Green Plains (GPRE) 10-K 10 Feb 14 2013 FY Annual report Financial data

Document_And_Entity_Informatio

Document And Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Feb. 06, 2014	Jun. 28, 2013
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]	'	'	'
Document Type	'10-K	'	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'	'
Document Period End Date	31-Dec-13	'	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'FY	'	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2013	'	'
Entity Registrant Name	'Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc.	'	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0001309402	'	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-31	'	'
Entity Filer Category	'Accelerated Filer	'	'
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	30,508,052	'
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	'No	'	'
Entity Public Float	'	'	$344.10
Entity Current Reporting Status	'Yes	'	'
Entity Voluntary Filers	'No	'	'
Trading Symbol	'gpre	'	'

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets

Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Current assets	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$272,027	$254,289
Restricted cash	26,994	25,815
Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $308 and $219, respectively	106,808	80,537
Inventories	158,328	172,009
Prepaid expenses and other	12,893	12,314
Deferred income taxes	7,619	2,133
Derivative financial instruments	48,636	20,938
Total current assets	633,305	568,035
Property and equipment, net	806,046	708,110
Goodwill	40,877	40,877
Other assets	51,817	32,712
Total assets	1,532,045	1,349,734
Current liabilities	'	'
Accounts payable	112,001	95,564
Accrued and other liabilities	38,645	32,475
Unearned revenue	4,118	3,617
Short-term notes payable and other borrowings	198,256	171,302
Current maturities of long-term debt	56,177	129,426
Total current liabilities	409,197	432,384
Long-term debt	480,746	362,549
Deferred income taxes	91,294	60,082
Other liabilities	5,450	4,217
Total liabilities	986,687	859,232
Stockholders’ equity	'	'
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 75,000,000 shares authorized; 37,703,946 and 36,903,777 shares issued, and 30,503,946 and 29,703,777 shares outstanding, respectively	38	37
Additional paid-in capital	468,962	445,198
Retained earnings	148,505	107,540
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	-6,339	3,535
Treasury stock, 7,200,000 shares	-65,808	-65,808
Total stockholders' equity	545,358	490,502
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$1,532,045	$1,349,734

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets_Pa

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
Consolidated Balance Sheets [Abstract]	'	'
Accounts receivable, allowances	$308	$219
Common stock, par value	$0.00	$0.00
Common stock, shares authorized	75,000,000	75,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	37,703,946	36,903,777
Common stock, shares outstanding	30,503,946	29,703,777
Treasury stock, shares	7,200,000	7,200,000

Consolidated_Statements_Of_Ope

Consolidated Statements Of Operations (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Consolidated Statements Of Operations [Abstract]	'	'	'
Revenues	$3,041,011	$3,476,870	$3,553,712
Cost of goods sold	2,867,991	3,380,099	3,381,480
Gross profit	173,020	96,771	172,232
Selling, general and administrative expenses	-65,169	-79,019	-73,219
Gain on disposal of assets	'	47,133	'
Operating income	107,851	64,885	99,013
Other income (expense)	'	'	'
Interest income	294	191	310
Interest expense	-33,357	-37,521	-36,645
Other, net	-2,507	-2,399	-779
Total other income (expense)	-35,570	-39,729	-37,114
Income before income taxes	72,281	25,156	61,899
Income tax expense	28,890	13,393	23,686
Net income	43,391	11,763	38,213
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	'	16	205
Net income attributable to Green Plains	$43,391	$11,779	$38,418
Earnings per share:	'	'	'
Income attributable to Green Plains stockholders - basic	$1.44	$0.39	$1.09
Income attributable to Green Plains stockholders - diluted	$1.26	$0.39	$1.01
Weighted average shares outstanding:	'	'	'
Basic	30,183	30,296	35,276
Diluted	38,304	30,463	41,808

