Note 10 - Acquisitions	3 Months Ended
Feb. 28, 2014
Disclosure Text Block Supplement [Abstract]
Mergers, Acquisitions and Dispositions Disclosures [Text Block]	10) Acquisitions On June 25, 2013, the Company acquired the fixed assets, raw material inventory, work-in-process inventory, and select finished good inventory of Agro Trend, a division of Rojac Industries, Inc. of Clifford, Ontario, Canada. A new entity was formed, Art's Way Manufacturing International, LTD (“International”), which is included in the agricultural products segment for financial reporting purposes. International will lease the facility in Clifford, Ontario and is continuing manufacturing, marketing and sales from the Canadian location. The amount paid in U.S. dollars for the acquisition of assets totaled $311,000 ($88,000 in fixed assets and $223,000 in inventory). The operating results of the acquired business are reflected in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations from the acquisition date forward. The acquisition was made to continue the Company’s growth strategy and diversify its product offerings inside the agricultural industry. The acquisition also includes a consignment arrangement regarding $600,000 of select finished good inventory. As part of the arrangement, International agreed to use reasonable efforts to sell the inventory including providing a sales and marketing plan with projections within 60 days of the closing date and meeting with the consignor quarterly to discuss progress. Once a month, International will pay the consignor an amount equal to the cost base of the inventory sold that month. As of February 28, 2014, International had sold $343,000 of the consigned inventory. The financial books of the operation are kept in the functional currency of Canadian dollars and the financial statements are converted to U.S. Dollars for consolidation. When consolidating the financial results of the Company into U.S. Dollars for reporting purposes, the Company uses the All-Current translation method. The All-Current method requires the balance sheet assets and liabilities be translated to U.S. Dollars at the exchange rate as of quarter end. Owner’s equity is translated at historical exchange rates and retained earnings are translated at an average exchange rate for the period. Additionally, revenue and expenses are translated at average exchange rates for the periods presented. The resulting cumulative translation adjustment is carried on the balance sheet and distributed among various balance sheet accounts. The Company monitors the amount of the adjustment and considers it to be immaterial. On September 30, 2013, the Company acquired the assets of Ohio Metal Working Products Company in Canton, Ohio consisting of inventory, equipment, real property, and intangible assets. A new entity was formed, Ohio Metal Working Products/Art’s-Way, Inc.(“Metals”). A new segment called Tools was created for financial reporting purposes. Ohio Metal Working Products/Art’s-Way, Inc. is a domestic manufacturer and distributor of standard single point brazed carbide tipped tools as well as PCD (polycrystalline diamond) and CBN (cubic boron nitride) inserts and tools. The amount paid for the acquisition totaled approximately $3,172,000 ($1,142,000 in inventory, $1,200,000 in land and building, $868,000 in fixed assets, and a reduction for assumed vacation liability of $38,000). The Company has a year to review and assess the purchase price allocation. Upon completion of the review, adjustments will be made if necessary. The acquisition was financed by accessing the line of credit available through U.S. Bank. The acquired assets are not subject to a security interest. We expect to obtain permanent financing for the acquisition in the future. The operating results of the acquired business are reflected in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations from the acquisition date forward. The acquisition was made to continue the Company’s growth strategy and diversify its product offerings.

Note 10 - Acquisitions

3 Months Ended

Feb. 28, 2014

Disclosure Text Block Supplement [Abstract]

Mergers, Acquisitions and Dispositions Disclosures [Text Block]

10) Acquisitions

On June 25, 2013, the Company acquired the fixed assets, raw material inventory, work-in-process inventory, and select finished good inventory of Agro Trend, a division of Rojac Industries, Inc. of Clifford, Ontario, Canada. A new entity was formed, Art's Way Manufacturing International, LTD (“International”), which is included in the agricultural products segment for financial reporting purposes. International will lease the facility in Clifford, Ontario and is continuing manufacturing, marketing and sales from the Canadian location. The amount paid in U.S. dollars for the acquisition of assets totaled $311,000 ($88,000 in fixed assets and $223,000 in inventory). The operating results of the acquired business are reflected in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations from the acquisition date forward. The acquisition was made to continue the Company’s growth strategy and diversify its product offerings inside the agricultural industry.

The acquisition also includes a consignment arrangement regarding $600,000 of select finished good inventory. As part of the arrangement, International agreed to use reasonable efforts to sell the inventory including providing a sales and marketing plan with projections within 60 days of the closing date and meeting with the consignor quarterly to discuss progress. Once a month, International will pay the consignor an amount equal to the cost base of the inventory sold that month. As of February 28, 2014, International had sold $343,000 of the consigned inventory.

The financial books of the operation are kept in the functional currency of Canadian dollars and the financial statements are converted to U.S. Dollars for consolidation. When consolidating the financial results of the Company into U.S. Dollars for reporting purposes, the Company uses the All-Current translation method. The All-Current method requires the balance sheet assets and liabilities be translated to U.S. Dollars at the exchange rate as of quarter end. Owner’s equity is translated at historical exchange rates and retained earnings are translated at an average exchange rate for the period. Additionally, revenue and expenses are translated at average exchange rates for the periods presented. The resulting cumulative translation adjustment is carried on the balance sheet and distributed among various balance sheet accounts. The Company monitors the amount of the adjustment and considers it to be immaterial.

On September 30, 2013, the Company acquired the assets of Ohio Metal Working Products Company in Canton, Ohio consisting of inventory, equipment, real property, and intangible assets. A new entity was formed, Ohio Metal Working Products/Art’s-Way, Inc.(“Metals”). A new segment called Tools was created for financial reporting purposes. Ohio Metal Working Products/Art’s-Way, Inc. is a domestic manufacturer and distributor of standard single point brazed carbide tipped tools as well as PCD (polycrystalline diamond) and CBN (cubic boron nitride) inserts and tools. The amount paid for the acquisition totaled approximately $3,172,000 ($1,142,000 in inventory, $1,200,000 in land and building, $868,000 in fixed assets, and a reduction for assumed vacation liability of $38,000). The Company has a year to review and assess the purchase price allocation. Upon completion of the review, adjustments will be made if necessary. The acquisition was financed by accessing the line of credit available through U.S. Bank. The acquired assets are not subject to a security interest. We expect to obtain permanent financing for the acquisition in the future. The operating results of the acquired business are reflected in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations from the acquisition date forward. The acquisition was made to continue the Company’s growth strategy and diversify its product offerings.