Major classes of inventories are as follows:

	December 31,
(in thousands)	2016				2015
Grain	$	495,139			$	534,548
Ethanol and by-products	10,887				8,576
Plant nutrients and cob products	150,259				172,815
Retail merchandise	20,678				24,510
Railcar repair parts	5,784				6,894
Other	—				56
	$	682,747			$	747,399