Discontinued Agribusiness Operations - Tables (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Revenues and other income:
Sales of canola oil and meal	$ 33,234	$ 48,960	$ 72,667	$ 83,819
Other	39	957	(68)	965
Total revenue and other income	33,273	49,917	72,599	84,784
Cost of goods sold:
Cost of canola oil and meal sold	(32,601)	(36,190)	(71,025)	(65,182)
Depreciation	(2,392)	(2,063)	(4,342)	(4,126)
Other direct costs of production	(2,264)	(2,636)	(4,784)	(5,754)
Total cost of goods sold	(37,257)	(40,889)	(80,151)	(75,062)
Depreciation	$ (49)	$ (37)	(95)	$ (73)
Impairment loss on intangible and long-lived assets			(1,875)
Interest	$ (1,392)	$ (1,326)	(2,830)	$ (2,653)
Plant costs and overhead	(3,388)	(3,214)	(6,943)	(6,737)
Segment total expenses	(42,086)	(45,466)	(91,894)	(84,525)
Income (loss) from discontinued agribusiness operations, net of tax	(8,813)	$ 4,451	(19,295)	$ 259
Impairment loss on classification of assets as held-for-sale, net of tax	(16,903)		(16,903)
Income (loss) from discontinued agribusiness operations, net of tax	(25,716)	$ 4,451	(36,198)	$ 259
Net (income) loss from discontinued agribusiness operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	684	(553)	1,746	(46)
Net income (loss) from discontinued agribusiness operations attributable to PICO Holdings, Inc.	(25,032)	3,898	(34,452)	213
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	300	$ 10	300	$ 10	$ 301
Accounts receivable	4,522		4,522		3,311
Inventory	4,746		4,746		11,663
Real estate, net	4,801		4,801		5,889
Property, plant and equipment, net	112,308		112,308		116,793
Goodwill	4,702		4,702		4,702
Other assets	10,576		10,576		$ 9,895
Valuation allowance on assets held-for-sale	(16,903)		(16,903)
Total assets held-for-sale	125,052		125,052		$ 152,554
Liabilities
Debt	81,895		81,895		84,045
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	6,910		6,910		8,186
Other liabilities	3,238		3,238		2,357
Total liabilities held-for-sale	$ 92,043		$ 92,043		$ 94,588