Consolidated_Statements_Of_Com

Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Abstract]	'	'	'
Net income	$43,391	$11,763	$38,213
Other comprehensive income:	'	'	'
Unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives arising during period, net of tax (expense) benefit of $53,068, $(19,013) and $22,231, respectively	-85,521	30,986	-33,125
Reclassification of realized (gains) losses on derivatives, net of tax expense (benefit) of $(46,941), $15,032 and $(20,531), respectively	75,647	-24,498	30,592
Other comprehensive income (loss)	-9,874	6,488	-2,533
Comprehensive Income	33,517	18,251	35,680
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	'	16	205
Comprehensive income attributable to Green Plains	$33,517	$18,267	$35,885

Consolidated_Statements_Of_Com1

Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Parenthetical) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Abstract]	'	'	'
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives, tax	$53,068	($19,013)	$22,231
Income tax benefit	($46,941)	$15,032	($20,531)

Consolidated_Statements_Of_Sto

Consolidated Statements Of Stockholders’ Equity (USD $)	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accum. Other Comp. Income (Loss) [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Total Green Plains Stockholders' Equity [Member]	Non-controlling Interests [Member]	Total
In Thousands, except Share data
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2010	$36	$431,289	$57,343	($420)	'	$488,248	$9,394	$497,642
Beginning balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2010	35,793,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net income	'	'	38,418	'	'	38,418	-205	38,213
Other comprehensive income (loss)	'	'	'	-2,533	'	-2,533	'	-2,533
Repurchase of common stock	'	'	'	'	-28,201	-28,201	'	-28,201
Repurchase of common stock, shares	'	'	'	'	3,500,000	'	'	3,500,000
Purchase of noncontrolling interest in Blendstar, net of tax	'	5,572	'	'	'	5,572	-8,944	-3,372
Stock-based compensation	'	3,429	'	'	'	3,429	'	3,429
Stock-based compensation, Shares	593,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Stock options exercised	'	179	'	'	'	179	'	179
Stock options exercised, Shares	28,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2011	36	440,469	95,761	-2,953	-28,201	505,112	245	505,357
Ending balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2011	36,414,000	'	'	'	3,500,000	'	'	'
Net income	'	'	11,779	'	'	11,779	-16	11,763
Other comprehensive income (loss)	'	'	'	6,488	'	6,488	'	6,488
Repurchase of common stock	'	'	'	'	-37,607	-37,607	'	-37,607
Repurchase of common stock, shares	'	'	'	'	3,700,000	'	'	3,700,000
Stock-based compensation	1	4,290	'	'	'	4,291	'	4,291
Stock-based compensation, Shares	421,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Stock options exercised	'	452	'	'	'	452	'	452
Stock options exercised, Shares	69,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Other	'	-13	'	'	'	-13	-229	-242
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2012	37	445,198	107,540	3,535	-65,808	490,502	'	490,502
Ending balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2012	36,904,000	'	'	'	7,200,000	'	'	'
Net income	'	'	43,391	'	'	43,391	'	43,391
Cash dividends declared	'	'	-2,426	'	'	-2,426	'	-2,426
Other comprehensive loss before reclassification	'	'	'	-85,521	'	'	'	'
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	'	'	'	75,647	'	'	'	'
Other comprehensive income (loss)	'	'	'	-9,874	'	-9,874	'	-9,874
Stock-based compensation	1	4,703	'	'	'	4,704	'	4,704
Stock-based compensation, Shares	419,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Stock options exercised	'	4,498	'	'	'	4,498	'	4,498
Stock options exercised, Shares	381,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	111,500
Issuance of 3.25% notes due 2018, net of tax	'	14,563	'	'	'	14,563	'	14,563
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2013	$38	$468,962	$148,505	($6,339)	($65,808)	$545,358	'	$545,358
Ending balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2013	37,704,000	'	'	'	7,200,000	'	'	'

