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Significant Nonstrategic Timberland Transactions and Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |  |  |  |  | 12 Months Ended |  | 12 Months Ended
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Jul. 31, 2012 | Apr. 30, 2012 | Jan. 31, 2012 | Jul. 31, 2011 | Apr. 30, 2011 | Jan. 31, 2011 | Oct. 31, 2012 | Oct. 31, 2011 | Oct. 31, 2010 | Oct. 31, 2006 acre | Jan. 31, 2006 acre | May 23, 2005 acre | Mar. 28, 2005 acre | Oct. 31, 2012 Trading Company [Member] | Oct. 31, 2012 Asset Company [Member] | Oct. 31, 2012 General Textile [Member] | Oct. 31, 2012 STA Timber [Member] | Oct. 31, 2011 STA Timber [Member] | Oct. 31, 2010 STA Timber [Member] | May 31, 2005 STA Timber [Member] Monetization Notes [Member] | Oct. 31, 2012 Flexible Packaging JV [Member] | Oct. 31, 2011 Flexible Packaging JV [Member] | Oct. 31, 2010 Flexible Packaging JV [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Approximate acres of timberland to be sold under agreement with Plum Creek Timberland |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 56,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Approximate value of sale agreement with Plum Creek Timberland |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 90 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acres of timberland sold under the agreement |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5,700 | 15,300 | 35,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Value of timberland sold under the agreement |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 9.7 | 29.3 | 51.0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Pretax gain resulting from sale under agreement |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 9.0 | 27.4 | 42.1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Purchase notes payable |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 50.9 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Maximum amount of guarantee on purchase notes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 52.3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Senior secured notes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5.20% |  |  |
Maturity date |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | Aug. 05, 2020 |  |  |
Extended date |  |  |  |  |  |  | Nov. 05, 2020 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt instrument, principal outstanding |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 43.3 | 43.3 |  | 43.3 |  |  |
Restricted bank financial instruments under buyer SPE |  |  |  |  |  |  | 50.9 | 50.9 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest income of Buyer SPE |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest Expense | 21.9 | 23.3 | 22.9 | 17.5 | 17.7 | 15.9 | 89.9 | 76.0 | 65.5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.2 |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage in Variable Interest Entity |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 51.00% | 49.00% | 49.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Committed capital contribution |  |  |  |  |  |  | 150 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitment to obtain third party financing |  |  |  |  |  |  | Up to $150 million |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Outstanding advances to NSC |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2.5 | 1.7 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Short term loans payable to NSC |  |  |  |  |  |  | 8.1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net (income) loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest in the Flexible packaging JV | $ (1.5) | $ 0.2 | $ (1.1) | $ (2.4) | $ (0.2) | $ (0.2) | $ 5.5 | $ 2.9 | $ 5.7 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 4.4 | $ 3.5 | $ 0.9

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