v2.4.0.8
Debt (Schedule Of The Components Of Long-Term Debt) (Details) (USD $)
Mar. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total long-term debt $ 514,070,000 $ 563,679,000
Less: current portion of long-term debt (134,639,000) (82,933,000)
Long-term debt 379,431,000 480,746,000
Debt instrument amount   22,000,000
Other Debt Obligations [Member]
   
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total long-term debt 11,601,000 10,000,000
Green Plains Bluffton [Member]
   
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Debt instrument amount 22,000,000  
Green Plains Bluffton [Member] | Term Loan [Member]
   
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total long-term debt 25,847,000 26,621,000
Debt instrument amount 70,000,000  
Green Plains Bluffton [Member] | Revolving Term Loans [Member]
   
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total long-term debt 20,000,000 15,000,000
Debt instrument amount 20,000,000  
Green Plains Bluffton [Member] | Revenue Bond [Member]
   
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total long-term debt 14,865,000 15,780,000
Debt instrument amount 22,000,000  
Green Plains Central City [Member] | Term Loan [Member]
   
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total long-term debt 31,668,000 33,100,000
Debt instrument amount 55,000,000  
Green Plains Central City [Member] | Revolving Term Loans [Member]
   
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total long-term debt 28,639,000 17,739,000
Debt instrument amount 30,500,000  
Green Plains Central City [Member] | Equipment Financing Loan [Member]
   
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total long-term debt 18,000 36,000
Green Plains Fairmont and Green Plains Wood River [Member]
   
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total long-term debt 4,199,000 3,626,000
Green Plains Fairmont and Green Plains Wood River [Member] | Term Loan [Member]
   
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total long-term debt 47,500,000 50,000,000
Debt instrument amount 50,000,000  
Green Plains Fairmont and Green Plains Wood River [Member] | Note Payable [Member]
   
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total long-term debt 26,270,000 26,756,000
Debt instrument amount 27,000,000  
Green Plains Fairmont and Green Plains Wood River [Member] | Equipment Financing Loan [Member]
   
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total long-term debt 4,439,000 5,489,000
Green Plains Fairmont and Green Plains Wood River [Member] | Capital Lease Payable [Member]
   
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total long-term debt 9,994,000 9,994,000
Green Plains Holdings II [Member] | Term Loan [Member]
   
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total long-term debt 34,760,000 15,914,000
Debt instrument amount 46,800,000  
Green Plains Holdings II [Member] | Revolving Term Loans [Member]
   
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total long-term debt 19,954,000 31,960,000
Debt instrument amount 20,000,000  
Green Plains Obion [Member] | Term Loan [Member]
   
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total long-term debt 1,479,000 3,879,000
Debt instrument amount 60,000,000  
Green Plains Obion [Member] | Revolving Term Loans [Member]
   
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total long-term debt 37,400,000 28,400,000
Debt instrument amount 37,400,000  
Green Plains Obion [Member] | Equipment Financing Loan [Member]
   
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total long-term debt 83,000 126,000
Green Plains Obion [Member] | Economic Development Grant [Member]
   
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total long-term debt 1,223,000 1,245,000
Green Plains Ord [Member] | Term Loan [Member]
   
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total long-term debt 14,488,000 15,143,000
Debt instrument amount 25,000,000  
Green Plains Ord [Member] | Revolving Term Loans [Member]
   
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total long-term debt 12,151,000 2,151,000
Debt instrument amount 13,000,000  
Green Plains Otter Tail [Member] | Term Loan [Member]
   
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total long-term debt 16,926,000 17,960,000
Debt instrument amount 30,300,000  
Green Plains Otter Tail [Member] | Note Payable [Member]
   
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total long-term debt 19,175,000 19,151,000
Debt instrument amount 19,200,000  
Green Plains Otter Tail [Member] | Equipment Financing Loan [Member]
   
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total long-term debt 13,000  
Green Plains Shenandoah [Member] | Revolving Term Loans [Member]
   
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total long-term debt 15,200,000 9,000,000
Debt instrument amount 17,000,000  
Green Plains Superior [Member] | Term Loan [Member]
   
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total long-term debt 8,375,000 9,750,000
Debt instrument amount 40,000,000  
Green Plains Superior [Member] | Revolving Term Loans [Member]
   
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total long-term debt 10,000,000 8,000,000
Debt instrument amount 10,000,000  
Green Plains Superior [Member] | Equipment Financing Loan [Member]
   
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total long-term debt   18,000
Corporate [Member] | Convertible Notes 90M [Member]
   
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total long-term debt   90,000,000
Debt instrument amount 90,000,000  
Corporate [Member] | Convertible Notes 120M [Member]
   
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total long-term debt 97,670,000 96,653,000
Debt instrument amount 120,000,000  
Corporate [Member] | Capital Lease Payable [Member]
   
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total long-term debt $ 133,000 $ 188,000