Inventories (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 29, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
At lower of LIFO cost or market:
Live hogs and materials	$ 244,394	$ 228,624
Fresh pork and materials	29,837	29,426
Inventories at lower of LIFO cost or market, Gross	274,231	258,050
LIFO adjustment	(83,495)	(57,783)
Total inventories at lower of LIFO cost or market	190,736	200,267
At lower of FIFO cost or market:
Grains and oilseeds	411,396	251,839
Sugar produced and in process	54,037	78,730
Other	75,468	63,449
Total inventories at lower of FIFO cost or market	540,901	394,018
Grain, flour and feed at lower of weighted average cost or market	74,883	50,645
Total inventories	$ 806,520	$ 644,930