Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Operating Activities
Net income	$ 75,565	$ 96,825	$ 64,881
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	48,977	40,837	38,913
Bad debt expense (recovery)	1,129	187	(8,716)
Cash distributions less than (in excess of) income of unconsolidated affiliates	8,134	(23,591)	(17,594)
Gains on sales of railcars and related leases	(23,665)	(8,417)	(7,771)
Excess tax benefit from share-based payment arrangement	(162)	(307)	(876)
Deferred income taxes	16,503	5,473	12,205
Stock based compensation expense	3,990	4,071	2,589
Lower of cost or market inventory and contract adjustment	262	3,142	0
Impairment of property, plant and equipment	531	1,704	1,682
Other	(672)	254	215
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(21,737)	(15,708)	(848)
Inventories	122,428	(114,427)	(214,171)
Commodity derivatives	2,947	134,309	(158,183)
Other assets	(12,927)	(1,104)	(3,970)
Accounts payable for grain	101,265	117,309	20,703
Other accounts payable and accrued expenses	5,914	49,708	31,656
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	328,482	290,265	(239,285)
Investing Activities
Purchase of investments	(19,996)	0	0
Proceeds from redemption of investment	19,998	0	0
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	(220,257)	(2,365)	(39,293)
Purchases of railcars	(111,224)	(64,161)	(18,354)
Proceeds from sale of railcars	90,827	30,398	20,102
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	(69,274)	(44,162)	(30,897)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment	1,116	931	1,942
Investment in convertible preferred securities	0	0	(13,100)
Investments in affiliates	0	(121)	(395)
Change in restricted cash	18,253	(6,517)	(9,010)
Net cash used in investing activities	(290,557)	(85,997)	(89,005)
Financing Activities
Net change in short-term borrowings	(47,281)	(169,600)	241,100
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	275,346	73,752	18,986
Payments of long-term debt	(143,943)	(104,008)	(36,598)
Proceeds from minority investor	6,100	0	0
Proceeds from sale of treasury shares to employees and directors	1,322	815	1,305
Payments of debt issuance costs	(637)	(3,170)	(7,508)
Purchase of treasury stock	0	(3,040)	0
Dividends paid	(11,166)	(8,153)	(6,581)
Excess tax benefit from share-based payment arrangement	162	307	876
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	79,903	(213,097)	211,580
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	117,828	(8,829)	(116,710)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	20,390	29,219	145,929
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	138,218	20,390	29,219
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information
Acquisition of capitalized software under accounts payable	2,876	0	0
Purchase of a productive asset through seller-financing	10,498	0	0
Outstanding payment for acquisition of business	$ 3,345	$ 0	$ 0