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 December 31, 2019June 30, 2020
  
 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
o
Accelerated Filero
Non-Accelerated Filer
x

Smaller Reporting Company
o
 
Emerging Growth Companyo

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 FebruaryAugust 14, 2020, there were 40,148,160 Class A Membership Units outstanding.

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INDEX

 Page Number
  


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PART I.        FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

RED TRAIL ENERGY, LLC
Condensed Balance Sheets

ASSETS December 31, 2019 September 30, 2019 June 30, 2020 September 30, 2019

  (Unaudited) 
  (Unaudited) 
Current Assets 
 
 
 
Cash and equivalents $6,999,650
 $8,565,038
 $8,065,941
 $8,565,038
Restricted cash - margin account 2,121,853
 1,957,031
 1,611,192
 1,957,031
Accounts receivable,net, primarily related party 4,157,139
 3,910,384
Accounts receivable, net, primarily related party 3,140,974
 3,910,384
Commodities derivative instruments, at fair value (see note 3) 30,841
 
Inventory 8,220,612
 6,962,825
 8,188,526
 6,962,825
Prepaid expenses 593,814
 109,500
 553,071
 109,500
Total current assets 22,093,068
 21,504,778
 21,590,545
 21,504,778

 
 
 
 
Property, Plant and Equipment 
 
 
 
Land 1,333,681
 1,333,681
 1,333,681
 1,333,681
Land improvements 4,465,311
 4,465,311
 4,465,311
 4,465,311
Buildings 8,111,074
 8,111,074
 8,111,074
 8,111,074
Plant and equipment 88,061,649
 88,038,476
 88,094,455
 88,038,476
Construction in progress 1,163,627
 455,825
 6,485,343
 455,825

 103,135,342
 102,404,367
 108,489,864
 102,404,367
Less accumulated depreciation 64,290,297
 63,092,175
 66,660,329
 63,092,175
Net property, plant and equipment 38,845,045
 39,312,192
 41,829,535
 39,312,192

 
 
 
 
Other Assets 
 
 
 
Right of use operating lease assets, net 1,304,657
 
 1,102,453
 
Investment in RPMG 605,000
 605,000
 605,000
 605,000
Patronage equity 4,119,151
 4,119,151
 4,119,151
 4,119,151
Deposits 40,000
 40,000
 40,000
 40,000
Total other assets 6,068,808
 4,764,151
 5,866,604
 4,764,151

 
 
 
 
Total Assets $67,006,921
 $65,581,121
 $69,286,684
 $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 December 31, 2019 September 30, 2019 June 30, 2020 September 30, 2019

  (Unaudited) 
  (Unaudited) 
Current Liabilities 
 
 
 
Accounts payable $3,674,470
 $4,331,521
 $1,581,863
 $4,331,521
Accrued expenses 2,498,302
 598,209
 7,405,008
 598,209
Commodities derivative instruments, at fair value (see note 3) 40,865
 8,875
 
 8,875
Accrued loss on firm purchase commitments (see notes 4 and 8) 144,000
 68,000
 13,000
 68,000
Current maturities of notes payable 4,483
 252
 388,571
 252
Current portion of operating leases 390,454
 
Current portion of operating lease liabilities 379,317
 
Total current liabilities 6,752,574
 5,006,857
 9,767,759
 5,006,857
     
 
Commitments and Contingencies (Notes 4, 5, 7 and 8) 
 
Long-Term Liabilities 
 
 
 
Notes payable 17,793
 
 504,868
 
Long-term operating lease liabilities 914,203
 
 723,136
 
Total long-term liabilities 931,996
 
 1,228,004
 
Commitments and Contingencies (Notes 4, 5, 7 and 8) 
 

 
 
    
Members’ Equity 40,148,160 Class A Membership Units issued and outstanding 59,322,351
 60,574,264
 58,290,921
 60,574,264
        
Total Liabilities and Members’ Equity $67,006,921
 $65,581,121
 $69,286,684
 $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 Three Months Ended Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended Nine Months Ended

December 31, 2019 December 31, 2018 June 30, 2020 June 30, 2019 June 30, 2020 June 30, 2019

(Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited)
Revenues, primarily related party$26,340,913
 $25,909,136
 $22,670,742
 $26,302,894
 $72,649,799
 $78,443,830


 
 
 
    
Cost of Goods Sold
 
 
 
    
Cost of goods sold26,740,778
 24,856,341
 19,220,909
 24,475,143
 71,726,947
 76,585,250
Lower of cost or net realizable value adjustment22,705
 
 
 74,170
 241,294
 74,170
Loss on firm purchase commitments76,000
 5,000
 
 87,000
 100,000
 92,000
Total Cost of Goods Sold26,839,483
 24,861,341
 19,220,909
 24,636,313
 72,068,241
 76,751,420


 
 
 
    
Gross Profit (Loss)(498,570) 1,047,795
 
Gross Profit3,449,833
 1,666,581
 581,558
 1,692,410


 
 
 
    
General and Administrative Expenses799,505
 674,885
 1,272,698
 891,302
 3,096,666
 2,222,067


 
 
 
    
Operating Income (Loss)(1,298,075) 372,910
 2,177,135
 775,279
 (2,515,108) (529,657)


 
 
 
    
Other Income (Expense)
 
 
 
    
Interest income39,277
 27,443
 18,369
 31,785
 86,758
 66,547
Other income, net6,976
 2,496
 9,099
 10,924
 145,178
 260,643
Interest expense(91) (5) (39) (2) (171) (11)
Total other income, net46,162
 29,934
 27,429
 42,707
 231,765
 327,179


 
 
 
    
Net Income (Loss)$(1,251,913) $402,844
 $2,204,564
 $817,986
 $(2,283,343) $(202,478)


 
 
 
    
Weighted Average Units Outstanding           
Basic40,148,160
 40,148,160
 40,148,160
 40,148,160
 40,148,160
 40,148,160


 
 
 
    
Diluted40,148,160
 40,148,160
 40,148,160
 40,148,160
 40,148,160
 40,148,160
           
Net Income (Loss) Per Unit
   
      
Basic$(0.03) $0.01
 $0.05
 $0.02
 $(0.06) $(0.01)


 
 
 
    
Diluted$(0.03) $0.01
 $0.05
 $0.02
 $(0.06) $(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)

Three Months Ended Three Months EndedNine Months Ended Nine Months Ended

December 31, 2019 December 31, 2018June 30, 2020 June 30, 2019
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
 

