Acquisitions, Dispositions And Discontinued Operations (Amounts Of Identifiable Assets Disposed And Liabilities Relinquished) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 22, 2021	Dec. 28, 2020	Sep. 01, 2019
Ord Ethanol Plant [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Inventory	$ 10,400
Prepaid expenses and other	632
Property and equipment	24,285
Operating lease right-of-use assets	1,811
Accrued and other liabilities	(156)
Operating lease current liabilities	(1,021)
Operating lease long-term liabilities	(790)
Total identifiable net assets disposed	$ 35,161
Hereford Ethanol Plant [Member] | Disposal Group, Not Discontinued Operations [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Inventory		$ 8,140
Prepaid expenses and other		196
Property and equipment		54,279
Operating lease right-of-use assets		5,096
Accrued and other liabilities		(870)
Operating lease current liabilities		(977)
Operating lease long-term liabilities		(4,201)
Long term liabilities		(186)
Total identifiable net assets disposed		$ 61,477
Green Plains Cattle Company LLC [Member] | Disposal Group, Not Discontinued Operations [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Cash			$ 2
Accounts receivable, net			17,920
Inventory			387,534
Derivative financial instruments			48,189
Property and equipment			71,678
Other assets			2,291
Current liabilities			(49,297)
Short-term notes payable and other borrowings			(38)
Current maturities of long-term debt			(324,028)
Long-term debt			(80)
Long term liabilities			(403)
Total identifiable net assets disposed			$ 153,768