FOURTH AMENDMENT TO THE CREDIT AGREEMENT

Exhibit 10.2(a)

FOURTH AMENDMENT TO THE CREDIT AGREEMENT

This Fourth Amendment to the Credit Agreement (“Amendment”) is dated as of August 29, 2017, between by and among GREEN PLAINS CATTLE COMPANY LLC (the “Borrower”), the commercial, banking or financial institutions whose signatures appear on the signature pages hereof or which hereafter become parties to the Credit Agreement (as defined below) (and such commercial, banking or financial institutions are sometimes referred to hereinafter collectively as the “Lenders” and individually as a “Lender”), and BANK OF THE WEST and ING CAPITAL, LLC, as “Joint Administrative Agent”). Borrower, Lenders, and the Joint Administrative Agent agree as follows:

PRELIMINARY STATEMENT. Borrower, Lenders, and the Joint Administrative Agent entered into that certain Credit Agreement dated as of December 3, 2014 (that credit agreement as amended herein and by any and all other modifications or amendments thereto is hereinafter referred to as the “Credit Agreement”; the terms defined in the Credit Agreement are used herein as therein defined). Borrower, Lenders, and the Joint Administrative Agent wish to amend certain provisions of the Credit Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:

Section 1.01 Amendment to Schedules. Schedule 1.01(e) of the Credit Agreement is hereby added to the Credit Agreement, as attached hereto.

Section 1.02 Amendment to Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement. Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by adding or amending and restating the definitions of “ABL Security Agreement”, “Collateral Documents”, “Guaranty”, “Guarantor”, “ICA”, “Mortgage”, “Mortgaged Property”, “Mortgaged Property Support Documents”, “Mortgagor”, “Pari Passu Collateral Agent”, “Term ICA”, “Term Loan Agreement”, “Term Loan Collateral Agent”, “TLB Guaranty” and “TLB Security Agreement, as follows:

“ABL Security Agreement” means collectively, the Security Agreement dated as of August 29, 2017, as amended from time to time, among GPI and BNP Paribas as Collateral Agent and the Pledge Agreement dated as of August 29, 2017, as amended from time to time, among GPI and certain of its subsidiaries and BNP Paribas, as Collateral Agent.

“Collateral Documents” means, collectively, the Security Agreement, the Negative Pledge, the Qualifying Control Agreement, the ABL Security Agreement, any Mortgage and each of the mortgages, collateral assignments, security agreements, pledge agreements or other similar agreements delivered to the Joint Administrative Agent, and each of the other agreements, instruments or documents that creates or purports to create a Lien in favor of the Joint Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties.

“Guaranty” means, the Guaranty dated as of August 29, 2017, as amended from time to time, in favor of the Joint Administrative Agent duly executed by the Guarantors.

“Guarantor” means, unless otherwise indicated, collectively GPI, and such of GPI’s other subsidiaries and affiliates as may provide or be required to provide a Guaranty from time to time.

“ICA” means the ABL Intercreditor Agreement dated as of August 29, 2017 (as amended from time to time) between the Joint Administrative Agent and BNP Paribas, as Term Loan Collateral Agent.

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“Mortgage” or “Mortgages” means, individually and collectively, as the context requires, each of the fee mortgages, deeds of trust and deeds executed by any Guarantor that purport to grant a Lien to the Pari Passu Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties in any Mortgaged Properties, in form and substance satisfactory to the Joint Administrative Agent.

“Mortgaged Property” means the real estate described in any Mortgage in favor of the Pari Passu Collateral Agent as applicable.

“Mortgaged Property Support Documents” means with respect to any real property subject to a Mortgage, the deliveries and documents described on Schedule 1.01(e) attached hereto.

“Mortgagor” means the party that is the granting party under any Mortgage.

“Pari Passu Collateral Agent” has the meaning set forth in the Term ICA.

“Term ICA” means the Term Loan Intercreditor and Collateral Agency Agreement dated as of August 29, 2017, as amended from time to time, by and among BNP Paribas, as Term Loan Collateral Agent, BNP Paribas, as Pari Passu Collateral Agent and the Joint Administrative Agent, et al.

“Term Loan Agreement” means the term loan agreement dated as of August 29, 2017 by and among GPI, BNP Paribas, as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent, the Lenders party thereto, et al.

“Term Loan Collateral Agent” has the meaning set forth in the Term ICA.

“TLB Guaranty” means a guaranty from the Borrower to BNP Paribas dated as of August 29, 2017.

