Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from external customers	$ 1,338,167	$ 810,999	$ 2,339,841	$ 1,532,997
Inter-segment sales	3,849	2,903	10,129	8,328
Equity in earnings of affiliates	12,512	6,667	19,758	16,572
Other income, net	2,018	1,881	4,324	5,535
Interest expense	7,562	4,663	14,898	9,298
Operating income (loss) (a)	71,193	39,722	98,265	61,402
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest	(817)	(610)	(939)	(1,001)
Income (loss) before income taxes	72,010	40,332	99,204	62,403
Grain [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from external customers	797,130	360,635	1,435,097	763,003
Inter-segment sales	1	2	2	2
Equity in earnings of affiliates	5,428	2,272	11,658	5,331
Other income, net	522	605	1,102	1,255
Interest expense	3,859	840	8,699	2,231
Operating income (loss) (a)	36,541	13,373	51,642	25,571
Income (loss) before income taxes	36,541	13,373	51,642	25,571
Ethanol [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from external customers	164,704	113,045	297,452	231,566
Inter-segment sales				0
Equity in earnings of affiliates	7,082	4,393	8,096	11,237
Other income, net	37	19	95	42
Interest expense	274	238	686	452
Operating income (loss) (a)	8,830	6,249	12,401	14,767
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest	(817)	(610)	(939)	(1,001)
Income (loss) before income taxes	9,647	6,859	13,340	15,768
Rail [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from external customers	29,501	23,635	58,411	50,325
Inter-segment sales		147	189	301
Other income, net	841	499	1,594	2,308
Interest expense	1,511	1,317	2,958	2,644
Operating income (loss) (a)	2,763	114	6,309	1,140
Income (loss) before income taxes	2,763	114	6,309	1,140
Plant Nutrient [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from external customers	259,823	228,404	383,472	331,562
Inter-segment sales	3,221	2,354	8,606	6,992
Equity in earnings of affiliates	2	2	4	4
Other income, net	134	302	259	633
Interest expense	973	1,133	1,816	2,266
Operating income (loss) (a)	24,077	19,017	29,191	19,736
Income (loss) before income taxes	24,077	19,017	29,191	19,736
Turf and Specialty [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from external customers	41,551	41,482	88,821	82,815
Inter-segment sales	627	400	1,332	1,033
Other income, net	259	377	549	794
Interest expense	372	503	821	1,042
Operating income (loss) (a)	1,778	2,486	5,056	5,150
Income (loss) before income taxes	1,778	2,486	5,056	5,150
Retail [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from external customers	45,458	44,098	76,588	73,726
Other income, net	144	157	300	276
Interest expense	207	269	467	556
Operating income (loss) (a)	1,877	2,078	(787)	(749)
Income (loss) before income taxes	1,877	2,078	(787)	(749)
Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Other income, net	81	78	425	227
Interest expense	366	363	(549)	107
Operating income (loss) (a)	(4,673)	(3,595)	(5,547)	(4,213)
Income (loss) before income taxes	$ (4,673)	$ (3,595)	$ (5,547)	$ (4,213)