UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 10-Q
 
xQuarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
  
 For the quarterly period ended June 30,December 31, 2019
  
 OR
  
oTransition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
  
 For the transition period from               to               .
  
 COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 000-52033
 
RED TRAIL ENERGY, LLC
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
North Dakota 76-0742311
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
   
3682 Highway 8 South, P.O. Box 11, Richardton, ND 58652
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(701) 974-3308
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each classTrading Symbol(s)Name of each exchange on which registered

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.
x Yes     o No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).
x Yes     o No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company" and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act:
Large Accelerated Filer o
Accelerated Filer  o
Non-Accelerated Filer x
Smaller Reporting Company o
 
Emerging Growth Company o
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
o Yes     x No

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date: 

As of August 12, 2019February 14, 2020, there were 40,148,160 Class A Membership Units outstanding.

1




INDEX

 Page Number
  


2




PART I.        FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

RED TRAIL ENERGY, LLC
Condensed Balance Sheets

ASSETS June 30, 2019 September 30, 2018 December 31, 2019 September 30, 2019

  (Unaudited) 
  (Unaudited) 
Current Assets 
 
 
 
Cash and equivalents $9,367,657
 $4,573,858
 $6,999,650
 $8,565,038
Restricted cash - margin account 843,714
 6,299,481
 2,121,853
 1,957,031
Accounts receivable, primarily related party 3,738,824
 3,029,314
Commodities derivative instruments, at fair value (see note 3) 797,138
 
Accounts receivable,net, primarily related party 4,157,139
 3,910,384
Inventory 8,659,293
 10,971,056
 8,220,612
 6,962,825
Prepaid expenses 203,925
 110,974
 593,814
 109,500
Total current assets 23,610,551
 24,984,683
 22,093,068
 21,504,778

 
 
 
 
Property, Plant and Equipment 
 
 
 
Land 1,333,681
 1,342,381
 1,333,681
 1,333,681
Land improvements 4,465,311
 4,465,311
 4,465,311
 4,465,311
Buildings 8,111,074
 8,091,522
 8,111,074
 8,111,074
Plant and equipment 87,940,601
 87,740,511
 88,061,649
 88,038,476
Construction in progress 396,997
 42,742
 1,163,627
 455,825

 102,247,664
 101,682,467
 103,135,342
 102,404,367
Less accumulated depreciation 61,897,947
 58,325,210
 64,290,297
 63,092,175
Net property, plant and equipment 40,349,717
 43,357,257
 38,845,045
 39,312,192

 
 
 
 
Other Assets 
 
 
 
Right of use operating lease assets, net 1,304,657
 
Investment in RPMG 605,000
 605,000
 605,000
 605,000
Patronage equity 3,478,552
 3,478,552
 4,119,151
 4,119,151
Deposits 40,000
 40,000
 40,000
 40,000
Total other assets 4,123,552
 4,123,552
 6,068,808
 4,764,151

 
 
 
 
Total Assets $68,083,820
 $72,465,492
 $67,006,921
 $65,581,121

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Financial Statements are an integral part of this Statement.

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RED TRAIL ENERGY, LLC
Condensed Balance Sheets

LIABILITIES AND MEMBERS' EQUITY June 30, 2019 September 30, 2018 December 31, 2019 September 30, 2019

  (Unaudited) 
  (Unaudited) 
Current Liabilities 
 
 
 
Accounts payable $3,099,252
 $4,689,119
 $3,674,470
 $4,331,521
Accrued expenses 771,148
 1,005,067
 2,498,302
 598,209
Commodities derivative instruments, at fair value (see note 3) 
 2,245,650
 40,865
 8,875
Accrued loss on firm purchase commitments (see notes 4 and 8) 98,000
 204,000
 144,000
 68,000
Current maturities of notes payable 945
 2,921
 4,483
 252
Current portion of operating leases 390,454
 
Total current liabilities 3,969,345
 8,146,757
 6,752,574
 5,006,857
        
Commitments and Contingencies (Notes 4, 5, 7 and 8) 
 
 
 
Long-Term Liabilities 
 
Notes payable 17,793
 
Long-term operating lease liabilities 914,203
 
Total long-term liabilities 931,996
 

 
 
Members’ Equity 40,148,160 Class A Membership Units issued and outstanding 64,114,475
 64,318,735
 59,322,351
 60,574,264
        
Total Liabilities and Members’ Equity $68,083,820
 $72,465,492
 $67,006,921
 $65,581,121

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Financial Statements are an integral part of this Statement.

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RED TRAIL ENERGY, LLC
Condensed Statements of Operations (Unaudited)


Three Months Ended Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended Nine Months EndedThree Months Ended Three Months Ended 

June 30, 2019 June 30, 2018 June 30, 2019 June 30, 2018December 31, 2019 December 31, 2018 

(Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited)(Unaudited) (Unaudited) 
Revenues, primarily related party$26,302,894
 $28,726,715
 $78,443,830
 $81,216,304
$26,340,913
 $25,909,136
 


 
    
 
 
Cost of Goods Sold
 
    
 
 
Cost of goods sold24,475,143
 28,155,815
 76,585,250
 80,087,408
26,740,778
 24,856,341
 
Lower of cost or net realizable value adjustment74,170
 
 74,170
 82,082
22,705
 
 
Loss on firm purchase commitments87,000
 
 92,000
 8,000
76,000
 5,000
 
Total Cost of Goods Sold24,636,313
 28,155,815
 76,751,420
 80,177,490
26,839,483
 24,861,341
 


 
    
 
 
Gross Profit1,666,581
 570,900
 1,692,410
 1,038,814
Gross Profit (Loss)(498,570) 1,047,795
 


 
    
 
 
General and Administrative Expenses891,302
 611,006
 2,222,067
 2,111,926
799,505
 674,885
 


 
    
 
 
Operating Income (Loss)775,279
 (40,106) (529,657) (1,073,112)(1,298,075) 372,910
 


 
    
 
 
Other Income (Expense)
 
    
 
 
Interest income31,785
 54,605
 66,547
 101,872
39,277
 27,443
 
Other income, net10,924
 47,768
 260,643
 471,049
6,976
 2,496
 
Interest expense(2) (8) (11) (42)(91) (5) 
Total other income, net42,707
 102,365
 327,179
 572,879
46,162
 29,934
 


 
    
 
 
Net Income (Loss)$817,986
 $62,259
 $(202,478) $(500,233)$(1,251,913) $402,844
 


 
    
 
 
Weighted Average Units Outstanding           
Basic40,148,160
 41,031,775
 40,148,160
 41,321,485
40,148,160
 40,148,160
 


 
    
 
 
Diluted40,148,160
 41,031,775
 40,148,160
 41,321,485
40,148,160
 40,148,160
 
           
Net Income (Loss) Per Unit
      
   
Basic$0.02
 $
 $(0.01) $(0.01)$(0.03) $0.01
 


 
    
 
 
Diluted$0.02
 $
 $(0.01) $(0.01)$(0.03) $0.01
 
           
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Financial Statements are an integral part of this Statement.



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RED TRAIL ENERGY, LLC
Condensed Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

Nine Months Ended Nine Months EndedThree Months Ended Three Months Ended

June 30, 2019 June 30, 2018December 31, 2019 December 31, 2018
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
 

 
Net loss$(202,478) $(500,233)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
Net income (loss)$(1,251,913) $402,844
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
Depreciation and amortization3,572,737
 3,545,435
1,198,122
 1,189,514
Loss on disposal of fixed assets3,659
 

 13,254
Change in fair value of derivative instruments(3,042,788) 1,003,438
31,990
 (2,123,150)
Lower of cost of net realizable value adjustment74,170
 82,082
22,705
 
Loss on firm purchase commitments92,000
 8,000
76,000
 5,000
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
 

 
Accounts receivable(709,509) 730,950
Other receivables
 8,764
Accounts receivable, net, primarily related party(246,755) (231,671)
Inventory2,145,592
 4,021,626
(1,356,492) 141,450
Prepaid expenses(92,951) (94,822)(484,314) (228,582)
Accounts payable(1,589,867) 7,495,539
(657,051) 20,831
Accrued expenses(233,919) (1,952,583)1,900,093
 (371,472)
Accrued loss on firm purchase commitments(106,000) (5,000)76,000
 5,000
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities(89,354) 14,343,196
Net cash used in operating activities(691,615) (1,176,982)
      
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
 

 
Proceeds from disposal of fixed assets18,295
 
Capital expenditures(587,151) (797,128)(707,802) (80,306)
Net cash (used in) investing activities(568,856) (797,128)
Net cash used in investing activities(707,802) (80,306)
      
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
 

 
Dividends paid(1,782) (2,901,975)
Unit repurchase
 (1,318,180)
Debt repayments(1,976) (1,961)
Net cash (used in) financing activities(3,758) (4,222,116)
Payments on notes payable(1,149) (657)
Net cash used in financing activities(1,149) (657)


 

 
Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash(661,968) 9,323,952
Net Decrease in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash(1,400,566) (1,257,945)
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash - Beginning of Period10,873,339
 9,130,008
10,522,069
 10,873,339
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash - End of Period$10,211,371
 $18,453,960
$9,121,503
 $9,615,394
      
Reconciliation of Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash      
Cash and cash equivalents$9,367,657
 $14,428,327
$6,999,650
 $3,370,561
Restricted cash843,714
 4,025,633
2,121,853
 6,244,833
Total Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash$10,211,371
 $18,453,960
$9,121,503
 $9,615,394


 

 
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information
 

 
Interest paid$11
 $42
$91
 $5
Noncash Investing and Financing Activities   
Finance lease asset acquired23,173
 
Capital expenditures in accounts payable$
 $10,176

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Financial Statements are an integral part of this Statement.