“TLB Security Agreement” means a security agreement from the Borrower and certain of its affiliates to BNP Paribas dated as of August 29, 2017.

Section 1.03 Amendment to Section 2.16 of the Credit Agreement. Section 2.16 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated as follows:

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Section 1.04 Amendment to Section 7.01 and Section 7.02 of the Credit Agreement. Section 7.01 and Section 7.02 of the Credit Agreement are hereby amended and restated as follows:

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Section 1.05 Amendment to Section 8.01 of the Credit Agreement. Section 8.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated as follows:

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Without limiting the provisions of Article IX, a Default shall have occurred under the Loan Documents, then such Default will continue to exist until it either is cured (to the extent specifically permitted) in accordance with the Loan Documents or is otherwise expressly waived by Joint Administrative Agent (with the approval of requisite Appropriate Lenders (in their sole discretion) as determined in accordance with Section 11.01; and once an Event of Default occurs under the Loan Documents, then such Event of Default will continue to exist until it is expressly waived by the requisite Appropriate Lenders or by the Joint Administrative Agent with the approval of the requisite Appropriate Lenders, as required hereunder in Section 11.01.

Section 1.06 Representations and Warranties of Borrower.

(a) Borrower is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of its formation.

(b) The execution, delivery and performance by Borrower of this Amendment, the Notes and the Credit Agreement, as amended hereby, are within Borrower’s powers, have been duly authorized by all necessary action, if necessary, and do not contravene Borrower’s operating agreement, or any law or any contractual restriction binding on or affecting Borrower, as applicable, or result in, or require, the creation of any lien, security interest or other charge or encumbrance upon or with respect to any of the properties.

(c) No authorization, approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any governmental authority or regulatory body is required for the due execution, delivery and performance by Borrower of this Amendment, the Notes and the Credit Agreement, as amended hereby.

(d) This Amendment and the Credit Agreement, as amended hereby, constitute, legal, valid and binding obligations of Borrower enforceable against Borrower in accordance with their respective terms.

(e) No event listed in Section 8.01 of the Credit Agreement has occurred and is continuing.

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Section 1.07 Effectiveness. This Amendment shall become effective when the Joint Administrative Agent has received (a) counterparts of this Amendment duly executed by the Borrower and the Lenders; (b) the executed Guaranty, together with certain security agreements, authorizations and certificates that secure or otherwise authorize such Guaranty; (c) an executed Term Loan Agreement, TLB Guaranty and TLB Security Agreement; (d) an executed ICA; (e) an executed Term ICA; (f) an opinion of counsel for the Borrower and the Guarantors, as to such matters as reasonably requested by the Joint Administrative Agent; and (g) such other documents, actions or assurances as Lenders or the Joint Administrative Agent may reasonably request.

Section 1.08 Mortgages.

(a) Borrower shall, at its expense, deliver or cause to be delivered to the Joint Administrative Agents, the information and documents listed on Schedule 1.08 - A with respect to each facility listed on Schedule 10.19 to the Term Loan Agreement, and such other information and reports as the Joint Administrative Agents reasonably require (the “Real Estate Due Diligence Documents”; and those facilities on Schedule 10.19 to the Term Loan Agreement, the “Sites”).

(b) Following receipt of the Real Estate Due Diligence Documents, the Joint Administrative Agents shall notify the Borrower which of the Sites such agent has elected to receive a mortgage, mortgage lien and security interest in and to the land, improvements, fixtures, leases, rents and other personal property associated with such Site (the “Accepted Sites”).

(c) No later than 120 days after the date of this Amendment, the Borrower shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Joint Administrative Agents, the following for each Accepted Site:

(i) evidence of the recording of the Approved Mortgage Instrument (defined in Schedule 1.08 - A) for such site, to or for the benefit of the Joint Administrative Agents, as agent for the Lenders, including the payment of all recording, mortgage and other taxes and impositions associated therewith;

(ii) an ALTA Lender’s policy of title insurance insuring the recorded instrument as a second lien on the site, and otherwise in the form of the Approved Pro Forma Title Policy (defined in Schedule 1.08 - A), including satisfaction of all conditions precedent for the issuance of such title policy by the approved title underwriter, and payment of all associated search charges, title premiums, endorsement charges and other fees and expenses of the underwriter or issuing agent; and

(iii) an executed opinion of the applicable Mortgagor under the recorded instrument in the form of the Approved Form of Opinion (defined in Schedule 1.08 - A).

(d) All costs and expenses for the instruments, agreements and other matters required under this Section shall be paid by the Mortgagors.

