Change in pension underfunding as a result of pension plan voluntary lump-sum payments offer to be paid to certain former employees

No definition available.

Name:	adm_ChangeInPensionUnderfundingResultingFromPensionPlanVoluntaryLumpSumPayments
Namespace Prefix:	adm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

The amount global pension benefit obligation is expected to decrease as a result of the voluntary lump sum payment offer.

No definition available.

Name:	adm_Decreaseinglobalpensionbenefitobligation
Namespace Prefix:	adm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

The amount of non-cash charge resulting from voluntary lump sum offer, pretax

No definition available.

Name:	adm_Noncashchargeresultingfromvoluntarylumpsumoffer
Namespace Prefix:	adm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

The amount of debt that the Company will assume in a part non-cash acquisition.

No definition available.

Name:	adm_PartNonCashAcquisitionDebttobeAssumed
Namespace Prefix:	adm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

The amount of cash that the Company will pay in a pending acquisition.

No definition available.

Name:	adm_Pendingacquisitiontobepaidincash
Namespace Prefix:	adm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

The transaction value of the pending acquisition of an entity.

No definition available.

Name:	adm_Transactionvalueofpendingacquisition
Namespace Prefix:	adm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

The participation rate of voluntary lump sum payments

No definition available.

Name:	adm_Voluntarylumpsumpaymentsparticipationrate
Namespace Prefix:	adm_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Name:	us-gaap_SubsequentEventLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Subsequent Events Subsequent Events (Details) (Subsequent Event [Member])		3 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
	Jul. 07, 2014 EUR (€)	Dec. 31, 2014 Minimum [Member] USD ($)	Aug. 05, 2014 Minimum [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 Maximum [Member] USD ($)	Aug. 05, 2014 Maximum [Member] USD ($)
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Voluntary lump sum payments participation rate			20.00%		40.00%
Decrease in global pension benefit obligation			$ 170,000,000		$ 340,000,000
Change In Pension Underfunding Resulting From Pension Plan Voluntary Lump Sum Payments			13,000,000		26,000,000
Non-cash charge resulting from voluntary lump sum offer		45,000,000		90,000,000
Transaction value of pending acquisition	2,300,000,000
Pending acquisition to be paid in cash	2,200,000,000
Part Non-Cash Acquisition, Debt to be Assumed	€ 100,000,000