Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from external customers	$ 859,612	$ 909,093	$ 2,811,735	$ 3,015,022
Income (loss) before income taxes	4,445	(2,455)	4,646	52,950
Identifiable assets	1,984,411	2,191,694	1,984,411	2,191,694	$ 2,359,101
Operating Segments \| Grain
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from external customers	550,189	545,320	1,611,992	1,705,393
Income (loss) before income taxes	1,879	131	(28,563)	4,024
Identifiable assets	721,412	852,388	721,412	852,388	1,010,810
Operating Segments \| Ethanol
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from external customers	139,413	137,765	396,626	413,130
Income (loss) before income taxes	9,541	5,888	13,048	20,833
Identifiable assets	174,822	186,250	174,822	186,250	183,080
Operating Segments \| Plant Nutrient
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from external customers	101,770	149,303	588,797	660,440
Income (loss) before income taxes	(7,231)	(11,114)	18,008	8,183
Identifiable assets	462,328	546,673	462,328	546,673	531,753
Operating Segments \| Rail
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from external customers	38,201	44,758	118,152	134,497
Income (loss) before income taxes	6,754	11,913	22,698	43,915
Identifiable assets	383,631	413,955	383,631	413,955	405,702
Operating Segments \| Retail
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from external customers	30,039	31,947	96,168	101,562
Income (loss) before income taxes	(1,578)	(769)	(2,644)	(1,483)
Identifiable assets	42,880	45,403	42,880	45,403	44,135
Segment Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from external customers	396	845	3,116	3,864
Segment Reconciling Items \| Grain
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from external customers	7	404	1,632	2,534
Segment Reconciling Items \| Plant Nutrient
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from external customers	61	53	422	517
Segment Reconciling Items \| Rail
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from external customers	328	388	1,062	813
Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income (loss) before income taxes	(6,539)	(8,781)	(19,612)	(23,955)
Identifiable assets	199,338	147,025	199,338	147,025	$ 183,621
Noncontrolling interests
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income (loss) before income taxes	$ 1,619	$ 277	$ 1,711	$ 1,433

Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all assets that are recognized. Assets are probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
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