 
Net income (loss)$(1,251,913) $402,844
$(2,283,343) $(202,478)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
 

 
Depreciation and amortization1,198,122
 1,189,514
3,568,154
 3,572,737
Loss on disposal of fixed assets
 13,254
Loss (gain) on disposal of fixed assets(8,212) 3,659
Change in fair value of derivative instruments31,990
 (2,123,150)(39,716) (3,042,788)
Lower of cost of net realizable value adjustment22,705
 
241,294
 74,170
Loss on firm purchase commitments76,000
 5,000
100,000
 92,000
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
 

 
Accounts receivable, net, primarily related party(246,755) (231,671)769,411
 (709,509)
Inventory(1,356,492) 141,450
(1,566,996) 2,145,592
Prepaid expenses(484,314) (228,582)(443,571) (92,951)
Accounts payable(657,051) 20,831
(2,749,658) (1,589,867)
Accrued expenses1,900,093
 (371,472)6,806,799
 (233,919)
Accrued loss on firm purchase commitments76,000
 5,000
(55,000) (106,000)
Net cash used in operating activities(691,615) (1,176,982)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities4,339,162
 (89,354)
      
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
 

 
Proceeds from disposal of fixed assets8,212
 18,295
Capital expenditures(707,802) (80,306)(6,062,324) (587,151)
Net cash used in investing activities(707,802) (80,306)(6,054,112) (568,856)
      
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
 

 
Payments on notes payable(1,149) (657)
Net cash used in financing activities(1,149) (657)
Dividends paid
 (1,782)
Proceeds from notes payable873,400
 
Debt repayments(3,386) (1,976)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities870,014
 (3,758)


 

 
Net Decrease in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash(1,400,566) (1,257,945)(844,936) (661,968)
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash - Beginning of Period10,522,069
 10,873,339
10,522,069
 10,873,339
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash - End of Period$9,121,503
 $9,615,394
$9,677,133
 $10,211,371
      
Reconciliation of Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash      
Cash and cash equivalents$6,999,650
 $3,370,561
$8,065,941
 $9,367,657
Restricted cash2,121,853
 6,244,833
1,611,192
 843,714
Total Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash$9,121,503
 $9,615,394
$9,677,133
 $10,211,371


 

 
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information
 

 
Interest paid$91
 $5
$12
 $11
Noncash Investing and Financing Activities      
Finance lease asset acquired23,173
 
23,173
 
Operating lease asset acquired$168,300
 $
Capital expenditures in accounts payable$
 $10,176
$8,891
 $

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 DECEMBER 31, 2019JUNE 30, 2020


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, 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, 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”���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.

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, 2019JUNE 30, 2020


fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, included interim periods within those years with early adoption permitted. Effective October 1, 2019 the Company adopted ASU No. 2016-02 using the 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.

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 December 31, 2019June 30, 2020 and 2018.2019.
Revenues For the three months ended December 31, 2019 (unaudited) For the three months ended December 31, 2018 (unaudited) For the three months ended June 30, 2020 (unaudited) For the three months ended June 30, 2019 (unaudited) For the nine months ended June 30, 2020 (unaudited) For the nine months ended June 30, 2019 (unaudited)
Ethanol and E85 $20,420,028
 $19,539,168
Ethanol, E85 and Industrial Ethanol $17,529,809
 $20,862,325
 $55,630,844
 $60,517,057
Distillers Grains 4,814,637
 5,616,777
 4,176,444
 4,797,738
 13,906,736
 15,706,453
Syrup 92,359
 92,009
 59,274
 73,563
 253,344
 267,573
Corn Oil 965,372
 605,140
 868,578
 505,587
 2,726,614
 1,798,732
Other 48,517
 56,042
 36,637
 63,681
 132,261
 154,015
Total revenue from contracts with customers $26,340,913
 $25,909,136
 $22,670,742
 $26,302,894
 $72,649,799
 $78,443,830

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.

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, 2019JUNE 30, 2020


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: December 31, 2019 (unaudited) September 30, 2019 June 30, 2020 (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 10
50,000
bushels$4,625
 

bushels$
 130
650,000
bushels$(5,812) 

bushels$
Corn options 270
1,350,000
bushels$(30,750) 30
150,000
bushels$(8,875) 120
600,000
bushels$(120,750) 30
150,000
bushels$(8,875)
Natural gas futures 35
350,000
dk$(6,900) 

dk$
Natural gas options 7
70,000
dk$(7,840) 

dk$
Ethanol futures 35
1,470,000
gal$157,403
 

gal$
Total fair value   $(40,865)   $(8,875)   $30,841
   $(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 December 31, 2019June 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019:
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:        
        
Balance Sheet - as of December 31, 2019 (unaudited) Asset Liability
Balance Sheet - as of June 30, 2020 (unaudited) Asset Liability
Commodity derivative instruments, at fair value $
 $40,865
 $30,841
 

Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments for accounting purposes $
 $40,865
 $30,841
 

        
Balance Sheet - as of September 30, 2019 Asset Liability Asset Liability
Commodity derivative instruments, at fair value $
 $8,875
 $
 $8,875
Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments for accounting purposes $
 $8,875
 $
 $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 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 $104,683
 $2,068,502
Natural gas derivative instruments Cost of Goods Sold (27,850) 
Total   $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
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, 2020 (unaudited) 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 nine months ended June 30, 2020 (unaudited) Amount of gain (loss) recognized in income during the nine months ended June 30, 2019 (unaudited)
Corn derivative instruments Cost of Goods Sold $(270,925) $3,225,402
 $(539,099) $4,107,834
Ethanol derivative instruments Revenue 233,372
 
 258,836
 
Natural gas derivative instruments Cost of Goods Sold 
 (550) 
 (550)
Total   $(37,553) $3,224,852
 $(280,263) $4,107,284


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RED TRAIL ENERGY, LLC
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2019JUNE 30, 2020


4. INVENTORY
Inventory is valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Inventory values as of June 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019 were as follows:
As of 
June 30, 2020
(unaudited)
 September 30, 2019
Raw materials, including corn, chemicals and supplies $4,083,757
 $2,679,126
Work in process 737,672
 956,509
Finished goods, including ethanol and distillers grains 1,940,398
 1,459,561
Spare parts 1,426,699
 1,867,629
Total inventory $8,188,526
 $6,962,825