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RED TRAIL ENERGY, LLC
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30,DECEMBER 31, 2019


The accompanying condensed unaudited financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been condensed or omitted as permitted by such rules and regulations. These financial statements and related notes should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2018,2019, contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K.

In the opinion of management, the interim condensed unaudited financial statements reflect all adjustments considered necessary for fair presentation. The adjustments made to these statements consist only of normal recurring adjustments. Operating results for the periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019.2020.

1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Nature of Business

Red Trail Energy, LLC, a North Dakota limited liability company (the “Company”), owns and operates a 50 million gallon annual name-plate production ethanol plant near Richardton, North Dakota (the “Plant”).

Accounting Estimates

Management uses estimates and assumptions in preparing these financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Those estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities and the reported revenues and expenses. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include the useful lives of property, plant and equipment, inventory and allowance for doubtful accounts. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
Net Income Per Unit

Net income per unit is calculated on a basic and fully diluted basis using the weighted average units outstanding during the period.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

Revenue from Contracts with Customers

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASC 606, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” which supersedes the guidance in “Revenue Recognition (Topic 605)” and requires entities to recognize revenue in a way that depicts the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. ASC 606 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period and is to be applied retrospectively, with early application not permitted. Effective October 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASC 606 for all of its contracts using the modified retrospective approach. See note 2.

Statement of Cash Flows; Restricted Cash

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18, "Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash" which requires that a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. Therefore, amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents should be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. ASU No. 2016-18 is effective for annal periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those annual periods.

Effective October 1, 2018 the Company retrospectively adopted ASU No. 2016-18. As a result, net cash used in operating activities for the nine months ended June 30, 2019 was adjusted to exclude the change in restricted cash and decreased the previously reported balance by approximately $1,881,000. Also the previously reported cash and cash equivalent balance was adjusted to include restricted cash and has increased by approximately $4,026,000.


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RED TRAIL ENERGY, LLC
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30, 2019


Lease Accounting Standards

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, "Leases (topic 842)" which requires a lessee to recognize a right to use asset and a lease liability on its balance sheet for all leases with terms of twelve months or greater. This guidance is effective for

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RED TRAIL ENERGY, LLC
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2019


fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, included interim periods within those years with early adoption permitted. TheEffective October 1, 2019 the Company has evaluatedadopted ASU No. 2016-02 using the new standard and expects it will have a material impact on the financial statements as we will have to begin capitalizing leases on the balance sheet when the new standard is implemented.modified retrospective approach. See note 7 for current operating and financing lease commitments.

2. REVENUE

Adoption of ASC 606

Effective October 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASC 606 using the modified retrospective approach for all of its contracts. Following the adoption of ASC 606, the Company continues to recognize revenue at a point-in-time when control of goods transfers to the customer. This is consistent with the Company's previous revenue recognition accounting policy under which the Company recognized revenue when title and risk of loss pass to the customer and collectability was reasonably assured. ASC 606 did not impact the Company's presentation of revenue on a gross or net basis. The Company recognizes revenue primarily from sales of ethanol and its related co-products. In addition, there was no impact of adoption on the statement of operations or balance sheet for the nine months ended June 30, 2019. The Company expects the impact of adopting the new revenue standard to be immaterial to net income on an ongoing basis.

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue from sales of ethanol and co-products at the point in time when the performance obligations in the contract are met, which is when the customer obtains control of such products and typically occurs upon shipment depending on the terms of the underlying contracts. Revenue is measured as the amount of consideration expected to be received in exchange for transferring goods or providing services. In some instances, the Company enters into contracts with customers that contain multiple performance obligations to deliver volumes of co-products over a contractual period of less than 12 months. The Company allocates the transaction price to each performance obligation identified in the contract based on relative standalone selling prices and recognizes the related revenue as control of each individual product is transferred to the customer in satisfaction of the corresponding performance obligation.

Revenue by Source

The following table disaggregates revenue by major source for the three and nine months ended June 30,December 31, 2019 and 2018.
Revenues For the three months ended June 30, 2019 (unaudited) For the three months ended June 30, 2018 (unaudited) For the nine months ended June 30, 2019 (unaudited) For the nine months ended June 30, 2018 (unaudited) For the three months ended December 31, 2019 (unaudited) For the three months ended December 31, 2018 (unaudited)
Ethanol and E85 $20,862,325
 $21,892,641
 $60,517,057
 $61,456,649
 $20,420,028
 $19,539,168
Distillers Grains 4,797,738
 5,889,714
 15,706,453
 16,906,013
 4,814,637
 5,616,777
Syrup 73,563
 67,886
 267,573
 227,366
 92,359
 92,009
Corn Oil 505,587
 806,768
 1,798,732
 2,475,487
 965,372
 605,140
Other 63,681
 69,706
 154,015
 150,789
 48,517
 56,042
Total revenue from contracts with customers $26,302,894
 $28,726,715
 $78,443,830
 $81,216,304
 $26,340,913
 $25,909,136

Shipping and Handling Costs

We account for shipping and handling activities related to contracts with customers as costs to fulfill our promise to transfer the associated products. Accordingly, we record customer payments associated with shipping and handling costs as a component of revenue, and classify such costs as a component of cost of goods sold.



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RED TRAIL ENERGY, LLC
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30, 2019


3. DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS

Commodity Contracts

As part of its hedging strategy, the Company may enter into ethanol, soybean, soybean oil, natural gas and corn commodity-based derivatives in order to protect cash flows from fluctuations caused by volatility in commodity prices in order to protect gross profit margins from potentially adverse effects of market and price volatility on ethanol sales, corn oil sales, and corn purchase commitments where the prices are set at a future date. These derivatives are not designated as effective hedges for accounting

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RED TRAIL ENERGY, LLC
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2019


purposes. For derivative instruments that are not accounted for as hedges, or for the ineffective portions of qualifying hedges, the change in fair value is recorded through earnings in the period of change. Ethanol derivative fair market value gains or losses are included in the results of operations and are classified as revenue and corn derivative changes in fair market value are included in cost of goods sold.
As of: June 30, 2019 (unaudited) September 30, 2018 December 31, 2019 (unaudited) September 30, 2019
Contract Type # of ContractsNotional Amount (Qty)Fair Value # of ContractsNotional Amount (Qty)Fair Value # of ContractsNotional Amount (Qty)Fair Value # of ContractsNotional Amount (Qty)Fair Value
Corn futures 

bushels$
 800
4,000,000
bushels$(319,400) 10
50,000
bushels$4,625
 

bushels$
Corn options 1,530
7,650,000
bushels$797,688
 2,800
14,000,000
bushels$(1,926,250) 270
1,350,000
bushels$(30,750) 30
150,000
bushels$(8,875)
Natural gas futures 35
350,000
dk$(6,900) 

dk$
Natural gas options 3
30,000
dk$(550) 

dk$
 7
70,000
dk$(7,840) 

dk$
Total fair value   $797,138
   $(2,245,650)   $(40,865)   $(8,875)
Amounts are combined on the balance sheet - negative numbers represent liabilities

The following tables provide details regarding the Company's derivative financial instruments at June 30,December 31, 2019 and September 30, 2018:2019:
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:        
        
Balance Sheet - as of June 30, 2019 (unaudited) Asset Liability
Balance Sheet - as of December 31, 2019 (unaudited) Asset Liability
Commodity derivative instruments, at fair value $797,138
 $
 $
 $40,865
Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments for accounting purposes $797,138
 $
 $
 $40,865
        
Balance Sheet - as of September 30, 2018 Asset Liability
Balance Sheet - as of September 30, 2019 Asset Liability
Commodity derivative instruments, at fair value $
 $2,245,650
 $
 $8,875
Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments for accounting purposes $
 $2,245,650
 $
 $8,875

Statement of Operations Income/(Expense) Location of gain (loss) in fair value recognized in income Amount of gain (loss) recognized in income during the three months ended June 30, 2019 (unaudited) Amount of gain (loss) recognized in income during the three months ended June 30, 2018 (unaudited) Amount of gain (loss) recognized in income during the nine months ended June 30, 2019 (unaudited) Amount of gain (loss) recognized in income during the nine months ended June 30, 2018 (unaudited) Location of gain (loss) in fair value recognized in income Amount of gain (loss) recognized in income during the three months ended December 31, 2019 (unaudited) Amount of gain (loss) recognized in income during the three months ended December 31, 2018 (unaudited)
Corn derivative instruments Cost of Goods Sold $3,225,402
 $(1,901,509) $4,107,834
 $(767,270) Cost of Goods Sold $104,683
 $2,068,502
Ethanol derivative instruments Revenue 
 
