and 1/4 of 1% annually on the unused portion of the long-term credit. In addition, Farmland must comply with the Credit Facility's financial covenants regarding working capital, the ratio of certain debts to average cash flow and the ratio of equity to total capitalization, all as defined in the agreement. The Company is in compliance with all covenants of the Credit Facility. The short-term credit provisions of the Credit Facility are reviewed and/or renewed annually. The next scheduled review date is in May 1999. The revolving term provisions of the Credit Facility expire in May 2001. At August 31, 1998, the Company had $328.2 million of short-term borrowing under the Facility and $170.0 million of revolving term borrowings; additionally, $30.3 million of the Facility was being utilized to support letters of credit issued on behalf of Farmland. As of August 31, 1998, under the short-term credit provisions, the Company had capacity to finance additional current assets of $297.0 million and, under the long-term credit provisions, the Company had capacity to borrow up to an additional $274.5 million. During April 1998, Farmland National Beef Packing Company, L.P. ("FNBPC") replaced its existing borrowing arrangements with a new five year $130.0 million credit facility. This facility, which expires March 31, 2003, is provided by various participating banks and all borrowings thereunder are nonrecourse to Farmland or Farmland's other affiliates. FNBPC used a portion of this facility to repay in full its borrowings from Farmland. At August 31, 1998, FNBPC had borrowings under this facility of $86.2 million and $1.3 million of the facility was being utilized to support letters of credit. FNBPC has pledged certain assets to support its borrowings under the new facility. Leveraged leasing has been utilized to finance railcars and a significant portion of the Company's fertilizer production equipment. In December 1997, the Company entered into a series of agreements which provide for the construction and operation under a long-term lease of facilities adjacent to the Company's petroleum refinery at Coffeyville, Kansas. These facilities are designed to convert petroleum coke by-products into fertilizers. When the facilities are completed (presently scheduled for early in fiscal year 2000), Farmland will be obligated to make future minimum lease payments which, at that time, will have an approximate present value of $223 million. Alternatively, Farmland has an option to purchase the facilities. The Company's subordinated debt securities are subordinated in right of payment to the future lease obligations. In the event Farmland should default on the obligations described above, future lease obligations may be accelerated. If accelerated, obligations due and payable would total approximately $263 million, all of which would be senior to the subordinated debt securities and, upon payment of such amount, Farmland would receive title to the assets. The Company maintains other borrowing arrangements with banks and financial institutions. Under such agreements, at August 31, 1998, $36.0 million was borrowed. Tradigrain has borrowing agreements with various international banks which provide financing and letters of credit to support current international grain trading transactions. Obligations of Tradigrain under these loan agreements are nonrecourse to Farmland or Farmland's other affiliates. At August 31, 1998, such borrowings totaled $34.9 million. In December 1997, the company sold 2 million shares of 8% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares (the "Preferred Shares") at $50 per Preferred Share with an aggregate liquidation preference of $100 million ($50 liquidation preference per share). The Preferred Shares are not redeemable prior to December 15, 2022. On and after December 15, 2022, the Preferred Shares may be redeemed for cash at the option of the Company, in whole or in part, at specified redemption prices declining to $50 per share on and after December 15, 2027, plus accumulated and unpaid dividends, if any, thereon. The Preferred Shares do not have any stated maturity, are not subject to any sinking fund or mandatory redemption provisions and are not convertible into any other securities of the Company. Proceeds from the issuance of the Preferred Shares have been used to call for early redemption approximately $47.6 million of principal and accumulated interest on certain subordinated debt securities and to redeem approximately $50.0 million of capital shares and equity. In the opinion of management, these arrangements for debt capital are adequate for the Company's present operating and capital plans. However, alternative financing arrangements are continuously evaluated. In the normal course of business, the Company utilizes derivative commodity instruments, primarily related to grain, to hedge its exposure to price volatility. These instruments consist mainly of grain contracts traded on organized exchanges and forward purchase and sales contracts in cash markets. These hedging activities limit both the risk of loss and the potential for gain which otherwise could result from changes in market prices. Also, in the ordinary course of its international grain trading business, the Company may take long or short grain positions. Such positions are accounted for on a markto-market basis and the gain or loss is recognized currently as a component of net earnings. See "Business and Properties - Business - Grain Marketing". Farmland operates on a cooperative basis. In accordance with its bylaws, Farmland determines its annual net earnings from transactions with members ("member-sourced earnings"). For this purpose, annual net earnings are before income tax determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Losses (including patronage allocation unit losses), if any, are handled in accordance with the Company's bylaws. The remaining member-sourced earnings are returned to members as patronage refunds in the form of qualified or nonqualified written notice of patronage refund allocation. Each member's portion of the annual patronage refund is determined by the earnings of Farmland attributed to the quantity or value of business transacted by the member with Farmland during the year for which the patronage is paid. Other income is classified as either nonmember-sourced income (earnings attributed to transactions with persons not eligible to receive patronage refunds, i.e. nonmembers) or nonpatronage income or loss (income or loss from activities not directly related to the cooperative marketing or purchasing activities of Farmland) and is subject to income taxes. Nonpatronage and nonmember after-tax earnings are transferred to earned surplus. Under Farmland's bylaws, patronage refunds, determined as stated above, are distributed to members unless the earned surplus account after such distribution is lower than 30% of the sum of the prior year-end balance of outstanding common shares, associate member shares, capital credits and patronage refunds for reinvestment. In such cases, the patronage refund is reduced by the lesser of 15% or an amount required to increase the earned surplus account to the required 30%. The amount by which the patronage refund income is so reduced is treated as nonmember-sourced income. The patronage refund income remaining is distributed to members as in the form of qualified or nonqualified written notices of allocation. For the years 1996, 1997 and 1998, the earned surplus account exceeded the required amount by $84.7 million, $101.7 million and $80.1 million, respectively. The patronage refunds may be paid in the form of qualified or nonqualified written notices of allocation or cash. The qualified patronage refund, if any, must be paid at least 20% in cash and is deductible by the Company for federal income tax purposes. The portion of the qualified patronage refund not paid in cash (the allocated equity portion) is distributed in common shares, associate member common shares or capital credits (depending on the membership status of the recipient), or the Board of Directors may determine to distribute the allocated equity portion in any other form or forms of equities. The allocated equity portion of the qualified patronage refund is determined annually by the Board of Directors, but is limited to no more than 80% of the total qualified patronage refund. The nonqualified patronage refund, if any, is recorded as book credits in the form of common shares, associate member common shares or capital credits (depending on the membership status of the recipient), or the Board of Directors may determine to record the nonqualified patronage refund in any other form or forms of nonpreferred equities. The nonqualified patronage refund is deductible by the Company for federal income tax purposes only upon redemption of the equity or equities issued. The nonqualified patronage refund and the allocated equity portion of the qualified patronage refund are sources of funds from operations which are retained for use in the business and which increase Farmland's equity base. Common shares and associate member common shares may be redeemed by cash payments from Farmland to holders thereof who participate in Farmland's base capital plan. Common stock, associate member common stock, capital credits and other equities of Farmland and Foods may also be redeemed under other equity redemption plans. The base capital plan and other equity redemption plans are described under "Business and Properties - Business - Equity Redemption Plans" included herein. Major sources of cash during 1998 include: $37.7 million from operating activities; $57.6 million from cash distributions from ventures; $100.0 million from the issuance of preferred shares; $11.2 million of net proceeds from issuance of subordinated debt and demand loan certificates; $118.4 million of net proceeds on bank loans and notes payable; and $61.5 million from the collection of long-term notes receivable,the sale of fixed assets and investments. Cash provided by operating activities decreased in 1998 compared with 1997 primarily due to the decrease of net income, accounts payable and other current operating liability accounts. Major uses of cash during 1998 include: $136.1 million for capital expenditures and acquisition of other long-term assets; $69.5 million for acquisition of investments and notes receivable; $47.2 million of net decrease in checks and drafts outstanding; $40.4 million for cash patronage refunds distributed from income of the 1997 fiscal year; and $80.2 million for the redemption of equities under the Farmland base capital and other equity redemption plans. In July 1983, Farmland sold the stock of Terra, a wholly owned subsidiary engaged in oil and gas exploration and production operations and exited its oil and gas exploration and production activities. The gain from the sale of Terra amounted to $237.2 million for tax reporting purposes. On March 24, 1993, the IRS issued a statutory notice to Farmland asserting deficiencies in federal income taxes (exclusive of statutory interest thereon) in the aggregate amount of $70.8 million. The asserted deficiencies relate primarily to the Company's tax treatment of the $237.2 million gain resulting from its sale of the stock of Terra and the IRS's contention that Farmland incorrectly treated the Terra sale gain as income against which certain patronage-sourced operating losses could be offset. The statutory notice further asserts that Farmland incorrectly characterized for tax purposes gains aggregating approximately $14.6 million and a loss of approximately $2.3 million from dispositions of certain other assets. On June 11, 1993, Farmland filed a petition in the United States Tax Court contesting the asserted deficiencies in their entirety. The case was tried on June 13-15, 1995. The parties submitted post-trial briefs to the court in September 1995 and reply briefs were submitted to the court in November 1995. If the United States Tax Court decides in favor of the IRS on all unresolved issues raised in the statutory notice, Farmland would have additional federal and state income tax liabilities aggregating approximately $85.8 million plus accumulating statutory interest thereon (approximately $279.9 million through August 31, 1998), or $365.7 million (before tax benefits of the interest deduction) in the aggregate at August 31, 1998. In addition, such a decision would affect the computation of Farmland's taxable income for its 1989 tax year and, as a result, could increase Farmland's federal and state income taxes for that year by approximately $15.3 million (including accumulated statutory interest thereon). The asserted federal and state income tax liabilities and accumulated interest thereon would become immediately due and payable unless the Company appealed the decision and posted the requisite bond to stay assessment and collection. In March 1998, Farmland received notice from the IRS assessing the $15.3 million tax and accumulated statutory interest thereon related to the Company's 1989 tax year (as described above). In order to establish the trial court in which initial litigation, if any, of the dispute would occur and to stop the accumulation of interest, the Company deposited funds with the IRS in the amount of the assessment. After making the deposit, the Company filed for a refund of the entire amount deposited. The liability resulting from an adverse decision by the United States Tax Court would be charged to current earnings and would have a material adverse effect on the Company. In the event of such an adverse determination of the Terra tax issue, certain financial covenants of the Company's Syndicated Credit Facility (the "Facility") become less restrictive. Had the United States Tax Court decided in favor of the IRS on all unresolved issues and had all related additional federal and state income taxes and accumulated interest thereon been due and payable on August 31, 1998, Farmland's borrowing capacity under the Credit Facility was adequate at that time to finance the liability. However, Farmland's ability to finance such an adverse decision depends substantially on the financial effects of future operating events on its borrowing capacity under the Credit Facility. No provision has been made in the Consolidated Financial Statements for federal or state income taxes (or interest thereon) in respect of the IRS claims described above. The Company believes that it has meritorious positions with respect to all of these claims. In the opinion of Bryan Cave LLP, the Company's special tax counsel, it is more likely than not that the courts will ultimately conclude that the Company's treatment of the Terra sale gain was substantially, if not entirely, correct. Such counsel has further advised, however, that none of the issues involved in this dispute is free from doubt and there can be no assurance that the courts will ultimately rule in favor of the Company on any of these issues. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR YEARS ENDED AUGUST 31, 1996, 1997 AND 1998 The Company's revenues, margins and net income depend, to a large extent, on conditions in agriculture and may be volatile due to factors beyond the Company's control, such as weather, crop failures, federal agricultural programs, production efficiencies and U.S. imports and exports. In addition, various federal and state regulations to protect the environment encourage farmers to reduce the use of fertilizers and other chemicals. Global variables which affect supply, demand and price of crude oil, refined fuels, natural gas and other commodities may impact the Company's operations. Historically, changes in the costs of raw materials used in the manufacture of the Company's finished products have not necessarily resulted in corresponding changes in the prices at which such products have been sold by the Company. Management cannot determine the extent to which these factors may impact future operations of the Company. The Company's cash flow and net income may continue to be volatile as conditions affecting agriculture and markets for the Company's products change. The increase (decrease) in sales and operating income by business segment in each of the years in the three-year period ended 1997, compared with the respective prior year, is presented in the below table. Change in Sales 1996 1997 1998 Compared Compared Compared with 1997 with 1995 with 1996 (Amount in Millions) INCREASE (DECREASE) OF INDUSTRY SEGMENT SALES: Petroleum........................................................ $ 181 $ 274 $ (195) Crop Production.................................................. 165 (73) (105) Feed............................................................. 102 48 (68) Food Processing and Marketing.................................... 535 338 90 Grain Marketing.................................................. 1,562 (1,230) (106) Other............................................................ (14) 2 12 TOTAL CHANGE IN SALES.............................................. $2,531 $ (641) $ (372) Change in Operating and Net Income 1996 1997 1998 Compared Compared Compared with 1997 with 1995 with 1996 (Amount in Millions) INCREASE (DECREASE) OF OPERATING INCOME OR LOSS: Petroleum........................................................ $ 13 $ 32 $ (36) Crop Production.................................................. (20) (19) (112) Feed............................................................. 3 (6) 4 Food Processing and Marketing.................................... (12) (19) 9 Grain Marketing.................................................. (36) 25 24 Other............................................................ (3) (5) 3 TOTAL CHANGE IN OPERATING INCOME................................... $ (55) $ 8 $ (108) CORPORATE EXPENSES AND OTHER: General corporate expenses (increase) decrease..................... $ (10) $ 2 $ (6) Interest expense (increase) decrease............................... (8) - (11) Other income and deductions increase (decrease).................... 9 (2) 8 Equity in net income of investees increase......................... 18 1 11 Minority owners' interest in net income of subsidiaries (increase) decrease.............................................. 2 (1) 2 Income taxes decrease.............................................. 8 1 $ 28 Net income increase (decrease)..................................... $ (36) $ 9 $ (76) In computing the operating income or loss of an industry segment, none of the following have been added or deducted: corporate expenses (included in the Consolidated Statements of Operations as selling, general and administrative expenses) which cannot be practicably identified or allocated to an industry segment, interest expense, interest income, equity in net income (loss) of investees, other income (deductions) and income taxes. Following is management's discussion of industry segment sales, operating income or loss and other factors affecting the Company's net income during 1996, 1997 and 1998. PETROLEUM SALES The petroleum business's unit sales of refined fuels increased by 7.5% in 1998 compared to 1997. However, aggregate petroleum dollar sales decreased by $194.9 million, or 14.6%, in 1998 compared with 1997 primarily due to a 15.3% decrease in the average unit price of refined fuels (gasoline, distillates and diesel) and a 29.3% decrease in the average unit price of propane products. Sales of the petroleum business increased $273.5 million, or 25.8%, in 1997 compared with 1996. This increase was primarily attributable to expansion of the refinery's capacity, which resulted in increased unit sales of gasoline, distillates and diesel fuel, as well as to an increase of the unit price for these products. Sales of the petroleum business increased $181.5 million in 1996 compared with 1995. This increase was primarily the result of an 11% increase of the average price of refined fuels and increased unit sales of approximately 9.5%. OPERATING INCOME The petroleum business had operating income of $0.4 million in 1998 compared with $36.3 million in 1997. This decrease resulted primarily from a $27.6 million adjustment of year-end last-in, first- out ("LIFO") inventories to market value. Petroleum operating income also decreased as finished goods prices declined more than crude oil prices declined, resulting in lower gross margins on units sold. Operating income of the petroleum business increased $31.5 million in 1997 compared with 1996. This increase was primarily a result of higher margins coupled with increased unit sales. The higher margins are primarily attributable to an increase in the difference between crude oil prices and finished product prices, the ability of the refinery to process crude oil streams containing a higher proportion of sulfur and to higher production efficiencies resulting from increased refinery capacity. The petroleum business had operating income of $5.0 million in 1996 compared to an operating loss of $8.0 million in 1995. This improvement was primarily attributable to higher unit margins resulting from seasonal demand pressure on product price movements. In addition, petroleum realized some margin improvement resulting from increased production capacity at the Company's refinery. CROP PRODUCTION SALES Although crop production unit sales increased 2.3% in 1998 compared to 1997, unit prices for nitrogen-based fertilizers decreased 15.0% and unit prices for phosphate-based fertilizers decreased 6.7%. As a result, crop production sales decreased $105.7 million, or 8.4%, in 1998 compared with 1997. The decline in nitrogen-based fertilizer prices resulted from pressures of rising capacity and inventories in the industry combined with decreased demand from East Asia and China. Crop production sales decreased $72.7 million, or 5.4%, in 1997 compared with 1996. This decrease was primarily a result of lower unit sales of phosphate and nitrogen fertilizers and lower phosphate-based fertilizer prices partially offset by higher nitrogen prices. Crop production sales increased $164.9 million or 14.1% in 1996 compared with 1995. This increase was primarily a net result of increased unit sales of phosphate and nitrogen fertilizers and higher phosphate-based fertilizer prices, partly offset by a slight decline of nitrogen prices. OPERATING INCOME Operating income of the Company's crop production business decreased $111.9 million, or 70%, in 1998 compared with 1997. This decrease was primarily a result of lower nitrogen fertilizer unit margins partially offset by higher unit margins for phosphate fertilizers. Nitrogen margins decreased primarily due to lower selling prices which declined as a result of additional global fertilizer production capacity combined with lower demand in the East Asian market, particularly China. The Company's share of net income from crop production ventures, primarily phosphate manufacturing and WILFARM, increased in 1998 to $46.9 million compared with $41.2 million in 1997. Operating income of the Company's crop production business decreased $18.8 million, or 10.5%, in 1997 compared with 1996. This decrease was primarily a result of higher natural gas costs which resulted in lower nitrogen fertilizer unit margins, partially offset by higher unit margins related to the distribution of phosphate fertilizers. The Company's share of net income from crop production ventures, primarily phosphate manufacturing and WILFARM, decreased slightly in 1997 to $41.2 million compared with $41.9 million in 1996. Operating income of the Company's crop production business in 1996 decreased $19.7 million from 1995, primarily because of lower fertilizer margins. However, the aggregate contribution to net income from all crop production operations (including joint ventures) was at about the same level in 1996 as in 1995. Nitrogen fertilizer margins decreased by approximately $6.0 million, or 2.8%, as a result of lower average unit selling prices combined with higher raw material costs. Unit margins from the Company's phosphate fertilizer operations decreased approximately $16.7 million. The effect of these decreases were largely offset by an increase of approximately $17.1 million in the Company's share of net income from joint ventures engaged in phosphate fertilizer manufacturing operations and an increase of approximately $2.4 million in the Company's share of net income from WILFARM. FEED SALES Sales of the feed business decreased $68.3 million in 1998 compared with 1997. The decrease resulted primarily from the sale of approximately the same volume as in the prior year combined with lower per ton ingredient prices in livestock feed and feed ingredients. Sales of the feed business increased $48.1 million in 1997 compared with 1996. This increase resulted primarily from higher unit prices of feed ingredients combined with a slight increase in volume. Sales of feed products increased 21.9% to $569.9 million in 1996 compared with $467.7 million in 1995. The increase was primarily attributable to higher unit prices which reflected higher cost of raw materials. In addition, unit sales of formula feed and feed ingredients increased approximately 2% and 10%, respectively. OPERATING INCOME Operating income in the feed business increased $4.3 million in 1998 compared with 1997. The increase was primarily attributable to higher margins per ton in livestock feed, feed ingredients and pet/specialty/equine feeds as well as lower expenses. Operating income of the feed business decreased $6.3 million in 1997 compared with 1996. This decrease was primarily attributable to declining sales through traditional local cooperative channels and an increase in sales to lower margin commercial accounts. Operating income of the feed business increased $2.9 million in 1996 compared with 1995. This increase was attributable primarily to increased unit margins on feed grade phosphate and to increased sales of feed ingredients. FOOD PROCESSING AND MARKETING SALES Sales from the Company's food processing and marketing business increased $90.2 million in 1998 compared with 1997. The increase was attributable to increases of approximately 15% and 9% in the number of cattle and hogs processed, respectively, partly offset by lower wholesale prices for beef and pork. The Company's food processing and marketing business sales increased $338.4 million in 1997 compared with 1996. This increase was largely attributable to increased unit volume primarily resulting from the operations of pork processing plants acquired during the third and fourth quarters of 1996. Unit price increases of approximately 4% also contributed to the increase in sales. Sales of the food processing and marketing business increased $528.1 million in 1996 compared with 1995. Beef sales increased $308.7 million due primarily to the effect of including operations of the Hyplains Beef L.C. ("Hyplains") beef plant in the Company's financial statements for a full year in 1996. The Company acquired a majority ownership in this plant in March 1995. Pork sales increased $219.4 million primarily as a result of higher unit sales of branded products mostly as a result of acquisitions (OhSe and Farmstead brands). OPERATING INCOME Operating income of the Company's food processing and marketing business increased $9.0 million in 1998 compared with 1997. The increase was primarily due to increased gross margins in pork processing and marketing operations due to lower hog prices. This increase was partly offset by losses in livestock production, also resulting from lower hog prices and by losses on the beef processing and marketing operations. Operating income of the Company's food processing and marketing business decreased $18.8 million in 1997 compared with 1996. This decrease was primarily attributable to the increased cost to acquire live hogs and to the increased selling and administrative expenses related to the food processing business, partially offset by increased beef unit margins. Operating income of the food processing and marketing business of $65.1 million in 1996 represented a $12.0 million decrease compared to 1995. This decrease primarily resulted from decreased margins on fresh pork and increased administrative expenses, partially offset by increased beef unit sales. GRAIN MARKETING SALES AND OPERATING INCOME Although sales volume in bushels increased 3.7%, lower commodity prices resulted in a 4.8% decrease in total grain marketing sales, from $2.2 billion in 1998 to $2.1 billion in 1997. Operating income in the grain business increased $23.6 million in 1998 compared with 1997. This increase resulted from significantly improved margins on certain international grain transactions and from higher storage revenues. The Company's grain marketing sales decreased $1.2 billion in 1997 compared with 1996. This decrease resulted from decreases in both unit sales (primarily due to a reduction in export sales) and unit prices. The grain marketing business had operating income of $6.8 million in 1997 compared with an operating loss of $18.2 million in 1996. This increase in operating income was primarily attributable to higher margins combined with increased storage income. Grain sales increased $1.6 billion, or 82%, in 1996 compared to 1995 principally owing to a 40% increase in units sold combined with increased grain prices. Grain had a $18.2 million operating loss in 1996 compared with $17.9 million operating income in 1995. The operating loss was principally attributable to drought conditions in certain major wheat producing regions of the United States which resulted in both shortages of and significantly higher prices for wheat. Due to this shortage, the Company had to source wheat (in order to meet contractual obligations) from domestic geographic areas further from the Company's gulf coast export elevator than expected, resulting in higher than anticipated purchase prices and transportation charges. The Company's policy is to hedge its exposure to price fluctuations. However, in order to avoid influencing price movement in certain commodity futures markets, significant contracts are hedged over a period of time, but as soon as practical, after such contracts are written. In 1996, the Company entered into a significant fixed price sales contract. During the time required to fully hedge this contract, the market for wheat was relatively volatile but generally trended upward. The joint effect of these factors contributed to the 1996 loss in the Company's grain operations. SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES Selling, general and administrative expenses ("SG&A") increased $22.6 million, or 5.5%, in 1998 compared with 1997. SG&A directly associated with business segments increased $16.4 million (primarily related to the grain marketing and meats businesses) and has been included in the determination of the operating income of business segments. General corporate expenses not identified to business segments increased $6.2 million primarily as a result of the increased cost of management information systems and the acquisition of SF Services, Inc. ("SF Services"). SG&A increased $40.4 million, or 11%, in 1997 compared with 1996. SG&A directly associated with business segments increased $42.3 million (primarily associated with the food processing and marketing segment) and has been included in the determination of the operating income of business segments. General corporate expenses not identified to business segments decreased $1.9 million primarily as a result of lower employee-related costs. SG&A increased $24.6 million, or 7.1%, in 1996 compared with 1995. Approximately $11.8 million of the increase was directly connected to business segments (primarily the food processing and marketing and grain marketing segments) and has been included in the determination of the operating income of business segments. The increase of general corporate expenses, not identified to business segments ($12.81 million), included higher expenses from improving the management information systems and higher employee-related costs. OTHER INCOME (DEDUCTIONS) INTEREST EXPENSE Interest expense increased $11.3 million in 1998 compared with 1997, primarily reflecting higher average borrowings. Interest expense decreased $0.1 million in 1997 compared with 1996, reflecting lower average borrowings offset by a slight increase in the average interest rate. Interest expense increased $8.6 million in 1996 compared with 1995, reflecting higher average borrowings, partly offset by a slight decline in the average interest rate. OTHER, NET During 1998, the Company sold: (1) an approximate 3.8% interest in FNBPC, resulting in a gain before income taxes of $7.2 million; and (2) all of its interest in Cooperative Services Company, formerly a 100% owned subsidiary, resulting in a gain before income taxes of $2.2 million. In May 1996, the Company sold its interest in a communications joint venture, Broadcast Partners. The sale resulted in a gain before income taxes of $10.9 million CAPITAL EXPENDITURES See "Business and Properties - Business - Capital Expenditures and Investments in Ventures." MATTERS INVOLVING THE ENVIRONMENT The Company is subject to various stringent federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations, including those governing the use, storage, discharge and disposal of hazardous materials, as the Company uses hazardous substances and generates hazardous wastes in the ordinary course of its manufacturing processes. The Company recognizes liabilities related to remediation of contaminated properties when the related costs are probable and can be reasonably estimated. Estimates of these costs are based upon currently available facts, existing technology, undiscounted site specific costs and currently enacted laws and regulations. In reporting environmental liabilities, no offset is made for potential recoveries. Such liabilities include estimates of the Company's share of costs attributable to potentially responsible parties which are insolvent or otherwise unable to pay. All liabilities are monitored and adjusted regularly as new facts or changes in law or technology occur. The Company wholly or jointly owns or operates 24 grain elevators and 75 manufacturing properties and has potential responsibility for environmental conditions at a number of former manufacturing facilities and at waste disposal facilities operated