v2.4.0.8
Segment Information (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014
Sep. 30, 2013
Sep. 30, 2014
Sep. 30, 2013
Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Sales and merchandising revenues $ 952,927 $ 1,181,374 $ 3,268,303 $ 4,020,308  
Inter-segment sales 4,796 4,868 19,545 18,475  
Interest expense 4,253 5,348 16,401 16,607  
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net 23,917 22,177 76,631 39,991  
Other income (expense), net 1,685 7,605 25,094 11,623  
Income (loss) before income taxes 29,530 28,387 144,515 97,990  
Identifiable assets 2,082,992 1,882,291 2,082,992 1,882,291 2,273,556
Grain
          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Sales and merchandising revenues 575,354 765,833 1,814,517 2,493,678  
Inter-segment sales 894 0 4,256 333  
Interest expense 1,723 1,391 7,203 7,714  
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net 10,190 12,003 20,541 24,940  
Other income (expense), net (2,354) [1] 1,216 [1] 16,967 [1] 1,438 [1]  
Income (loss) before income taxes 12,449 14,323 34,110 24,675  
Identifiable assets 713,352 784,869 713,352 784,869 921,914
Ethanol
          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Sales and merchandising revenues 179,405 213,384 594,613 634,933  
Interest expense 77 289 253 895  
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net 13,727 10,174 56,090 15,051  
Other income (expense), net 71 35 201 465  
Income (loss) before income taxes 21,253 10,904 74,981 23,984  
Identifiable assets 257,194 207,530 257,194 207,530 229,797
Plant Nutrient
          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Sales and merchandising revenues 110,809 95,681 530,334 537,922  
Inter-segment sales 3,401 4,243 12,929 15,955  
Interest expense 1,017 746 2,748 2,461  
Other income (expense), net 2,617 320 3,193 459  
Income (loss) before income taxes (129) (1,643) 23,464 21,035  
Identifiable assets 252,675 258,772 252,675 258,772 268,238
Rail
          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Sales and merchandising revenues 32,022 47,523 117,733 132,488  
Inter-segment sales 109 109 327 318  
Interest expense 1,821 1,220 5,381 4,162  
Other income (expense), net 792 5,031 2,289 6,679  
Income (loss) before income taxes 4,160 12,360 25,889 36,614  
Identifiable assets 316,851 294,528 316,851 294,528 312,654
Turf and Specialty
          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Sales and merchandising revenues 22,631 27,624 109,269 117,955  
Inter-segment sales 392 516 2,033 1,869  
Interest expense 338 203 1,178 951  
Other income (expense), net 244 135 1,018 585  
Income (loss) before income taxes (2,885) (83) 488 6,113  
Identifiable assets 84,212 71,600 84,212 71,600 89,939
Retail
          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Sales and merchandising revenues 32,706 31,329 101,837 103,332  
Interest expense 182 152 516 519  
Other income (expense), net 418 102 720 316  
Income (loss) before income taxes (968) (2,043) (1,666) (3,673)  
Identifiable assets 46,108 51,465 46,108 51,465 44,910
Other
          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Interest expense (905) 1,347 (878) (95)  
Other income (expense), net (103) 766 706 1,681  
Income (loss) before income taxes (6,804) (6,309) (23,595) (12,563)  
Identifiable assets 412,600 213,527 412,600 213,527 406,104
Noncontrolling Interests
          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Income (loss) before income taxes $ 2,454 $ 878 $ 10,844 $ 1,805  
[1] Increase in the nine months ended balances is related to gain on LTG partial share redemption. See Note 8. Related Party Transactions for details of the LTG gain in the first quarter of 2014.