DISCONTINUED AGRIBUSINESS OPERATIONS - Tables (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Jul. 31, 2015
Revenues and other income:
Sales of canola oil and meal			$ 82,267	$ 163,855
Loss on trading derivatives			(159)	(1,966)
Other		590	126	519
Total revenue and other income		590	82,234	162,408
Cost of sales and expenses:
Cost of canola oil and meal sold			79,763	137,565
Depreciation			4,360	8,079
Other direct costs of production			5,938	11,024
Total cost of goods sold		0	90,061	156,668
Impairment loss on intangible and long-lived assets			1,875
Interest			3,259	5,536
Plant costs and overhead		111	17,578	14,278
Segment total expenses		111	112,773	176,482
Loss from discontinued agribusiness operations, net of tax		479	(30,539)	(14,074)
Loss on sale of discontinued agribusiness operations, net of tax	$ (16,900)	(1,856)	(18,729)
Net loss from discontinued agribusiness operations, net of tax		(1,377)	(49,268)	(14,074)
Net loss from discontinued agribusiness operations attributable to noncontrolling interests			1,720	1,718
Net loss from discontinued agribusiness operations attributable to PICO Holdings, Inc.		(1,377)	(47,548)	(12,356)
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents		438	938	$ 301
Accounts receivable		5,993	7,800
Other assets		74	55
Total agribusiness assets held-for-sale		6,505	8,793
Liabilities
Debt					$ 80,900
Total liabilities held-for-sale		$ 276	$ 608