Related Party Transactions (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011		Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011
Related party transactions entered into for the time periods presented
Sales revenues	$ 234,258		$ 177,515		$ 654,308		$ 594,351
Service fee revenues	5,329	[1]	5,755	[1]	16,201	[1]	16,774	[1]
Purchases of product	173,519		175,210		467,841		463,989
Lease income	1,695	[2]	1,445	[2]	5,428	[2]	4,112	[2]
Labor and benefits reimbursement	3,192	[3]	2,730	[3]	8,943	[3]	8,114	[3]
Other expenses	279	[4]	59	[4]	615	[4]	104	[4]
Accounts receivable at September 30	27,548	[5]	8,615	[5]	27,548	[5]	8,615	[5]
Accounts payable at September 30	$ 18,474	[6]	$ 18,857	[6]	$ 18,474	[6]	$ 18,857	[6]

[1] Service fee revenues include management fee, corn origination fee, ethanol and DDG marketing fees, and other commissions.

[2] Lease income includes the lease of the Company’s Albion, Michigan and Clymers, Indiana grain facilities as well as certain railcars to the various ethanol LLCs and IANR.

[3] The Company provides all operational labor to the ethanol LLCs and charges them an amount equal to the Company’s costs of the related services.

[4] Other expenses include payments to IANR for repair shop rent and use of their railroad reporting mark, payment to LTG for the lease of railcars and other various expenses.

[5] Accounts receivable represents amounts due from related parties for sales of corn, leasing revenue and service fees.

[6] Accounts payable represents amounts due to related parties for purchases of ethanol.