Related Party Transactions (Transactions Entered Into For the Time Periods Presented) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Related party transactions entered into for the time periods presented
Sales revenues		$ 107,686	$ 241,896	$ 196,580	$ 439,964
Service fee revenues	[1]	5,191	9,410	10,308	14,036
Purchases of product		197,444	167,904	378,968	302,411
Lease income	[2]	1,624	1,422	3,206	2,709
Labor and benefits reimbursement	[3]	3,601	6,863	7,168	10,553
Accounts receivable	[4]	27,030	25,673	27,030	25,673	$ 30,252
Accounts payable	[5]	$ 39,620	$ 25,590	$ 39,620	$ 25,590	$ 27,866

[1] Service fee revenues include management fees, corn origination fees, ethanol and distillers dried grains (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.

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

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

[5] Accounts payable represents amounts due to related parties for purchases of ethanol and other various items.