Concentration of Business Risk (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended					6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Product and manufacturing revenues by individual product line
Total product revenue	$ 8,004	$ 12,242	$ 11,721	$ 13,743	$ 14,742	$ 23,963	$ 31,967	$ 42,252	$ 43,355	$ 55,995	$ 50,351
Total product revenue [Member]
Product and manufacturing revenues by individual product line
Total product revenue									43,355	55,995	50,351
Percentage of Total				100.00%					89.00%	100.00%	100.00%
Individual Product Line [Member]
Product and manufacturing revenues by individual product line
Total product and contract manufacturing revenue									48,902	55,995
Percentage of Total				100.00%					100.00%	100.00%
Individual Product Line [Member] | Animal health and nutrition [Member]
Product and manufacturing revenues by individual product line
Total product revenue									30,849	33,850
Percentage of Total				60.00%					64.00%	60.00%
Individual Product Line [Member] | Grain processing [Member]
Product and manufacturing revenues by individual product line
Total product revenue									10,865	15,953
Percentage of Total				28.00%					22.00%	28.00%
Individual Product Line [Member] | Oilseed processing [Member]
Product and manufacturing revenues by individual product line
Total product revenue									579	5,352
Percentage of Total				10.00%					1.00%	10.00%
Individual Product Line [Member] | Other products [Member]
Product and manufacturing revenues by individual product line
Total product revenue									1,062	840
Percentage of Total				2.00%					2.00%	2.00%
Individual Product Line [Member] | Contract manufacturing [Member]
Product and manufacturing revenues by individual product line
Total product revenue									5,547	0
Percentage of Total				0.00%					11.00%	0.00%
Commercial Product Revenue [Member]
Product and manufacturing revenues by individual product line
Total product and contract manufacturing revenue											50,351
Percentage of Total											100.00%
Commercial Product Revenue [Member] | Animal health and nutrition [Member]
Product and manufacturing revenues by individual product line
Total product revenue											32,588
Percentage of Total											65.00%
Commercial Product Revenue [Member] | Grain processing [Member]
Product and manufacturing revenues by individual product line
Total product revenue											13,439
Percentage of Total											27.00%
Commercial Product Revenue [Member] | Oilseed processing [Member]
Product and manufacturing revenues by individual product line
Total product revenue											3,322
Percentage of Total											6.00%
Commercial Product Revenue [Member] | Other products [Member]
Product and manufacturing revenues by individual product line
Total product revenue											1,002
Percentage of Total											2.00%
Commercial Product Revenue [Member] | Contract manufacturing [Member]
Product and manufacturing revenues by individual product line
Total product revenue											$ 0
Percentage of Total											0.00%