by third parties. The Company also has been identified as a potentially responsible party ("PRP") under the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 ("CERCLA") at various National Priority List sites and has unresolved liability with respect to the past disposal of hazardous substances at five such sites. CERCLA may impose joint and several liability on certain statutory classes of persons for the costs of investigation and remediation of contaminated properties, regardless of fault or the legality of the original disposal. These persons include the present and former owners or operators of a contaminated property and companies that generated, disposed of, or arranged for the disposal of hazardous substances found at the property. The Company is investigating or remediating contamination at 26 properties under CERCLA and/or the state and federal hazardous waste management laws. During 1996, 1997 and 1998, the Company paid approximately $1.8 million, $4.6 million and $3.1 million, respectively, for environmental investigation and remediation. The Company currently is aware of probable obligations for environmental matters at 36 properties. As of August 31, 1998, the Company has an environmental accrual in its Consolidated Balance Sheet for probable and reasonably estimated cost for remediation of contaminated property of $14.4 million. The Company periodically reviews and, as appropriate, revises its environmental accruals. Based on current information and regulatory requirements, the Company believes that the accruals established for environmental expenditures are adequate. The Company's actual final costs of addressing certain environmental matters are not quantifiable and therefore have not been accrued, because such matters are in preliminary stages and the timing, extent and costs of various actions which governmental authorities may require are currently unknown. Also, management is aware of other environmental matters for which there is a reasonable possibility that the Company will incur costs to resolve. It is possible that the costs of resolution of the matters described in this paragraph may exceed the liabilities which, in the opinion of management, are probable and which costs are reasonably estimable at August 31, 1998. In the opinion of management, it is reasonably possible for such additional costs to be approximately $19.2 million. Under the Resource Conservation Recovery Act of 1976 (' 'RCRA''), the Company has three closure and four post-closure plans in place for five locations. Closure and post-closure plans also are in place for three landfills and two injection wells as required by state regulations. Such closure and postclosure costs are estimated to be $4.9 million at August 31, 1998 (and is in addition to the $19.2 million discussed in the prior paragraph). The Company accrues these liabilities when plans for termination of plant operations have been made. Operations are being conducted at these locations and the Company does not plan to terminate such operations in the foreseeable future. Therefore, the Company has not accrued these environmental exit costs. There can be no assurance that the environmental matters described above, or environmental matters which may develop in the future, will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition or results of operations. Protection of the environment requires the Company to incur expenditures for equipment or processes, which expenditures may impact the Company's future net income. However, the Company does not anticipate that its competitive position will be adversely affected by such expenditures or by laws and regulations enacted to protect the environment. Environmental expenditures are capitalized when such expenditures provide future economic benefits. In 1996, 1997 and 1998, the Company had capital expenditures of approximately $10.9 million, $8.4 million and $8.7 million, respectively, to improve the environmental compliance and efficiency of its operations. Management believes the Company currently is in substantial compliance with existing environmental rules and regulations. RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS Statements of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 130, "Reporting Comprehensive Income," No. 131, "Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information," and No. 132, "Employer's Disclosures About Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits" have been issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") and are effective for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 1997. These statements expand or modify disclosures and, accordingly, will have no impact on the Company's reported financial position, results of operations or cash flows. SFAS No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities" was issued in June 1998 by the FASB and is effective for fiscal periods beginning after June 15, 1999. The Company is currently evaluating the impact, if any, that adoption of the provisions of SFAS No. 133 will have on its financial statements. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT FOR PURPOSES OF THE "SAFE HARBOR" PROVISIONS OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995 The Company is including the following cautionary statement in this Form to make applicable and take advantage of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 for any forward-looking statement made by, or on behalf of, the Company. The factors identified in this cautionary statement are important factors (but not necessarily all important factors) that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statement made by, or on behalf of, the Company. Where any such forward-looking statement includes a statement of the assumptions or basis underlying such forward-looking statement, the Company cautions that, while it believes such assumptions or basis to be reasonable and makes them in good faith, assumed facts or basis almost always vary from actual results and the differences between assumed facts or basis and actual results can be material, depending upon the circumstances. Where, in any forwardlooking statement, the Company, or its management, expresses an expectation or belief as to future results, such expectation or belief is expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis, but there can be no assurance that the statement of expectation or belief will result or be achieved or accomplished. Such forward looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the seasonal effects upon the Company's business, the effects of actual, pending and possible legislation and regulation upon the Company's business (including, but not limited to, the effects of FAIR, "fasttrack" and certain environmental laws), the anticipated expenditures for environmental remediation, the consequences of an adverse judgment in certain litigations (including the Terra litigation), the Company's ability to fully and timely complete modifications and expansions with respect to certain of the Company's manufacturing facilities, the redemption of the Company's various equities, the adequacy of certain raw material reserves and supplies, the Company's objectives with respect to certain strategic acquisitions and dispositions and the Company's ability to resolve Year 2000 issues with respect to its financial, informational and operational systems. Discussion containing such forward-looking statements is found in the material set forth under "Business and Properties" (including, without limitation, "Business Risk Factors"), "Market for the Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters", "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements", as well as within this Form 10-K generally. Taking into account the foregoing, the following are identified as important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statement made by, or on behalf of, the Company: 1.Weather patterns (flood, drought, frost, etc.) or crop failure. 2.Federal or state regulations regarding agricultural programs and production efficiencies. 3.Federal or state regulations regarding the amounts of fertilizer and other chemical applications used by farmers. 4.Factors affecting the export of U.S. agricultural produce (including foreign trade and monetary policies, laws and regulations, political and governmental changes, inflation and exchange rates, taxes, operating conditions and world demand). 5.Factors affecting supply, demand and price of crude oil, refined fuels, natural gas and other commodities. 6.Regulatory delays and other unforeseeable obstacles beyond the Company's control that may affect growth strategies through acquisitions and investments in joint ventures. 7.Competitors in various segments which may be larger than the Company, offer more varied products or possess greater resources. 8.Technological changes (including "Year 2000" compliance issues) are more difficult or expensive to implement than anticipated. 9.Unusual or unexpected events such as, among other things, litigation settlements, adverse rulings or judgments and environmental remediation costs in excess of amounts accrued. 10.The factors identified in "Business and Properties - Business - Business Risk Factors" included herein. ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS The Company is exposed to various market risks, including commodity price risk, foreign currency risk and interest rate risk. To manage the volatility related to these risks, the Company enters into various derivative transactions pursuant to the Company's policies in areas such as counter-party exposure and hedging practices. Within limits approved by the Company's Board of Directors, the Company's international grain trading subsidiary, Tradigrain, may take net long or short commodity positions. Otherwise, the Company does not hold or issue derivative instruments for trading purposes. Commodities to which the Company has risk exposure include: wheat, corn and milo, soybeans, cattle, hogs, natural gas, crude oil and refined fuels. The Company maintains risk management control systems to monitor its commodity risks and the offsetting hedge positions. The following table presents one measure of market risk exposure using sensitivity analysis. Market risk exposure is defined as the change in the fair value of the derivative commodity instruments assuming a hypothetical change of 10% in market prices Actual changes in commodity market prices may differ from hypothetical changes. Fair value was determined for derivative commodity contracts using the average quoted market prices for the three near-term contract periods. For derivative commodity instruments, fair value was based on the Company's net position by commodity at year-end. The market risk exposure excludes the underlying positions that are being hedged. The underlying commodities hedged have a high inverse correlation to price changes of the derivative commodity instruments. Effect of 10% Change in Fair Value As of August 31, 1998 (In millions) DERIVATIVE COMMODITY CONTRACTS: Grains: Trading................. ... $4.9 Other than Trading......... $0.9 Energy, other than trading... $8.9 Meats, other than trading.... $0.6 The Company uses interest rate swaps to hedge a portion of its variable interest rate exposure and uses foreign currency forward contracts to hedge its exposure related to certain foreign currency denominated transactions. Assuming an adverse interest rate movement of 100 basis points and assuming an adverse movement in the foreign currency spot price of 10%, the impact on fair value of interest and currency positions held would be $3.1 million and $4.1 million, respectively. Market risk on these transactions is not material to the Company's results of operations or financial position. ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA INDEX TO FARMLAND CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Independent Auditors' Report ...............................73 Consolidated Balance Sheets, August 31, 1997 and 1998 .......................................................75 Consolidated Statements of Operations for each of the years in the three-year period ended August 31, 1998 ...................................................83 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended August 31, 1998 ...................................................87 Consolidated Statements of Capital Shares and Equities for each of the years in the three-year period ended August 31, 1998 ...............................94 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements .................99 INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT The Board of Directors Farmland Industries, Inc.: We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Farmland Industries, Inc. and subsidiaries as of August 31, 1997 and 1998, and the related consolidated statements of operations, cash flows and capital shares and equities for each of the years in the three-year period ended August 31, 1998. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Farmland Industries, Inc. and subsidiaries as of August 31, 1997 and 1998, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended August 31, 1998, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. KPMG Peat Marwick LLP Kansas City, Missouri October 16, 1998 FARMLAND INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS ASSETS August 31 1997 1998 (Amounts in Thousands) Current Assets: Cash and cash equivalents............................................ $ -0- $ 7,334 Accounts receivable - trade........................................ 589,028 596,415 Inventories (Note 2)............................................... 745,301 725,967 Other current assets............................................... 94,239 145,151 Total Current Assets.......................................... $ 1,428,568 $ 1,474,867 Investments and Long-Term Receivables (Note 3) $ 266,554 $ 298,402 Property, Plant and Equipment (Notes 4 and 5): Property, plant and equipment, at cost............................. $ 1,585,824 $ 1,680,373 Less accumulated depreciation and amortization..................... 802,716 853,224 Net Property, Plant and Equipment.................................. $ 783,108 $ 827,149 Other Assets......................................................... $ 167,082 $ 212,356 Total Assets......................................................... $ 2,645,312 $ 2,812,774 FN> See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. FARMLAND INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS LIABILITIES AND EQUITIES August 31 1997 1998 (Amounts in Thousands) Current Liabilities: Demand loan certificates............................................... $ 50,523 $ 28,407 Short-term notes payable (Note 5)...................................... 258,342 380,232 Current maturities of long-term debt (Note 5).......................... 91,643 38,946 Accounts payable - trade............................................... 366,345 330,043 Other current liabilities.............................................. 419,504 323,601 Total Current Liabilities......................................... $ 1,186,357 $ 1,101,229 Long-Term Liabilities (Note 5): Long-term borrowings (excluding current maturities).................... $ 580,665 $ 728,103 Other long-term liabilities............................................ 33,480 31,942 Total Long-Term Liabilities....................................... $ 614,145 $ 760,045 Deferred Income Taxes (Note 6)........................................... $ 3,974 $ 3,333 Minority Owners' Equity in Subsidiaries (Note 7) $ 18,843 $ 35,471 Capital Shares and Equities (Note 8): Preferred shares, Authorized 8,000,000 shares, 8% Series A cumulative redeemable preferred shares, stated at redemption value, $50 per share, 2,000,000 shares issued and outstanding (0 shares in 1997) ............ $ -0- $ 100,000 Other preferred shares, $25 par value, 2,838 shares issued and outstanding (2,886 shares in 1997) .... 72 71 Common shares, $25 par value -- Authorized 50,000,000 shares, 18,072,136 shares issued and outstanding (17,680,493 shares in 1997) ........................................... 442,012 451,804 Associate member common shares (nonvoting), $25 par value -- Authorized 2,000,000 shares, 1,140,304 shares issued and outstanding (889,913 shares in 1997) .............................................. 22,248 28,508 Earned surplus and other equities...................................... 357,661 332,313 Total Capital Shares and Equities................................. $ 821,993 $ 912,696 Contingent Liabilities and Commitments (Notes 5, 6 and 9) Total Liabilities and Equities............................................. $ 2,645,312 $2,812,774 <FN> See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. FARMLAND INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS Year Ended August 31 1996 1997 1998 (Amounts in Thousands) Sales....................................................... $ 9,788,587 $ 9,147,507 $ 8,775,046 Cost of sales............................................... 9,272,002 8,580,826 8,271,912 Adjustment of LIFO inventories to market.................... -0- -0- 27,593 Gross income................................................ $ 516,585 $ 566,681 $ 475,541 Selling, general and administrative expenses................ $ 368,954 $ 409,378 $ 431,999 Other income (deductions): Interest expense......................................... $ (62,445) $ (62,335) $ (73,645) Interest income.......................................... 5,021 5,352 5,436 Other, net (Note 15)..................................... 24,257 22,486 30,265 Total other income (deductions)............................. $ (33,167) $ (34,497) $ (37,944) Income before income tax (expense) benefit, equity in net income of investees and minority owners' interest in net income of subsidiaries................... $ 114,464 $ 122,806 $ 5,598 Income tax (expense) benefit (Note 6)....................... (21,755) (20,907) 6,912 Income before equity in net income of investees and minority owners' interest in net income of subsidiaries.................................. $ 92,709 $ 101,899 $ 12,510 Equity in net income of investees (net of allocated tax expense of $7,581, $7,343 and $3,169 in 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively) (Note 3).................... 41,092 42,108 53,216 Minority owners' interest in net income of subsidiaries.......................................... (7,383) (8,584) (6,956) Net income ................................................. $ 126,418 $ 135,423 $ 58,770 Distribution of net income (Note 8): Patronage refunds: Farm supply patrons.................................. $ 83,739 $ 101,262 $ 51,513 Pork marketing patrons............................... 6,998 -0- 1,274 Beef marketing patrons............................... 2,753 6,458 3,817 Grain marketing patrons.............................. -0- 585 2,517 Livestock production................................. 5 2 - -0- $ 93,495 $ 108,307 $ 59,121 Earned surplus and other equities........................ 32,923 27,116 (351) $ 126,418 $ 135,423 $ 58,770 <FN> See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial statements. FARMLAND INDUSTRIES,INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS Year Ended August 31 1996 1997 1998 (Amounts in Thousands) CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: Net income.................................................... $ 126,418 $ 135,423 $ 58,770 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization............................... 77,741 90,351 101,833 Equity in net income of investees........................... (41,092) (42,108) (53,216) Minority owners' equity in net income of subsidiaries.................................... 7,383 8,584 6,956 Gain on disposition of investments.......................... (11,300) (552) (9,450) Patronage refunds received in equities...................... (2,244) (1,830) (1,099) Proceeds from redemption of patronage equities.............. 5,112 5,106 6,546 Deferred income taxes....................................... 11,034 (1,469) (641) Adjustment of LIFO inventories to market.................... -0- -0- 27,593 Other....................................................... (3,302) 1,951 1,029 Changes in assets and liabilities (exclusive of assets and liabilities of businesses acquired): Accounts receivable....................................... (175,991) 27,644 25,398 Inventories............................................... 47,220 (9,343) 17,295 Other assets.............................................. (40,774) 6,249 6,893 Accounts payable.......................................... 140,721 (26,091) (67,286) Other liabilities......................................... 41,194 28,393 (82,953) Net cash provided by operating activities..................... $ 182,120 $ 222,308 $ 37,668 Year Ended August 31 1996 1997 1998 (Amounts in Thousands) CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Capital expenditures.......................................... $ (168,272) $ (158,655) $ (108,837) Distributions from joint ventures............................. 22,239 55,238 57,635 Acquisition of investments and notes receivable............... (51,923) (46,243) (69,466) Acquisition of other long-term assets......................... (23,768) (25,724) (27,267) Proceeds from sale of investments and collection of notes receivable.......................... 31,003 24,758 40,884 Proceeds from sale of fixed assets............................ 5,996 6,895 20,632 Acquisition of businesses..................................... (39,536) (3,515) -0- Other......................................................... (6,803) -0- (124) Net cash used in investing activities......................... $ (231,064) $ (147,246) $(86,543) <FN> See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements Year Ended August 31 1996 1997 1998 (Amounts in Thousands) CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Payments of patronage refunds................................. $ (32,777) $ (32,511) $ (40,449) Payments for redemption of equities........................... (27,470) (25,440) (80,243) Payments of dividends on preferred shares..................... (4) (4) (4,937) Proceeds from bank loans and notes payable.................... 597,959 337,407 612,634 Payments of bank loans and notes payable...................... (526,814) (427,139) (494,275) Proceeds from issuance of subordinated debt certificates.............................................. 67,965 86,132 99,309 Payments for redemption of subordinated debt certificates......................................... (43,803) (37,455) (66,000) Net increase (decrease) in checks and drafts outstanding.................................... (6,144) 16,299 (47,243) Net increase (decrease) in demand loan certificates........... 26,575 10,424 (22,116) Proceeds from issuance of preferred shares.................... -0- -0- 100,000 Other (decrease).............................................. (6,543) (2,775) (471) Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities........... $ 48,944 $ (75,062) $ 56,209 Net increase in cash and cash equivalents..................... $ -0- $ -0- $ 7,334 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year................ -0- -0- - -0- Year Ended August 31 1996 1997 1998 (Amounts in Thousands) Cash and cash equivalents at end of year...................... $ -0- $ -0- $ 7,334 SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE OF CASH PAID FOR INTEREST AND INCOME TAXES Interest...................................................... $ 58,125 $ 57,650 $ 76,087 Income taxes (net of refunds)................................. $ 27,943 $ 14,399 $ 14,475 SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE OF NONCASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Equities and minority owners' interest called for redemption............................................ $ 25,214 $ 28,579 $ 8,868 Transfer of assets in exchange for investment in joint ventures............................................ $ -0- $ 10,292 $ 4,601 Appropriation of current year's net income as patronage refunds......................................... $ 93,495 $ 108,307 $ 59,121 Acquisition of businesses: Fair value of net assets acquired......................... $ 52,401 $ -0- $ 168,409 Goodwill.................................................. 3,181 2,550 14,819 Year Ended August 31 1996 1997 1998 (Amounts in Thousands) Minority owners' investment............................... -0- 965 - -0- Equity issuable........................................... -0- -0- (26,323) Cash paid or payable...................................... (39,536) (3,515) (2,766) Liabilities assumed........................................... $ 16,046 $ -0- $ 154,139 <FN> See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. 9 4 FARMLAND INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CAPITAL SHARES AND EQUITIES See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. < See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. Years Ended August 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998 Associate Earned Member Surplus and Total Capital Preferred Common Common Other Shares and Shares Shares Shares Equities Equities (Amounts in Thousands) BALANCE AT AUGUST 31, 1995......................... $ 2,453 $ 385,409 $ 11,133 $ 288,292 $ 687,287 Appropriation of current year's net income......... -0- -0- -0- 126,418 126,418 Patronage refund payable in cash transferred to current liabilities........................... -0- -0- -0- (32,719) (32,719) Base capital redemptions transferred to current liabilities........................... -0- (13,922) (103) -0- (14,025) Other equity redemptions transferred to current liabilities........................... (1,190) (6,578) (287) (3,272) (11,327) Prior year patronage refund allocation............. -0- 49,644 6,493 (56,294) (157) Dividends on preferred shares...................... -0- -0- -0- (4) (4) Exchange of common shares, associate member common shares and other equities.......... -0- 116 (1,654) 1,538 -0- Issue, redemption and cancellation of equities..... 1 (166) (6) 29 (142) BALANCE AT AUGUST 31, 1996......................... $ 1,264 $ 414,503 $ 15,576 $ 323,988 $ 755,331 Appropriation of current year's net income......... -0- -0- -0- 135,423 135,423 Patronage refund payable in cash transferred to current liabilities........................... -0- -0- -0- (40,228) (40,228) Base capital redemptions transferred to current liabilities........................... -0- (16,783) (444) -0- (17,227) Other equity redemptions transferred to current liabilities........................... (1,189) (6,737) (302) (2,963) (11,191) See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. Prior year patronage refund allocation............. -0- 53,269 5,640 (59,103) (194) Dividends on preferred shares...................... -0- -0- -0- (4) (4) Exchange of common shares, associate member common shares and other equities.......... -0- (2,566) 1,929 637 -0- Issue, redemption and cancellation of equities..... (3) 326 (151) (89) 83 BALANCE AT AUGUST 31, 1997......................... $ 72 $ 442,012 $ 22,248 $ 357,661 $ 821,993 Appropriation of current year's net income......... -0- -0- -0- 58,770 58,770 Patronage refund payable in cash transferred to current liabilities........................... -0- -0- -0- (23,593) (23,593) Base capital redemptions transferred to current liabilities........................... -0- (8,738) (130) -0- (8,868) Prior year patronage refund allocation............. -0- 60,238 7,551 (67,789) -0- Dividends on preferred shares...................... -0- -0- -0- (6,933) (6,933) Exchange of common shares, associate member common shares and other equities.......... -0- (2,058) 123 1,935 -0- Equity issuable for purchase of SF Services, Inc................................. -0- -0- -0- 26,323 26,323 Issue, redemption and cancellation of equities..... 99,999 (39,650) (1,284) (14,061) 45,004 BALANCE AT AUGUST 31, 1998......................... $100,071 $ 451,804 $ 28,508 $ 332,313 $ 912,696 <FN> See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. FARMLAND INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (1) SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Farmland Industries, Inc., a Kansas corporation, is organized and operated as a cooperative and its mission is to be a global, consumer-driven, producer-owned, farm-to-table cooperative system. General -- The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Farmland Industries, Inc. and all of its majority- owned subsidiaries ("Farmland" or the "Company", unless the context requires otherwise). All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. When necessary, the financial statements include amounts based on informed estimates and judgments of management. The Company's fiscal year ends August 31. Accordingly, all references to "year" or "years" are to fiscal years ended August 31. Cash and Cash Equivalents -- Investments with maturities of less than three months are included as cash and cash equivalents. Investments -- Investments in companies over which the Company exercises significant influence (20% to 50% voting control) are accounted for by the equity method. Other investments are stated at cost, less any provision for impairment which is other than temporary. Accounts Receivable -- The Company uses the allowance method to account for doubtful accounts and notes. Inventories -- Grain inventories are valued at market adjusted for net unrealized gains or losses on open commodity contracts. Crude oil, refined petroleum products, cattle and beef inventories are valued at the lower of last-in, first-out ("LIFO") cost or market. Other inventories are valued at the lower of first- in, first-out ("FIFO") cost or market. Supplies are valued at cost. Property, Plant and Equipment -- Assets, including assets under capital leases, are stated at cost. Depreciation and amortization are computed principally using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets and the remaining terms of the capital leases, respectively. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets -- The excess of cost over the fair market value of assets of businesses purchased is amortized on a straight-line basis over a period of 15 to 25 years. The Company assesses the recoverability of goodwill and measures impairment, if any, by determining whether the unamortized balance can be recovered over its remaining life through undiscounted future operating cash flows. Goodwill is reflected in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets net of accumulated amortization of $12.9 million and $16.4 million, respectively, at August 31, 1997 and 1998. Other intangible assets, primarily software, are amortized over three to ten years. Sales -- The Company recognizes sales at the time product is shipped. Net margins of the Company's international grain trading subsidiaries (collectively referred to as "Tradigrain"), rather than the gross value of such products, are included in net sales. The gross value of Tradigrain's grain trading transactions in 1996, 1997 and 1998 was $2.6 billion, $2.3 billion and $1.7 billion, respectively. Derivative Commodity Instruments -- The Company uses derivative commodity instruments, including forward contracts, futures and options contracts, primarily to reduce its exposure to risk of loss from changes in commodity prices. Derivative commodity instruments which are designated as hedges and for which changes in value exhibit high correlation to changes in value of the underlying position are accounted for as hedges. Gains and losses on hedges of inventory are deferred as part of the carrying amount of the related inventories and, upon sale of the inventory, recognized in cost of sales. Gains and losses related to qualifying hedges of firm commitments or anticipated transactions also are deferred and are recognized as an adjustment to the carrying amounts of the commodities when the underlying hedged transaction occurs. When a qualifying hedge is terminated or ceases to meet the specified criteria for use of hedge accounting, any deferred gains or losses through that date continue to be deferred. To the extent an anticipated transaction is no longer likely to occur, related hedges are closed with gains or losses charged to operations. Tradigrain uses derivative commodity instruments to establish positions for trading purposes. Instruments used for this purpose are marked-to-market and all related gains and losses are included in operations. Cash flows from commodity instruments are classified in the same category as cash flows from the hedged commodities in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Environmental Expenditures -- Liabilities related to remediation of contaminated properties are recognized when the related costs are considered probable and can be reasonably estimated. Estimates of these costs are based upon currently available facts, existing technology, undiscounted site specific costs and currently enacted laws and regulations. In reporting environmental liabilities, no offset is made for potential recoveries. All liabilities are monitored and adjusted as new facts or changes in law or technology occur. Environmental expenditures are capitalized when such costs provide future economic benefits. Federal Income Taxes -- Farmland is subject to income taxes on all income not distributed to patrons as qualified patronage refunds. Farmland files consolidated federal and state income tax returns. Reclassifications -- Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform with the current year presentation. (2) INVENTORIES Major components of inventories are as follows: August 31 1997 1998 (Amounts in Thousands) Finished and in-process $625,577 $ 605,876 products................. Materials................ 62,001 62,578 Supplies................. 57,723 57,513 $745,301 $ 725,967 Income before income taxes for the year ended August 31, 1998 has been reduced by $27.6 million to recognize a non-cash charge for the adjustment of crude oil and refined petroleum inventories to market value. The carrying values of crude oil and refined petroleum inventories stated under the lower of LIFO cost or market at August 31, 1997 and 1998, were $125.5 million and $112.7 million, respectively. The carrying values of beef inventories stated under the lower of LIFO cost or market at August 31, 1997 and 1998, were $37.0 million and $42.7 million, respectively. At both August 31, 1997 and 1998, market value was lower than LIFO and, accordingly, such inventories were valued at market. (3) INVESTMENTS AND LONG-TERM RECEIVABLES Investments and long-term receivables are as follows: August 31 1997 1998 (Amounts in Thousands) Investments accounted for by the equity method................ $ 177,994 $ 196,106 Investments in and advances to other cooperatives............. 43,585 39,112 National Bank for Cooperatives................................ 20,958 16,554 Other investments and long-term receivables................... 24,017 46,630 $ 266,554 $ 298,402 National Bank for Cooperatives ("CoBank") requires its borrowers to maintain an investment in stock of the bank. The amount of investment required is based on the average amount borrowed from CoBank during the previous five years. At August 31, 1997 and 1998, Farmland's investment in CoBank approximated its requirement. CoBank maintains a statutory lien on the investment held by the Company in CoBank. Summarized financial information of investees accounted for by the equity method is as follows: August 31 1997 1998 (Amounts in Thousands) Current Assets................................................ $ 269,565 $ 614,845 Long-Term Assets.............................................. 492,966 596,869 Total Assets.............................................. $ 762,531 $1,211,714 Current Liabilities........................................... $ 214,662 $ 513,293 Long-Term Liabilities......................................... 186,344 308,382 Total Liabilities......................................... $ 401,006 $ 821,675 Net Assets.................................................... $ 361,525 $ 390,039 Year Ended August 31 1996 1997 1998 (Amounts in Thousands) Net sales.................................. $ 1,154,195 $ 1,366,038 $ 1,859,159 Net income................................. $ 83,075 $ 84,536 $ 108,517 Farmland's equity in net income............ $ 41,092 $ 42,108 $ 53,216 The Company's investments accounted for by the equity method consist principally of 50% equity interests in three manufacturers of crop production products, Farmland Hydro, L.P., SF Phosphates Limited Company and Farmland MissChem, Limited and a 50% equity interest in a distributor of crop protection products, WILFARM, LLC. At August 31, 1998, the Company's share of the undistributed earnings of all ventures accounted for by the equity method totaled $58.3 million. (4) PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT A summary of cost for property, plant and equipment is as follows: August 31 1997 1998 (Amounts in Thousands) Land and improvements..................... $ 51,586 $ 57,381 Buildings................................. 275,835 296,163 Machinery and equipment................... 947,836 1,043,831 Automotive equipment...................... 67,021 70,676 Furniture and fixtures.................... 53,391 59,859 Capital leases............................ 54,467 54,467 Leasehold improvements.................... 28,981 30,750 Other..................................... 8,283 7,598 Construction in progress.................. 98,424 59,648 $ 1,585,824 $ 1,680,373 (5) BANK LOANS, SUBORDINATED DEBT CERTIFICATES AND NOTES PAYABLE Bank loans, subordinated debt certificates and notes payable are as follows: August 31 1997 1998 (Amounts in Thousands) Subordinated capital investment certificates --6% to 9%, maturing 1999 through 2014......................... $ 284,493 $ 318,733 Subordinated monthly income certificates --6.25% to 9.25%, maturing 1999 through 2008................... 88,546 87,675 Syndicated Credit Facility --5.84% to 6.28%, maturing 2001................................ 160,000 170,000 Other bank notes--6.39% to 10.75%, maturing 1999 through 2008..................................... 69,943 122,214 Industrial revenue bonds--6.75% to 9.25%, maturing 1999 through 2021..................................... 17,430 25,475 Promissory notes--5% to 8.5%, maturing 1999 through 2007..................................... 11,707 8,927 Other--3% to 14.92%............................................... 40,189 34,025 $ 672,308 $ 767,049 Less current maturities........................................... 91,643 38,946 $ 580,665 $ 728,103 The Company has a $1.1 billion Syndicated Credit Facility with a group of domestic and international banks ("the Credit Facility"). The Credit Facility provides revolving short-term credit of up to $650.0 million to finance seasonal operations and inventory, and revolving term credit of up to $450.0 million. At August 31, 1998, the Company had outstanding $328.2 million of revolving shortterm borrowings under the Credit Facility and $170.0 million of revolving term borrowings; additionally, $30.3 million of the Credit Facility was being utilized to support letters of credit issued on behalf of the Company. The Company pays commitment fees under the Credit Facility of 1/10 of 1% annually on the unused portion of the revolving short- term commitment and 1/4 of 1% annually on the unused portion of the revolving term commitment. In addition, the Company must comply with the Credit Facility's financial covenants regarding working capital, the ratio of certain debt to average cash flow and the ratio of equity to total capitalization, all as defined therein. The shortterm provisions of the Credit Facility are reviewed and/or renewed annually. The next review date is in May 1999. The revolving term provisions of the Credit Facility expire in May 2001. During April 1998, Farmland National Beef Packing Company, L.P. ("FNBPC") replaced its existing borrowing arrangements with a new five-year $130.0 million credit facility. This facility, which expires March 31, 2003, is provided by various participating banks and all borrowings thereunder are nonrecourse to Farmland or Farmland's other affiliates. FNBPC used a portion of this facility to repay in full its borrowings from Farmland. At August 31, 1998, FNBPC had borrowings under this facility of $86.2 million and $1.3 million of the facility was being utilized to support letters of credit. FNBPC has pledged certain assets to support its borrowings under the new facility. The Company maintains other borrowing arrangements with banks and financial institutions. At August 31, 1998, $36.0 million was borrowed under such agreements. Tradigrain has borrowing agreements with various international banks which provide financing and letters of credit to support current international grain trading transactions. At August 31, 1998, such short-term borrowings totaled $34.9 million. Obligations of Tradigrain under these loan agreements are nonrecourse to Farmland or Farmland's other affiliates. Subordinated debt certificates have been issued under several indentures. Certain subordinated capital investment certificates may be redeemed prior to maturity at the option of the owner in accordance with the indenture. Subject to limitations in the indenture, the Company has options to redeem certain subordinated capital investment certificates in advance of scheduled maturities. Additionally, upon written request the Company redeems subordinated capital investment certificates and subordinated monthly income certificates in the case of death of an owner. Outstanding subordinated debt certificates are subordinated to senior indebtedness ($604.0 million at August 31, 1998) and certain additional financings (principally long-term operating leases). See Note 9. At August 31, 1998, under industrial revenue bonds and other agreements, assets with a carrying value of $12.9 million have been pledged. Borrowings from CoBank, under both the Syndicated Credit Facility and short-term notes payable, totaling $187.9 million at August 31, 1998, are partially secured by liens on the equity investment held by the Company in CoBank. See Note 3. Bank loans, subordinated debt certificates and notes payable mature during future fiscal years ending August 31 in the following amounts: (Amounts in Thousands) 1999................. $ 38,946 2000................. 35,203 2001................. 206,689 2002................. 59,069 2003................. 153,687 2004 and after....... 273,455 $ 767,049 At August 31, 1997 and 1998, the Company had demand loan certificates and short-term bank debt outstanding of $308.9 million (weighted average interest rate of 6.07%) and $391.5 million (weighted average interest rate of 6.06%), respectively. During 1996, 1997 and 1998, the Company capitalized interest of $1.6 million, $4.0 million and $3.9 million, respectively. (6) INCOME TAXES A. TERRA RESOURCES, INC. In July 1983, Farmland sold the stock of Terra Resources, Inc. ("Terra"), a wholly owned subsidiary engaged in oil and gas exploration and production operations and exited its oil and gas exploration and production activities. The gain from the sale of Terra amounted to $237.2 million for tax reporting purposes. On March 24, 1993, the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") issued a statutory notice to Farmland asserting deficiencies in federal income taxes (exclusive of statutory interest thereon) in the aggregate amount of $70.8 million. The asserted deficiencies relate primarily to the Company's tax treatment of the $237.2 million gain resulting from its sale of the stock of Terra and the IRS's contention that Farmland incorrectly treated the Terra sale gain as patronage-sourced income against which certain patronage- sourced operating losses could be offset. The statutory notice further asserts that, among other things, Farmland incorrectly characterized for tax purposes gains aggregating approximately $14.6 million and a loss of approximately $2.3 million, from dispositions of certain other assets. On June 11, 1993, Farmland filed a petition in the United States Tax Court contesting the asserted deficiencies in their entirety. The case was tried on June 13-15, 1995. The parties submitted post-trial briefs to the court in September 1995 and reply briefs were submitted to the court in November 1995. If the United States Tax Court decides in favor of the IRS on all unresolved issues raised in the statutory notice, Farmland would have additional federal and state income tax liabilities aggregating approximately $85.8 million plus accumulating statutory interest thereon (approximately $279.9 million through August 31, 1998), or $365.7 million (before tax benefits of the interest deduction) in the aggregate at August 31, 1998. In addition, such a decision would affect the computation of Farmland's taxable income for its 1989 tax year and, as a result, could increase Farmland's federal and state income taxes for that year by approximately $15.3 million (including accumulating statutory interest thereon). The asserted federal and state income tax liabilities and accumulated interest thereon would become immediately due and payable unless the Company appealed the decision and posted the requisite bond to stay assessment and collection. In March 1998, Farmland received notice from the IRS assessing the $15.3 million tax and accumulated statutory interest thereon related to the Company's 1989 tax year (as described above). In order to establish the trial court in which initial litigation, if any, of the dispute would occur and to stop the accumulation of interest, the Company deposited funds with the IRS in the amount of the assessment. After making the deposit, the Company filed for a refund of the entire amount deposited. The liability resulting from an adverse decision by the United States Tax Court would be charged to current earnings and would have a material adverse effect on the Company. In the event of such an adverse determination of the Terra tax issue, certain financial covenants of the Company's Syndicated Credit Facility (the "Credit Facility"), dated May 15, 1996, become less restrictive. Had the United States Tax Court decided in favor of the IRS on all unresolved issues and had all related additional federal and state income taxes and accumulated interest thereon been due and payable on August 31, 1998, Farmland's borrowing capacity under the Credit Facility was adequate at that time to finance the liability. However, Farmland's ability to finance such an adverse decision depends substantially on the financial effects of future operating events on its borrowing capacity under the Credit Facility. No provision has been made in the Consolidated Financial Statements for federal or state income taxes (or interest thereon) in respect of the IRS claims described above. The Company believes that it has meritorious positions with respect to all of these claims. In the opinion of Bryan Cave LLP, the Company's special tax counsel, it is more likely than not that the courts will ultimately conclude that the Company's treatment of the Terra sale gain was substantially, if not entirely, correct. Such counsel has further advised, however, that none of the issues involved in this dispute is free from doubt and there can be no assurance that the courts will ultimately rule in favor of the Company on any of these issues. b. OTHER INCOME TAX MATTERS Income before income taxes include the following components: Year Ended August 31 1996 1997 1998 (Amounts in Thousands) Foreign..................... $ 13,950 $ 9,709 $ 30,269 Domestic.................... 141,804 153,964 24,758 Total....................... $155,754 $163,673 $ 55,027 Income tax expense (benefit) is comprised of the following: Year Ended August 31 1996 1997 1998 (Amounts in Thousands) Federal: Current.................................. $ 7,322 $ 18,712 $ (7,852) Deferred................................. 9,430 (1,129) (956) $ 16,752 $ 17,583 $ (8,808) State: Current................................. $ 1,292 $ 3,303 $ (1,386) Deferred................................ 1,664 (199) (168) $ 2,956 $ 3,104 $ (1,554) Foreign: Current................................. $ 2,107 $ 361 $ 2,967 Deferred................................ (60) (141) 483 $ 2,047 $ 220 $ 3,450 Total income tax expense................... $ 21,755 $ 20,907 $ (6,912) Income tax expense (benefit) differs from the "expected" income tax expense using a statutory rate of 35% as follows: Year Ended August 31 1996 1997 1998 Computed "expected" income tax expense on income before income taxes ..................... 35.0 % 35.0 % 35.0 % Increase (reduction) in income tax expense attributable to: Patronage refunds ....................... (20.4) (22.4) (95.8) State income tax expense, net of federal income tax effect.............. 2.5 1.6 3.3 Minority interest of pass through entities............................... (2.6) (2.6) (47.7) Other, net .............................. 4.5 5.4 (18.3) Income tax expense (benefit)............... 19.0 % 17.0 % (123.5) % The tax effect of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax assets at August 31, 1997 and 1998 are as follows: August 31 1997 1998 (Amounts in Thousands) Deferred tax liabilities: Property, plant and equipment, principally due to differences in depreciation......................... $ 51,632 $ 75,808 Prepaid pension cost ....................... 19,242 16,388 Income from foreign subsidiaries ........... 3,765 11,187 Basis differences in pass-through ventures................................ 3,929 4,677 Other ...................................... 3,144 6,169 Total deferred tax liabilities.......... $ 81,712 $ 114,229 Deferred tax assets: Safe harbor leases ......................... $ 4,143 $ 3,802 Accrued expenses ........................... 49,747 61,700 Benefit of nonqualified written notices......................... 19,456 33,761 Alternative minimum tax credit ............. -0- 5,829 Accounts receivable, principally due to allowance for doubtful accounts......... 1,844 3,024 Other ...................................... 2,548 2,780 Total deferred tax assets............... $ 77,738 $ 110,896 Net deferred tax liability ................. $ 3,974 $ 3,333 A valuation allowance of $1.6 million and $1.5 million for deferred tax assets was provided at August 31, 1997 and 1998, respectively. The valuation allowance was provided because of limitations imposed by the tax laws on the Company's ability to realize the benefit of income tax credits obtained through an acquisition. At August 31, 1998, Farmland has member-sourced loss carryforwards, expiring in 2012, amounting to $11.3 million available to offset future membersourced income. No deferred tax asset has been established for these carryforwards since member- sourced losses offset future patronage refunds. (7) MINORITY OWNERS' EQUITY IN SUBSIDIARIES A summary of the equity of subsidiaries owned by others is as follows: . August 31 1997 1998 (Amounts in Thousands) Farmland National Beef Packing Company, L.P................ $ 11,491 $ 30,084 Farmland Foods, Inc........................................ 4,423 4,061 Other subsidiaries......................................... 2,929 1,326 $ 18,843 $ 35,471 (8) PREFERRED STOCK, EARNED SURPLUS AND OTHER EQUITIES A summary of preferred stock is as follows: August 31 1997 1998 (Amounts in Thousands) Preferred shares - Authorized 8,000,000 shares: 8%, Series A cumulative redeemable preferred shares, stated at redemption value, $50 per share, 2,000,000 shares issued and outstanding (0 shares in 1997) .............. $ -0- $ 100,000 6%, $25 par value - 530 shares issued and outstanding (570 shares in 1997)....................................... 