 
 1,800
Natural gas derivative instruments Cost of Goods Sold (550) 
 (550) 
 Cost of Goods Sold (27,850) 
Total $3,224,852
 $(1,901,509) $4,107,284
 $(765,470) $76,833
 $2,068,502

4. INVENTORY
Inventory is valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Inventory values as of December 31, 2019 and September 30, 2019 were as follows:
As of 
December 31, 2019
(unaudited)
 September 30, 2019
Raw materials, including corn, chemicals and supplies $4,249,606
 $2,679,126
Work in process 877,881
 956,509
Finished goods, including ethanol and distillers grains 1,150,551
 1,459,561
Spare parts 1,942,574
 1,867,629
Total inventory $8,220,612
 $6,962,825


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RED TRAIL ENERGY, LLC
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30,DECEMBER 31, 2019


4. INVENTORY
Inventory is valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Inventory values as of June 30, 2019 and September 30, 2018 were as follows:
As of 
June 30, 2019
(unaudited)
 September 30, 2018
Raw materials, including corn, chemicals and supplies $4,051,477
 $6,684,322
Work in process 935,838
 738,991
Finished goods, including ethanol and distillers grains 1,430,557
 1,405,806
Spare parts 2,241,421
 2,141,937
Total inventory $8,659,293
 $10,971,056

Lower of cost or net realizable value adjustments for the three and nine months ended June 30,December 31, 2019 and 2018 were as follows:
 For the three months ended June 30, 2019 (unaudited) For the three months ended June 30, 2018 (unaudited) For the nine months ended June 30, 2019 (unaudited) For the nine months ended June, 2018 (unaudited) For the three months ended December 31, 2019 (unaudited) For the three months ended December 31, 2018 (unaudited)
Loss on firm purchase commitments $87,000
 $
 $92,000
 $8,000
 $76,000
 $5,000
Loss on lower of cost or net realizable value adjustment for inventory on hand $74,170
 $
 $74,170
 $82,082
 $22,705
 $
Total loss on lower of cost or net realizable value adjustments $161,170
 $
 $166,170
 $90,082
 $98,705
 $5,000

The Company has entered into forward corn purchase contracts under which it is required to take delivery at the contract price. At the time the contracts were created, the price of the contract approximated market price. Subsequent changes in market conditions could cause the contract prices to become higher or lower than market prices. As of June 30,December 31, 2019, the average price of corn purchased under certain fixed price contracts, that had not yet been delivered, was greater than approximated market price. Based on this information, the Company has an $87,000 and $92,000a $76,000 estimated loss on firm purchase commitments for the three and nine months ended June 30,December 31, 2019. The loss is recorded in “Loss on firm purchase commitments” on the statement of operations. The amount of the potential loss was determined by applying a methodology similar to that used in the impairment valuation with respect to inventory. Given the uncertainty of future ethanol prices, further losses on the outstanding purchase commitments could be recorded in future periods.

5. BANK FINANCING
As of June 30, 2019 (unaudited) September 30, 2018
Capital lease obligations (Note 7) $945
 $2,921
Total Long-Term Debt 945
 2,921
Less amounts due within one year 945
 2,921
Total Long-Term Debt Less Amounts Due Within One Year $
 $

On June 30,October 1, 2019, we renewedterminated our $10$7 million revolving loan (the "Revolving Loan")Revolving Loan with U.S. Bank National Association ("U.S. Bank"). The principle was lowered to $7 million. The maturity date of the Revolving Loan is June 30,was May 31, 2020. Our ability to draw funds on the Revolving Loan iswas subject to a borrowing base calculation as set forth in the Credit Agreement. At June 30, 2019

On January 22, 2020 we entered into a new $10 million revolving loan (the "Revolving Loan") with Cornerstone Bank ("Cornerstone"). The Revolving Loan replaced a similar revolving loan we had $6,300,000 available onwith U.S. Bank National Association. The maturity date of the Revolving Loan taking into account the borrowing base calculation. At September 30, 2018 we had $8,800,000 available on the Revolving Loan. We had $0 drawn on the Revolving Loan as of June 30, 2019 and September 30, 2018.is January 21, 2021. The variable interest rate on December 31, 2019 will be 3.55%.

On January 22, 2020, we entered into a new $7 million construction loan (the "Construction Loan") with Cornerstone. The maturity date of the Construction Loan is June 30,1, 2021. The variable interest rate on December 31, 2019 was 4.21%will be 3.55%. See note 7 for the Company's additional future minimum lease commitments.
        
The Company's loans are secured by a lien on substantially all of the assets of the Company. As of June 30, 2019, the Company was in compliance with its quarterly debt covenant.

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RED TRAIL ENERGY, LLC
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30, 2019


6. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

The following table provides information on those liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of June 30,December 31, 2019 and September 30, 2018,2019, respectively.

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RED TRAIL ENERGY, LLC
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2019


    Fair Value Measurement Using    Fair Value Measurement Using
Carrying Amount as of June 30, 2019 (unaudited) Fair Value as of June 30, 2019 (unaudited) Level 1 Level 2 Level 3Carrying Amount as of December 31, 2019 (unaudited) Fair Value as of December 31, 2019 (unaudited) Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
Assets         
Liabilities         
Commodities derivative instruments$797,138
 $797,138
 $797,138
 $
 $
$40,865
 $40,865
 $40,865
 $
 $
Total$797,138
 $797,138
 $797,138
 $
 $
$40,865
 $40,865
 $40,865
 $
 $
                  
    Fair Value Measurement Using    Fair Value Measurement Using
Carrying Amount as of September 30, 2018 Fair Value as of September 30, 2018 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3Carrying Amount as of September 30, 2019 Fair Value as of September 30, 2019 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
Liabilities                  
Commodities derivative instruments$2,245,650
 $2,245,650
 $2,245,650
 $
 $
$8,875
 $8,875
 $8,875
 $
 $
Total$2,245,650
 $2,245,650
 $2,245,650
 $
 $
$8,875
 $8,875
 $8,875
 $
 $

The fair value of the corn, ethanol, soybean oil and natural gas derivative instruments is based on quoted market prices in an active market.

7. LEASES

Effective October 1, 2019, the Company adopted the provisions of ASU No. 2016-02, "Leases (topic 842)" using the modified retrospective approach which applies the provisions of ASU No. 2016-02 upon adoption, with no change to prior periods. This adoption resulted in the Company recognizing initial right of use assets and lease liabilities of $1,418,000. The adoption did not have a significant impact on the Company's statement of operations.

Upon the initial adoption of ASU No. 2016-02, the Company elected the following practical expedients allowable under the guidance: not to reassess whether any expired or existing contracts are or contain leases; not to reassess the lease classification for any expired or existing leases; not to reassess initial direct costs for any existing leases; not to separately identify lease and nonlease components; and not to evaluate historical land easements. Additionally, the Company elected the short-term lease exemption policy, applying the requirements of ASU No. 2016-02 to only long-term (greater than 1 year) leases.

The Company leases equipment under operatingrailcar and capitalplant equipment. Operating lease right of use assets and liabilities are recognized at commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. The Company uses its estimated incremental borrowing rate, unless an implicit rate is readily determinable, as the discount rate for each lease in determining the present value of lease payments. For the three months ended December 31, 2019, the Company's estimated discount rate was 3.55%. Operating lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease or contains a lease at inception. The Company's leases through July 2023. have remaining lease terms of approximately 1 year to 4 years, which may include options to extend the lease when it is reasonably certain the Company will exercise those options. At December 31, 2019 the weighted average remaining lease term is 3.5 years. The Company does not have lease arrangements with residual value guarantees, sale leaseback terms or material restrictive covenants. The Company does not have any sublease agreements.

The Company is generally responsible for maintenance, taxes, and utilities for leased equipment. Equipment under operating leases includes a locomotive and rail cars. Rent expense for operating leases was approximately $138,000$205,000 and $153,000$161,000 for the three months ended June 30,December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and $455,000 and $465,000 for the nine months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Equipment under capitalfinancing leases consists of office equipment and plant equipment.

Equipment under capitalfinancing leases is as follows at:
As of June 30, 2019 September 30, 2018
Equipment $483,488
 $483,488
Less accumulated amortization (157,583) (141,488)
Net equipment under capital lease $325,905
 $342,000


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RED TRAIL ENERGY, LLC
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30,DECEMBER 31, 2019


As of December 31, 2019 September 30, 2019
Equipment $506,661
 $483,488
Less accumulated amortization (168,613) (162,940)
Net equipment under financing lease $338,048
 $320,548

At June 30,December 31, 2019, the Company had the following minimum commitments, which at inception had non-cancelable terms of more than one year. Amounts shown below are for the 12 months periodmonth periods ending June 30:December 31:
 Operating Leases Capital Leases Operating Leases Financing Leases
2019 $444,505
 $945
2020 365,663
 
 $390,454
 $4,483
2021 296,640
 
 350,349
 4,517
2022 202,290
 
 326,349
 4,551
2023 
 
 215,493
 4,585
2024 22,012
 4,140
Thereafter 
 
 
 
Total minimum lease commitments $1,309,098
 945
 $1,304,657
 22,276
Less amount representing interest   
   
Present value of minimum lease commitments included in current maturities of long-term debt on the balance sheet   $945
Present value of minimum lease commitments included in notes payable on the balance sheet   $22,276

8. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Firm Purchase Commitments for Corn

To ensure an adequate supply of corn to operate the Plant, the Company enters into contracts to purchase corn from local farmers and elevators. At June 30,December 31, 2019, the Company had various fixed price contracts for the purchase of approximately 2.31.3 million bushels of corn. Using the stated contract price for the fixed price contracts, the Company had commitments of approximately $8.9$4.7 million related to the 2.31.3 million bushels under contract.

