Equity Method Investments (Narrative) (Details) - item			3 Months Ended
		Sep. 01, 2019	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Green Plains Cattle Company LLC [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Disposal Groups Including Discontinued Operations, Percent Sold		50.00%
Number of cattle capacity to support			355,000
Number of bushels of grain storage capacity			11,700,000
Equity method investment, ownership interest	[1]		50.00%
Optimal Aqua LLC [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment, ownership interest				50.00%
Percent acquired			50.00%
NLR Energy Logistics LLC [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment, ownership interest			50.00%
Number Of Units Cars, Area Capacity			110
Number Of Barrels Of Storage			100,000

[1] The equity method investment in GPCC is impacted by the effect of deferred gains or losses on cattle sale contracts designated in a cash flow hedge relationship. Pre-tax accumulated other comprehensive income for GPCC was $39.2 million as of March 31, 2020 compared to pre-tax accumulated other comprehensive loss of $16.2 million as of December 31, 2019.