Lower of cost or net realizable value adjustments for the three and nine months ended December 31,June 30, 2020 and 2019 and 2018 were as follows:
 For the three months ended December 31, 2019 (unaudited) For the three months ended December 31, 2018 (unaudited) For the three months ended June 30, 2020 (unaudited) For the three months ended June 30, 2019 (unaudited) For the nine months ended June 30, 2020 (unaudited) For the nine months ended June 30, 2019 (unaudited)
Loss on firm purchase commitments $76,000
 $5,000
 $
 $87,000
 $100,000
 $92,000
Loss on lower of cost or net realizable value adjustment for inventory on hand $22,705
 $
 $
 $74,170
 $241,294
 $74,170
Total loss on lower of cost or net realizable value adjustments $98,705
 $5,000
 $
 $161,170
 $341,294
 $166,170

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 December 31, 2019,June 30, 2020, 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 a $76,000$100,000 estimated loss on firm purchase commitments for the threenine months ended December 31, 2019.June 30, 2020. 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

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

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 with U.S. Bank National Association. The maturity date of the Revolving Loan is January 21, 2021. At March 31, 2020, we had $10 million available on the Revolving Loan. The variable interest rate on December 31, 2019 will be 3.55%June 30, 2020 was 3.00%.

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 1, 2021. At March 31, 2020, we had $7 million available on the Construction Loan. The variable interest rate on December 31, 2019June 30, 2020 was 2.05%.

On April 16, 2020, the Company received a Paycheck Protection Program Loan (the "PPP Loan") for $873,400 with Cornerstone. The maturity date of the PPP Loan is April 16, 2022. The fixed interest rate on June 30, 2020 was 1.00%. Under the terms of the loan, the Company may apply for forgiveness under the PPP regulations if the Company uses the proceeds of the loan for its payroll costs and other expenses in accordance with the requirements of the Paycheck Protection Program. The Company intends to use the entire PPP Loan amount for qualifying expenses, but we can provide no assurance that we will be 3.55%.

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RED TRAIL ENERGY, LLC
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30, 2020


able to gain forgiveness for all or any portion of the loan. The Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act was signed into law on June 5, 2020 and allows for the amendment of the maturity date on existing loans from two years to five years.
        
The Company's loans are secured by a lien on substantially all of the assets of the Company.

6. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

The following table provides information on those liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2019June 30, 2020 and September 30, 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 December 31, 2019 (unaudited) Fair Value as of December 31, 2019 (unaudited) Level 1 Level 2 Level 3Carrying Amount as of June 30, 2020 (unaudited) Fair Value as of June 30, 2020 (unaudited) Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
Liabilities         
Assets         
Commodities derivative instruments$40,865
 $40,865
 $40,865
 $
 $
$30,841
 $30,841
 $30,841
 $
 $
Total$40,865
 $40,865
 $40,865
 $
 $
$30,841
 $30,841
 $30,841
 $
 $
                  
    Fair Value Measurement Using    Fair Value Measurement Using
Carrying Amount as of September 30, 2019 Fair Value as of September 30, 2019 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$8,875
 $8,875
 $8,875
 $
 $
$8,875
 $8,875
 $8,875
 $
 $
Total$8,875
 $8,875
 $8,875
 $
 $
$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 railcar and plant 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 threenine months ended December 31, 2019,June 30, 2020, 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 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, 2019June 30, 2020 the weighted average remaining lease term is 3.53 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. Rent expense for operating leases was approximately $205,000 and $161,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Equipment under financing leases consists of office equipment and plant equipment. Equipment under financing leases is as follows at:

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RED TRAIL ENERGY, LLC
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2019JUNE 30, 2020



The Company is generally responsible for maintenance, taxes, and utilities for leased equipment. Rent expense for operating leases was approximately $188,000 and $138,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and $570,000 and $455,000 for the nine months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Equipment under financing leases consists of office equipment and plant equipment. Equipment under financing leases is as follows at:
As of December 31, 2019 September 30, 2019 June 30, 2020 September 30, 2019
Equipment $506,661
 $483,488
 $493,414
 $483,488
Less accumulated amortization (168,613) (162,940) (167,085) (162,940)
Net equipment under financing lease $338,048
 $320,548
 $326,329
 $320,548

At December 31, 2019,June 30, 2020, the Company had the following minimum commitments, which at inception had non-cancelablenon-cancellable terms of more than one year. Amounts shown below are for the 12 month periods ending December 31:June 30:
 Operating Leases Financing Leases Operating Leases Financing Leases
2020 $390,454
 $4,483
 $379,317
 $4,500
2021 350,349
 4,517
 321,144
 4,534
2022 326,349
 4,551
 300,225
 4,568
2023 215,493
 4,585
 101,767
 4,602
2024 22,012
 4,140
 

 1,835
Thereafter 
 
 

 

Total minimum lease commitments $1,304,657
 22,276
 $1,102,453
 20,039
Less amount representing interest   
   
Present value of minimum lease commitments included in notes payable on the balance sheet   $22,276
   $20,039

At June 30, 2019, the Company had the following minimum commitments for the 12 month period ending June 30:
  Operating Leases Financing Leases
2019 $444,505
 $945
2020 365,663
 
2021 296,640
 
2022 202,290
 
2023    
Thereafter    
Total minimum lease commitments $1,309,098
 945
Less amount representing interest   
Present value of minimum lease commitments included in notes payable on the balance sheet   $945

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 December 31, 2019,June 30, 2020, the Company had various fixed price contracts for the purchase of approximately 1.31.7 million

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bushels of corn. Using the stated contract price for the fixed price contracts, the Company had commitments of approximately $4.7$5.3 million related to the 1.31.7 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 paid Bismarck Land Company, LLC $28,315 as of December 31, 2019.June 30, 2020.

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 $612,140incurred $949,631 as of December 31, 2019.June 30, 2020.

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”). Significant related party activity affecting the financial statements is as follows:
 
December 31, 2019
(unaudited)
 September 30, 2019 
June 30, 2020
(unaudited)
 September 30, 2019
Balance Sheet        
Accounts receivable $3,757,314
 $3,695,462
 $2,549,332
 $3,695,462
Accounts Payable 6,825
 298,638
Accrued Expenses 580,975
 41,643
Accounts payable 486
 298,638
Accrued expenses 5,241,314
 41,643
        

 For the three months ended December 31, 2019 (unaudited) For the three months ended December 31, 2018 (unaudited) For the three months ended June 30, 2020 (unaudited) For the three months ended June 30, 2019 (unaudited) For the nine months ended June 30, 2020 (unaudited) For the nine months ended June 30, 2019 (unaudited)
Statement of Operations            
Revenues $24,561,170
 $24,188,143
 $19,128,595
 $24,642,959
 $64,823,447
 $72,619,534
Cost of goods sold 602,869
 14,104
 260,158
 
 1,551,865
 537,987
General and administrative 41,304
 30,910
 30,286
 523,883
 105,444
 159,691
Other income 119,825
 73,097
 239,650
 267,111
        
Inventory Purchases $2,671,939
 $3,703,065
 $6,449,514
 $4,176,647
 $14,852,088
 $11,125,096


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RED TRAIL ENERGY, LLC
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30, 2020


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 2020 RFS final rules.