Water

To meet the plant's water requirements, we entered into a ten-year contract with Southwest Water Authority to purchase raw water. Our contract requires us to purchase a minimum of 160 million gallons of water per year. The minimum estimated liability for this contract is $424,000 per year.

Profit and Cost Sharing Agreement

The Company has entered into a Profit and Cost Sharing Agreement with Bismarck Land Company, LLC which became effective on November 1, 2016. The Profit and Cost Sharing Agreement provides that the Company will share 70% of the net revenue generated by the Company from business activities which are brought to the Company by Bismarck Land Company, LLC and conducted on the real estate purchased from the Bismarck Land Company, LLC. The real estate was initially purchased in exchange for 2 million membership units at $1.66 per unit. This obligation will terminate ten years after the real estate closing date of October 11, 2016 or after Bismarck Land Company, LLC receives $10 million in proceeds from the agreement. In addition, the Company will pay Bismarck Land Company, LLC 70% of any net proceeds received by the Company from the sale of the subject real estate if a sale were to occur in the future, subject to the $10 million cap and the 10 year termination of this obligation. The Company has accrued payments of $28,315 to thepaid Bismarck Land Company, LLC $28,315 as of June 30,December 31, 2019.

Carbon Capture and Storage Project

The Company has entered into a research agreement with the University of North Dakota Energy and Environmental Research Center to explore the feasibility of injecting CO2 from the fermentation process into a saline formation to lower the carbon intensity

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value of our ethanol. The Company has committed to fund up to $950,000 for this research. The Company has paid $255,728$612,140 as of June 30,December 31, 2019.

9. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

The Company has balances and transactions in the normal course of business with various related parties for the purchase of corn, sale of distillers grains and sale of ethanol. The related parties include unit holders, members of the board of governors of the Company, and RPMG, Inc. (“RPMG”). The Company received a capital account refund from RPMG of $267,111 during the

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RED TRAIL ENERGY, LLC
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30, 2019


second quarter of 2019 which is included in other income (expense) in the Company's Statement of Operations. A refund of $140,539 was received during the Company's first quarter of 2018. Significant related party activity affecting the financial statements is as follows:
 
June 30, 2019
(unaudited)
 September 30, 2018 
December 31, 2019
(unaudited)
 September 30, 2019
Balance Sheet        
Accounts receivable $3,485,391
 $2,680,445
 $3,757,314
 $3,695,462
Accounts Payable 143,147
 312,701
 6,825
 298,638
Accrued Expenses 494
 95,704
 580,975
 41,643
        

 For the three months ended June 30, 2019 (unaudited) For the three months ended June 30, 2018 (unaudited) For the nine months ended June 30, 2019 (unaudited) For the nine months ended June 30, 2018 (unaudited) For the three months ended December 31, 2019 (unaudited) For the three months ended December 31, 2018 (unaudited)
Statement of Operations            
Revenues $24,642,959
 $27,381,514
 $72,619,534
 $76,354,225
 $24,561,170
 $24,188,143
Cost of goods sold 
 9,012
 537,987
 21,936
 602,869
 14,104
General and administrative 523,883
 62,019
 159,691
 100,330
 41,304
 30,910
Other income 73,097
 
 267,111
 140,538
Inventory Purchases $4,176,641
 $7,710,883
 $11,125,096
 $18,036,469
 $2,671,939
 $3,703,065

10. UNCERTAINTIES IMPACTING THE ETHANOL INDUSTRY AND OUR FUTURE OPERATIONS

The Company has certain risks and uncertainties that it experiences during volatile market conditions, which can have a severe impact on operations. The Company's revenues are derived from the sale and distribution of ethanol and distillers grains to customers primarily located in the United States. Corn for the production process is supplied to the Plant primarily from local agricultural producers and from purchases on the open market. The Company's operating and financial performance is largely driven by prices at which the Company sells ethanol and distillers grains and by the cost at which it is able to purchase corn for operations. The price of ethanol is influenced by factors such as prices, supply and demand, weather, government policies and programs, and unleaded gasoline and the petroleum markets, although since 2005 the prices of ethanol and gasoline began a divergence with ethanol selling for less than gasoline at the wholesale level. Excess ethanol supply in the market, in particular, puts downward pressure on the price of ethanol. The Company's largest cost of production is corn. The cost of corn is generally impacted by factors such as supply and demand, weather, government policies and programs. The Company's risk management program is used to protect against the price volatility of these commodities.

The Company's financial performance is highly dependent on the Federal Renewable Fuels Standard ("RFS") which requires that a certain amount of renewable fuels must be used each year in the United States. Corn based ethanol, such as the ethanol the Company produces, can be used to meet a portion of the RFS requirement. In November 2013, the EPA issued a proposed rule which would reduce the RFS for 2014, including the RFS requirement related to corn based ethanol. The EPA proposed rule was subject to a comment period which expired in January 2014. On November 30, 2015, the EPA released its final ethanol use requirements for 2014, 2015 and 2016 which were lower than the statutory requirements in the RFS. However, the final RFS for 2017 equaled the statutory requirement which was also the case for the 2018, 2019 and 20192020 RFS final rules.

The Company anticipates that the results of operations during the remainder of fiscal year 20192020 will continue to be affected by volatility in the commodity markets. The volatility is due to various factors, including uncertainty with respect to the availability and supply of corn, increased demand for grain from global and national markets, speculation in the commodity markets and demand for corn from the ethanol industry.


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RED TRAIL ENERGY, LLC
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30,DECEMBER 31, 2019


11. MEMBER'S EQUITY

Unregistered Units Sales by the Company.

On October 10, 2016, the Company issued two million of the Company's membership units to Bismarck Land Company, LLC as part of the consideration for the acquisition of 338 acres of land adjacent to the ethanol plant that the Company will use to expand its rail yard. The membership units were issued pursuant to the exemption from registration set forth in Regulation D, Rule 506(b), as Bismarck Land Company, LLC is an accredited investor.

Unit Purchases By the Company.
 (a)(b)(c)(d)
PeriodTotal Number of Units Purchased Average Price Paid per Unit Total Number of Units Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs Maximum Number (or Approximate Dollar Value) of the Units that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
April 2018NoneNoneNoneNone
May 20181,318,180$1.00NoneNone
June 2018NoneNoneNoneNone
Total1,318,180$1.00NoneNone

*1,318,180 Units were purchased other than through a publicly announced plan or program, pursuant to a Membership Unit Repurchase Agreement, a private transaction between the Company and a Member. No other activity has occurred since the third quarter of our 2018 fiscal year.

Changes in member's equity for the nine monthsfiscal year ended JuneSeptember 30, 2019 and 2018.the three months ended December 31, 2019.
  Class A Member Units Additional Paid in Capital Accumulated Deficit/Retained Earnings Treasury Units Total Member Equity
Balances - September 30, 2017 $40,362,775
 $75,541
 $33,399,985
 $(159,540) $73,678,761
Net income (loss) 
 
 (1,984,666) 
 (1,984,666)
Balances - December 31, 2017 40,362,775
 75,541
 31,415,319
 (159,540) 71,694,095
Distribution, $0.05 per unit 
 
 (2,901,975) 
 (2,901,975)
Net income 
 
 1,422,174
 
 1,422,174
Balances - March 31, 2018 $40,362,775
 $75,541
 $29,935,518
 $(159,540) $70,214,294
Membership unit repurchase (1,318,180) 
 
 
 (1,318,180)
Net income 
 
 62,259
 
 62,259
Balances - June 30, 2018 $39,044,595
 $75,541
 $29,997,777
 $(159,540) $68,958,373


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RED TRAIL ENERGY, LLC
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30, 2019

  Class A Member Units Additional Paid in Capital Accumulated Deficit/Retained Earnings Treasury Units Total Member Equity
Balances - September 30, 2018 $39,044,595
 $75,541
 $25,358,139
 $(159,540) $64,318,735
Net income (loss) 
 
 402,844
 
 402,844
Balances - December 31, 2018 39,044,595
 75,541
 25,760,983
 (159,540) 64,721,579
Distribution 
 
 (1,782) 
 (1,782)
Net income 
 
 (1,423,308) 
 (1,423,308)
Balances - March 31, 2019 $39,044,595
 $75,541
 $24,335,893
 $(159,540) $63,296,489
Net income 
 
 817,986
 
 817,986
Balances - June 30, 2019 $39,044,595
 $75,541
 $25,153,879
 $(159,540) $64,114,475
Net income     $(3,540,211)   $(3,540,211)
Balances - September 30, 2019 $39,044,595
 $75,541
 $21,613,668
 $(159,540) $60,574,264

  Class A Member Units Additional Paid in Capital Accumulated Deficit/Retained Earnings Treasury Units Total Member Equity
Balances - September 30, 2018 $39,044,595
 $75,541
 $25,358,139
 $(159,540) $64,318,735
Net income 
 
 402,844
 
 402,844
Balances December 31, 2018 39,044,595
 75,541
 25,760,983
 (159,540) 64,721,579
Distribution 
 
 (1,782) 
 (1,782)
Net income (loss) 
 
 (1,423,308) 
 (1,423,308)
Balances - March 31, 2019 $39,044,595
 $75,541
 $24,335,893
 $(159,540) $63,296,489
Net income 
 
 817,986
 
 817,986
Balances - June 30, 2019 $39,044,595
 $75,541
 $25,153,879
 $(159,540) $64,114,475
  Class A Member Units Additional Paid in Capital Accumulated Deficit/Retained Earnings Treasury Units Total Member Equity
Balances - September 30, 2019 $39,044,595
 $75,541
 $21,613,668
 $(159,540) $60,574,264
Net income (loss) 
 
 (1,251,913) 
 (1,251,913)
Balances December 31, 2019 39,044,595
 75,541
 20,361,755
 (159,540) 59,322,351

12. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

Management evaluated all other activity ofOn January 22, 2020 the Company entered into a new revolving loan and concluded that no subsequent events have occurred that would require recognition in the condensed financial statements or disclosure in the notes to the condensed financial statements.new construction loan with Cornerstone Bank. See Note 5.