14 13 5-1/2%, $25 par value - 2,308 shares issued and outstanding (2,316 shares in 1997)......................... 58 58 $ 72 $ 100,071 Dividends on the Series A preferred shares accumulate whether or not the Company has earnings, whether or not there are funds legally available for the payment of such dividends and whether or not such dividends are declared. These preferred shares are redeemable, beginning on December 15, 2022, at the sole discretion of the Company. No redemption by the Company is allowed prior to that time. Series A preferred shares each have a liquidation preference of $50 per share, plus an amount equal to accumulated and unpaid dividends, if any, thereon. The preferred shares are not entitled to vote. Dividends on the 5-1/2% and 6% preferred stock are cumulative if declared by the Farmland Board of Directors and only to the extent earned each year. Upon liquidation, preferred stockholders are entitled to the par value thereof and any declared or unpaid earned dividends. A summary of earned surplus and other equities is as follows: August 31 1997 1998 (Amounts in Thousands) Earned surplus............................................ $ 257,044 $ 249,108 Patronage refund payable in equities...................... 68,079 35,528 Capital credits........................................... 30,879 19,694 Equity issuable for the purchase of SF Services, Inc...... -0- 26,323 Additional paid-in surplus................................ 1,616 1,596 Currency translation adjustment........................... 43 64 $ 357,661 $ 332,313 Patronage refunds payable in equities represent the portion of patronage refunds payable from 1998 earnings, in the form of common shares, associate member common shares and capital credits. In July 1998, the Company acquired all of the common stock of SF Services, Inc. ("SF Services") in exchange for $26.3 million in Farmland equity, $2.8 in cash and warrants which, when exercisable, may be exchanged for $21.7 million in Farmland equity. The right to exercise the warrants is contingent on the achievement of a specified minimum volume of business done by the holder with Farmland. SF Services operated as a regional farm supply cooperative, serving local cooperative members in Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama. Capital credits are issued: 1) for payment of patronage refunds to patrons who do not satisfy requirements for membership or associate membership and 2) upon conversion of common stock or associate member common stock held by persons who no longer meet qualifications for membership or associate membership in Farmland. Additional paid-in surplus results from members donating Farmland equity to Farmland. (9) CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND COMMITMENTS The Company leases various equipment and real properties under long-term operating leases. For 1996, 1997 and 1998, rental expense totaled $42.1 million, $53.9 million and $64.3 million, respectively. Rental expense is reduced for sublease income, primarily mileage credits received on leased railroad cars ($1.4 million in 1996, $5.4 million in 1997 and $1.1 million in 1998). The lease agreements have various remaining terms ranging from one year to fourteen years. Some agreements are renewable, at the Company's option, for additional periods. The minimum required payments for these agreements during the fiscal years ending August 31 are as follows: (Amounts in Thousands) 1999...........................$ 57,543 2000........................... 56,354 2001........................... 48,034 2002........................... 42,795 2003........................... 16,293 2004 and after................. 62,712 $ 283,731 Commitments for capital expenditures and investments in joint ventures aggregated $44.1 million at August 31, 1998. The Company has been designated by the Environmental Protection Agency as a potentially responsible party ("PRP") under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act ("CERCLA"), at various National Priority List ("NPL") sites. In addition, the Company is aware of possible obligations associated with environmental matters at other sites, including sites where no claim or assessment has been made. The Company's accrued liability for probable and reasonably estimable obligations for resolution of environmental matters at NPL and other sites was $16.9 million and $14.4 million at August 31, 1997 and 1998, respectively. The ultimate costs of resolving certain environmental matters are not quantifiable because many such matters are in preliminary stages and the timing and extent of actions which governmental authorities may ultimately require are unknown. It is possible that the costs of such resolution may be greater than the liabilities which, in the opinion of management, are probable and reasonably estimable at August 31, 1998. In the opinion of management, it is reasonably possible for such costs to approximate an additional $19.2 million. In the ordinary course of conducting international grain trading, Tradigrain, as of August 31, 1998, was contingently liable in the amount of $63.9 million of performance and bid bonds, guarantees and letters of credit. In December 1997, the Company entered into a series of agreements which provide for the construction and operation under a long-term lease of facilities adjacent to the Company's petroleum refinery at Coffeyville, Kansas. These facilities are designed to convert petroleum coke by-products into fertilizers. When the facilities are completed (presently scheduled for early in fiscal 2000), Farmland will be obligated to make future minimum lease payments which, at that time, will have an approximate present value of $223 million. Alternatively, Farmland has an option to purchase the facilities. The Company's subordinated debt securities are subordinated in right of payment to the future lease obligations. In the event Farmland should default on the obligations described above, future lease obligations may be accelerated. If accelerated, obligations due and payable would total approximately $263 million, all of which would be senior to the subordinated debt securities and, upon payment of such amount, Farmland would receive title to the assets. The Company is involved in various lawsuits arising in the normal course of business. In the opinion of management, except for the tax litigation relating to Terra as explained in Note 6, the ultimate resolution of these litigation issues is not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements. (10) EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS The Farmland Industries, Inc. Employee Retirement Plan (the "Plan") is a defined benefit plan in which substantially all employees of the Company who meet minimum age and length-of-service requirements are eligible to participate. Benefits payable under the Plan are based on years of service and the employee's average compensation during the highest four of the employee's last ten years of employment. The assets of the Plan are maintained in a trust fund. The majority of the Plan's assets are invested in domestic and foreign common stocks, corporate bonds, United States Government securities, short-term investment funds, private REITS and Venture Capital funds. The Company's funding strategy is to make the maximum annual contribution to the Plan's trust fund that can be deducted for federal income tax purposes. The Company charges pension cost as accrued based on actuarial valuation of the Plan. Components of the Company's pension cost are as follows: Year Ended August 31 1996 1997 1998 (Amounts in Thousands) Service cost - benefits earned during the period................... $ 10,886 $ 11,333 $ 12,013 Interest cost on projected benefit obligation...................... 18,843 19,816 21,403 Actual return on Plan assets....................................... (46,630) (37,816) (52,300) Net amortization and deferral...................................... 24,634 12,252 24,315 Pension expense.................................................... $ 7,733 $ 5,585 $ 5,431 At August 31, 1996 and 1997 the discount rate, the rate of increase in future compensation levels used in determining the actuarial present value of the projected benefit obligations and the expected long-term rate of return on assets were 8.0%, 4.5% and 8.5%, respectively, and at August 31, 1998 were 7.25%, 4.5% and 9.0%, respectively. The following table sets forth the Plan's funded status and amounts recognized as assets in the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets at August 31, 1997 and 1998. Such prepaid pension cost is based on the Plan's funded status as of May 31, 1997 and 1998. August 31 1997 1998 (Amounts in Thousands) Actuarial present value of benefit obligations: Vested benefits.................................................... $ 196,063 $ 226,175 Nonvested benefits................................................. 16,730 30,847 Accumulated benefit obligation..................................... $ 212,793 $ 257,022 Increase in benefits due to future compensation increases.......... 51,730 85,526 Projected benefit obligation....................................... $ 264,523 $ 342,548 Estimated fair value of Plan assets................................ 331,822 385,112 Plan assets in excess of projected benefit obligation.............. $ 67,299 $ 42,564 Unrecognized net (gain) loss from past experience different from that assumed and effects of changes in assumptions.................................................. (15,405) 5,387 Unrecognized prior service cost.................................... 621 414 Prepaid pension cost at end of year.................................. $ 52,515 $ 48,365 During 1997, certain employees transferred to a newly formed venture and were no longer eligible to participate in the Plan. As a result of such transfer, the Company recognized a curtailment gain of $3.6 million. (11) INDUSTRY SEGMENT INFORMATION The Company conducts business primarily in two operating areas: agricultural inputs and outputs. On the input side of the agricultural industry, the Company operates as a farm supply cooperative. On the output side of the agricultural industry, the Company operates as a processing and marketing cooperative. The Company's farm supply operations consist of three principal product divisions: petroleum, crop production and feed. Principal products of the petroleum division are refined fuels, propane, jet fuels and by-products of petroleum refining. Principal products of the crop production division are nitrogen-based and phosphate-based fertilizers and, through the Company's ownership in the WILFARM, LLC and Omnium L.L.C. joint ventures, a complete line of insecticides, herbicides and mixed chemicals. Principal products of the feed division include swine, dairy, pet, beef, poultry, mineral and specialty feeds, feed ingredients and supplements, animal health products and livestock services. On the output side, the Company's processing and marketing operations include the processing of pork and beef; the marketing of fresh pork, processed pork and fresh beef; livestock production; and the storage and marketing of grain. Other operations primarily includes computer, financial, management, printing and transportation services. The operating income (loss) of each industry segment includes the revenue generated on transactions involving products within that industry segment less identifiable and allocated expenses. In computing operating income (loss) of industry segments, none of the following items has been added or deducted: interest expense, interest income, other income (deductions) or corporate expenses (included in the statements of operations as selling, general and administrative expenses), which cannot practicably be identified or allocated by industry segment. Corporate assets include cash, investments in other cooperatives, the Company's corporate headquarters and certain other assets. Following is a summary of industry segment information as of and for the years ended August 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998. Unallocated Farm Supply Marketing and Inter- Crop and Processing Other Segment Petroleum Production Feed Foods Grain Operations Eliminations Consolidated (Amounts in Thousands) 1996 Sales to unaffiliated customers.........$1,058,258 $1,336,307 $569,869 $3,227,652 $3,468,686 $ 127,815 $ -0- $ 9,788,587 Transfers between segments.......... 7,895 16,392 13,672 40,042 72,819 56,061 (206,881) -0- Total sales and transfers.........$1,066,153 $1,352,699 $583,541 $3,267,694 $3,541,505 $ 183,876 $(206,881) $ 9,788,587 Operating income (loss) of industry segments..........$ 4,766 $ 178,861 $ 12,915 $ 65,077 $ (18,234) $ (2,933) $ 240,452 Equity in net income (loss) of investees (Note 3).......... (98) 41,899 382 -0- (10) (1,081) 41,092 Combined operating income (loss) and equity in net income (loss) of investees of industry segments.0 4,668 $ 220,760 $ 13,297 $ 65,077 $ (18,244) $ (4,014) $ 281,544 General corporate expenses.......... (92,883) Other corporate income............ 29,340 Interest expense.... (62,445) Minority interest... (7,383) Income tax expense.. (21,755) Net income.......... $ 126,418 Identifiable assets at August 31, 1996...$ 433,352 $ 438,559 $107,267 $ 618,122 $ 455,044 $ 102,278 $ 2,154,622 Investment in and advances to investees.........$ 611 $ 136,959 $ 3,399 $ 18 $ 468 $ 7,016 $ 148,471 Corporate assets.... 265,353 Total assets........ $ 2,568,446 Provision for depreciation and amortization......$ 11,024 $ 16,797 $ 4,625 $ 27,977 $ 5,010 $ 5,227 $ 7,081 $ 77,741 Capital expenditures (Including $29.9 million of capital assets of businesses acquired).........$ 42,075 $ 37,296 $ 5,083 $ 60,725 $ 6,643 $ 19,044 $ 27,342 $ 198,208 1997 Sales to unaffiliated customers.........$1,331,786 $1,263,566 $618,000 $3,566,100 $2,238,695 $ 129,360 $ -0- $ 9,147,507 Transfers between segments.......... 5,153 15,752 18,134 61,885 160,313 53,668 (314,905) -0- Total sales and transfers.........$1,336,939 $1,279,318 $636,134 $3,627,985 $2,399,008 $ 183,028 $(314,905) $ 9,147,507 Operating income (loss) of industry segments..........$ 36,266 $ 160,036 $ 6,643 $ 46,320 $ 6,819 $ (7,821) $ 248,263 Equity in net income of investees (Note 3).......... 101 41,213 342 -0- 241 211 42,108 Combined operating income (loss) and equity in net income (loss) of investees of industry segments.$ 36,367 $ 201,249 $ 6,985 $ 46,320 $ 7,060 $ (7,610) $ 290,371 General corporate expenses.......... (90,957) Other corporate income............ 27,835 Interest expense.... (62,335) Minority interest... (8,584) Income tax expense.. (20,907) Net income.......... $ 135,423 Identifiable assets at August 31, 1997...$ 449,045 $ 465,014 $107,536 $ 647,395 $ 494,176 $ 88,936 $ 2,252,102 Investment in and advances to investees.........$ 706 $ 158,549 $ 3,185 $ 18 $ 3,901 $ 11,635 $ 177,994 Corporate assets.... 215,216 Total assets........ $ 2,645,312 Provision for depreciation and amortization......$ 13,828 $ 17,705 $ 4,959 $ 33,353 $ 4,934 $ 7,649 $ 7,923 $ 90,351 Capital expenditures (Including $3.5 million of capital assets of businesses acquired).........$ 22,599 $ 78,728 $ 2,278 $ 38,106 $ 2,591 $ 12,172 $ 5,696 $ 162,170 1998 Sales to unaffiliated customers.........$1,136,928 $1,157,843 $549,732 $3,656,341 $2,131,999 $ 142,203 $ -0- $ 8,775,046 Transfers between segments.......... 4,162 4,396 20,889 62,493 101,002 70,053 (262,995) -0- Total sales and transfers.........$1,141,090 $1,162,239 $570,621 $3,718,834 $2,233,001 $ 212,256 $(262,995) $ 8,775,046 Operating income (loss) of industry segments before inventory adjustment to market.........$ 27,979 $ 48,135 $ 10,960 $ 55,356 $ 30,411 $ (4,523) $ 168,318 Inventory adjustment to market......... (27,593) -0- -0- -0- -0- -0- (27,593) Operating income (loss) of industry segments.......... 386 48,135 10,960 55,356 30,411 (4,523) 140,725 Equity in net income (loss) of investees (Note 3).......... 270 46,936 1,055 -0- 2,510 2,445 53,216 Combined operating income (loss) and equity in net income of investees of industry segment..$ 656 $ 95,071 $ 12,015 $ 55,356 $ 32,921 $ (2,078) $ 193,941 General corporate expenses.......... (97,179) Other corporate income............ 35,697 Interest expense.... (73,645) Minority interest... (6,956) Income tax benefit.. 6,912 Net income.......... $ 58,770 Identifiable assets at August 31, 1998...$ 431,900 $ 510,357 $ 91,537 $ 613,633 $ 522,268 $ 238,187 $ 2,407,882 Investment in and advances to investees.........$ 1,087 $ 150,676 $ 7,308 $ -0- $ 18,245 $ 18,790 $ 196,106 Corporate assets.... 208,786 Total assets........ $ 2,812,774 Provision for depreciation and amortization......$ 14,609 $ 23,384 $ 4,500 $ 33,745 $ 5,036 $ 8,933 $ 11,626 $ 101,833 Capital expenditures (including $45.4 million of capital assets of businesses acquired $ 25,939 $ 28,513 $ 5,623 $ 38,988 $ 4,002 $ 47,661 $ 3,503 $ 154,229 Export sales from the Company's United States operations to unaffiliated customers were as follows: Year Ended August 31 1996 1997 1998 (Amounts in Thousands) Asia................................. $ 705,905 $ 549,404 $ 474,721 Latin and South America.............. 