Significant Accounting Policies Advances to Tobacco Suppliers (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2010	Mar. 31, 2012
Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Markup and capitalized interest on tobacco advances	$ 24,995		$ 21,139
Unrecoverable advances and other capitalized costs	15,221		13,746
Current	74,556		89,378
Noncurrent	12,706		5,613
Advances to tobacco suppliers, total	87,262		94,991
Unrecoverable advances and other capitalized costs, expense	$ 1,350	$ 6,385