Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Detail) (USD $)	0 Months Ended		1 Months Ended							6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended				61 Months Ended				0 Months Ended		1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 14, 2011	Jul. 08, 2011	Oct. 30, 2012	Oct. 31, 2012	Nov. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Jul. 08, 2011	Oct. 31, 2007	Jan. 31, 2002	Dec. 14, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Jun. 30, 2011	Oct. 19, 2010	Dec. 31, 1988	Mar. 05, 2013 Subsequent Event [Member] Non-Convertible Secured Debt (Member)	Mar. 05, 2013 Subsequent Event [Member]	Mar. 15, 2013 Subsequent Event [Member]	Nov. 30, 2011 Private Placement [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Private Placement [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 General and Administrative Expense [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 General and Administrative Expense [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 General and Administrative Expense [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Minimum [Member] Land Improvements and Buildings (Member)	Dec. 31, 2012 Minimum [Member] Machinery and Equipment (Member)	Dec. 31, 2012 Maximum [Member] Land Improvements and Buildings (Member)	Dec. 31, 2012 Maximum [Member] Machinery and Equipment (Member)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent											$ (19,574,000)	$ (16,837,000)	$ (15,899,000)
Working Capital											(14,000)								17,500,000
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities											(11,400,000)	(7,514,000)	(6,761,000)
Payments For Extension of Agreement											1,000,000
Proceeds from Convertible Debt															36,400,000
Private Placement, Term of Loan															five
Private Placement, Convertible Term Loan, Coupon Rate															0.00%
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity (in Dollars)				5,000,000												10,000,000
Line of Credit Facility, Increase, Additional Borrowings (in Dollars)			5,000,000	5,000,000															17,500,000
Secured Debt																		30,000,000
Outstanding Debt, Held in Convertible Bond Instrument																			36,000,000
Shelf Registration, Sale of Common Stock, Sale up to						50,000,000
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock (in Dollars)	5,100,000	4,000,000								5,100,000		15,129,000
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues (in Shares)		363,636			666,667		363,636	300,000		570,000											3
Sale of Stock, Price Per Share (in Dollars per share)	$ 9	$ 11			$ 9		$ 11			$ 9											$ 9
Proceeds from Issuance of Private Placement (in Dollars)					6,000,000
Common Stock, Shares, Issued (in Shares)	570,000				3					570,000	15,438,961	15,429,541									666,667	250,000
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Terms of Conversion Feature																					three
Class of Warrant or Right, Number of Securities Called by Warrants or Rights (in Shares)				250,000	1
Common Stock Shares Available for Warrants Exercised (in Shares)					1
Class of Warrant or Right, Exercise Price of Warrants or Rights (in Dollars per Item)				10	13																13
Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt											5,014,000	2,000,000	5,000,000							17,500,000
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage											100.00%
Share-based Compensation (in Dollars)											383,000	2,376,000	4,009,000										400,000	2,400,000	4,000,000
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount (in Shares)											0		2,655,000
Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment (in Shares)												2,996,000		2,423,000
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life																										10 years	5 years	45 years	15 years
Goodwill											3,813,000	3,813,000	3,813,000				7,006,000
Goodwill, Amortized portion									3,193,000
Fair Value of Assets Acquired											1,090,000	1,826,000	1,276,000
Income Taxes Paid											$ 10,000	$ 6,500	$ 6,400