695,404 441,912 485,004 Canada............................... 61,217 53,567 60,341 Other................................ 527,770 308,412 280,722 Total................................ $ 1,990,296 $ 1,353,295 $ 1,300,788 (12) SIGNIFICANT GROUP CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK The Company extends credit to its customers on terms generally no more favorable than standard terms of sale for the industries it serves. A substantial portion of the Company's receivables are concentrated in the agricultural industry. Collection of these receivables may be dependent upon economic returns from farm crop and livestock production. The Company's credit risks are continually reviewed and management believes that adequate provisions have been made for doubtful accounts. The Company maintains investments in and advances to cooperatives, cooperative banks and joint ventures from which it purchases products or services. A substantial portion of the business of these investees is dependent upon the agribusiness economic sector. See Note 3. (13) DISCLOSURES ABOUT FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS Estimates of fair values are subjective in nature and involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment and therefore cannot be determined with precision. Changes in assumptions could affect the estimates. Except as follows, the fair market value of the Company's financial instruments approximates the carrying value: August 31, 1997 August 31, 1998 Carrying Carrying Amount Fair Value Amount Fair Value (Amounts in Thousands) FINANCIAL ASSETS: Investments: National Bank for Cooperatives.............. $ 20,958 $ **** $ 16,554 $ **** Other cooperatives: Equities.................................. $ 27,871 $ **** $ 27,150 $ **** Notes receivable.......................... $ 15,714 $ 15,010 $ 11,962 $ 11,557 FINANCIAL LIABILITIES: Subordinated capital investment certificates and subordinated monthly income certificates........................... $ (373,039) $ (376,891) $ (406,408) $ (424,269) ****Investments in National Bank for Cooperatives and other cooperatives' equities which have been purchased are carried at cost and equities received as patronage refunds are carried at par value, less provisions for other than temporary impairment. The Company believes it is not practicable to estimate the fair value of these equities because there is no established market for these equities and estimated future cash flows, which are largely dependent on the future equity redemption policy of each cooperative, are not determinable. The estimated fair value of notes receivable has been estimated by discounting future cash flows using the current rates at which similar loans would be made to borrowers with similar credit ratings. The estimated fair value of the subordinated debt certificates was calculated using a discount rate equal to the interest rate on subordinated debt certificates with similar maturities currently offered for sale by the Company. The Company's other debt borrowings are at short-term variable rates and the carrying amounts approximate the fair market values. (14) RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS The Company has a 50% interest in two manufacturers of phosphate products and a manufacturer of nitrogen products, Farmland Hydro, L.P., SF Phosphates Limited Company and Farmland MissChem Limited, a 50% interest in a distributor of crop protection products, WILFARM, LLC, a 50% interest in a manufacturer and distributor of crop protection products, Omnium, LLC and a 50% interest in OneSystem Group, LLC ("OSG") which is an information technology service. During 1998, the Company entered into agreements with ConAgra, Inc. to form two 50% owned ventures, Concourse Grain, LLC, a grain marketer and Farmland-Atwood, LLC, a provider of grain merchandising and support services. During 1996, 1997 and 1998, the Company purchased $117.4 million, $131.9 million and $231.5 million, respectively, of products and services from these ventures. The Company had accounts payable of $10.0 million and $5.9 million due to these ventures at August 31, 1997 and 1998, respectively, and a note payable due to a venture of $17.1 million at August 31, 1998. Accounts receivable owed to the Company at August 31, 1998 totaled $22.3 million and a notes receivable due from these ventures totaled $8.9 million and $35.0 million at August 31, 1997 and 1998, respectively. (15) OTHER INCOME During 1998, the Company sold: (1) an approximate 3.8% interest in FNBPC, resulting in a gain before income taxes of $7.2 million; and (2) all of its interest in Cooperative Services Company, formerly a wholly-owned subsidiary, resulting in a gain before income taxes of $2.2 million. In May 1996, the Company sold its interest in a communications joint venture, Broadcast Partners. The sale resulted in a gain before income taxes of $10.9 million. ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE None. PART III ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT The directors of Farmland are as follows: Expiration Total Years Age as of Positions of Present of Service August 31, Held With Term as as Board Name 1998 Farmland Director Member Business Experience During Last Five Years Albert J. Shivley 55 Chairman of the 1998 14 General Manager--American Pride Co-op Board Association, Brighton, Colorado, a local cooperative association of farmers and ranchers. H. D. Cleberg 59 President and 2000 8 Mr. Cleberg has been with Farmland since Chief Executive 1968. He was named as president- elect in Officer February 1991 and became President in April 1991. His tenure includes senior leadership positions in all of Farmland's input and output businesses and in corporate areas responsible for transportation and logistics, sales, marketing and research. Jody Bezner 57 Vice Chairman 2000 7 Producer--Texline, Texas. Mr. Bezner serves and Vice as President of Dalhart Consumers Fuel President Association, Inc., Board of Directors, Dalhart, Texas, a local cooperative association of farmers and ranchers. Lyman Adams, Jr. 47 1998 6 General Manager--Cooperative Grain and Supply, Hillsboro, Kansas, a local cooperative association of farmers and ranchers. Ronald J. Amundson 54 2000 10 General Manager--Central Iowa Cooperative, Jewell, Iowa, a local cooperative association of farmers and ranchers. Baxter Ankerstjerne 62 1999 8 Producer--Peterson, Iowa. From 1988 to 1997, Mr. Ankerstjerne served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Farmers Cooperative Association, Marathon, Iowa. Richard L. Detten 64 1999 11 Producer--Ponca City, Oklahoma. Steven Erdman 48 1998 6 Producer--Bayard, Nebraska. Mr. Erdman serves as Secretary, Panhandle Co-op, Scottsbluff, Nebraska, a local cooperative association of farmers and ranchers. Harry Fehrenbacher 50 1999 2 Producer--Newton, Illinois. Mr. Fehrenbacher serves as President of the Board of Directors of Effingham Equity, Effingham, Illinois, a local cooperative association of farmers and ranchers. Martie Floyd 50 2000 1 Producer--Johnson, Kansas. Mr. Floyd serves as Secretary of the Board of Directors of Johnson Cooperative Grain Co, Inc., Johnson, Kansas, a local cooperative association of farmers and ranchers. Warren Gerdes 50 1998 5 General Manager--Farmers Cooperative Elevator Company, Buffalo Lake, Minnesota, a local cooperative association of farmers and ranchers. Ben Griffith 49 1998 9 General Manager--Central Cooperatives, Inc., Pleasant Hill, Missouri, a local cooperative association of farmers and ranchers. Gail D. Hall 56 2000 10 General Manager--Lexington Cooperative Oil Company, Lexington, Nebraska, a local cooperative association of farmers and ranchers. Barry Jensen 53 1999 8 Producer--White River, South Dakota. Mr. Jensen currently serves as a Director, of Dakota Pride Cooperative, Winner, South Dakota, a local cooperative association of farmers and ranchers. Ron Jurgens 60 1998 3 General Manager-Agri Co-op in Holdrege, Nebraska, a local cooperative association of farmers and ranchers. William F. Kuhlman 49 1999 2 Producer--Oakley, Kansas. Mr. Kuhlman serves on the Boards of Directors of Kansas Retail Venture Group. Formerly, he was President and CEO of Cooperative Agricultural Services, Inc., Oakley, Kansas and General Manager of Menlo-Rexford Cooperative, local cooperative associations of farmers and ranchers. Greg Pfenning 49 2000 6 Producer--Hobart, Oklahoma. Director of The Farmers Cooperative Association, Hobart Oklahoma, a local cooperative association of farmers and ranchers. Monte Romohr 45 1999 8 Producer--Gresham, Nebraska Mr. Romohr serves as a Director of Farmers Co-op Business Association, Shelby, Nebraska, a local cooperative association of farmers and ranchers. Joe Royster 46 1999 5 General Manager--Dacoma Farmers Cooperative, Inc., Dacoma, Oklahoma, a local cooperative association of farmers and ranchers. E. Kent Stamper 52 1999 2 Producer--Plainville, Kansas. Mr. Stamper serves as Director and Vice President of the Board of Directors of Midland Marketing Coop, Hays, Kansas, a local cooperative association of farmers and ranchers. He is a member of the Director Development Committee of the Kansas Cooperative Council Eli F. Vaughn 49 2000 1 General Manager--Farmers Cooperative Company, Afton, Iowa, a local cooperative association of farmers and ranchers. Frank Wilson 50 1998 3 General Manager-Elkhart Farmers Co-op Association, Elkhart, Texas, a local cooperative association of farmers and ranchers. Board of Directorsr(Cont'd)ected for a term of three years by the shareholders of Farmland at its annual meeting. The expiration dates for such three-year terms are sequenced so that about one-third of the Board of Directors is elected each year. H. D. Cleberg is serving as director-at-large; the remaining 21 directors were elected from nine geographically defined districts. The executive committee consists of Ronald Amundson, Ben Griffith, Jody Bezner, Monte Romohr, Albert Shivley and H. D. Cleberg. With the exception of H. D. Cleberg, President and Chief Executive Officer, members of the executive committee serve as chairmen of standing committees of the Board of Directors as follows: Ronald Amundson, corporate responsibility committee; Ben Griffith, audit committee; Jody Bezner, compensation committee; Monte Romohr, finance committee; and Albert Shivley, nominating committee. The executive officers of Farmland are as follows: BoardLof Directors (Cont'd) Age as of August 31, Name 1998 Principal Occupation and Other Positions J. F. Berardi 55 Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Grain and Grain Businesses - Mr. Berardi joined Farmland in March 1992, serving as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. He was appointed to his present position in July 1996. T. M. Campbell 48 Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer - Mr. Campbell joined Farmland in August 1992, serving as Vice President and Treasurer. He was appointed to his present position in August 1996. H. D. Cleberg 59 President and Chief Executive Officer - Mr. Cleberg has been with Farmland since 1968. He was appointed to his present position effective April 1991. Prior to April 1991 Mr. Cleberg held senior leader positions in all of Farmland's input and output businesses and in corporate areas responsible for transportation and logistics, sales, marketing and research. G. E. Evans 54 Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Meats Group - Mr. Evans has been with Farmland since 1971. He was appointed to his present position in July 1997. He held the same position in the Meat and Livestock Businesses from September 1995 until July 1997. From January 1992 to September 1995 he served as Senior Vice President, Agricultural Production Marketing/Processing. R. W. Honse 55 Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Ag Input Businesses - Mr. Honse has been with Farmland since 1983. He was appointed to his present position in September 1995. From January 1992 to September 1995, he served as Executive Vice President, Agricultural Inputs Operations. B. L. Sanders 57 Senior Vice President and Corporate Secretary - Dr. Sanders has been with Farmland since 1968. He was appointed to his present position in September 1991. From April 1990 to September 1991 he served as Vice President, Strategic Planning and Development. Board of Directors (Cont'd) ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION The following table sets forth the annual compensation awarded to, earned by, or paid to the Chief Executive Officer and the Company's next four most highly compensated executive officers for services rendered to the Company in all capacities during 1996, 1997 and 1998. Board of Directors (Cont'd) Long-Term Annual Compensation Compensation Employee Year Variable Ending Compensation LTIP Name and Principal Position August 31 Salary Plan Payouts Board of Directors (Cont'd) H. D. Cleberg, 1996 $ 497,713 $ 356,485 $ 1,296,482 President and 1997 $ 540,292 $ 469,954 $ 514,999 Chief Executive Officer 1998 $ 578,878 $ 213,564 $ 400,436 G. E. Evans, 1996 $ 298,848 $ 216,121 $ 648,241 Executive Vice President and 1997 $ 317,568 $ 245,352 $ 257,499 Chief Operating Officer 1998 $ 333,456 $ 110,144 $ 200,218 Meats Group R. W. Honse, 1996 $ 303,364 $ 216,121 $ 648,241 Executive Vice President and 1997 $ 322,125 $ 245,352 $ 257,499 Chief Operating Officer 1998 $ 347,328 $ 110,144 $ 200,218 Ag Input Businesses J. F. Berardi, 1996 $ 244,770 $ 154,372 $ 549,204 Executive Vice President and 1997 $ 286,814 $ 245,352 $ 243,194 Chief Operating Officer, 1998 $ 326,016 $ 110,144 $ 200,218 Grain and Grain Businesses T. M. Campbell 1996 $ 154,232 $ 90,050 $ 205,576 Executive Vice President and 1997 $ 197,973 $ 170,382 $ 116,828 Chief Financial Officer 1998 $ 211,824 $ 63,739 $ 123,282 [FN] An Annual Employee Variable Compensation Plan, a Management Long-Term Incentive Plan ("LTIP") and an Executive Deferred Compensation Plan have been established by the Company to meet the competitive salary programs of other companies and to provide a method of compensation which is based on the Company's performance. Under the Company's Annual Employee Variable Compensation Plan, all regular salaried employees' total compensation is based on a combination of base and variable pay. The variable compensation award is dependent upon the employee's position, the performance of the Company for the fiscal year or the selected performance criteria of the operating unit where the individual is employed. Variable compensation is awarded only in years that the Company achieves a threshold performance level as approved each year by the Board of Directors. The Company intends for its total cash compensation (base plus variable) to be competitive, recognizing that in the event the Company fails to achieve a predetermined threshold level of performance, the base pay alone will place the employees well under market rates. This system of variable compensation allows the Company to keep its fixed costs (base salaries) lower and only increase payroll costs consistent with the Company's ability to pay. Distributions under this plan are made annually after the close of each fiscal year. Under the Management Long-Term Incentive Plan, selected management employees of the Company are paid cash incentive amounts determined by a formula which takes into account the position held and the aggregate income of the Company over periods specified in the plan. Periods covered by the Management Long-Term Incentive Plan are: 1997 through 1999 ("1999 Plan"), 1998 through 2000 ("2000 Plan") and 1999 through 2001 ("2001 Plan"). For each plan, if the aggregate income is less than the Threshold or if the sum of the cash returned to members as patronage refunds, redemptions under the base capital plan, estate settlement plans and special allocated equity redemptions is less than the amount specified for the 1999 Plan, the 2000 Plan and the 2001 Plan, respectively, subject to the following paragraph, no payment will occur with respect to such plan. The Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, amend or discontinue, adjust or cancel any award otherwise payable under the Management Long-Term Incentive Plan, should the Company incur a loss in the final year of any plan. In addition, the Board of Directors may impact the payout amount of a plan by approving for inclusion or exclusion in the calculation of performance, the effects of extraordinary events occurring during a plan period. Subject to the preceding paragraph, if aggregate income equals or exceeds the Threshold and the cash returned to members equals or exceeds the specified amounts, then .83% of aggregate income of the three year plan period is made available to pay incentive awards. In general, participants must be active employees of the Company at the end of a plan in order to receive payment of the award with respect to such plan. Absent a significant change in their status, in which event such percentages may be adjusted, of the amount made available to pay incentives, Messrs. Cleberg, Evans, Honse, Berardi