Consolidated_Statements_Of_Cas

Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:	'	'	'
Net income	$43,391	$11,763	$38,213
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided (used) by operating activities:	'	'	'
Depreciation and amortization	51,002	52,828	50,076
Amortization of debt issuance costs	3,574	3,069	2,449
Amortization of debt discount	1,253	130	'
Gain on disposal of assets	'	-47,133	'
Deferred income taxes	27,493	10,704	24,298
Stock-based compensation expense	3,928	4,291	3,429
Undistributed equity in loss of affiliates	2,507	2,398	779
Allowance for doubtful accounts	89	'	142
Other	'	-894	'
Changes in operating assets and liabilities before effects of business combinations:	'	'	'
Accounts receivable	-25,448	7,538	-17,059
Inventories	22,759	-63,739	-38,837
Derivative financial instruments	-44,746	2,594	24,841
Prepaid expenses and other assets	-445	-671	4,058
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	20,564	15,045	23,408
Unearned revenues	182	-10,295	-7,128
Other	1,233	-1,352	220
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities	107,336	-13,724	108,889
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'	'
Purchases of property and equipment	-19,764	-26,776	-42,483
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	-123,301	-1,490	-8,115
Proceeds on disposal of assets	245	117,711	'
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries	4,764	7,998	3,923
Net cash provided (used) by investing activities	-147,584	81,447	-54,521
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'	'
Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt	343,799	73,100	138,088
Payments of principal on long-term debt	-303,495	-120,153	-206,866
Proceeds from short-term borrowings	3,348,510	3,324,523	3,525,923
Payments on short-term borrowings	-3,321,556	-3,249,371	-3,543,798
Payments for repurchase of common stock	'	-10,445	-28,201
Change in restricted cash	-1,298	-6,196	8,164
Payment of cash dividends	-2,426	'	'
Payments of loan fees	-10,046	-332	-3,648
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options and warrants	4,498	452	179
Other	'	'	-2,426
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities	57,986	11,578	-112,585
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	17,738	79,301	-58,217
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	254,289	174,988	233,205
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	272,027	254,289	174,988
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow:	'	'	'
Cash paid for income taxes	2,667	737	971
Cash paid for interest	30,633	33,276	35,217
Supplemental noncash investing and financing activities:	'	'	'
Assets acquired in acquisitions and mergers	136,934	1,590	62,686
Less: liabilities assumed	-13,633	-100	-54,571
Purchase Price	123,301	1,490	8,115
Assets disposed of in sale	'	191,167	'
Less: liabilities disposed	'	-120,589	'
Net assets disposed	'	70,578	'
Short-term note payable issued to repurchase common stock	'	$27,162	'

