Discontinued Agribusiness Operations - Tables (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Jul. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Revenues and other income:
Sales of canola oil and meal	$ 9,600		$ 41,144	$ 82,267	$ 124,963
Other	18		1,453	(50)	2,417
Total revenue and other income	9,618		42,597	82,217	127,380
Cost of goods sold:
Cost of canola oil and meal sold	(8,738)		(38,319)	(79,763)	(103,501)
Depreciation	(18)		(2,068)	(4,360)	(6,194)
Other direct costs of production	(1,155)		(2,828)	(5,938)	(8,581)
Total cost of goods sold	$ (9,911)		(43,215)	(90,061)	(118,276)
Depreciation			$ (37)	(95)	$ (110)
Impairment loss on intangible and long-lived assets				(1,875)
Interest	$ (428)		$ (1,312)	(3,259)	$ (3,964)
Plant costs and overhead	(9,504)		(3,254)	(16,447)	(9,992)
Segment total expenses	(19,843)		(47,818)	(111,737)	(132,342)
Loss from discontinued agribusiness operations, net of tax	(10,225)		$ (5,221)	(29,520)	$ (4,962)
Loss on sale of discontinued agribusiness operations, net of tax (1)	1,348	$ 16,900		18,251
Loss from discontinued agribusiness operations, net of tax	(11,573)		$ (5,221)	(47,771)	$ (4,962)
Net (income) loss from discontinued agribusiness operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	(16)		641	1,730	594
Net loss from discontinued agribusiness operations attributable to PICO Holdings, Inc.	(11,589)		(4,580)	(46,041)	(4,368)
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	1,773		$ 482	1,773	$ 482		$ 301
Accounts receivable	$ 10,756			$ 10,756			3,311
Inventory							11,663
Real estate, net	$ 1,276			$ 1,276			5,889
Property, plant and equipment, net	$ 223			$ 223			116,793
Goodwill							4,702
Other assets							9,895
Total assets held-for-sale	$ 14,028			$ 14,028			152,554
Liabilities
Debt						$ 80,900	84,045
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	$ 1,041			$ 1,041			8,186
Other liabilities	17			17			2,357
Total liabilities held-for-sale	$ 1,058			$ 1,058			$ 94,588