| Segment Information Table | The results of operations and financial position for Big Quill Resources, acquired in January 2011, have been included in the Company's specialty fertilizer segment from the date of the acquisition. Segment information is as follows (in millions): | | | Three Months Ended September 30, 2011 | | | | | | | | Specialty | | | Corporate | | | | | | | | Salt | | | Fertilizer | | | and Other (a) | | | Total | | Sales to external customers | | $ | 175.5 | | | $ | 51.1 | | | $ | 2.5 | | | $ | 229.1 | | Intersegment sales | | | 0.2 | | | | 1.2 | | | | (1.4 | ) | | | - | | Shipping and handling cost | | | 50.6 | | | | 5.5 | | | | - | | | | 56.1 | | Operating earnings (loss) | | | 40.5 | | | | 19.4 | | | | (11.3 | ) | | | 48.6 | | Depreciation, depletion and amortization | | | 10.0 | | | | 5.0 | | | | 1.0 | | | | 16.0 | | Total assets (as of end of period) | | | 688.6 | | | | 369.9 | | | | 66.6 | | | | 1,125.1 | |
| | | Three Months Ended September 30, 2010 | | | | | | | | Specialty | | | Corporate | | | | | | | | Salt | | | Fertilizer | | | and Other (a) | | | Total | | Sales to external customers | | $ | 136.3 | | | $ | 36.8 | | | $ | 2.9 | | | $ | 176.0 | | Intersegment sales | | | 0.2 | | | | 0.9 | | | | (1.1 | ) | | | - | | Shipping and handling cost | | | 33.9 | | | | 4.9 | | | | - | | | | 38.8 | | Operating earnings (loss) | | | 30.7 | | | | 11.6 | | | | (9.6 | ) | | | 32.7 | | Depreciation, depletion and amortization | | | 8.2 | | | | 2.9 | | | | 1.1 | | | | 12.2 | | Total assets (as of end of period) | | | 690.2 | | | | 245.0 | | | | 66.1 | | | | 1,001.3 | |
| | | Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011 | | | | | | | | Specialty | | | Corporate | | | | | | | | Salt | | | Fertilizer | | | and Other (a) | | | Total | | Sales to external customers | | $ | 635.2 | | | $ | 156.0 | | | $ | 8.4 | | | $ | 799.6 | | Intersegment sales | | | 0.7 | | | | 3.8 | | | | (4.5 | ) | | | - | | Shipping and handling cost | | | 195.5 | | | | 19.4 | | | | - | | | | 214.9 | | Operating earnings (loss) | | | 131.3 | | | | 57.4 | | | | (33.4 | ) | | | 155.3 | | Depreciation, depletion and amortization | | | 30.4 | | | | 15.0 | | | | 3.4 | | | | 48.8 | |
| | | Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 | | | | | | | | Specialty | | | Corporate | | | | | | | | Salt | | | Fertilizer | | | and Other (a) | | | Total | | Sales to external customers | | $ | 573.4 | | | $ | 130.9 | | | $ | 8.3 | | | $ | 712.6 | | Intersegment sales | | | 0.5 | | | | 2.8 | | | | (3.3 | ) | | | - | | Shipping and handling cost | | | 160.8 | | | | 16.9 | | | | - | | | | 177.7 | | Operating earnings (loss) | | | 129.7 | | | | 43.5 | | | | (29.4 | ) | | | 143.8 | | Depreciation, depletion and amortization | | | 24.9 | | | | 8.1 | | | | 3.3 | | | | 36.3 | |
(a) “Corporate and Other” includes corporate entities, the records management business and eliminations. Corporate assets include deferred tax assets, deferred financing fees, investments related to the non-qualified retirement plan, and other assets not allocated to the operating segments. |