Mezzanine Equity (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 30, 2021	Dec. 30, 2018	Dec. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 30, 2011
Purchase Requirement [Line Items]
Fair value discount rate	12.70%
Terminal growth rate used to calculate the capitalization rate	2.00%
Redeemable noncontrolling interests	$ 179,061,000					$ 186,686,000
Mandatorily redeemable convertible preferred shares redemption value	$ 125,000,000					125,000,000
3.25% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Shares [Member]
Purchase Requirement [Line Items]
Dividend rate on preferred stock	3.25%
Mandatorily redeemable convertible preferred shares redemption value	$ 125,000,000.0
Mandatorily redeemable preferred stock, number of shares in conversion	4,162,200
Mandatorily redeemable preferred stock, effective conversion price per share	$ 30.03
Mandatorily redeemable preferred shares callable price per share	$ 1,000
Conwed Plastics [Member]
Purchase Requirement [Line Items]
Redeemable noncontrolling interests	$ 2,300,000					$ 2,400,000
USPB [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Call Rights [Member]
Purchase Requirement [Line Items]
Ownership interests as a percent of original interest							20.00%
Other Members [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Call Rights [Member]
Purchase Requirement [Line Items]
Ownership interests as a percent of original interest							50.00%
Other Members [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Call Rights [Member]
Purchase Requirement [Line Items]
Anniversary of acquisition		10 years
Forecast [Member] | National Beef [Member] | Put Rights [Member]
Purchase Requirement [Line Items]
Put right interest percentage			33.30%	33.30%	33.30%