Basis_Of_Presentation_And_Desc

Basis Of Presentation And Description Of Business	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Basis Of Presentation And Description Of Business [Abstract]	'
Basis Of Presentation And Description Of Business	'
	GREEN PLAINS RENEWABLE ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
	NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
	1.  BASIS OF PRESENTATION and DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
	References to the Company
	References to “Green Plains” or the “Company” in the consolidated financial statements and in these notes to the consolidated financial statements refer to Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc., an Iowa corporation, and its subsidiaries.
	Consolidated Financial Statements
	The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its controlled subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated on a consolidated basis for reporting purposes. Unconsolidated entities are included in the financial statements on an equity basis.
	Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Consolidated Financial Statements
	The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
	Description of Business
	The Company operates its business within four segments: (1) production of ethanol and distillers grains, collectively referred to as ethanol production, (2) corn oil production, (3) grain handling and storage, collectively referred to as agribusiness, and (4) marketing and logistics services for Company-produced and third-party ethanol, distillers grains, corn oil and other commodities, and the operation of blending and terminaling facilities, collectively referred to as marketing and distribution. Additionally, the Company is a partner in a joint venture that was formed to commercialize advanced photo-bioreactor technologies for the growing and harvesting of algal biomass.
	Ethanol Production Segment
	Green Plains is North America’s fourth largest ethanol producer. The Company operates its twelve ethanol plants, which have the capacity to produce approximately one billion gallons of ethanol per year through separate wholly-owned operating subsidiaries. The Company’s ethanol plants also produce co-products such as wet, modified wet or dried distillers grains, as well as corn oil which is reported in a separate segment. The Company’s plants use a dry mill process to produce ethanol and co-products. At capacity, the Company’s plants consume approximately 360 million bushels of corn and produce approximately 2.9 million tons of distillers grains annually.
	Corn Oil Production Segment
	The Company produces corn oil at its ethanol plants within the corn oil production segment, which have the capacity to produce approximately 250 million pounds annually. The corn oil systems are designed to extract non-edible corn oil from the whole stillage immediately prior to production of distillers grains. Industrial uses for corn oil include feedstock for biodiesel, livestock feed additives, rubber substitutes, rust preventatives, inks, textiles, soaps and insecticides.
	Agribusiness Segment
	The Company owns and operates grain handling and storage assets through its agribusiness segment, primarily through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Green Plains Grain Company LLC. Green Plains Grain has four grain elevators with approximately 8.2 million bushels of total storage capacity as well as approximately 22.6 million bushels of storage capacity located at the Company’s ethanol plants. The Company’s bulk grain business provides synergies with the ethanol production segment as it supplies a substantial portion of the feedstock for ethanol production.
	Marketing and Distribution Segment
	The Company has an in-house marketing business, Green Plains Trade Group LLC, that is responsible for the sales, marketing and distribution of all ethanol, distillers grains and corn oil produced at the Company’s twelve ethanol plants as well as logistical services for ethanol and other commodities for third party producers. The Company also purchases and sells ethanol, distillers grains, corn oil, grain, natural gas and other commodities and participates in other merchant trading activities in various markets. Additionally, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, BlendStar LLC, the Company operates eight blending or terminaling facilities with approximately 822 million gallons per year, or mmgy, of total throughput capacity in seven south central U.S. states.

