Inventories (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
At lower of LIFO cost or market:
Live hogs and materials	$ 227,303	$ 228,624
Fresh pork and materials	31,586	29,426
Inventories at lower of LIFO cost or market, Gross	258,889	258,050
LIFO adjustment	(56,604)	(57,783)
Total inventories at lower of LIFO cost or market	202,285	200,267
At lower of FIFO cost or market:
Grains and oilseeds	280,500	251,839
Sugar produced and in process	64,157	78,730
Other	84,671	63,449
Total inventories at lower of FIFO cost or market	429,328	394,018
Grain, flour and feed at lower of weighted average cost or market	63,081	50,645
Total inventories	$ 694,694	$ 644,930