High end of the range of the entity's contracted commodity sales volumes hedged during the historical hedging period.

Name:	adm_CommodityHedgedDuringHistoricalHedgingPeriodHighEnd
Namespace Prefix:	adm
Data Type:	num:volumeItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Low end of the range of the entity's contracted commodity sales volumes hedged during the historical hedging period.

+ Details

Name:	adm_CommodityHedgedDuringHistoricalHedgingPeriodLowEnd
Namespace Prefix:	adm
Data Type:	num:volumeItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

High end of the range of the contracted sales volume hedged by the company over the future hedging period.

+ Details

Name:	adm_ContractedCommodityHedgedOverFutureHedgingPeriodHighEnd
Namespace Prefix:	adm
Data Type:	num:volumeItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Low end of the range of the contracted sales volume hedged by the company over the future hedging period.

+ Details

Name:	adm_ContractedCommodityHedgedOverFutureHedgingPeriodLowEnd
Namespace Prefix:	adm
Data Type:	num:volumeItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of net gain (loss) remaining in AOCI from discontinued interest rate cash flow hedge(s). Such hedges were discontinued at a prior date due to a change in the certainty of the hedged transaction from probable to possible. This amount will be amortized over the life of the hedged transaction once the transaction occurs, or upon further decline in certainty it will be recognized in earnings.

+ Details

Name:	adm_DeferredGainLossOnDiscontinuationOfInterestRateCashFlowHedgeAfterTaxAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncome
Namespace Prefix:	adm
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of net gain (loss) remaining in AOCI from discontinued interest rate cash flow hedge(s) net of amortization. Net of tax.

+ Details

Name:	adm_DeferredGainLossOnDiscontinuationOfInterestRateCashFlowHedgeAfterTaxAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeNetOfAmortization
Namespace Prefix:	adm
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Total after-tax gains deferred in AOCI related to treasury-lock agreements and interest rate swaps.

+ Details

Name:	adm_DeferredGainLossOnTreasuryLockAgreementsAndInterestRateSwapsCashFlowHedgeAfterTaxAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncome
Namespace Prefix:	adm
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Total after-tax gains deferred in AOCI related to treasury-lock agreements and interest rate swaps that will be recognized in earnings.

+ Details

Name:	adm_DeferredGainLossOnTreasuryLockAgreementsAndInterestRateSwapsCashFlowHedgeAfterTaxAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeToBeRecognizedInEarnings
Namespace Prefix:	adm
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The period of time for which the entity discloses its historical hedging percentages.

+ Details

Name:	adm_DerivativeHedgedItemPastPeriodOfTimeHedged
Namespace Prefix:	adm
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The period of time for which the entity discloses its historical hedging gallons.

+ Details

Name:	adm_DerivativeHedgedItemPastPeriodOfTimeHedgedVolumes
Namespace Prefix:	adm
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The forward time period for which hedges have been made as of the balance sheet date.

+ Details

Name:	adm_DerivativeHedgedItemTimePeriod
Namespace Prefix:	adm
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Description of treasury lock and interest rate swap transactions that will result in the reclassification into earnings of gains (losses) reported in accumulated other comprehensive income. Includes the time period range over which gains (losses) will be reclassified to earnings (high end of range).

+ Details

Name:	adm_DescriptionOfReclassificationOfTreasuryLockAndInterestRateCashFlowHedgeGainLossAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeHighEndOfRange
Namespace Prefix:	adm
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

+ Details

Name:	adm_DescriptionOfReclassificationOfTreasuryLockAndInterestRateCashFlowHedgeGainLossAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLowEndOfRange
Namespace Prefix:	adm
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of unrealized gain (loss) after tax related to the increase (decrease) in fair value of foreign exchange contracts designated as cash flow hedging instruments, which was recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income.

+ Details

Name:	adm_GainLossOnForeignExchangeContractsCashFlowHedgesAfterTaxAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncome
Namespace Prefix:	adm
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of unrealized gain (loss) after tax related to the increase (decrease) in fair value of foreign exchange contracts designated as cash flow hedging instruments, that will be reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into earnings over the life of the hedged transaction.

+ Details

Name:	adm_GainLossOnForeignExchangeContractsCashFlowHedgesAfterTaxReclassificationToEarnings
Namespace Prefix:	adm
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the volume of natural gas used by the entity's production facilities per month under the designated cash flow hedge program.

+ Details

Name:	adm_NaturalGasProductionFacilities
Namespace Prefix:	adm
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

High end of the range of the percentage of the entity's anticipated commodity purchases or production hedged during the historical hedging period.

+ Details

Name:	adm_PercentageOfAnticipatedCommodityHedgedDuringHistoricalHedgingPeriodHighEnd
Namespace Prefix:	adm
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Low end of the range of the percentage of the entity's anticipated commodity purchases or production hedged during the historical hedging period.

+ Details

Name:	adm_PercentageOfAnticipatedCommodityHedgedDuringHistoricalHedgingPeriodLowEnd
Namespace Prefix:	adm
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

High end of the range of the percentage of the entity's anticipated commodity purchases or production hedged over the forward hedging period.