Summary_Of_Significant_Account

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies	'
	2.  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT accounting POLICIES
	Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash
	The Company considers short-term highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents include bank deposits. The Company also has restricted cash which is comprised of cash restricted as to use for payment towards a revenue bond and cash restricted as to use for payment towards a revolving credit agreement.
	Revenue Recognition
	The Company recognizes revenue when all of the following criteria are satisfied: persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists; risk of loss and title transfer to the customer; the price is fixed and determinable; and collectability is reasonably assured.
	For sales of ethanol, distillers grains and other commodities by the Company’s marketing business, revenue is recognized when title to the product and risk of loss transfer to an external customer. Revenues related to marketing operations for third parties are recorded on a gross basis as the Company takes title to the product and assumes risk of loss. Unearned revenue is reflected on the consolidated balance sheets for goods in transit for which the Company has received payment and title has not been transferred to the customer. Revenues from the Company’s biofuel terminal operations, which include ethanol transload and splash blending services, are recognized as these services are rendered.
	The Company routinely enters into fixed-price, physical-delivery ethanol sales agreements. In certain instances, the Company intends to settle the transaction by open market purchases of ethanol rather than by delivery from its own production. These transactions are reported net as a component of revenues. Revenues also include realized gains and losses on related derivative financial instruments, ineffectiveness on cash flow hedges, and reclassifications of realized gains and losses on effective cash flow hedges from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).
	Sales of agricultural commodities are recognized when title to the product and risk of loss transfer to the customer, which is dependent on the agreed upon sales terms with the customer. These sales terms provide for passage of title either at the time shipment is made or at the time the commodity has been delivered to its destination and final weights, grades and settlement prices have been agreed upon with the customer. Revenues related to grain merchandising are presented gross in the statements of operations with amounts billed for shipping and handling included in revenues and also as a component of cost of goods sold. Revenues from grain storage are recognized as services are rendered.
	Cost of Goods Sold
	Cost of goods sold includes costs for direct labor, materials and certain plant overhead costs. Direct labor includes all compensation and related benefits of non-management personnel involved in the operation of the Company’s ethanol plants. Grain purchasing and receiving costs, other than labor costs for grain buyers and scale operators, are also included in cost of goods sold. Direct materials consist of the costs of corn feedstock, denaturant, and process chemicals. Corn feedstock costs include unrealized gains and losses on related derivative financial instruments not designated as cash flow hedges, inbound freight charges, inspection costs and transfer costs. Corn feedstock costs also include realized gains and losses on related derivative financial instruments, ineffectiveness on cash flow hedges, and reclassifications of realized gains and losses on effective cash flow hedges from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Plant overhead costs primarily consist of plant utilities, plant depreciation and outbound freight charges. Shipping costs incurred directly by the Company, including railcar lease costs, are also reflected in cost of goods sold.
	The Company uses exchange-traded futures and options contracts to minimize the effects of changes in the prices of agricultural commodities on its agribusiness segment’s grain inventories and forward purchase and sales contracts. Exchange-traded futures and options contracts are valued at quoted market prices. Grain inventories held for sale, forward purchase contracts and forward sale contracts in the agribusiness segment are valued at market prices, where available, or other market quotes adjusted for differences, primarily transportation, between the exchange-traded market and the local markets on which the terms of the contracts are based. Changes in the fair value of grain inventories held for sale, forward purchase and sale contracts, and exchange-traded futures and options contracts in the agribusiness segment, are recognized in earnings as a component of cost of goods sold. These contracts are predominantly settled in cash. The Company is exposed to loss in the event of non-performance by the counter-party to forward purchase and forward sales contracts.
	Derivative Financial Instruments
	To minimize the risk and the effects of the volatility of commodity price changes primarily related to corn, ethanol and natural gas, the Company uses various derivative financial instruments, including exchange-traded futures, and exchange-traded and over-the-counter options contracts. The Company monitors and manages this exposure as part of its overall risk management policy. As such, the Company seeks to reduce the potentially adverse effects that the volatility of these markets may have on its operating results. The Company may take hedging positions in these commodities as one way to mitigate risk. While the Company attempts to link its hedging activities to purchase and sales activities, there are situations in which these hedging activities can themselves result in losses.
