Segment Information (Segment Information) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Segment Information
Revenues	$ 14,827	$ 15,832	$ 44,758	$ 45,845
Earnings Before Income Taxes	225	480	1,066	1,193
Agricultural Services [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	6,075	6,960	18,729	19,827
Earnings Before Income Taxes	87	195	284	328
Merchandising and handling [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	5,265	6,146	16,434	17,331
Transportation [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	53	60	154	171
Milling and other [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	757	754	2,141	2,325
Corn Processing [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	2,325	2,391	6,843	6,950
Earnings Before Income Taxes	253	214	648	506
Sweeteners and starches [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	1,087	1,057	3,192	3,061
Bioproducts [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	1,238	1,334	3,651	3,889
Oilseeds Processing [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	5,752	5,775	17,106	16,871
Earnings Before Income Taxes	119	145	639	641
Crushing and origination [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	3,665	3,660	10,850	10,799
Refining, packaging, biodiesel, and other [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	2,025	2,042	6,064	5,852
Asia [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	62	73	192	220
Wild Flavors and Specialty Ingredients [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	577	611	1,787	1,883
Earnings Before Income Taxes	61	73	228	237
Other [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	98	95	293	314
Earnings Before Income Taxes	21	23	78	84
Aggregate Segment [Member]
Segment Information
Earnings Before Income Taxes	485	645	1,803	1,898
Corporate Segment [Member]
Segment Information
Earnings Before Income Taxes	(260)	(165)	(737)	(705)
Operating Segments [Member] | Agricultural Services [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	7,022	7,953	21,351	22,486
Operating Segments [Member] | Corn Processing [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	2,517	2,630	7,318	7,570
Operating Segments [Member] | Oilseeds Processing [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	6,797	6,498	20,109	19,418
Operating Segments [Member] | Wild Flavors and Specialty Ingredients [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	586	614	1,809	1,893
Operating Segments [Member] | Other [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	98	95	293	314
Intersegment Elimination [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	(2,193)	(1,958)	(6,122)	(5,836)
Intersegment Elimination [Member] | Agricultural Services [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	(947)	(993)	(2,622)	(2,659)
Intersegment Elimination [Member] | Corn Processing [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	(192)	(239)	(475)	(620)
Intersegment Elimination [Member] | Oilseeds Processing [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	(1,045)	(723)	(3,003)	(2,547)
Intersegment Elimination [Member] | Wild Flavors and Specialty Ingredients [Member]
Segment Information
Revenues	(9)	(3)	(22)	(10)
Other Income (Expense) [Member] | Segment Reconciling Items [Member]
Segment Information
Earnings Before Income Taxes	12	(4)	20	114
Asset impairment, restructuring, and settlement [Member] | Segment Reconciling Items [Member]
Segment Information
Earnings Before Income Taxes	(63)	(4)	(98)	(16)
Cost Of Products Sold [Member] | Segment Reconciling Items [Member]
Segment Information
Earnings Before Income Taxes	$ (5)	$ 3	$ 4	$ 4