The Company anticipates that the results of operations during the remainder of fiscal year 2020 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.industry and decreased ethanol demand due to travel restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

11. MEMBER'S EQUITY

Changes in member's equity for the nine months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019.

  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
Distribution 
 
 
 
 
Net income (loss) 
 
 (3,235,994) 
 (3,235,994)
Balances - March 31, 2020 $39,044,595
 $75,541
 $17,125,761
 $(159,540) $56,086,357
Net income (loss)     2,204,564
   2,204,564
Balances - June 30, 2020 $39,044,595
 $75,541
 $19,330,325
 $(159,540) $58,290,921


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RED TRAIL ENERGY, LLC
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2019JUNE 30, 2020


11. MEMBER'S EQUITY

Changes in member's equity for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019 and 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, 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, 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
  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 (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 (loss) 
 
 817,986
 
 817,986
Balances - June 30, 2019 $39,044,595
 $75,541
 $25,153,879
 $(159,540) $64,114,475

12. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

The COVID-19 outbreak in the United States has resulted in decreased fuel grade ethanol demand and prices due to travel restrictions which resulted in significantly lower fuel demand. While the disruption is currently expected to be temporary, management anticipates that fuel grade ethanol demand and prices will remain low for the foreseeable future as we continue to face market disruptions. The Company expects this matter to negatively impact its operating results however, the related financial impact and duration cannot be reasonably estimated at this time. The Company has taken steps to mitigate the negative impact of lower fuel grade ethanol demand and price by selling industrial grade ethanol. The Company began selling industrial grade ethanol in April 2020.

On January 22,July 13, 2020 the Company entered intoreceived a new revolving loan through the Bank of North Dakota Ethanol Recovery Program and new construction loan with Cornerstone Bank. See Note 5.Bank for $5.41 million. The maturity date of the Loan is July 13, 2025. The fixed interest rate on June 30, 2020 was 3.75%.


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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 periodperiods ended December 31, 2019June 30, 2020, compared to the same periodperiods 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, 2019. 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;
Reduced gasoline demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic;
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.

On January 22, 2020 following the end of 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 details of these loans are described in more detail below in the section entitled "Capital Resources."


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Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended December 31, 2019June 30, 2020 and 20182019
 
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 December 31, 2019June 30, 2020 and 2018:2019:

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Three Months Ended
December 31, 2019 (Unaudited)
 Three Months Ended
December 31, 2018 (Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
June 30, 2020 (Unaudited)
 Three Months Ended
June 30, 2019 (Unaudited)
Statement of Operations DataAmount % Amount %Amount % Amount %
Revenues$26,340,913
 100.00
 $25,909,136
 100.00$22,670,742
 100.00 $26,302,894
 100.00
Cost of Goods Sold26,839,483
 101.89
 24,861,341
 95.9619,220,909
 84.78 24,636,313
 93.66
Gross Profit (Loss)(498,570) (1.89) 1,047,795
 4.04
Gross Profit3,449,833
 15.22 1,666,581
 6.34
General and Administrative Expenses799,505
 3.04
 674,885
 2.601,272,698
 5.61 891,302
 3.39
Operating Income (Loss)(1,298,075) (4.93) 372,910
 1.44
Operating Income2,177,135
 9.60 775,279
 2.95
Other Income, net46,162
 0.18
 29,934
 0.1227,429
 0.12 42,707
 0.16
Net Income (Loss)$(1,251,913) (4.75) $402,844
 1.55
Net Income$2,204,564
 9.72 $817,986
 3.11
        
The following table shows additional data regarding production and price levels for our primary inputs and products for the three months ended December 31, 2019June 30, 2020 and 20182019.
 Three Months Ended December 31, 2019 (unaudited) Three Months Ended
December 31, 2018
(unaudited)
 Three Months Ended June 30, 2020 (unaudited) Three Months Ended
June 30, 2019
(unaudited)
Production:        
Ethanol sold (gallons) 15,014,837
 16,629,602
 11,885,715
 15,761,481
Industrial ethanol sold (gallons) 1,094,855
 
Dried distillers grains sold (tons) 22,889
 28,115
 22,073
 23,797
Modified distillers grains sold (tons) 30,293
 34,024
 20,160
 27,730
Corn oil sold (pounds) 3,834,090
 2,700,300
 3,723,500
 2,153,040
Revenues:        
Ethanol average price per gallon (net of hedging) $1.36
 $1.18
Fuel grade ethanol average price per gallon (net of hedging) $1.17
 $1.32
Industrial ethanol average price per gallon 3.28
 
Dried distillers grains average price per ton 129.90
 136.95
 135.76
 135.97
Modified distillers grains average price per ton 60.79
 51.92
 58.52
 56.33
Corn oil average price per pound 0.25
 0.22
 0.23
 0.23
Primary Inputs:        
Corn ground (bushels) 5,330,858
 6,040,959
 4,726,840
 5,361,333
Natural gas (MMBtu) 357,329
 432,265
 319,470
 390,031
Costs of Primary Inputs:        
Corn average price per bushel (net of hedging) $3.53
 $3.20
 $2.78
 $3.79
Natural gas average price per MMBtu (net of hedging) 2.30
 2.84
 1.84
 2.01
Other Costs (per gallon of ethanol sold):        
Chemical and additive costs $0.091
 $0.108
 $0.081
 $0.065
Denaturant cost 0.036
 0.037
 0.028
 0.035
Electricity cost 0.050
 0.046
 0.055
 0.048
Direct labor cost 0.072
 0.061
 0.077
 0.065

Revenue

Our revenue was greaterless in the firstthird quarter of our 2020 fiscal year compared to the same period of our 2019 fiscal year primarily due to increaseddecreased ethanol and distiller grains sales and lower average ethanol prices, for our products, partially offset by decreasedincreased corn