and Campbell will receive at least 11.2%, 5.6%, 5.6%, 5.6% and 4.0%, respectively, for the 1999 Plan, the 2000 Plan and the 2001 Plan. Under the Company's Management Long-Term Incentive Plan for the 1999 Plan, the 2000 Plan and the 2001 Plan, certain management employees, including those executives set forth below, may be eligible for future awards, contingent on satisfying the terms and conditions of the Plan as set forth above. Estimated Future Payouts Under Non-Stock (A) (B) (C) Price Based Plans Number of Shares, Performance or Other Units or Other Period Until Maturation (D) (E) (F) Name Rights (1) or Payout Threshold Target (2) Maximum (2) (Amounts in Thousands) H. D. Cleberg 1997 - 1999 $ 503 1998 - 2000 463 1999 - 2001 460 G. E. Evans 1997 - 1999 $ 251 1998 - 2000 232 1999 - 2001 230 R. W. Honse 1997 - 1999 $ 251 1998 - 2000 232 1999 - 2001 230 J. F. Berardi 1997 - 1999 $ 251 1998 - 2000 232 1999 - 2001 230 T. M. Campbell 1997 - 1999 $ 179 1998 - 2000 165 1999 - 2001 164 <FN> (1) Rights in the incentive pool are expressed as a minimum percentage BoardooftDirectorsp(Cont'd) (2) The plan does not specify a target or maximum payment. Payouts are only made when income over the three year plan period reaches the threshold amount, and then the amount available for payment is a fixed percentage of total income. The Company's Executive Deferred Compensation Plan permits executive employees to defer part of their salary and/or part or all of their variable and incentive compensation. The amount to be deferred and the period for deferral\ is specified by an election made semi-annually. Payments of deferred amounts shall begin at the earlier of the end of the specified deferral period,retirement, disability or death. The employee's deferred account balance is credited annually with interest at the highest rate of interest paid by the Company on any subordinated debt certificate sold during the year. Payment of an employee's account balance shall, at the employee's election, be a lump sum or in ten annual installments. Amounts deferred pursuant to the plan for the accounts of the named individuals during the years 1996, 1997 and 1998 are included in the cash compensation table. The Company established the Farmland Industries, Inc. Employee Retirement Plan (the "Plan") in 1986 for all employees whose customary employment is at the rate of at least 1,000 hours per year. Participation in the Plan is optional prior to age 34,but mandatory thereafter. Approximately 7,410 active and 8,670 inactive employees were participants in the Plan on August 31, 1998. The Plan is funded by employer and employee contributions to provide lifetime retirement income at normal retirement age 65, or a reduced income beginning as early as age 55. The Plan also contains provisions for death and disability benefits. The Plan has been determined qualified under the Internal Revenue Code. The Plan is administered by a committee appointed by the Board of Directors and all funds of the Plan are held by a bank trustee in accordance with the terms of the trust agreement. It is the present intent to continue this plan indefinitely. The Company's funding strategy is to make the maximum annual contributions to the Plan's trust fund that can be deducted for federal income tax purposes. Company contributions made to the Plan for the years ended August 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998 were $12.2 million, $-0- million and $ 1.7 million, respectively. Payments to participants in the Plan are based upon length of participation and compensation reported to the Plan for the four highest of the last ten years of employment. Compensation for this purpose includes base salary and compensation earned under the Company's Annual Employee Variable Compensation Plan discussed above. However, at the present time, the maximum compensation (per participant) which may be covered by a qualified pension plan is limited to $160,000 annually and the maximum retirement benefit which may be paid by such plan is limited to $130,000 annually by the Internal Revenue Code ("IRC"). The Company established the Farmland Industries, Inc. Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan ("SERP") effective January 1, 1994. The SERP is intended to supplement the retirement income of executive participants in the Farmland Industries, Inc. Employee Retirement Plan whose retirement benefit is reduced because of the limitation of the IRC on the amount of annual salary which can be included in the computation of retirement income (currently $160,000) or the amount of annual retirement benefit which may be paid by a qualified retirement plan (currently $130,000). Board of Directors has appointed an Administrative Committee to administer the SERP. The Company purchased cash value life insurance polices on the lives of certain plan participants to recover its cost of providing benefits under the SERP. The Company owns these insurance policies and has the sole right to name policy beneficiaries. The total SERP premiums charged to operations for the years ended August 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998 were $0.6 million, $0.6 million and $0.6 million, respectively. The Company's obligation to pay supplemental retirement benefits under the SERP is limited to the aggregate cash value of the life insurance policies designated by the Administrative Committee as policies of the SERP. Under this plan, each Participant's payment shall be reduced if the benefit payments to be made, when added to all prior benefit payments made from this Plan, are greater than the sum of (a) the total cash value, on August 31 of the preceding year, of the policies designated by the Administrative Committee and (b) any previous reductions in cash value caused by withdrawals from the policies by the Corporation. The following table sets forth, for compensation levels up to $160,000 the estimated annual benefits payable at age 62 for members of the Retirement Plan, which benefits are not reduced by virtue of Social Security payments. The following table also sets forth, for compensation levels exceeding $160,000, the combined estimated annual benefits payable under the Retirement Plan and SERP for each of the first 10 years following retirement (no SERP payouts are to be made after 10 years) assuming: retirement occurs on or after age 62; the portion of the employee's benefit lost (due to the IRC limitations) which would have been provided by the employer's contribution to the Retirement Plan is 85%; the employee lives for 10 years after retirement; and the cash value of life insurance policies designated (see above) as SERP policies do not cause the aggregate payments under the SERP to be reduced. Final Average Years of Service Wage 15 20 25 30 35 <s 100,000 $ 26,250 $ 35,000 $ 43,750 $ 52,500 $ 61,250 125,000 32,812 43,750 54,687 65,625 76,563 150,000 39,375 52,500 65,625 78,750 91,875 200,000 47,950 63,933 79,917 95,900 111,883 250,000 55,388 73,850 92,313 110,775 129,238 300,000 62,825 83,767 104,708 125,650 146,592 350,000 70,263 93,683 117,104 140,525 163,946 400,000 77,700 103,600 129,500 155,400 181,300 450,000 85,138 113,517 141,896 170,275 198,654 500,000 92,575 123,433 154,292 185,150 216,008 600,000 107,450 143,267 179,083 214,900 250,717 700,000 122,325 163,100 203,875 244,650 285,425 800,000 137,200 182,933 228,667 274,400 320,133 900,000 152,075 202,767 253,458 304,150 354,842 1,000,000 166,950 222,600 278,250 333,900 389,550 1,100,000 181,825 242,433 303,042 363,650 424,258 1,200,000 196,700 262,267 327,833 393,400 458,967 1,300,000 211,575 282,100 352,625 423,150 493,675 1,400,000 226,450 301,933 377,417 452,900 528,383 1,500,000 241,325 321,767 402,208 482,650 563,092 The following table sets forth the credited years of service for certain executive officers of the Company at August 31, 1998. Name Years of Creditable Service H. D. Cleberg 33 G. E. Evans 24 R. W. Honse 24 J. F. Berardi 6 T. M. Campbell 6 COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION The following persons, none of whom, except as indicated below, is either currently or formerly an officer or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, served as members of the Company's compensation committee during 1998: Messrs. Jody Bezner, Lyman Adams, Harry Fehrenbacher, Barry Jensen and Joe Royster. Mr. Bezner has served as Vice Chairman and Vice President of the Board of the Company from December 1997 to the current date. No executive officer of the Company (i) served as a member of a compensation committee (or other board committee performing equivalent functions or, in the absence of such committee, the entire board of directors) of another entity, one of whose executive officers served on the compensation committee of the Company, (ii) served as a director of another entity, one of whose executive officers served on the compensation committee of the Company, or (iii) served as a member of a compensation committee (or other board committee performing equivalent functions or, in the absence of such committee, the entire board of directors) of another entity, one of whose executive officers served as a director of the Company. Directors' compensation consists of payment of three hundred dollars ($300.00) per day of Farmland business (including,for example, board and committee meetings and other similar activities), plus reimbursement of necessary expenses incurred in connection with their official duties. In addition, annual retainers of $30,000 for the Chairman; $25,000 for each member of the Executive Committee, other than the Chairman and President; and $20,000 for all other directors are paid. ITEM 12. EQUITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT Farmland's equity consists of preferred shares, common shares, associate member common shares and capital credits. Only the common shares have voting rights. At August 31, 1998, no person was known by Farmland to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of Farmland's common shares. At August 31, 1998, the directors and executive officers of Farmland, neither individually nor as a group, beneficially owned in excess of one percent of any class of Farmland's equity. ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS The Company transacts business in the ordinary course with its directors and with its local cooperative members with which the directors are associated on terms no more favorable than those available to its other members. PART IV ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K (A) Listing of Financial Statements, Financial Statement Schedules and Exhibits (1) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Consolidated Balance Sheets, August 31, 1997 and 1998 Consolidated Statements of Operations for each of the years in the three-year period ended August 31, 1998 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended August 31, 1998 Consolidated Statements of Capital Shares and Equities for each of the years in the three- year period ended August 31, 1998 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (2) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS All schedules are omitted as the required information is inapplicable or the information is presented in the Consolidated Financial Statements or related notes. (3) EXHIBITS 179 Exhibit No. Description of Exhibits ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS: 3.(i)A Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of Farmland Industries, Inc. effective December 5, 1996. (Incorporated by Reference - Form 10-Q, filed January 14, 1997) INSTRUMENTS DEFINING THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS, INCLUDING INDENTURES*: 4.(i)A Form of Trust Indenture with UMB Bank, National Association, providing for issuance of unsubordinated debt securities, including form of Demand Loan Certificates. (Incorporated by Reference - Form S-1, No. 33-40759, effective December 31, 1997) 4.(i)B Form of Trust Indenture with Commerce Bank, National Association, providing for issuance of subordinated debt securities, including forms of Ten-Year Bond, Series A, Ten- Year Bond, Series B, Five-Year Bond, Series C, Five-Year Bond, Series D, Ten-Year Monthly Income Bond, Series E, Ten- Year Monthly Income Bond, Series F, Five-Year Monthly Income Bond, Series G and Five-Year Monthly Income Bond, Series H. (Incorporated by Reference - Form S-1, No. 33-40759, effective December 31, 1997) 4.(i)C Certificate of Designation for a Series of Preferred Shares Designated as 8% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares, dated December 19, 1997. (Incorporated by Reference - Form S2, filed April 3, 1998) 180 4(.ii)A Syndicated Credit Facility between Farmland Industries, Inc. and various banks dated May 15, 1996, (Incorporated by Reference - Form 10-Q filed July 15, 1996) MATERIAL CONTRACTS: MANAGEMENT REMUNERATIVE PLANS: 10.(iii)A Employee Variable Compensation Plan (September 1, 1998 - August 31, 1999) 10.(iii)B Farmland Industries, Inc. Management Long-Term Incentive Plan (Incorporated by Reference - Form 10-K, filed November 7, 1997) 10.(iii)B(1) Exhibit E (Fiscal years 1997 through 1999) (Incorporated by Reference - Form 10-K, filed November 7, 1997) 10.(iii)B(2) Exhibit F (Fiscal years 1998 through 2000) (Incorporated by Reference - Form 10-K, filed November 7, 1997) 10.(iii)B(3) Exhibit G (Fiscal years 1999 through 2001) 10.(iii)C Farmland Industries, Inc. Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (Effective January 1, 1994) (Incorporated by Reference - Form 10-K, filed November 28, 1995) 10.(iii)C(1) Resol181on Approving the Revision of Appendix A and Appendix A (Incorporated by Reference - Form 10-K, filed November 27, 1996) 10.(iii)D Farmland Industries, Inc. Executive Deferred Compensation Plan (As Amended and Restated Effective November 1, 1996) (Incorporated by Reference - Form 10-K, filed November 27, 1996) 21 Subsidiaries of the Registrant 24 Power of Attorney 27 Financial Data Schedule * Long-term debt instruments pursuant to which the debt issuable thereunder does not exceed 10% of the company's total assets have not been filed. The company agrees to furnish a copy of such instruments or agreements upon the Commission's request. (B) Reports on Form 8-K No reports on Form 8-K have been filed during the last quarter of the period covered by the report. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION TO BE FURNISHED WITH REPORTS FILED PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(D) OF THE ACT BY REGISTRANTS WHICH HAVE NOT REGISTERED SECURITIES PURSUANT TO SECTION 12 OF THE ACT As of the filing of this Form 10-K, no annual report covering the Registrant's last fiscal year and no proxy statement, form of proxy or other proxy soliciting material, has been sent to holders of the Registrant's securities. At such time as any such annual report or proxy soliciting material is sent to holders of the Registrant's securities subsequent to the filing of this Form 10-K, four copies of the same will be furnished to the Commission as and to the extent required by the Instructions to Form 10-K. SIGNATURES PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1934, FARMLAND INDUSTRIES, INC. HAS DULY CAUSED THIS REPORT ON FORM 10-K TO BE SIGNED ON ITS BEHALF BY THE UNDERSIGNED, THEREUNTO DULY AUTHORIZED, IN THE CITY OF KANSAS CITY, STATE OF MISSOURI ON NOVEMBER 20, 1998. FARMLAND INDUSTRIES, INC. BY /s/ TERRY M. CAMPBELL Terry M. Campbell Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer BY /s/ ROBERT B.TERRY Robert B. Terry Vice President and General Counsel PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1934, THIS FORM 10-K HAS BEEN SIGNED FOR THE FOLLOWING PERSONS ON BEHALF OF FARMLAND INDUSTRIES, INC. AND IN THE CAPACITIES AND ON THE DATE INDICATED PURSUANT TO VALID POWER OF ATTORNEY EXECUTED ON OCTOBER 21, 1998. Signature Title Date * Chairman of Board, November 20, 1998 Albert J. Shivley Director /s/ H.D. CLEBERG President, November 20, 1998 H. D. Cleberg Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer) * Vice Chairman of Board November 20, 1998 Jody Bezner Vice President and Director * Director November 20, 1998 Lyman L. Adams, Jr. * Director November 20, 1998 Ronald J. Amundson * Director November 20, 1998 Richard L. Detten * Director November 20, 1998 Steven Erdman * Director November 20, 1998 Harry Fehrenbacher * Director November 20, 1998 Martie Floyd * Director November 20, 1998 Warren Gerdes * Director November 20, 1998 Ben Griffith * Director November 20, 1998 Gail D. Hall * Director November 20, 1998 Barry Jensen * Director November 20, 1998 Ron Jurgens * Director November 20, 1998 William F. Kuhlman * Director November 20, 1998 Greg Pfenning * Director November 20, 1998 Monte Romohr * Director November 20, 1998 Joe Royster * Director November 20, 1998 E. Kent Stamper * Director November 20, 1998 Eli F. Vaughn * Director November 20, 1998 Frank Wilson /s/ TERRY M. CAMPBELL Executive Vice PresidentNovember 18, 1998 Terry M. Campbell and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) /s/ MERL DANIEL Vice President and November 18, 1998 Merl Daniel Controller (Principal Accounting Officer) *BY /s/ TERRY M. CAMPBELL Terry M. Campbell Attorney- In-Fact