SEGMENT REPORTING (Details) - Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, Profit Loss And Revenue Percentage (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2014		Oct. 31, 2013		Jul. 31, 2013		Apr. 30, 2013		Jan. 31, 2013		Oct. 31, 2012		Jul. 31, 2012		Apr. 30, 2012		Jan. 31, 2014	Jan. 31, 2013	Jan. 31, 2012
SEGMENT REPORTING (Details) - Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, Profit Loss And Revenue Percentage [Line Items]
Net sales and revenues	$ 146,090	[1]	$ 166,188	[1]	$ 175,389	[1]	$ 178,424	[1]	$ 174,347	[1]	$ 178,639	[1]	$ 152,898	[1]	$ 150,755	[1]	$ 666,091	$ 656,639	$ 408,879
Gross profit	26,279	[1]	18,010	[1]	10,870	[1]	8,992	[1]	(2,558)	[1]	3,691	[1]	7,006	[1]	5,463	[1]	64,151	13,602	34,831
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes																	59,770	(3,822)	48,812
Interest income																	136	124	367
Depreciation and amortization expense																	17,045	16,210	11,756
Equity in income of unconsolidated affiliates																	17,175	627	21,532
Additions to property and equipment																	3,768	2,802	7,342
Alternative Energy Segment [Member] | Ethanol [Member]
SEGMENT REPORTING (Details) - Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, Profit Loss And Revenue Percentage [Line Items]
Sale of Product																	75.00%	76.00%	82.00%
Alternative Energy Segment [Member] | Dried Distillers Grains [Member]
SEGMENT REPORTING (Details) - Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, Profit Loss And Revenue Percentage [Line Items]
Sale of Product																	19.00%	18.00%	17.00%
Alternative Energy Segment [Member] | Modified Distillers Grains [Member]
SEGMENT REPORTING (Details) - Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, Profit Loss And Revenue Percentage [Line Items]
Sale of Product																	3.00%	4.00%	1.00%
Alternative Energy Segment [Member] | Other Products [Member]
SEGMENT REPORTING (Details) - Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, Profit Loss And Revenue Percentage [Line Items]
Sale of Product																	3.00%	2.00%
Alternative Energy Segment [Member]
SEGMENT REPORTING (Details) - Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, Profit Loss And Revenue Percentage [Line Items]
Net sales and revenues																	665,625	656,167	408,635
Gross profit																	64,261	13,830	35,179
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes																	63,228	(1,027)	48,580
Sale of Product																	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
Interest income																	62	37	48
Depreciation and amortization expense																	16,914	16,073	11,653
Equity in income of unconsolidated affiliates																	17,175	627	21,532
Additions to property and equipment																	3,374	2,802	7,276
Real Estate Segment [Member]
SEGMENT REPORTING (Details) - Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, Profit Loss And Revenue Percentage [Line Items]
Net sales and revenues																	466	472	244
Gross profit																	(110)	(228)	(348)
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes																	(358)	(497)	(603)
Leasing																	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
Depreciation and amortization expense																	131	137	103
Additions to property and equipment																			66
Corporate Segment [Member]
SEGMENT REPORTING (Details) - Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, Profit Loss And Revenue Percentage [Line Items]
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes																	(3,100)	(2,298)	(2,048)
Interest income																	74	87	319
Equity in income of unconsolidated affiliates																	17,175	627	21,532
Additions to property and equipment																	394
Synthetic Fuel Investments [Member]
SEGMENT REPORTING (Details) - Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, Profit Loss And Revenue Percentage [Line Items]
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes																			$ 2,883

[1] Amounts differ from those previously reported as a result of retail operations and certain real estate assets sold being reclassified as discontinued operations and other reclassifications.