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oil sales of our productssales during the 2020 period. During the firstthird quarter of our 2020 fiscal year, approximately 77.3% of our total revenue was derived from ethanol sales, approximately 18.4% was from distillers grains sales and approximately 3.8% was from corn oil sales. During the third quarter of our 2019 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 first quarter of our 2019 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 higherlower during the firstthird quarter of our 2020 fiscal year compared to the firstthird quarter of our 2019 fiscal year. Management attributes the increasedecrease in the price we received for our ethanol during the firstthird quarter of our 2020 fiscal year to decreased gasoline prices which impacted ethanol prices, along with decreased ethanol demand reductions from small refinery exemptionsdue to travel restrictions from the RFS along with higher cornCOVID-19 pandemic which resulted in significantly lower fuel demand. Towards the end of the third quarter of our 2020 fiscal year, gasoline prices and demand rebounded which typically results in higherpositively impacted our average ethanol prices. In addition, we sold some of our ethanol exports have supported domesticas industrial alcohol during the third quarter of our 2020 fiscal year which resulted in higher ethanol prices, however, export demand is more volatile than domestic demand which can result 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.sales prices. Management anticipates that ethanol prices will remain at current levels unless domestic ethanolcontinue to recover during the final quarter of our 2020 fiscal year and into our 2021 fiscal year. However, it is possible that we could again experience decreased gasoline demand increases. Management believes that domestic ethanolif the continuing COVID-19 pandemic impacts gasoline demand will only increase through increased usage of higher level blends of ethanol, such as E15, used in the United States. 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 comparedfuture. Due to the priceunpredictable nature of gasoline.the COVID-19 pandemic, management is not able to anticipate future demand for ethanol based on traditional market forces.
 
We sold fewer gallons of ethanol during the firstthird quarter of our 2020 fiscal year compared to the firstthird quarter of our 2019 fiscal year.year due to decreased production at the ethanol plant during the 2020 period. Management attributes this decreased production to slower productionmarket conditions which favored operating the ethanol plant at reduced rates during the beginningthird quarter of the quarter due to lower new crop corn availability from our producers.2020 fiscal year. Management anticipates that our ethanol productioncontinued volatility and sales will be comparableunpredictable demand during the restremaining quarter of our 2020 fiscal year compared toand into our 20192021 fiscal year provided we do not encounter anyas a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Management believes that if travel restrictions are implemented in the United States and abroad to the level experienced earlier in 2020, it could significantly impact ethanol demand. We anticipate focusing on operating the ethanol plant as efficiently as possible to maximize our ethanol production issues which prevent us from operating at capacityper bushel of corn used during our 2020 fiscal year.

From time to time we enter into forward sales contracts for our products. At December 31, 2019,June 30, 2020, we had no open ethanol futures contracts.contracts for approximately 1.5 million gallons of ethanol with a fair value of approximately $157,000. We also had no ethanol futures contracts for the firstthird quarter of our 20202019 fiscal year.
    
Distillers Grains

Previously,During the third quarter of our 2020 fiscal year, we sold a majoritylarger percentage of our distillers grains in the dried form compared to the same period of 2019 due to market conditions which favored that product. However, due to the Chinese anti-dumping and countervailing duty tariffs which have decreased export demand fordried distillers grains. In addition, the total volume of distillers grains we sold was less during the third quarter of our 2020 fiscal year compared to the same period of 2019 due to decreased overall production at the ethanol plant during the third quarter of our 2020 fiscal year along with increased the amountproduction of modifiedcorn oil. The corn oil we produce is removed from our distillers grains, so when the total pounds of corn oil we produced and sold. Modifiedproduce is increased, it results in less distillers grains are used in our local market and are less impacted by world distillers grains markets.produced for sale. The average price we received for our modified distillers grains werewas higher during the firstthird quarter of our 2020 fiscal year compared to the firstthird 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 lowercomparable during the firstthird quarter of our 2020 fiscal year compared to the firstthird quarter of our 2019 fiscal yearyear. The price we received for our distillers grains remained strong despite decreases in the price of corn during the same periods. Management believes that this was due to lower export demand.a decreased supply of distillers grains in the market due to decreased ethanol production along with the fact that distillers grains have become an important part of the feed rations for our customers. Management anticipates distillers grains prices will be higher forremain steady during the rest of our 2020 fiscal year due to 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 first quarter ofinto our 2020 fiscal year compared to the first quarter of our 2019 fiscal year due to decreased overall production during the first quarter of our 20202021 fiscal year. Management anticipates relatively consistent distillers grains production going forward provided we can maintain favorable operating margins.
    
Corn Oil

The total pounds of corn oil we sold was significantly greater during the firstthird quarter of our 2020 fiscal year compared to the firstthird quarter of our 2019 fiscal year due to improved corn oil yields which increased the amount of corn oil we have available to sell. Management anticipates that our corn oil production will remain at current levels for the remaining quartersquarter of our 2020 fiscal year.year and into our 2021 fiscal year provided market conditions allow us to continue to operate the ethanol plant at capacity. The average price we received for our corn oil during the firstthird quarter of our 2020 fiscal year was approximately 13.6% greater comparedcomparable to the firstaverage price we received during the third quarter of our 2019 fiscal year due to increased biodiesel demand.year. 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.
    

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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 greaterless for the firstthird quarter of our 2020 fiscal year as compared to the firstthird quarter of our 2019 fiscal year due primarily to increasedlower corn and natural gas costs per busheland use during the 2020 period.


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Corn Costs

Our cost of goods sold related to corn was greaterless for the firstthird quarter of our 2020 fiscal year compared to the firstthird quarter of our 2019 fiscal year due to higherlower average corn costs per bushel, without taking derivative instrument positions into account along with decreased bushels of corn used to produce ethanol. For the third quarter of our 2020 fiscal year, we used approximately 11.8% fewer bushels of corn compared to the third quarter of our 2019 fiscal year due to decreased ethanol production during the 2020 period. The average price we paid per bushel of corn, without taking into account our derivative instruments, was approximately 26.6% less for the third quarter of our 2020 fiscal year compared to the third quarter of our 2019 fiscal year due to lower market corn prices during the 2020 period. In addition, during the third quarter of our 2020 fiscal year, we had a realized loss of approximately $271,000 for our corn derivative instruments which increased our cost of goods sold related to corn. For the third quarter of our 2019 fiscal year, we had a realized gain of approximately $3.2 million for our corn derivative instruments which decreased our cost of goods sold related to corn during that period. Management anticipates lower corn prices during the rest of our 2020 fiscal year due to reduced ethanol and feed demand along with strong corn supplies and favorable growing conditions which management expects will result in a large corn crop for 2020.