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Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

We prepared the following discussion and analysis to help you better understand our financial condition, changes in our financial condition, and results of operations for the three and nine month periodsperiod ended June 30,December 31, 2019, compared to the same periodsperiod of the prior fiscal year. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the financial statements, notes and information contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 20182019. Unless otherwise stated, references in this report to particular years, quarters, months, or periods refer to our fiscal years ended in September and the associated quarters, months, or periods of those fiscal years.

Forward Looking Statements

This report contains forward-looking statements that involve future events, our future performance and our future operations and actions.  In some cases you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of words such as "may," "should," "anticipate," "believe," "expect," "plan," "future," "intend," "could," "estimate," "predict," "hope," "potential," "continue," or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are only our predictions and involve numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties. Our actual results or actions may differ materially from these forward-looking statements for many reasons, including the following factors:

Reductions in the corn-based ethanol use requirement in the Federal Renewable Fuels Standard;
Small refinery exemptions from the RFS granted by the EPA;
Lower oil prices which result in lower ethanol prices;
Negative operating margins which result from lower ethanol prices;
Lower distillers grains prices which result from the Chinese anti-dumping and countervailing duty tariffs;
Lower ethanol prices due to the Chinese ethanol tariff and the Brazilian ethanol tariff;
Logistics difficulties preventing us from delivering our products to our customers;
Fluctuations in the price and market for ethanol, distillers grains and corn oil;
Availability and costs of products and raw materials, particularly corn and natural gas;
Changes in the environmental regulations that apply to our plant operations and our ability to comply with such regulations;
Ethanol supply exceeding demand and corresponding ethanol price reductions impacting our ability to operate profitably and maintain a positive spread between the selling price of our products and our raw material costs;
Our ability to generate and maintain sufficient liquidity to fund our operations and meet our necessary capital expenditures;
Our ability to continue to meet our loan covenants;
Limitations and restrictions contained in the instruments and agreements governing our indebtedness;
Results of our hedging transactions and other risk management strategies;
Changes and advances in ethanol production technology; and
Competition from alternative fuels and alternative fuel additives.

Overview
 
Red Trail Energy, LLC, a North Dakota limited liability company (the "Company," "Red Trail," or "we," "our," or "us"), owns and operates a 50 million gallon annual name-plate production ethanol plant near Richardton, North Dakota. Our revenues are derived from the sale and distribution of our ethanol, distillers grains and corn oil primarily in the continental United States. Corn is our largest cost component and our profitability is highly dependent on the spread between the price of corn and the price of ethanol.

The ethanol industry is dependent on several economic incentives to produce ethanol,On January 22, 2020, following the most significantend of which is the Federal Renewable Fuels Standard (the "RFS"our quarter ended December 31, 2019, we entered into two loans with Cornerstone Bank ("Cornerstone"). We entered into a $10,000,000 revolving line of credit (the "Revolving Loan") and a $7,000,000 construction line of credit (the "Construction Loan") for our carbon dioxide capture and storage project. The RFS requires thatdetails of these loans are described in each year, a certain amount of renewable fuels must be usedmore detail below in the United States. The RFS statutory volume requirement increases incrementally each year until the United States is required to use 36 billion gallons of renewable fuels by 2022. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (the "EPA") has the authority to waive the RFS statutory volume requirement, in whole or in part, provided one of the following two conditions have been met: (1) there is inadequate domestic renewable fuel supply; or (2) implementation of the requirement would severely harm the economy or environment of a state, region or the United States.

Annually, the EPA is supposed to pass a rule that establishes the number of gallons of different types of renewable fuels that must be used in the United States which is called the renewable volume obligations. The RFS statutory Renewable Volume Obligation ("RVO") for corn-based ethanol was 15 billion gallons for 2018 and 2019. However, during our 2018 fiscal year we learned that the EPA issued exemptions to the RFS use requirements for certain small refineries. Management believes that these small refinery exemptions reduced ethanol demand by more than 2 billion gallons during 2018 which severely impacted ethanol demand during our 2018 fiscal year. This practice of granting RFS waivers has continued into our 2019 fiscal year which has

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continued to negatively impact ethanol demand. Management expects this negative impact to continue so long as the EPA issues these small refinery exemptions from the RFS.

In recent years, the ethanol industry in the United States has increased exports of ethanol and distillers grains. However, in 2017 China instituted tariffs on ethanol and distillers grains produced in the United States and Brazil instituted a tariff on ethanol produced in the United States, and now more recently, in April 2018, the Chinese government increased the tariff on United States ethanol imports into China from 30% to 45%section entitled "Capital Resources. Further, the Chinese again increased the ethanol tariff to 65% on an un-denatured basis. Due to other recent tariff activity between the United States and China, management does not expect these Chinese tariffs to be removed in the near term but trade talks are continuing regarding this tariff and others. Both China and Brazil have been major sources of import demand for United States ethanol and distillers grains. These trade actions may result in negative operating margins for United States ethanol producers."

Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended June 30,December 31, 2019 and 2018
 
The following table shows the results of our operations and the percentages of revenues, cost of goods sold, general and administrative expenses and other items to total revenues in our unaudited statements of operations for the three months ended June 30,December 31, 2019 and 2018:
 Three Months Ended
June 30, 2019 (Unaudited)
 Three Months Ended
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)
Statement of Operations DataAmount % Amount %
Revenues$26,302,894
 100.00 $28,726,715
 100.00
Cost of Goods Sold24,636,313
 93.66 28,155,815
 98.01
Gross Profit1,666,581
 6.34 570,900
 1.99
General and Administrative Expenses891,302
 3.39 611,006
 2.13
Operating Income (Loss)775,279
 2.95 (40,106) (0.14)
Other Income, net42,707
 0.16 102,365
 0.36
Net Income$817,986
 3.11 $62,259
 0.22

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 Three Months Ended
December 31, 2019 (Unaudited)
 Three Months Ended
December 31, 2018 (Unaudited)
Statement of Operations DataAmount % Amount %
Revenues$26,340,913
 100.00
 $25,909,136
 100.00
Cost of Goods Sold26,839,483
 101.89
 24,861,341
 95.96
Gross Profit (Loss)(498,570) (1.89) 1,047,795
 4.04
General and Administrative Expenses799,505
 3.04
 674,885
 2.60
Operating Income (Loss)(1,298,075) (4.93) 372,910
 1.44
Other Income, net46,162
 0.18
 29,934
 0.12
Net Income (Loss)$(1,251,913) (4.75) $402,844
 1.55
The following table shows additional data regarding production and price levels for our primary inputs and products for the three months ended June 30,December 31, 2019 and 20192018.
 Three Months Ended June 30, 2019 (unaudited) Three Months Ended
June 30, 2018
(unaudited)
 Three Months Ended December 31, 2019 (unaudited) Three Months Ended
December 31, 2018
(unaudited)
Production:        
Ethanol sold (gallons) 15,761,481
 16,030,562
 15,014,837
 16,629,602
Dried distillers grains sold (tons) 23,797
 28,905
 22,889
 28,115
Modified distillers grains sold (tons) 27,730
 25,386
 30,293
 34,024
Corn oil sold (pounds) 2,153,040
 3,287,520
 3,834,090
 2,700,300
Revenues:        
Ethanol average price per gallon (net of hedging) $1.32
 $1.37
 $1.36
 $1.18
Dried distillers grains average price per ton 135.97
 149.95
 129.90
 136.95
Modified distillers grains average price per ton 56.33
 61.27
 60.79
 51.92
Corn oil average price per pound 0.23
 0.25
 0.25
 0.22
Primary Inputs:        
Corn ground (bushels) 5,361,333
 5,605,055
 5,330,858
 6,040,959
Natural gas (MMBtu) 390,031
 410,950
 357,329
 432,265
Costs of Primary Inputs:        
Corn average price per bushel (net of hedging) $3.79
 $3.40
 $3.53
 $3.20
Natural gas average price per MMBtu (net of hedging) 2.01
 1.97
 2.30
 2.84
Other Costs (per gallon of ethanol sold):        
Chemical and additive costs $0.065
 $0.120
 $0.091
 $0.108
Denaturant cost 0.035
 0.040
 0.036
 0.037
Electricity cost 0.048
 0.049
 0.050
 0.046
Direct labor cost 0.065
 0.061
 0.072
 0.061

Revenue

Our revenue was lessgreater in the thirdfirst quarter of our 20192020 fiscal year compared to the same period of our 20182019 fiscal year due to decreased production and lower marketincreased prices for our products.products, partially offset by decreased sales of our products during the 2020 period. During the thirdfirst quarter of our 20192020 fiscal year, approximately 79.3% of our total revenue was derived from ethanol sales, approximately 18.2% was from distillers grains sales and approximately 1.9% was from corn oil sales. During the thirdfirst quarter of our 20182019 fiscal year, approximately 76.2% of our total revenue was derived from ethanol sales, approximately 20.5% was from distillers grains sales and approximately 2.8% was from corn oil sales.