	By using derivatives to hedge exposures to changes in commodity prices, the Company has exposures on these derivatives to credit and market risk. The Company is exposed to credit risk that the counterparty might fail to fulfill its performance obligations under the terms of the derivative contract. The Company minimizes its credit risk by entering into transactions with high quality counterparties, limiting the amount of financial exposure it has with each counterparty and monitoring the financial condition of its counterparties. Market risk is the risk that the value of the financial instrument might be adversely affected by a change in commodity prices or interest rates. The Company manages market risk by incorporating monitoring parameters within its risk management strategy that limit the types of derivative instruments and derivative strategies the Company uses, and the degree of market risk that may be undertaken by the use of derivative instruments.
	The Company evaluates its contracts that involve physical delivery to determine whether they may qualify for the normal purchases or normal sales exemption and are expected to be used or sold over a reasonable period in the normal course of business. Any contracts that do not meet the normal purchase or sales criteria are recorded at fair value with the change in fair value recorded in operating income unless the contracts qualify for, and the Company elects, hedge accounting treatment.
	Certain qualifying derivatives related to ethanol production are designated as cash flow hedges. Prior to entering into cash flow hedges, the Company evaluates the derivative instrument to ascertain its effectiveness. For cash flow hedges, any ineffectiveness is recognized in current period results, while other unrealized gains and losses are reflected in accumulated other comprehensive income until gains and losses from the underlying hedged transaction are realized. In the event that it becomes probable that a forecasted transaction will not occur, the Company would discontinue cash flow hedge treatment, which would affect earnings. These derivative financial instruments are recognized in current assets or other current liabilities at fair value.
	At times, the Company hedges its exposures to changes in the value of inventories and designates certain qualifying derivatives as fair value hedges. The carrying amount of the hedged inventory is adjusted through current period results for changes in the fair value arising from changes in underlying prices. Any ineffectiveness is recognized in current period results to the extent that the change in the fair value of the inventory is not offset by the change in the fair value of the derivative.
	Concentrations of Credit Risk
	In the normal course of business, the Company is exposed to credit risk resulting from the possibility that a loss may occur from the failure of another party to perform according to the terms of a contract. The Company transacts sales of ethanol and distillers grains and is marketing products for third parties, which may result in concentrations of credit risk from a variety of customers, including major integrated oil companies, large independent refiners, petroleum wholesalers, other marketers and jobbers. The Company is also exposed to credit risk resulting from sales of grain to large commercial buyers, including other ethanol plants, which it continually monitors. Although payments are typically received within fifteen days of sale for ethanol and distillers grains, the Company continually monitors this credit risk exposure. In addition, the Company may prepay for or make deposits on undelivered inventories. Concentrations of credit risk with respect to inventory advances are primarily with a few major suppliers of petroleum products and agricultural inputs.
	Inventories
	Corn to be used in ethanol production, ethanol and distillers grains inventories are stated at the lower of average cost or market.
	Other grain inventories include readily-marketable physical quantities of grain, forward contracts to buy and sell grain, and exchange traded futures and option contracts (all stated at market value). The futures and options contracts, which are used to hedge the value of both owned grain and forward contracts, are considered derivatives. All grain inventories held for sale are marked to the market price with changes reflected in cost of goods sold. The forward contracts require performance in future periods. Contracts to purchase grain from producers generally relate to the current or future crop years for delivery periods quoted by regulated commodity exchanges. Contracts for the sale of grain to processors or other consumers generally do not extend beyond one year. The terms of contracts for the purchase and sale of grain are consistent with industry standards.
	Finished goods inventory consists of denatured ethanol and its related co-products and is valued at the lower of average cost or market.
	Property and Equipment
	Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation of these assets is generally computed using the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives of the assets:
		Years
	Plant, buildings and improvements	Oct-40
	Ethanol production equipment	15 - 40
	Other machinery and equipment	7-May
	Land improvements	20
	Railroad track and equipment	20
	Computer and software	5-Mar
	Office furniture and equipment	7-May
	Property and equipment is capitalized at cost. Land improvements are capitalized and depreciated. Expenditures for property betterments and renewals are capitalized. Costs of repairs and maintenance are charged to expense as incurred. The Company periodically evaluates whether events and circumstances have occurred that may warrant revision of the estimated useful life of its fixed assets.
	Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
	The Company reviews its long-lived assets, currently consisting of property and equipment, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of a long-lived asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized in the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset. Significant management judgment is required in determining the fair value of long-lived assets to measure impairment, including projections of future discounted cash flows. No impairment charges were recorded for the periods reported.