(e) Each of the parties hereto acknowledges and agrees that, if there is any Mortgaged Property, any increase, extension or renewal of any of the Commitments or Loans (including the provision of Incremental Facilities or any other incremental credit facilities hereunder, but excluding (i) any continuation or conversion of borrowings, (ii) the making of any Revolving Loans or (iii) the issuance, renewal or extension of Letters of Credit) shall be subject to (and conditioned upon): (1) the Joint Administrative Agent shall have recieved the prior delivery of all flood hazard determination certifications, acknowledgements and evidence of flood insurance and other flood-related documentation with respect to such Mortgaged Property as required by applicable flood insurance laws and as otherwise reasonably required by the Joint Administrative Agent (or the Pari Passu Collateral Agent, as the case may be) and (2) the Joint Administrative Agent shall have received written confirmation from each Lender that flood insurance due diligence and flood insurance compliance has been completed by such Lender (such written confirmation not to be unreasonably conditioned, withheld or delayed).

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(f) With respect to each Mortgaged Property that is located in an area identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (or any successor agency) as a “special flood hazard area” with respect to which flood insurance has been made available under Flood Insurance Laws, the applicable Guarantor (A) shall obtained and will maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurance companies (except to the extent that any insurance company insuring the Mortgaged Property of the Guarantor ceases to be financially sound and reputable after the Closing Date, in which case, the Borrower shall cause the Guarantor to promptly replace such insurance company with a financially sound and reputable insurance company), such flood insurance in such reasonable total amount as the Lenders (or Joint Administrative Agent or Pari Passu Collateral Agent, as the case may be) may from time to time reasonably require, and otherwise sufficient to comply with all applicable rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to applicable flood insurance laws and (B) promptly upon request of the Lenders (or Joint Administrative Agent or Pari Passu Collateral Agent, as the case may be), will deliver to the Lenders (or Joint Administrative Agent or Pari Passu Collateral Agent, as the case may be), as applicable, evidence of such compliance in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Lenders (or Joint Administrative Agent or the Pari Passu Collateral Agent, as the case may be), including, without limitation, evidence of annual renewals of such insurance.

(g) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Joint Administrative Agents shall not enter into any Mortgage, nor permit any Mortgage to be entered into in securing the Obligations under the Loan Documents in respect of any real property pledged until (1) the date that occurs 30 days after the Joint Administrative Agent has delivered to the Lenders (which may be delivered electronically) the following documents in respect of such real property: (i) a completed flood hazard determination from a third party vendor; (ii) if such real property is located in a “special flood hazard area”, (A) a notification to the Guarantor of that fact and (if applicable) notification to the Guarantor, as the case may be, that flood insurance coverage is not available and (B) evidence of the receipt by the Guarantor of such notice; and (iii) if such notice is required to be provided to the Guarantor and flood insurance is available in the community in which such real property is located, evidence of required flood insurance, and (2) the Joint Administrative Agent shall have received written confirmation from each Lender that flood insurance due diligence and flood insurance compliance has been completed by such Lender (such written confirmation not to be unreasonably conditioned, withheld or delayed).

Section 1.09 Reference to and Effect on the Credit Agreement. Upon the effectiveness of Section 1.07 hereof:

(a) On and after the date hereof, each reference in the Credit Agreement to “this Agreement”, “hereunder” “hereof”, “herein” or words of like import shall mean and be a reference to the Credit Agreement as amended hereby.

(b) Except as specifically amended by any prior amendments, the Credit Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and is hereby ratified and confirmed.

(c) The execution, delivery and effectiveness of this Amendment shall not, except as expressly provided herein, operate as a waiver of any right, power or remedy of Lender under the Credit Agreement, nor constitute a waiver of any provision of the Credit Agreement.

Section 1.10 Execution in Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute but one and the same instrument.

Section 1.11 Governing Law. This Amendment shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws (without giving effect to the conflicts of laws principles thereof) of the State of Nebraska.

Section 1.12 Expenses. The Borrower shall pay on demand all costs and expenses incurred by Lenders in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, filing, and administration of this Amendment (including, without limitation, Attorneys’ Costs incurred in connection with the preparation of

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this Amendment and advising Lender as to its rights, and the cost of any credit verification reports or field examinations of the Borrower ’ properties or books and records). The Borrower’s obligations to Lenders under this Section 1.13 shall survive termination of this Amendment and repayment of the Borrower ’ Obligations to Lenders under the Credit Agreement.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized, as of the date first above written.

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