The following table sets forth changes in the unrecognized tax  benefits, excluding interest and penalties, for fiscal years 2013  and 2014. In order to ensure a steady supply of hogs and turkeys, and  to keep the cost of products stable, the Company has entered  into contracts with producers for the purchase of hogs and  turkeys at formula-based prices over periods up to 10 years.  The Company has also entered into grow-out contracts  with independent farmers to raise turkeys for the Company  for periods up to 25 years. Under these arrangements,  the Company owns the livestock, feed, and other supplies  while the independent farmers provide facilities and labor.  The Company has also contracted for the purchase of corn,  soybean meal, and other feed ingredients from independent  suppliers for periods up to three years. Under these contracts,  the Company is committed at October 26, 2014, to make pur- chases, assuming current price levels, as follows: Purchases under these contracts for fiscal 2014, 2013, and 2012  were $2.2 billion, $2.0 billion, and $2.0 billion, respectively. The Company has noncancelable operating lease commitments  on facilities and equipment at October 26, 2014, as follows: The amount of unrecognized tax benefits, including interest  and penalties, at October 26, 2014, recorded in other long- term liabilities was $25.4 million, of which $16.8 million would  impact the Company’s effective tax rate if recognized. The  Company includes accrued interest and penalties related to  uncertain tax positions in income tax expense, with gains of  $0.1 million included in expense for fiscal 2014. The amount of  accrued interest and penalties at October 26, 2014, associated  with unrecognized tax benefits was $2.8 million. The Company is regularly audited by federal and state taxing  authorities. The United States Internal Revenue Service  (I.R.S.) has concluded its examinations of the Company’s  consolidated federal income tax returns for fiscal years  through 2011 and is currently examining fiscal year 2013.  The Company is in various stages of audit by several state  taxing authorities on a variety of fiscal years, as far back as  2006. While it is reasonably possible that one or more of these  audits may be completed within the next 12 months and that  the related unrecognized tax benefits may change, based on  the status of the examinations it is not possible to reasonably  estimate the effect of any amount of such change to previously  recorded uncertain tax positions. The Company expensed $21.1 million, $21.6 million, and $21.6  million for rent in fiscal 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively. The Company has commitments to expend approximately  $91.3 million to complete construction in progress at various  locations as of October 26, 2014. (in thousands) 2015 $ 9,387 2016 4,286 2017 2,451 2018 1,274 2019 977 Later Years  1,619 Total $19,994 (in thousands) 2015 $1,835,647 2016  1,030,108 2017 724,621 2018 645,355 2019 533,539 Later Years  782,191 Total $5,551,461 (in thousands) Balance as of October 28, 2012  $22,131 Tax positions related to the current period: Increases  4,353 Decreases  – Tax positions related to prior periods: Increases  3,091 Decreases   (4,738) Settlements   (1,173) Decreases related to a lapse of applicable statute of limitations  (3,579) Balance as of October 27, 2013  $20,085 Tax positions related to the current period: Increases  4,693 Decreases  (670) Tax positions related to prior periods: Increases  4,455 Decreases  (3,245) Settlements  (573) Decreases related to a lapse of applicable statute of limitations  (2,137) Balance as of October 26, 2014 $22,608 Note K Commitments and Contingencies 53