Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Current portion of accrued and other liabilities	$ 38,762,000	$ 28,677,000
Anhydrous ammonia purchase agreement maturity date	Dec. 31, 2015
Commitments and Contingencies (Textual) [Abstract]
Purchase commitments of natural gas in MMBtu	200,000
Weighted average cost of natural gas per MMBtu	3.08
Total cost of natural gas in dollars	500,000
Month purchase commitment period ends for natural gas	October 2012
Capital cost in connection with construction of pipeline	4,000,000
Capitalized cost of construction of pipeline	2,700,000
Estimated share of the annual operating cost of pipeline, minimum	100,000
Estimated share of the annual operating cost of pipeline, maximum	150,000
Penalty related to discharge water permit	124,000
Alleged discharge water permit violation settlement amount	100,000
Liability relating to discharge water permit	24,000
Estimated EPA civil penalty liability	100,000
Class C Preferred Stock [Member]
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Class C Series 2 preferred stock	$ 3.25
Insurance Claims [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Accrued general liability insurance claims	779,000
Hallowell Facility [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of subsidiaries under chemical business that sold their operating assets	2
Current portion of accrued and other liabilities	120,000
Climate Control Business [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Product liability deductible per claim	250,000
Chemical Business [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Maximum penalty amount per day under Clean Air Act	$ 27,500
Number of nitric acid affected plants	10
Renewal period for discharge water permit	5 years