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Ethanol

The average price we received for our ethanol was lowerhigher during the thirdfirst quarter of our 2020 fiscal year compared to the first quarter of our 2019 fiscal year compared to the third quarter of our 2018 fiscal year. Management attributes the decreaseincrease in the price we received for our ethanol during the thirdfirst quarter of our 20192020 fiscal year to decreased demand destruction related to the EPA'sreductions from small refinery exemptions from the RFS partially offset by strongeralong with higher corn prices which typically results in higher ethanol exports. Ethanolprices. In addition, ethanol exports have supported domestic ethanol prices, however, export markets are not as reliable as thedemand is more volatile than domestic ethanol marketdemand which can lead to ethanol priceresult in additional volatility. If ethanol export demand slows in the future, it could negatively impact ethanol demand, especially due to increased production capacity in the United States. Management anticipates that ethanol prices will remain lowerat current levels unless domestic ethanol demand increases. Management believes that domestic ethanol demand will only increase through increased usage of higher level blends of ethanol, such as E15, used in the United States. Recently,During 2019, the Trump administration passed rules which allow the year-round use of E15. Management believes that this may lead the way for increased domestic availability of E15 which could lead to increased domestic demand, especially if ethanol prices are lower compared to the price of gasoline.
 
We sold fewer gallons of ethanol during the thirdfirst quarter of our 2020 fiscal year compared to the first quarter of our 2019 fiscal year comparedyear. Management attributes this decreased production to slower production rates during the thirdbeginning of the quarter ofdue to lower new crop corn availability from our 2018 fiscal year.producers. Management anticipates that our ethanol production and sales will be comparable during the rest of our 20192020 fiscal year compared to our 20182019 fiscal year provided we do not encounter any plant production issues which prevent us from operating at capacity during our 20192020 fiscal year.

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From time to time we enter into forward sales contracts for our products. At June 30,December 31, 2019, we had no open ethanol futures contracts. We also had no ethanol futures contracts for the thirdfirst quarter of our 20192020 fiscal year.
    
Distillers Grains

Previously, we sold a majority of our distillers grains in the dried form due to market conditions which favored that product. However, due to the Chinese anti-dumping and countervailing duty tariffs which have decreased export demand for distillers grains, we increased the amount of modified distillers grains we produced and sold. Modified distillers grains are used in our local market and are less impacted by world distillers grains markets. The average price we received for our modified distillers grains were higher during the first quarter of our 2020 fiscal year compared to the first quarter of our 2019 fiscal year due to higher corn prices which impacted local demand for modified distillers grains. The average price we received for our dried distillers grains were lower during the thirdfirst quarter of our 2020 fiscal year compared to the first quarter of our 2019 fiscal year compared to the third quarter of our 2018 fiscal year. Management attributes these price decreasesdue to lower export demand and lower domestic demand during the summer months when herds are out to pasture.demand. Management anticipates distillers grains prices will be higher for the rest of our 20192020 fiscal year due to higher market corn prices.anticipated increases in export demand from China provided recent tariff negotiations between the United States and China continue.

We produced and sold fewer total tons of distillers grains during the thirdfirst quarter of our 20192020 fiscal year compared to the thirdfirst quarter of our 20182019 fiscal year due to decreased overall production during the thirdfirst quarter of our 20192020 fiscal year from improved efficiency at the plant converting corn to ethanol. When our corn conversion efficiency improves, we produce fewer tons of distiller grains as the co-product of our ethanol production process.year. Management anticipates relatively consistent distillers grains production going forward.forward provided we can maintain favorable operating margins.
    
Corn Oil

The total pounds of corn oil we sold was lesssignificantly greater during the thirdfirst quarter of our 2020 fiscal year compared to the first quarter of our 2019 fiscal year compared to the third quarter of our 2018 fiscal year due to a change in chemicals used during the production process which resulted in lessimproved corn oil being extracted.yields which increased the amount of corn oil we have available to sell. Management anticipates that our corn oil production will remain lowerat current levels for the remaining quarterquarters of our 20192020 fiscal year. The average price we received for our corn oil during the thirdfirst quarter of our 2020 fiscal year was approximately 13.6% greater compared to the first quarter of our 2019 fiscal year was approximately 8% less compared to the third quarter of our 2018 fiscal year due to decreasedincreased biodiesel demand. Recently, the biodiesel blenders' tax credit was renewed retroactively from January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2022. This extension of the tax credit has created greater certainty in the biodiesel industry which has resulted in increased demand for corn oil which is frequently used as a feedstock to produce biodiesel.
    
Cost of Goods Sold

Our cost of goods sold is primarily made up of corn and natural gas expenses. Our cost of goods sold was lowergreater for the thirdfirst quarter of our 2020 fiscal year as compared to the first quarter of our 2019 fiscal year as compareddue primarily to the third quarter of our 2018 fiscal year due to decreased production which decreasedincreased corn and natural gas consumption along with lower chemical costs per gallonbushel during the 20192020 period.


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Corn Costs

Our cost of goods sold related to corn was greater for the thirdfirst quarter of our 20192020 fiscal year compared to the thirdfirst quarter of our 20182019 fiscal year due to higher corn costs per bushel, without taking derivative instrument positions into account, partially offset by decreased corn consumption. We also had an adjustment to our cost of goods sold based on forward purchase contracts we had in place during the 2020 period. For the thirdfirst quarter of our 20192020 fiscal year, we used approximately 4.3%11.8% fewer bushels of corn compared to the thirdfirst quarter of our 20182019 fiscal year due to decreased production at the plant along with greater corn to ethanol conversion efficiency.plant. The average price we paid per bushel of corn, without taking into account our derivative instruments, was approximately 11.5%10.3% greater for the thirdfirst quarter of our 20192020 fiscal year compared to the thirdfirst quarter of our 20182019 fiscal year due to higher market corn prices and less favorable basis during the 20192020 period. In addition, during the thirdfirst quarter of our 2020 fiscal year, we had a realized gain of approximately $105,000 for our corn derivative instruments which decreased our cost of goods sold related to corn. For the first quarter of our 2019 fiscal year, we had a realized gain of approximately $3.2$2.1 million for our corn derivative instruments which increased our cost of goods sold related to corn. For the third quarter of our 2018 fiscal year, we had a realized loss of approximately $1.9 million for our corn derivative instruments which increaseddecreased our cost of goods sold related to corn. Management anticipates comparable corn prices during the rest of our 20192020 fiscal year unless unfavorable weather conditions and late planting negatively impact the 20192020 growing season which could result in higher corn prices. In addition, if China reenters the market if trade disputes between China and the United States are resolved, this may lead to additional demand for corn which may increase local prices.

Natural Gas Costs

We consumed approximately 5.1%17.3% less MMBtu of natural gas during the thirdfirst quarter of our 20192020 fiscal year compared to the thirdfirst quarter of our 20182019 fiscal year, due to decreased production during the 20192020 period. Our average cost per MMBtu of natural gas was approximately 2.0% greater19.0% less during the thirdfirst quarter of our 2020 fiscal year compared to the first quarter of our 2019 fiscal year compared to the third quarter of our 2018 fiscal year due to increased market demand.


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plentiful natural gas supply.

General and Administrative Expenses

Our general and administrative expenses were greater for the thirdfirst quarter of our 2020 fiscal year compared to the first quarter of our 2019 fiscal year compared to the third quarter of our 2018 fiscal yearprimarily due to increased labor and consulting fees and meeting expense forcosts during the carbon capture and storage project.2020 period.

Other Income/Expense

We had lessmore interest income during the thirdfirst quarter of our 2020 fiscal year compared to the first quarter of our 2019 fiscal year compared to the third quarter of our 2018 fiscal year due to having lessmore cash on hand during our 20192020 fiscal year. We had less other income during the third quarter of our 2019 fiscal year compared to the third quarter of our 2018 fiscal year due to a sale of top soil in our 2018 fiscal year.

