Segment Information (Segment Information) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Segment Information
Revenues	$ 14,943	$ 15,629	$ 29,931	$ 30,013
Earnings Before Income Taxes	383	407	841	713
Agricultural Services [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	5,848	6,387	12,654	12,867
Earnings Before Income Taxes	109	57	197	133
Merchandising and handling [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	5,099	5,506	11,169	11,185
Transportation [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	51	56	101	111
Milling and other [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	698	825	1,384	1,571
Corn Processing [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	2,274	2,352	4,518	4,559
Earnings Before Income Taxes	224	163	395	292
Sweeteners and starches [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	1,077	1,037	2,105	2,004
Bioproducts [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	1,197	1,315	2,413	2,555
Oilseeds Processing [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	6,072	6,099	11,354	11,096
Earnings Before Income Taxes	206	235	520	496
Crushing and origination [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	3,911	4,033	7,185	7,139
Refining, packaging, biodiesel, and other [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	2,094	2,041	4,039	3,810
Asia [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	67	25	130	147
Wild Flavors and Specialty Ingredients [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	648	680	1,210	1,272
Earnings Before Income Taxes	92	94	167	164
Other [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	101	111	195	219
Earnings Before Income Taxes	27	24	57	61
Aggregate Segment [Member]
Segment Information
Earnings Before Income Taxes	642	680	1,318	1,253
Corporate Segment [Member]
Segment Information
Earnings Before Income Taxes	(259)	(273)	(477)	(540)
Operating Segments [Member] | Agricultural Services [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	6,594	7,098	14,329	14,533
Operating Segments [Member] | Corn Processing [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	2,455	2,549	4,801	4,940
Operating Segments [Member] | Oilseeds Processing [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	7,161	7,195	13,312	12,920
Operating Segments [Member] | Wild Flavors and Specialty Ingredients [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	656	684	1,223	1,279
Operating Segments [Member] | Other [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	101	111	195	219
Intersegment Elimination [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	(2,024)	(2,008)	(3,929)	(3,878)
Intersegment Elimination [Member] | Agricultural Services [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	(746)	(711)	(1,675)	(1,666)
Intersegment Elimination [Member] | Corn Processing [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	(181)	(197)	(283)	(381)
Intersegment Elimination [Member] | Oilseeds Processing [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	(1,089)	(1,096)	(1,958)	(1,824)
Intersegment Elimination [Member] | Wild Flavors and Specialty Ingredients [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	(8)	(4)	(13)	(7)
Other Income (Expense) [Member] | Segment Reconciling Items [Member]
Segment Information
Earnings Before Income Taxes	8	118	8	118
Asset impairment, restructuring, and settlement [Member] | Segment Reconciling Items [Member]
Segment Information
Earnings Before Income Taxes	(26)	(10)	(35)	(12)
Cost Of Products Sold [Member] | Segment Reconciling Items [Member]
Segment Information
Earnings Before Income Taxes	$ 2	$ (1)	$ 9	$ 1