Equity Method Investments (Earnings From Equity Method Investments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Total income from equity method investments, net of income taxes		$ 700	$ 21,093	$ 2,797
Distributions from equity method investments		1,500	27,910	320
Earnings from equity method investments, net of distributions		(800)	(6,817)	2,477
Green Plains Cattle Company LLC [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Total income from equity method investments, net of income taxes	[1]		20,531	2,839
Pretax equity method earnings		27,000	3,800
All Others [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Total income from equity method investments, net of income taxes		$ 700	$ 562	$ (42)

[1] Pretax equity method earnings of GPCC were $27.0 million and $3.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019.