Retirement and Compensation Plans Funding Status and Net Periodic Pension Costs (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	$ 220,000		$ 220,000	$ 205,054
FBL Financial Group Retirement Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Amortization of Net Gains (Losses)		12,400,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Pension Plans with Accumulated Benefit Obligations in Excess of Plan Assets, Aggregate Projected Benefit Obligation	330,320,000		330,320,000	283,613,000	258,083,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Service Cost	8,117,000		8,117,000	7,938,000	7,073,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Interest Cost	12,706,000		12,706,000	12,620,000	12,798,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Actuarial Gain (Loss)	43,015,000			18,813,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefits Paid	(17,131,000)			(13,841,000)
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	220,000,000		220,000,000	205,054,000	200,280,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Funded Status of Plan	(110,320,000)		(110,320,000)	(78,559,000)
Defined Benefit Plan, Actual Return on Plan Assets	17,077,000			3,615,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Contributions by Employer	15,000,000			15,000,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Accumulated Benefit Obligation	291,728,000		291,728,000	249,218,000
FBL Financial Group Other plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Amortization of Net Gains (Losses)		1,300,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Pension Plans with Accumulated Benefit Obligations in Excess of Plan Assets, Aggregate Projected Benefit Obligation	26,664,000		26,664,000	26,562,000	25,565,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Service Cost	442,000		442,000	258,000	237,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Interest Cost	1,160,000		1,160,000	1,215,000	1,432,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Actuarial Gain (Loss)	1,890,000			3,390,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefits Paid	(3,390,000)			(3,866,000)
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0		0	0	0
Defined Benefit Plan, Funded Status of Plan	(26,664,000)		(26,664,000)	(26,562,000)
Defined Benefit Plan, Actual Return on Plan Assets	0			0
Defined Benefit Plan, Contributions by Employer	3,390,000			3,866,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Accumulated Benefit Obligation	$ 24,642,000		$ 24,642,000	$ 23,671,000