Business Acquisition (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended		0 Months Ended					12 Months Ended			12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended							12 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013 Minimum	Dec. 31, 2013 Maximum	Dec. 09, 2013 Cycle Group, Inc.		Dec. 09, 2013 Cycle Group, Inc. Customer relationships	Dec. 09, 2013 Cycle Group, Inc. Patents	Dec. 09, 2013 Cycle Group, Inc. Acquired non-compete agreement	Dec. 31, 2013 Mile Rail		Aug. 05, 2013 Mile Rail	Dec. 31, 2013 Mile Rail Customer relationships	Aug. 05, 2013 Mile Rail Customer relationships	Dec. 31, 2013 Mile Rail Acquired non-compete agreement	Aug. 05, 2013 Mile Rail Acquired non-compete agreement	Dec. 31, 2012 Green Plains Grain Company	Dec. 31, 2012 Green Plains Grain Company Supplier relationships	Dec. 31, 2012 Green Plains Grain Company Supplier relationships Minimum	Dec. 31, 2012 Green Plains Grain Company Supplier relationships Maximum	Dec. 31, 2012 Mt Pulaski		Dec. 31, 2012 Mt Pulaski Acquired customer list	Dec. 31, 2012 Mt Pulaski Acquired non-compete agreement	Dec. 31, 2012 Mt Pulaski Trademarks and technology	Dec. 31, 2012 Amaizing Energy Denison LLC		Dec. 31, 2012 Amaizing Energy Denison LLC Lease intangible	Dec. 31, 2012 Amaizing Energy Denison LLC Lease intangible Minimum	Dec. 31, 2013 Amaizing Energy Denison LLC Lease intangible Maximum	Dec. 31, 2012 Amaizing Energy Denison LLC Acquired non-compete agreement	Dec. 31, 2012 New Eezy Gro Inc		Dec. 31, 2012 New Eezy Gro Inc Acquired customer list	Dec. 31, 2012 New Eezy Gro Inc Acquired non-compete agreement	Dec. 31, 2012 New Eezy Gro Inc Trademarks and technology	Dec. 31, 2012 New Eezy Gro Inc Technology
Intangible assets acquisition
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Asset, Amount			$ 330		$ 150	$ 125	$ 55			$ 650		$ 400		$ 250	$ 4,600	$ 4,600			$ 1,000		$ 600	$ 100		$ 2,373		$ 2,123			$ 250	$ 9,600		$ 5,500	$ 800	$ 1,200	$ 2,100
Intangible assets estimated useful life	5 years	10 years			5 years	5 years	7 years				5 years		5 years				3 years	5 years			10 years	7 years					10 months	5 years	2 years			10 years	7 years	10 years	5 years
Acquired indefinite-lived intangible asset																							$ 300
Weighted average useful life			5 years	[1]				5 years	[1]						4 years				10 years	[1]				3 years	[1]					9 years	[1]	10 years	7 years	10 years	5 years

[1] weighted average number of years