Results of Operations for the Nine Months Ended June 30, 2019 and 2018
The following table shows the results of our operations and the percentages of revenues, cost of goods sold, general and administrative expenses and other items to total revenues in our unaudited statements of operations for the nine months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018:
 Nine Months Ended
June 30, 2019 (Unaudited)
 Nine Months Ended
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)
Statement of Operations DataAmount % Amount %
Revenues$78,443,830
 100.00
 $81,216,304
 100.00
Cost of Goods Sold76,751,420
 97.84
 80,177,490
 98.72
Gross Profit1,692,410
 2.16
 1,038,814
 1.28
General and Administrative Expenses2,222,067
 2.83
 2,111,926
 2.60
Operating Income (Loss)(529,657) (0.68) (1,073,112) (1.32)
Other Income, net327,179
 0.42
 572,879
 0.71
Net Income (Loss)$(202,478) (0.26) $(500,233) (0.62)

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The following table shows additional data regarding production and price levels for our primary inputs and products for the nine months ended June 30, 2019 and 2019.
  Nine Months Ended June 30, 2019 (unaudited) Nine Months Ended
June 30, 2018
(unaudited)
Production:    
  Ethanol sold (gallons) 48,225,293
 48,009,628
  Dried distillers grains sold (tons) 71,219
 81,073
  Modified distillers grains sold (tons) 108,414
 92,976
Corn oil sold (pounds) 7,707,320
 9,492,100
Revenues:    
  Ethanol average price per gallon (net of hedging) $1.25
 $1.28
  Dried distillers grains average price per ton 139.85
 136.09
  Modified distillers grains average price per ton 53.01
 63.17
Corn oil average price per pound 0.23
 0.26
Primary Inputs:    
  Corn ground (bushels) 17,312,371
 16,998,419
Natural gas (MMBtu) 1,243,916
 1,258,627
Costs of Primary Inputs:    
  Corn average price per bushel (net of hedging) $3.42
 $3.35
Natural gas average price per MMBtu (net of hedging) 2.58
 2.38
Other Costs (per gallon of ethanol sold):    
  Chemical and additive costs $0.083
 $0.108
  Denaturant cost 0.034
 0.038
  Electricity cost 0.047
 0.045
  Direct labor cost 0.062
 0.064

Revenue

Our revenue was lower for the nine months ended June 30, 2019 compared to the same period of our 2018 fiscal year due to decreased revenue from our products during the 2019 period. During the nine months ended June 30, 2019, approximately 79.3% of our total revenue was derived from ethanol sales, approximately 18.2% was from distillers grains sales and approximately 1.9% was from corn oil sales. During the nine months ended June 30, 2018, approximately 75.4% of our total revenue was derived from ethanol sales, approximately 21.0% was from distillers grains sales and approximately 3.2% was from corn oil sales.

Ethanol

The average price we received for our ethanol was approximately 2.34% less during the nine months ended June 30, 2019 compared to the nine months ended June 30, 2018 due to demand decreases which resulted from the small refinery waivers issued by the EPA.

We sold slightly more gallons of ethanol during the nine months ended June 30, 2019 compared to the nine months ended June 30, 2018 due to increased plant production.

From time to time we enter into forward sales contracts for our products. At June 30, 2019, we had no open ethanol futures contracts. We also had no ethanol futures contracts for the nine months ended June 30, 2019. Ethanol futures contracts resulted in a gain of approximately $1,800 during the nine months ended June 30, 2018.

Distillers Grains

The average prices we received for our dried distillers grains was approximately 2.76% greater during the nine months ended June 30, 2019 compared to the nine months ended June 30, 2018 due to increased export demand for distillers

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grains. The average prices we received for our modified distillers grains was approximately 16.08% lower during the nine months ended June 30, 2019 compared to the nine months ended June 30, 2018 due to weaker local demand for distillers grains.

We sold approximately 12.15% fewer tons of dried distillers grains during the nine months ended June 30, 2019 compared to the nine months ended June 30, 2018. We sold approximately 16.60% more total tons of modified distillers grains during the nine months ended June 30, 2019 compared to the nine months ended June 30, 2018 due to production decisions we make based on local market demand and the relative costs of producing dried distillers grains versus modified distillers grains.
Corn Oil

The total pounds of corn oil we sold was approximately 18.80% less during the nine months ended June 30, 2019 compared to the nine months ended June 30, 2018 due to a change in chemicals used during the production process which resulted in lower corn oil production. The average price we received for our corn oil was approximately 11.54% lower during the nine months ended June 30, 2019 compared to the nine months ended June 30, 2018 due primarily to decreased corn oil demand from the biodiesel industry.
Cost of Goods Sold

Our cost of goods sold is primarily made up of corn and natural gas expenses. Our cost of goods sold was lower for the nine months ended June 30, 2019 as compared to the nine months ended June 30, 2018 due primarily to lower chemical and ingredient costs, partially offset by higher corn and natural gas costs during the 2019 period.

Corn Costs

Our cost of goods sold related to corn was approximately 3.87% greater for the nine months ended June 30, 2019 compared to the nine months ended June 30, 2018 due to increased corn consumption and higher corn costs per bushel. During the nine months ended June 30, 2019, we used approximately 1.85% more bushels of corn compared to the nine months ended June 30, 2018. The average price we paid per bushel of corn, without taking into account our derivative instruments, was approximately 2.09% greater for the nine months ended June 30, 2019 compared to the nine months ended June 30, 2018. In addition, during the nine months ended June 30, 2019, we had a realized gain of approximately $4.1 million for our corn derivative instruments which decreased our cost of goods sold. For the nine months ended June 30, 2018, we had a realized loss of approximately $767,200 for our corn derivative instruments which increased our cost of goods sold.

Natural Gas Costs

We consumed approximately 1.17% fewer MMBtu of natural gas during the nine months ended June 30, 2019 compared to the nine months ended June 30, 2018, due to improved operating efficiency at the plant. Our average cost per MMBtu of natural gas was approximately 8.40% greater during the nine months ended June 30, 2019 compared to the nine months ended June 30, 2018.

General and Administrative Expenses

Our general and administrative expenses were greater for the nine months ended June 30, 2019 compared to the nine months ended June 30, 2018 due to increased consulting fees and meeting expenses for the carbon capture and storage project.

Other Income/Expense

We had less other income during the nine months ended June 30, 2019 compared to the nine months ended June 30, 2018 due to having less interest income due to having less cash on hand during the 2019 period along with having a loss on sale of corn that could not be used in the production process.

Changes in Financial Condition for the NineThree Months Ended June 30,December 31, 2019

Current Assets. We had moreless cash and equivalents at June 30,December 31, 2019 compared to September 30, 20182019 primarily due to the transfertiming of fundsour quarter end compared to when we received payments from out restricted margin account.our marketer. We had lessmore restricted cash at June 30,December 31, 2019 compared to September 30, 20182019 because we had lessmore cash in our margin account associated with our hedging transactions. Due to the timing of payments from our marketers, we had more accounts receivable at June 30,December 31, 2019 compared to September 30, 2018.2019. We had lessmore inventory on hand at June 30,December 31, 2019 compared to September 30, 20182019 due primarily to having lessmore corn and ethanol inventory at June 30,December 31, 2019.


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Property, Plant and Equipment. The value of our property, plant and equipment was lower at June 30,December 31, 2019 compared to September 30, 2018 primarily2019 due to the regular depreciation of our assets.assets partially offset by capital projects which were underway during our first quarter of 2020.

Current Liabilities. Our accounts payable were lower at June 30,December 31, 2019 compared to September 30, 20182019 due to having fewermore deferred corn payments at June 30,December 31, 2019. Our accrued expenses were lowerhigher at June 30,December 31, 2019 compared to September 30, 20182019 because we had less unpricedmore deferred payments for corn deliveries at June 30,December 31, 2019 compared to September 30, 2018.2019. We also had a smallerlarger accrued loss on our deferred corn purchase commitments.commitments at December 31, 2019 compared to September 30, 2019.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Based on financial forecasts performed by our management, we anticipate that we will have sufficient cash from our current credit facilities and cash from our operations to continue to operate the ethanol plant for the next 12 months. Should we experience unfavorable operating conditions in the future, we may have to secure additional debt or equity sources for working capital or other purposes.

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The following table shows cash flows for the ninethree months ended June 30,December 31, 2019 and 20192018:
 June 30, 2019 (unaudited) June, 2018 (unaudited) December 31, 2019 (unaudited) December 31, 2018 (unaudited)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities $(89,354) $14,343,196
Net cash (used in) operating activities $(691,615) $(1,176,982)
Net cash (used in) investing activities (568,856) (797,128) (707,802) (80,306)
Net cash (used in) financing activities (3,758) (4,222,116) (1,149) (657)
Net (decrease) increase in cash $(661,968) $9,323,952
Net decrease in cash $(1,400,566) $(1,257,945)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period $10,211,371
 $18,453,960
 $9,121,503
 $9,615,394

Cash Flow from Operations

Our operations provided less cash during the ninethree months ended June 30,December 31, 2019 compared to the same period of our 20182019 fiscal year due to decreased net income along with changes in our derivative instrument positions inventory and accounts payableinventory which resulted in less cash being generated by our operations.

Cash Flow From Investing Activities

We used lessmore cash for capital expenditures during the ninethree months ended June 30,December 31, 2019 compared to the same period of our 20182019 fiscal year. During the 2019 period, our primary capital expenditures were for improvements to the centrifugesour Carbon Capture and heat exchangers.Storage Project research.
    
