Acquisitions, Dispositions And Discontinued Operations (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands, shares in Millions				3 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Sep. 01, 2019 USD ($)	Nov. 27, 2018 USD ($)	Nov. 15, 2018 USD ($) property shares	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) item	Aug. 01, 2018 USD ($) item	May 16, 2017 USD ($) item
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets						$ 150,400	$ 150,351
Number of ethanol plants | item								13
Reversal of accumulated other comprehensive income						$ 16,016	16,016	$ 11,064
Asset Purchase Agreement With Bartlett Cattle Company L.P. [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of cattle-feeding operations | item									2
Feedlot capacity, head of cattle | item									97,000
Property and equipment, net									$ 16,190
Working capital payment									106,600
Working capital payments							900
Total identifiable net assets									$ 122,778
Asset Purchase Agreement With Cargill Cattle Feeders LLC [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of cattle-feeding operations | item										2
Feedlot capacity, head of cattle | item										155,000
Property and equipment, net										$ 36,960
Working capital payments							$ 1,600
Total identifiable net assets										$ 59,282
Fleischmann's Vinegar [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Working capital payments				$ 300	$ 300
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets		$ 58,200
Disposal Of Assets, Transaction Costs		7,400
Assets to be disposed of in the sale		$ 354,000
Bluffton, Lakota and Riga Ethanol Plants [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Consideration paid for business acquisition			$ 120,900
Working capital payments					$ 3,400
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets			92,200
Disposal Of Assets, Transaction Costs			$ 4,200
Number of ethanol plants | property			3
Assets to be disposed of in the sale			$ 323,200
Partners' Capital Account, Units | shares			8.7
General Partner's Interest Percent			2.00%
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Additional Consideration			$ 2,700
Green Plains Cattle Company LLC [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Consideration paid for business acquisition	$ 76,900
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets	$ 0
Percent membership interest sold	50.00%
General Partner [Member] | Bluffton, Lakota and Riga Ethanol Plants [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Partners' Capital Account, Units | shares			0.2
Corporate Activities [Member] | Bluffton, Lakota and Riga Ethanol Plants [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets			$ 89,500
Disposal Of Assets, Transaction Costs			3,700
Partnership [Member] | Bluffton, Lakota and Riga Ethanol Plants [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets			2,700
Disposal Of Assets, Transaction Costs			$ 500