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Basis Of Presentation And Description Of Business (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands, lb in Millions, bu in Millions, T in Millions |  |  | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Oct. 01, 2020 USD ($) | Sep. 01, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) item state | Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($) | Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($) | [2] | Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($) | Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) item segment state T lb bu | Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset | [1] |  |  | $ 1,578,917 |  |  |  | $ 1,698,218 |  |  |  | $ 1,578,917 | $ 1,698,218 |
Total liabilities |  |  |  | 802,253 |  |  |  | 832,932 |  |  |  | 802,253 | 832,932 |
Revenues |  |  |  | $ 478,764 | $ 424,062 | $ 388,024 | $ 632,869 | 715,677 | $ 632,350 | $ 630,570 | $ 438,641 | $ 1,923,719 | 2,417,238 | $ 2,983,932
Number Of Ethanol Plants | item |  |  |  | 12 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 12 |  |
Number Of Fuel Terminal Facilities | item |  |  |  | 6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6 |  |
Number Of Leased Railcars | item |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,480 |  |
Number of operating segments | segment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4 |  |
Number Of Ethanol Storage Facilities | item |  |  |  | 31 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 31 |  |
Reduction in other assets |  | $ (69,700) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Reduction in accumulated other comprehensive income |  | $ (10,700) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ethanol Production [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,502,581 | 1,700,715 | 2,120,661
Number Of Ethanol Plants | item |  |  |  | 12 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 12 |  |
Number of States in which Entity Operates | state |  |  |  | 6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6 |  |
Annual Corn Consumption Capacity Bushels | bu |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 354.0 |  |
Annual Distillers Grains Production Capacity, Tons | T |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2.5 |  |
Annual Corn Oil Production Pounds | lb |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 276 |  |
Agribusiness & Energy Services [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 443,871 | 735,500 | 768,956
Total Grain Storage Capacity | bu |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 38.1 |  |
Ethanol Plant Storage Capacity | bu |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 30.5 |  |
Grain Elevator Storage Capacity | bu |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 7.6 |  |
Number Of Grain Elevators | item |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3 |  |
Green Plains Partners [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 83,345 | 82,387 | $ 100,748
Number Of Non-Operational Ethanol Production Plant | item |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1 |  |
Number Of Fuel Terminal Facilities | item |  |  |  | 6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6 |  |
Number Of Leased Railcars | item |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,480 |  |
Number Of Ethanol Storage Facilities | item |  |  |  | 31 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 31 |  |
Green Plains Partners L.P. [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset |  |  |  | $ 91,200 |  |  |  | 90,000 |  |  |  | $ 91,200 | 90,000 |
Total liabilities |  |  |  | $ 151,200 |  |  |  | $ 180,900 |  |  |  | $ 151,200 | $ 180,900 |
BioProcess Algae [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Less than wholly owned subsidiary, parent ownership percentage |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 90.00% |  |
IPO [Member] | Limited Partner [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership interest, percentage |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 48.90% |  |
IPO [Member] | Limited Partner [Member] | Parent Company [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership interest, percentage |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 49.10% |  |
Ownership interest, public, percentage |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 49.10% |  |
IPO [Member] | General Partner [Member] | Parent Company [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership interest, percentage |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2.00% |  |
Green Plains Cattle Company LLC [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percent membership interest sold |  | 50.00% | 50.00% | 50.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Reduction in other assets |  | $ (69,700) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
[1] | Asset balances by segment exclude intercompany payable and receivable balances
[2] | During the third quarter of 2020, the company identified an immaterial issue which resulted in the overstatement of both revenues and cost of goods sold within the agribusiness and energy services segment as previously reported for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020. The second quarter revenues and cost of goods sold reflected in the quarterly financial data have been revised to correct these amounts.

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Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
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