Cash Flow from Financing Activities

We used lessmore cash for financing activities during the ninethree months ended June 30,December 31, 2019 compared to the ninethree months ended June 30, 2018 because we did not makeDecember 31, 2019 due to a distribution to our members during the 2019 period and we did not have any unit repurchases during the 2019 period.new copier financing lease.

Our liquidity, results of operations and financial performance will be impacted by many variables, including the market price for commodities such as, but not limited to, corn, ethanol and other energy commodities, as well as the market price for any co-products generated by the facility and the cost of labor and other operating costs.  Assuming future relative price levels for corn, ethanol and distillers grains remain consistent, we expect operations to generate adequate cash flows to maintain operations.

Capital Expenditures
 
The Company had approximately $397,000$1.2 million in construction in progress as of June 30,December 31, 2019 primarily relating to the carbon capture and storage project research.


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Capital Resources

Revolving Loan

On March 20, 2017,January 22, 2020, we entered into a new $10 million revolving loan (the "Revolving Loan") with U.S.Cornerstone Bank National Association ("U.S. Bank"Cornerstone"). Interest accrues on any outstanding balance on the Revolving Loan at a rate of 1.77% in excess of1.2% less than the one-month London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"). On May 31, 2019 we renewedprime rate as published by the Wall Street Journal, adjusted monthly. The Revolving Loan and extended thehas a minimum interest rate of 3.0%. The maturity date to May 31, 2020 and decreasing the principle to $7 million. Our ability to draw funds onof the Revolving Loan is subjectJanuary 21, 2021. The Revolving Loan is secured by a lien on all of our assets.

Construction Loan

On January 22, 2020, we entered into a new $7 million construction loan (the "Construction Loan") with Cornerstone to a borrowing base calculation as set forth in the Credit Agreement. At June 30, 2019, we had approximately $6,300,000 availablefinance our carbon capture and storage project. Interest accrues on any outstanding balance on the Revolving Loan. We had $0 drawn on the RevolvingConstruction Loan as of June 30, 2019. Interest accrued on the Revolving Loan as of June 30, 2019 at a rate of 4.21%.

Restrictive Covenants

1.2% less than the prime rate as published by the Wall Street Journal, adjusted monthly. The Revolvingmaturity date of the Construction Loan is subject to certain financial covenants as set forth in the Credit Agreement.June 1, 2021. The most significant financial covenants require us to maintainConstruction Loan is secured by a fixed charge coverage ratiolien on all of no less than 1.10:1.00 and a current ratio of no less than 1.50:1.00. Our fixed charge coverage ratio is calculated annually and measures our ability to pay our fixed expenses. Our current ratio is calculated quarterly and measures our liquidity and ability to pay short-term and long-term obligations.
As of June 30, 2019, we were in compliance with our loan covenants.assets.

Significant Accounting Policies and Estimates

We describe our significant accounting policies in Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, of the Notes to Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2018.2019. We discuss our

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critical accounting estimates in Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2018.2019. There has been no significant change in our critical accounting estimates since the end of our 20182019 fiscal year. Effective October 1, 2019 the Company adopted ASU No. 2016-02 using the modified retrospective approach. Effective October 1, 2018, the Company has adopted ASC 606 using the modified retrospective approach for all of its contracts. The Company also retrospectively adopted ASU No. 2016-18 on October 1, 2018.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
 
We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.

Item 3.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

We are exposed to the impact of market fluctuations associated with commodity prices as discussed below. We use derivative financial instruments as part of an overall strategy to manage market risk. We use cash, futures and option contracts to hedge changes to the commodity prices of corn and ethanol. We do not enter into these derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes, nor do we designate these contracts as hedges for accounting purposes pursuant to the requirements of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP"). 

Commodity Price Risk
 
We expect to be exposed to market risk from changes in commodity prices.  Exposure to commodity price risk results from our dependence on corn and natural gas in the ethanol production process and the sale of ethanol.
 
We enter into fixed price contracts for corn purchases on a regular basis.  It is our intent that, as we enter into these contracts, we will use various hedging instruments (puts, calls and futures) to maintain a near even market position.  For example, if we have 1 million bushels of corn under fixed price contracts we would generally expect to enter into a short hedge position to offset our price risk relative to those bushels we have under fixed price contracts. Because our ethanol marketing company (RPMG) is selling substantially all of the gallons it markets on a spot basis we also include the corn bushel equivalent of the ethanol we have produced that is inventory but not yet priced as bushels that need to be hedged.
 
Although we believe our hedge positions will accomplish an economic hedge against our future purchases, they are not designated as hedges for accounting purposes, which would match the gain or loss on our hedge positions to the specific commodity purchase being hedged.  We use fair value accounting for our hedge positions, which means as the current market price of our hedge positions changes, the gains and losses are immediately recognized in our cost of sales.  The immediate recognition of

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hedging gains and losses under fair value accounting can cause net income to be volatile from quarter to quarter and year to year due to the timing of the change in value of derivative instruments relative to the cost of the commodity being hedged.  However, it is likely that commodity cash prices will have the greatest impact on the derivatives instruments with delivery dates nearest the current cash price.
 
As of June 30,December 31, 2019, we had fixed corn purchase contracts for approximately 2.301.30 million bushels of corn and we had corn futures and option contracts for approximately 7.651.40 million bushels of corn.  As of June 30,December 31, 2019 we had an unrealized gain of approximately $797,000$26,000 related to our corn futures and option contracts.
 
It is the current position of our ethanol marketing company, RPMG, that under current market conditions, selling ethanol in the spot market will yield the best price for our ethanol.  RPMG will, from time to time, contract a portion of the gallons they market with fixed price contracts.  
 
We estimate that our corn usage will be between 21 million and 23 million bushels per calendar year for the production of approximately 59 million to 64 million gallons of ethanol.  As corn prices move in reaction to market trends and information, our income statement will be affected depending on the impact such market movements have on the value of our derivative instruments.
 
A sensitivity analysis has been prepared to estimate our exposure to corn, natural gas and ethanol price risk. Market risk related to our corn, natural gas and ethanol prices is estimated as the potential change in income resulting from a hypothetical 10% adverse change in the average cost of our corn and natural gas, and our average ethanol sales price as of June 30,December 31, 2019, net of the forward and future contracts used to hedge our market risk for corn, natural gas and ethanol. The volumes are based on our expected use and sale of these commodities for a one year period from June 30,December 31, 2019. The results of this analysis, which may differ from actual results, are as follows:

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Estimated Volume Requirements for the next 12 months (net of forward and futures contracts) Unit of Measure Hypothetical Adverse Change in Price Approximate Adverse Change to IncomeEstimated Volume Requirements for the next 12 months (net of forward and futures contracts) Unit of Measure Hypothetical Adverse Change in Price Approximate Adverse Change to Income
Ethanol63,900,000
 Gallons 10% $(8,946,000)63,900,000
 Gallons 10% $(7,668,000)
Corn22,821,000
 Bushels 10% $(4,375,000)22,821,000
 Bushels 10% $(7,069,000)
Natural gas1,664,000
 MMBtu 10% $(327,000)1,664,000
 MMBtu 10% $(96,000)

Item 4.  Controls and Procedures

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow for timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

Our management, including our President and Chief Executive Officer (the principal executive officer), Gerald Bachmeier, along with our Chief Financial Officer, (the principal financial officer), Jodi Johnson, have reviewed and evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of June 30,December 31, 2019. Based on this review and evaluation, these officers believe that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective in ensuring that material information related to us is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods required by the forms and rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

For the fiscal quarter ended June 30,December 31, 2019, there has been no change in our internal control overthe Company worked to remediate a material weakness identified at the end of the Company's 2019 fiscal year by: (a) performing a review and updating month-end standard operating procedures; (b) assuring operating procedures will include specific instructions for the payment of invoices that crossover into the following month; and (c) providing an additional step for the CFO to review the posting date of all checks issued the first week after month-end prior to financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.statement preparation.

PART II.     OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

From time to time in the ordinary course of business, we may be named as a defendant in legal proceedings related to various issues, including without limitation, workers' compensation claims, tort claims, or contractual disputes. We are not currently involved in any material legal proceedings.



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Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes to the risk factors previously discussed in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2018.2019.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

None.

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.

None.

Item 5. Other Information

None.


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Item 6. Exhibits.

(a)The following exhibits are filed as part of this report.
Exhibit No. Exhibits
10.1
10.2
10.3
10.4
31.1
 
31.2
 
32.1
 
32.2
 
101
 The following financial information from Red Trail Energy, LLC's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30,December 31, 2019, formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Condensed Balance Sheets as of June 30,December 31, 2019 and September 30, 2018,2019, (ii) Statements of Operations for the three and nine months ended June 30,December 31, 2019 and 2018, (iii) Statements of Cash Flows for the ninethree months ended June 30,December 31, 2019 and 2018, and (iv) the Notes to Unaudited Condensed Financial Statements.**

(*)    Filed herewith.
(**)    Furnished herewith.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
   RED TRAIL ENERGY, LLC
    
Date:August 12, 2019February 14, 2020 /s/ Gerald Bachmeier
   Gerald Bachmeier
   President and Chief Executive Officer
   (Principal Executive Officer)
    
Date:August 12, 2019February 14, 2020 /s/ Jodi Johnson
   Jodi Johnson
   Chief Financial Officer
   (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

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