	Goodwill
	Goodwill is an asset representing the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized. The Company has recorded goodwill for business combinations to the extent the purchase price exceeded the fair value of the net identifiable tangible and intangible assets of each acquired company. The Company’s goodwill currently is comprised of amounts relating to its acquisitions of Green Plains Ord, Green Plains Central City, Green Plains Holdings II, Green Plains Otter Tail and BlendStar.
	Goodwill is reviewed for impairment at least annually. The qualitative factors of goodwill are assessed to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test. Under the first step, the fair value of the reporting unit is compared with its carrying value (including goodwill). If the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying value, an indication of goodwill impairment exists for the reporting unit and the entity must perform step two of the impairment test. Under the second step, an impairment loss is recognized for any excess of the carrying amount of the reporting unit’s goodwill over the implied fair value of that goodwill. The implied fair value of goodwill is determined by allocating the fair value of the reporting unit in a manner similar to a purchase price allocation and the residual fair value after this allocation is the implied fair value of the reporting unit goodwill. Fair value of the reporting unit is determined using a discounted cash flow analysis. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying value, no further analysis is necessary. The Company performs its annual impairment review of goodwill at October 1, and when a triggering event occurs between annual impairment tests. No impairment losses were recorded for the periods reported.
	Financing Costs
	Fees and costs related to securing debt financing are recorded as financing costs. Debt issuance costs are stated at cost and are amortized utilizing the effective interest method for term loans and on a straight-line basis for revolving credit arrangements over the life of the agreements. However, during periods of construction, amortization of such costs is capitalized in construction-in-progress.
	Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
	Selling, general and administrative expenses are primarily general and administrative expenses for employee salaries, incentives and benefits; office expenses; director compensation; and professional fees for accounting, legal, consulting, and investor relations activities; as well as non-plant depreciation and amortization costs.
	Environmental Expenditures
	Environmental expenditures that pertain to current operations and relate to future revenue are expensed or capitalized consistent with the Company’s capitalization policy. Probable liabilities incurred that are reasonably estimable are also expensed or capitalized according to this policy and if material, would be disclosed in its quarterly and annual filings. Expenditures that result from the remediation of an existing condition caused by past operations and that do not contribute to future revenue are expensed as incurred.
	Stock-Based Compensation
	The Company recognizes compensation cost using a fair value based method whereby compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the value of the award and is recognized over the service period, which is usually the vesting period. The Company uses the Black-Scholes pricing model to calculate the fair value of options and warrants issued to both employees and non-employees. Stock issued for compensation is valued using the market price of the stock on the date of the related agreement.
	Income Taxes
	The provision for income taxes is computed using the asset and liability method, under which deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax consequences attributable to temporary differences between the financial reporting carrying amount of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in operating results in the period of enactment. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.
	The Company recognizes uncertainties in income taxes within the financial statements under a process by which the likelihood of a tax position is gauged based upon the technical merits of the position, and then a subsequent measurement relates the maximum benefit and the degree of likelihood to determine the amount of benefit recognized in the financial statements. The Company excludes interest and penalties on tax uncertainties from the computation of income tax expense. These costs are treated as pre-tax expenses.
	Recent Accounting Pronouncements
	Effective January 1, 2013, the Company adopted the amended guidance in ASC Topic 210, Balance Sheet. The amended guidance addresses disclosure of offsetting financial assets and liabilities. It requires entities to add disclosures showing both gross and net information about instruments and transactions eligible for offset in the balance sheet and instruments and transactions subject to an agreement similar to a master netting arrangement. The updated disclosures have been implemented retrospectively and do not impact the Company’s financial position or results of operations.
	Effective January 1, 2013, the Company adopted the amended guidance in ASC Topic 220, Comprehensive Income. The amended guidance requires entities to disclose additional information about reclassification adjustments, including (1) changes in accumulated other comprehensive income by component and (2) significant items reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by presenting the amount reclassified and the individual income statement line items affected. The updated disclosures have been implemented prospectively and do not impact our financial position or results of operations. Refer to Note 13, Stockholders’ Equity, for expanded disclosures.