+ Details

Name:	adm_PercentageOfAnticipatedCommodityHedgedOverFutureHedgingPeriodHighEnd
Namespace Prefix:	adm
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Low end of the range of the percentage of the entity's anticipated commodity purchases or production hedged over the forward hedging period.

+ Details

Name:	adm_PercentageOfAnticipatedCommodityHedgedOverFutureHedgingPeriodLowEnd
Namespace Prefix:	adm
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the quantity of corn processing per month under the designated cash flow hedge program.

+ Details

Name:	adm_ProcessingOfCornPerMonth
Namespace Prefix:	adm
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of unrealized gain (loss) after tax related to the increase (decrease) in fair value of price risk derivatives designated as cash flow hedging instruments, which was recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income.

+ Details

Name:	adm_UnrealizedGainLossOnPriceRiskCashFlowHedgesAfterTaxAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncome
Namespace Prefix:	adm
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Description of the transactions or other events that will result in the reclassification into earnings of gains or losses reported in accumulated other comprehensive income. Includes time period over which gains or losses will be reclassified to earnings.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 133

-Paragraph 45

-Subparagraph b(2)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6887037&loc=d3e80748-113994

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of net gains or losses on interest rate cash flow hedges reclassified during the period to earnings from accumulated other comprehensive income upon the hedged transaction affecting earnings.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 133

-Paragraph 45

-Subparagraph b(1)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4C

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6935481&loc=SL5624171-113959

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InterestRateCashFlowHedgeGainLossReclassifiedToEarningsNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum length of time over which the entity is hedging its exposure to the variability in future cash flows for forecasted transactions, excluding those forecasted transactions related to the payment of variable interest on existing financial instruments.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 133

-Paragraph 45

-Subparagraph b(3)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (d)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6887037&loc=d3e80748-113994

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	us-types:durationStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Derivative Instruments & Hedging Activities (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010
Pre-tax losses recognized in earnings from interest rate swaps that have been de-designated		$ 31
Corn \| Designated As Hedging Instrument [Member]
Corn processed per month (in bushels)	75,000,000
Historical time period of hedge percentages (in months)	12
Percentage of anticipated commodity purchases or production hedged during historical hedging period, low end of range (as a percent)	1.00%
Percentage of anticipated commodity purchases or production hedged during historical hedging period, high end of range (as a percent)	100.00%
Percentage of anticipated commodity purchases or production hedged over future hedging period, low end of range	1.00%
Percentage of anticipated commodity purchases or production hedged over future hedging period, high end of range	100.00%
Number of months for which hedges for future monthly commodity purchases, sales or production have been made (in months)	12
Natural Gas \| Designated As Hedging Instrument [Member]
Historical time period of hedge percentages (in months)	12
Percentage of anticipated commodity purchases or production hedged during historical hedging period, low end of range (as a percent)	28.00%
Percentage of anticipated commodity purchases or production hedged during historical hedging period, high end of range (as a percent)	55.00%
Natural gas used by production facilities per month (in MMbtus)	3,750,000
Percentage of anticipated commodity purchases or production hedged over future hedging period, low end of range	19.00%
Percentage of anticipated commodity purchases or production hedged over future hedging period, high end of range	30.00%
Number of months for which hedges for future monthly commodity purchases, sales or production have been made (in months)	9
Ethanol \| Designated As Hedging Instrument [Member]
Historical time period of hedge volumes (in months)	12
Commodity sales volume hedged during historical hedging period, low end of range (in gallons)	7,000,000
Commodity sales volume hedged during historical hedging period, high end of range (in gallons)	19,000,000
Contracted commodity sales volume hedged over future hedging period, low end of range (in gallons)	2,000,000
Contracted commodity sales volume hedged over future hedging period, high end of range (in gallons)	12,000,000
Number of months for which hedges for future monthly commodity purchases, sales or production have been made (in months)	6
Not Designated As Hedging Instrument [Member]
After-tax gains deferred in AOCI on discontinuation of hedge accounting treatment on interest rate swaps			21
Amortization period for gains on de-designated hedges in AOCI (in years)	30
Pre-tax losses recognized in earnings from interest rate swaps that have been de-designated		31
Designated As Hedging Instrument [Member]
After-tax gains (losses) in AOCI from commodity cash flow hedge transactions	7
Number of months cash flow hedge gains (losses) will be recognized in earnings (in months)	12
After-tax gains in AOCI related to foreign exchange contracts designated as cash flow hedging instruments	2
Cash flow hedge gains (losses) that will be recognized in earnings	2
Total after-tax gains deferred in AOCI related to treasury-lock agreements and interest rate swaps	22
Total after-tax gains deferred in AOCI related to treasury-lock agreements and interest rate swaps that will be recognized in earnings	22
Number of years in which after-tax gains (losses) in AOCI related to treasury-lock agreements and interest rate swaps will be recognized in earnings, low end of range (in years)	10
Number of years in which after-tax gains (losses) in AOCI related to treasury-lock agreements and interest rate swaps will be recognized in earnings, high end of range (in years)	30
After-tax gains deferred in AOCI on discontinuation of hedge accounting treatment on interest rate swaps, net of amortization	$ 20