Natural Gas Costs

We consumed approximately 18.1% fewer MMBtu of natural gas during the third quarter of our 2020 fiscal year compared to the third quarter of our 2019 fiscal year, due to decreased production of dried distillers grains during the 2020 period along with improved efficiency operating the ethanol plant. Our average cost per MMBtu of natural gas was approximately 8.5% less during the third quarter of our 2020 fiscal year compared to the third quarter of our 2019 fiscal year due to plentiful natural gas supply and reduced energy demand during the 2020 period. Management anticipates natural gas supplies and prices will remain favorable during the remaining quarter of our 2020 fiscal year into our 2021 fiscal year. We anticipate ordinary natural gas price premiums during the winter months due to increased natural gas demand for heating purposes.

General and Administrative Expenses

Our general and administrative expenses were greater for the third quarter of our 2020 fiscal year compared to the third quarter of our 2019 fiscal year primarily due to increased labor and consulting costs related to the carbon capture and storage project during the 2020 period.

Other Income/Expense

We had less interest income during the third quarter of our 2020 fiscal year compared to the third quarter of our 2019 fiscal year due to having less cash on hand during our 2020 fiscal year. Our other income was less during the third quarter of our 2020 fiscal year compared to the third quarter of our 2019 fiscal year due to a lower capital account distribution from RPMG.


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Results of Operations for the Nine Months Ended June 30, 2020 and 2019
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, 2020 and 2019:
 Nine Months Ended
June 30, 2020 (Unaudited)
 Nine Months Ended
June 30, 2019 (Unaudited)
Statement of Operations DataAmount % Amount %
Revenues$72,649,799
 100.00
 $78,443,830
 100.00
Cost of Goods Sold72,068,241
 99.20
 76,751,420
 97.84
Gross Profit581,558
 0.80
 1,692,410
 2.16
General and Administrative Expenses3,096,666
 4.26
 2,222,067
 2.83
Operating Loss(2,515,108) (3.46) (529,657) (0.68)
Other Income, net231,765
 0.32
 327,179
 0.42
Net Loss$(2,283,343) (3.14) $(202,478) (0.26)
The following table shows additional data regarding production and price levels for our primary inputs and products for the nine months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019.
  Nine Months Ended June 30, 2020 (unaudited) Nine Months Ended
June 30, 2019
(unaudited)
Production:    
  Ethanol sold (gallons) 43,925,605
 48,225,293
  Industrial ethanol sold (gallons) 1,094,855
 
  Dried distillers grains sold (tons) 62,173
 71,219
  Modified distillers grains sold (tons) 90,723
 108,414
Corn oil sold (pounds) 11,512,650
 7,707,320
Revenues:    
  Fuel grade ethanol average price per gallon (net of hedging) $1.18
 $1.25
  Industrial ethanol average price per gallon 3.28
 
  Dried distillers grains average price per ton 134.11
 139.85
  Modified distillers grains average price per ton 61.38
 53.01
Corn oil average price per pound 0.24
 0.23
Primary Inputs:    
  Corn ground (bushels) 16,020,466
 17,312,371
Natural gas (MMBtu) 1,045,796
 1,243,916
Costs of Primary Inputs:    
  Corn average price per bushel (net of hedging) $3.13
 $3.42
Natural gas average price per MMBtu (net of hedging) 2.13
 2.58
Other Costs (per gallon of ethanol sold):    
  Chemical and additive costs $0.077
 $0.083
  Denaturant cost 0.033
 0.034
  Electricity cost 0.049
 0.047
  Direct labor cost 0.068
 0.062

Revenue

Our revenue was less for the nine months ended June 30, 2020 compared to the same period of our 2019 fiscal year primarily due to decreased sales of our ethanol and distillers grains along with lower prices we received for our ethanol during

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the 2020 period. During the nine months ended June 30, 2020, approximately 76.6% of our total revenue was derived from ethanol sales, approximately 19.1% was from distillers grains sales and approximately 3.8% was from corn oil sales. During the nine months ended June 30, 2019, approximately 77.1% of our total revenue was derived from ethanol sales, approximately 20.0% was from distillers grains sales and approximately 2.3% was from corn oil sales.
Ethanol

The average price we received for our ethanol was less during the nine months ended June 30, 2020 compared to the nine months ended June 30, 2019 due to lower gasoline prices and decreased ethanol demand. In addition, we sold fewer gallons of ethanol during the nine months ended June 30, 2020 compared to the nine months ended June 30, 2019 due to decreased production during the 2020 period. Management attributes this decreased production to slower production rates during the beginning of our 2020 fiscal year due to lower new crop corn availability from our producers along with decreased ethanol demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

For the nine months ended June 30, 2020 we had a realized gain of approximately $259,000 for our ethanol derivative instruments. We had no gain or loss on ethanol derivative instruments during the nine months ended June 30, 2019.
Distillers Grains

We produced fewer total tons of distillers grains during the nine months ended June 30, 2020 compared to the nine months ended June 30, 2019 due to decreased overall production at the ethanol plant along with increased corn oil production during the 2020 period, which reduces the amount of distillers grains we have to sell. The average price we received for our dried distillers grains was lower during the nine months ended June 30, 2020 compared to the nine months ended June 30, 2019 due to weaker export demand and lower corn prices. The average price we received for our modified distillers grains during the nine months ended June 30, 2020 was greater compared to the nine months ended June 30, 2019 due to stronger local demand for modified distillers grains.
Corn Oil

The total pounds of corn oil we sold was significantly greater during the nine months ended June 30, 2020 compared to the nine months ended June 30, 2019 due to improved corn oil yields which increased the amount of corn oil we have available to sell. The average price we received for our corn oil during the nine months ended June 30, 2020 was approximately 4.3% greater compared to the nine months ended June 30, 2019 due to increased biodiesel demand.
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 less for the nine months ended June 30, 2020 compared to the nine months ended June 30, 2019 due primarily to decreased corn and natural gas costs during the 2020 period.

