Segment Reporting (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2014

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Schedule of Segment Reporting Information Profit Loss And Revenue Percentage [Table Text Block]

The following table summarizes segment and other results and assets (amounts in thousands):

	Three Months Ended April 30,
	2014			2013
Net sales and revenue:
Alternative energy	$	155,827		$	178,324
Real estate		109			100
Total net sales and revenues	$	155,936		$	178,424
Segment gross profit (loss):
Alternative energy	$	36,614		$	9,026
Real estate		(64	)		(34	)
Total gross profit	$	36,550		$	8,992

	Three Months Ended April 30,
	2014			2013
Segment profit (loss):
Alternative energy	$	38,876		$	6,626
Real estate		(91	)		(97	)
Corporate expense, net		(753	)		(692	)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and noncontrolling interests	$	38,032		$	5,837

	Three Months Ended April 30,
	2014			2013
Sales of products alternative energy segment:
Ethanol		76	%		74	%
Dried distillers grains		20	%		17	%
Modified distillers grains		1	%		6	%
Other		3	%		3	%
Total		100	%		100	%
Sales of services real estate segment:
Lease revenue		100	%		100	%

Schedule of Segment Reporting Information Assets [Table Text Block]

		April 30, 2014		January 31, 2014
Assets:
Alternative energy	$	384,034	$	356,589
Real estate		4,635		4,722
Corporate and other		58,280		66,557
Total assets	$	446,949	$	427,868