Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 31,874	$ 22,320	$ 20,390
Restricted cash	18,785	12,353	18,651
Accounts receivable, net	204,400	220,665	167,640
Inventories	787,646	775,017	760,459
Commodity derivative assets - current	33,845	178,767	83,950
Deferred income taxes	23,062	18,578	21,483
Other current assets	62,577	46,721	34,649
Total current assets	1,162,189	1,274,421	1,107,222
Other assets:
Commodity derivative assets - noncurrent	1,189	12,996	2,289
Other assets, net	68,311	47,819	53,327
Equity method investments	190,460	173,977	199,061
Total other assets	259,960	234,792	254,677
Railcar assets leased to others, net	215,023	169,189	197,137
Property, plant and equipment, net	187,584	150,262	175,087
Total assets	1,824,756	1,828,664	1,734,123
Current liabilities:
Borrowings under short-term line of credit	365,000	460,000	71,500
Accounts payable for grain	115,236	90,442	391,905
Other accounts payable	173,254	145,685	142,762
Customer prepayments and deferred revenue	115,109	115,908	79,557
Commodity derivative liabilities - current	34,113	67,869	15,874
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	45,994	42,119	60,445
Current maturities of long-term debt	30,342	42,783	32,208
Total current liabilities	879,048	964,806	794,251
Other long-term liabilities	44,950	25,759	43,014
Commodity derivative liabilities - noncurrent	2,352	110	1,519
Employee benefit plan obligations	53,080	29,946	52,972
Long-term debt, less current maturities	220,417	263,218	238,885
Deferred income taxes	68,051	63,727	64,640
Total liabilities	1,267,898	1,347,566	1,195,281
Commitments and contingencies (Note 11)
Shareholders' equity:
Common shares, without par value (42,000 shares authorized at 3/31/12, 12/31/11 and 3/31/11; 19,198 shares issued)	96	96	96
Preferred shares, without par value (1,000 shares authorized; none issued)
Additional paid-in capital	179,783	176,848	179,463
Treasury shares (570, 697 and 629 shares at 3/31/12, 12/31/11 and 3/31/11, respectively; at cost)	(12,700)	(12,118)	(14,997)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(42,625)	(28,518)	(43,090)
Retained earnings	418,136	331,540	402,523
Total shareholders' equity of The Andersons, Inc.	542,690	467,848	523,995
Noncontrolling interest	14,168	13,250	14,847
Total equity	556,858	481,098	538,842
Total liabilities and equity	$ 1,824,756	$ 1,828,664	$ 1,734,123