Corn Costs

Our cost of goods sold related to corn was less for the nine months ended June 30, 2020 compared to the nine months ended June 30, 2019 due to using less corn during the 2020 period, partially offset by decreasedgreater corn consumption.costs per bushel, without taking derivative instrument positions into account. We also had an adjustment to our cost of goods sold based on forward purchase contracts we had in place during the 2020 period and an adjustment of the value of our corn inventory based on current market conditions which were greater compared to the 2019 period. These adjustments increased our cost of goods sold for the 2020 period. For the first quarter of ournine months ended June 30, 2020, fiscal year, we used approximately 11.8%7.5% fewer bushels of corn compared to the first quarter of ournine months ended June 30, 2019 fiscal year due to decreased production at the plant. The average price we paid per bushel of corn, without taking into account our derivative instruments, was approximately 10.3% greater8.5% less for the first quarter of ournine months ended June 30, 2020 fiscal year compared to the first quarter of ournine months ended June 30, 2019 fiscal year due to higherlower market corn prices and less favorable basisdemand during the 2020 period. In addition, during the first quarternine months ended June 30, 2020, we had a realized loss of approximately $539,000 for our 2020 fiscal year,corn derivative instruments which increased our cost of goods sold related to corn. For the nine months ended June 30, 2019, we had a realized gain of approximately $105,000$4,100,000 for our corn derivative instruments which decreased our cost of goods sold related to corn. For the first quarter of our 2019 fiscal year, weWe had a realized gainlower of cost or net realizable value adjustment of approximately $2.1 million for our corn derivative instruments$241,000 which decreasedincreased our cost of goods sold related to corn. Management anticipates comparable corn prices during the rest2020 period along with a loss on our firm purchase commitments of $100,000 which also increased our 2020 fiscal year unless unfavorable weather conditions and late planting negatively impactcost of goods sold during the 2020 growing seasonperiod. During the nine months ended June 30, 2019, we had a lower of cost or net realizable value adjustment of approximately $74,000 which could result in higher corn prices. In addition, if China reentersincreased our cost of goods sold during the market if trade disputes between China and2019 period along with a loss on our firm purchase commitments of $92,000 which also increased our cost of goods sold during the United States are resolved, this may lead to additional demand for corn which may increase local prices.2019 period.

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Natural Gas Costs

We consumed approximately 17.3%15.9% less MMBtu of natural gas during the first quarter of ournine months ended June 30, 2020 fiscal year compared to the first quarter of ournine months ended June 30, 2019, fiscal year, due to decreased production during the 2020 period. Our average cost per MMBtu of natural gas was approximately 19.0%17.4% less during the first quarter of ournine months ended June 30, 2020 fiscal year compared to the first quarter of ournine months ended June 30, 2019 fiscal year due to plentiful natural gas supply.supply and lower energy prices during the 2020 period.

General and Administrative Expenses

Our general and administrative expenses were greater for the first quarter of ournine months ended June 30, 2020 fiscal year compared to the first quarter of ournine months ended June 30, 2019 fiscal year primarily due to increased labor and consulting costs related to the carbon capture and storage project during the 2020 period.

Other Income/Expense

We had more interest income during the first quarter of ournine months ended June 30, 2020 fiscal year compared to the first quarter of ournine months ended June 30, 2019 fiscal year due to having more cash on hand during our 2020 fiscal year. We also had less other income during the nine months ended June 30, 2020 compared to the nine months ended June 30, 2019 due to a lower capital account distribution from RPMG.

Changes in Financial Condition for the ThreeNine Months Ended December 31, 2019June 30, 2020

Current Assets. We had less cash and equivalents at December 31, 2019June 30, 2020 compared to September 30, 2019 primarily due to decreased profitability during the timing of our quarter end compared to when we received payments from our marketer.2020 period. We had moreless restricted cash at December 31, 2019June 30, 2020 compared to September 30, 2019 because we had moreless cash in our margin account associated with our hedging transactions. Due to the timing of payments from our marketers and the decrease in market price of our products, we had moreless accounts receivable at December 31, 2019June 30, 2020 compared to September 30, 2019. We had more inventory on hand at December 31, 2019June 30, 2020 compared to September 30, 2019 due primarily to having more corn and ethanol inventory at December 31, 2019.June 30, 2020 along with increased finished goods inventory. Our prepaid expenses were greater at June 30, 2020 compared to September 30, 2019 due to a deposit to hold our natural gas contracts.

Property, Plant and Equipment. The value of our property, plant and equipment was lowergreater at December 31, 2019June 30, 2020 compared to September 30, 2019 due to theconstruction of our carbon capture project partially offset by regular depreciation of our assets partially offset by capital projects which were underway during our first quarternine months of 2020.

Other Assets. Our other assets were greater at June 30, 2020 compared to September 30, 2019 due to an accounting standard change which we implemented which requires us to account for leases differently from past periods. As a result, we had a right of use asset related to our operating leases of approximately $1.1 million.

Current Liabilities. Our accounts payable were lower at December 31, 2019June 30, 2020 compared to September 30, 2019 due to having morefewer deferred corn payments at December 31, 2019.June 30, 2020. Our accrued expenses were higher at December 31, 2019June 30, 2020 compared to September 30, 2019 because we had moredue to deferred payments for corn deliveries at December 31, 2019June 30, 2020 compared to September 30, 2019. Our current liabilities were higher by approximately $878,000 due to amounts outstanding on our Paycheck Protection Plan loan. We alsoincluded the current portion of our operating leases as a current liability at June 30, 2020 due to the new lease accounting standard we implemented.

Long-Term Liabilities. We had a larger accrued loss onlong-term liability for our deferred corn purchase commitmentsoperating leases at December 31, 2019 comparedJune 30, 2020 due to September 30, 2019.the new lease accounting standard we implemented.

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 threenine months ended December 31, 2019June 30, 2020 and 20182019:
  December 31, 2019 (unaudited) December 31, 2018 (unaudited)
Net cash (used in) operating activities $(691,615) $(1,176,982)
Net cash (used in) investing activities (707,802) (80,306)
Net cash (used in) financing activities (1,149) (657)
Net decrease in cash $(1,400,566) $(1,257,945)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period $9,121,503
 $9,615,394
  June 30, 2020 (unaudited) June 30, 2019 (unaudited)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities $4,339,162
 $(89,354)
Net cash (used in) investing activities (6,054,112) (568,856)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 870,014
 (3,758)
Net (decrease) in cash $(844,936) $(661,968)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period $9,677,133
 $10,211,371

Cash Flow from Operations

Our operations provided lessmore cash during the threenine months ended December 31, 2019June 30, 2020 compared to the same period of our 2019 fiscal year due to decreasedthe net effect of lower net income along with changes in our derivative instrument positions and inventory which resulted in less cash being generatedduring the 2020 period offset by our operations.increased accrued expenses due to deferred corn payments during the 2020 period.

