Related Party Transactions (Transactions Entered Into For the Time Periods Presented) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Related party transactions entered into for the time periods presented
Sales revenues		$ 82,394	$ 225,367	$ 278,974	$ 665,331
Service fee revenues	[1]	5,231	14,397	15,539	28,433
Purchases of product		177,583	165,084	556,551	467,495
Lease income	[2]	1,623	1,850	4,829	4,559
Labor and benefits reimbursement	[3]	3,436	3,208	10,603	10,071
Accounts receivable	[4]	32,584	18,694	32,584	18,694	$ 30,252
Accounts payable		$ 32,347	$ 27,413	$ 32,347	$ 27,413	$ 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.