Segment Information (Segment Information) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Segment Information
Revenues	$ (14,384)	$ (17,506)
Earnings Before Income Taxes	306	690
Agricultural Services [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	(6,480)	(8,045)
Earnings Before Income Taxes	75	194
Merchandising and handling [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	(5,679)	(7,027)
Transportation [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	(55)	(54)
Milling and other [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	(746)	(964)
Corn Processing [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	(2,207)	(2,466)
Earnings Before Income Taxes	131	113
Sweeteners and starches [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	(967)	(875)
Bioproducts [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	(1,240)	(1,591)
Oilseeds Processing [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	(4,997)	(6,293)
Earnings Before Income Taxes	260	469
Crushing and origination [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	(3,106)	(3,775)
Refining, packaging, biodiesel, and other [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	(1,769)	(2,441)
Asia [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	(122)	(77)
Wild Flavors and Specialty Ingredients [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	(592)	(606)
Earnings Before Income Taxes	70	68
Other [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	(108)	(96)
Earnings Before Income Taxes	37	11
Aggregate Segment [Member]
Segment Information
Earnings Before Income Taxes	573	855
Corporate Segment [Member]
Segment Information
Earnings Before Income Taxes	(267)	(165)
Operating Segments [Member] | Agricultural Services [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	(6,863)	(9,078)
Operating Segments [Member] | Corn Processing [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	(2,220)	(2,488)
Operating Segments [Member] | Oilseeds Processing [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	(6,092)	(6,896)
Operating Segments [Member] | Wild Flavors and Specialty Ingredients [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	(596)	(607)
Operating Segments [Member] | Other [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	(158)	(159)
Intersegment Elimination [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	1,545	1,722
Intersegment Elimination [Member] | Agricultural Services [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	383	1,033
Intersegment Elimination [Member] | Corn Processing [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	13	22
Intersegment Elimination [Member] | Oilseeds Processing [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	1,095	603
Intersegment Elimination [Member] | Wild Flavors and Specialty Ingredients [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	4	1
Intersegment Elimination [Member] | Other [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	$ 50	$ 63