Cash Flow From Investing Activities

We used more cash for capital expenditures during the threenine months ended December 31, 2019June 30, 2020 compared to the same period of our 2019 fiscal year. During the 20192020 period, our primary capital expenditures were for our Carbon Capturecarbon capture and Storage Projectstorage project research.
    
Cash Flow from Financing Activities

We usedOur financing activities provided more cash for financing activities during the threenine months ended December 31, 2019 compared to the three months ended December 31, 2019June 30, 2020 due to a new copier financing lease.proceeds we received from the Paycheck Protection Program.

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 $1.2$6.5 million in construction in progress as of December 31, 2019June 30, 2020 primarily relating to the carbon capture and storage project research.

Capital Resources

Revolving Loan

On January 22, 2020, we entered into a new $10 million revolving loan (the "Revolving Loan") with Cornerstone Bank ("Cornerstone"). Interest accrues on any outstanding balance on the Revolving Loan at a rate of 1.2% less than the prime rate as published by the Wall Street Journal, adjusted monthly. The Revolving Loan has a minimum interest rate of 3.0%. The maturity date of the Revolving Loan is January 21, 2021. The Revolving Loan is secured by a lien on all of our assets. At June 30, 2020, we had $10 million available on the Revolving Loan. The variable interest rate on June 30, 2020 was 3.00%.

Construction Loan

On January 22, 2020, we entered into a new $7 million construction loan (the "Construction Loan") with Cornerstone to finance our carbon capture and storage project. Interest accrues on any outstanding balance on the Construction Loan at a rate of 1.2% less than the prime rate as published by the Wall Street Journal, adjusted monthly. The maturity date of the Construction Loan is June 1, 2021. The Construction Loan is secured by a lien on all of our assets. At June 30, 2020, we had $7 million available on the Construction Loan. The variable interest rate on June 30, 2020 was 2.05%.


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Paycheck Protection Program Loan

On April 16, 2020, we entered into a new $873,400 Paycheck Protection Program Loan (the "PPP Loan') with Cornerstone Bank. Interest accrues on any outstanding balance on the PPP Loan at a rate of 1.0%. The maturity date of the PPP Loan is April 16, 2022. Under the terms of the loan, the Company may apply for forgiveness for all or a portion of the loan as designated under the PPP regulations. While we may apply for forgiveness of the PPP Loan in accordance with the requirements and limitations under the CARES Act and the SBA regulations and requirements, no assurance can be given that any portion of the PPP Loan will be forgiven. The Company intends to use the entire PPP Loan amount for qualifying expenses and must apply for forgiveness by October 31, 2020.

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, 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, 2019. There has been no significant change in our critical accounting estimates since the end of our 2019 fiscal year. Effective October 1, 2019 the Company adopted ASU No. 2016-02 using the modified retrospective approach.approach (see note 7). Effective October 1, 2018, the Company has adopted ASC 606 using the modified retrospective approach for all of its contracts.contracts (see note 2). 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 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 December 31, 2019June 30, 2020, we had fixed corn purchase contracts for approximately 1.30 million650,000 bushels of corn and we had corn futures and option contracts for approximately 1.40 million600,000 bushels of corn.  As of December 31, 2019June 30, 2020 we had an unrealized gainloss of approximately $26,000$127,000 related to our corn futures and option contracts.
 

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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.  At June 30, 2020, we had fixed ethanol sales contracts for 1,470,000 gallons. We had an unrealized gain of approximately $157,000.
 
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 December 31, 2019,June 30, 2020, 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 December 31, 2019.June 30, 2020. 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% $(7,668,000)63,900,000
 Gallons 10% $(8,740,000)
Corn22,821,000
 Bushels 10% $(7,069,000)22,821,000
 Bushels 10% $(5,520,000)
Natural gas1,664,000
 MMBtu 10% $(96,000)1,664,000
 MMBtu 10% $(262,000)

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 December 31, 2019.June 30, 2020. 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 December 31, 2019, the Company workedJune 30, 2020, there has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely 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 tomaterially affect, our internal control over financial statement preparation.reporting

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.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been noThe following risk factors are provided due to material changes tofrom the risk factors previously discusseddisclosed in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019. The risk factors set forth below should be read in conjunction with the risk factors section and the Management's Discussion and Analysis section included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019.


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We are subject to global and regional economic downturns and related risks

The level of demand for our products is affected by global and regional demographic and macroeconomic conditions. A significant downturn in global economic growth, or recessionary conditions in major geographic regions for prolonged periods, may lead to reduced demand for our products, which could have a negative effect on the market price of our products in the United States.  For example, in December 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus surfaced in Wuhan, China (“COVID-19”). In just a few months, the spread of COVID-19 has resulted in businesses suspending or terminating global operations and travel, self-imposed or government-mandated quarantines, and an overall slowdown of economic activity in some areas.  Cases have been confirmed worldwide.  To the extent that such economic conditions negatively impact consumer and business confidence, travel and consumption patterns or volumes for our products, our business and results of operations could be significantly and adversely affected.

COVID-19 may negatively impact our ability to operate our business which could decrease or eliminate the value of our units.

COVID-19 has resulted in significant uncertainty in many areas of our business.  We do not know how long these conditions will last.  This uncertainty is expected to negatively impact our operations.  We may experience labor shortages if our employees are unable or unwilling to come to work.  In addition, if our suppliers cannot deliver the supplies we need to operate our business, including corn and chemicals for our operations, we may be forced to shutdown operations or reduce production.  In addition, if we are unable to ship our products because of trucking or rail shipping disruptions, it could also result in a forced shutdown or reduction of production.  If we are unable to operate the ethanol plant at capacity, it may result in unfavorable operating results, especially since we will continue to pay our fixed costs of maintaining the facility.  Any shutdown or reduction of production, especially for an extended period of time, could reduce or eliminate the value of our units.  
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 December 31, 2019,June 30, 2020, formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Condensed Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2019June 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019, (ii) Statements of Operations for the three and nine months ended December 31,June 30, 2020 and 2019, and 2018, (iii) Statements of Cash Flows for the three and nine months ended December 31,June 30, 2020 and 2019, and 2018, and (iv) the Notes to Unaudited Condensed Financial Statements.**

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


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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:FebruaryAugust 14, 2020 /s/ Gerald Bachmeier
   Gerald Bachmeier
   President and Chief Executive Officer
   (Principal Executive Officer)
    
Date:FebruaryAugust 14, 2020 /s/ Jodi Johnson
   Jodi Johnson
   Chief Financial Officer
   (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

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