Acquisitions_and_Dispositions

Acquisitions and Dispositions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Disposition Of Assets [Abstract]	'
Acquisitions and Dispositions	'
	3.  ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITIONS
	Acquisition of Fairmont and Wood River Ethanol Plants
	In November 2013, the Company acquired two ethanol plants, located in Fairmont, Minnesota and Wood River, Nebraska, with a combined annual production capacity of 230 million gallons, from Ethanol Holding Company, LLC, an entity composed of the predecessor owners’ lender group. Consideration of $108.0 million, which included a preliminary amount for working capital, was paid in cash and acquisition-related costs of $0.8 million were recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses. The Company issued approximately $77.0 million of short-term notes payable and term debt shortly after the acquisition, with the acquired assets serving as collateral for these loans, and entered into capital leases totaling $10.0 million for grain facilities that were previously leased by the predecessor owner of the acquired assets. The operating results of the plant in Wood River, Nebraska have been included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements since November 22, 2013 providing revenue and operating income of $32.5 million and $7.6 million, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2013. At the time of acquisition the ethanol plant in Fairmont, Minnesota was not operational; however, upon completion of certain maintenance and enhancement projects, we began operations at the plant in early January 2014. The following is a summary of assets acquired and liabilities assumed (in thousands):
	Amounts of Identifiable Assets Acquired
	and Liabilities Assumed
	Accounts receivable			$	912
	Inventory				8,680
	Prepaid expenses and other				2,696
	Property and equipment, net				104,592
	Other assets				4,188
	Current liabilities				-3,648
	Long-term portion of capital leases and
	tax increment financing bond				-7,931
	Other liabilities				-1,489
	Total identifiable net assets			$	108,000
	The amounts above are preliminary purchase price allocations. The Company expects to finalize the purchase price and the allocations during the first half of 2014, which is not expected to materially impact the preliminary amounts shown above. Pro Forma revenue and net income, had the acquisition of these two plants occurred on January 1, 2012, would have been $3.9 billion and $0.2 million, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2012 and $3.3 billion and $47.7 million, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2013. This information is based on historical results of operations, and, in our opinion, is not necessarily indicative of the results that would have been achieved had we operated the two ethanol plants  acquired since such dates.
	Sale of Grain Assets
	In December 2012, the Company sold twelve grain elevators located in northwestern Iowa and western Tennessee. The transaction involved approximately 32.6 million bushels, or 83%, of the Company’s reported agribusiness grain storage capacity and all of its agronomy and retail petroleum operations. The divested assets were reported within the Company’s agribusiness segment. The gross proceeds from the sale, including assumption of debt, current liabilities and fees, were $241.0 million. Cash proceeds from the sale totaled $117.7 million and a pre-tax gain from the sale of $47.1 million was included in operating income in the consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2012.  The following is a summary of divested assets and liabilities (in thousands):
	Amounts of Disposed Assets and Liabilities
	Current assets	$	146,527
	Property and equipment, net		44,640
	Current liabilities		92,386
	Long-term debt, net		27,974
	Acquisition of Otter Tail Ethanol Plant
	In March 2011, the Company acquired an ethanol plant with an expected annual production capacity of 60 mmgy and certain other assets near Fergus Falls, Minnesota for $59.7 million. Consideration included $19.2 million of indebtedness, valued at $18.8 million, and $35.0 million in financing from a group of nine lenders with the remaining $5.9 million paid in cash. The following is a summary of assets acquired and liabilities assumed (in thousands):
	Amounts of Identifiable Assets Acquired
	and Liabilities Assumed
	Inventory			$	4,986
	Other current assets				738
	Property and equipment, net				51,925
	Current liabilities				-409
	Other				-138
		Total identifiable net assets			57,102
	Goodwill				2,600
		Purchase price		$	59,702

Fair_Value_Disclosures

Fair Value Disclosures	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Fair Value Disclosures	'
	4.  FAIR VALUE DISCLOSURES
	The following methods, assumptions and valuation techniques were used in estimating the fair value of the Company’s financial instruments:
	Level 1 – unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date. Level 1 unrealized gains and losses on commodity derivatives relate to exchange-traded open trade equity and option values in the Company’s brokerage accounts.
	Level 2 – directly or indirectly observable inputs such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets other than quoted prices included within Level 1; quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active; and other inputs that are observable or can be substantially corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means. Grain inventories held for sale in the agribusiness segment are valued at nearby futures values, plus or minus nearby basis levels.
	Level 3 – unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are a significant component of the fair value of the assets or liabilities. The Company currently does not have any recurring Level 3 financial instruments.
	There have been no changes in valuation techniques and inputs used in measuring fair value. The following tables set forth the Company’s assets and liabilities by level that were accounted for at fair value as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 (in thousands):
		Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2013
		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets			Significant Other Observable Inputs		Reclassification for Balance Sheet
		(Level 1)			(Level 2)		Presentation		Total
	Assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	272,027		$	-	$	-	$	272,027
	Restricted cash		26,994			-		-		26,994
	Margin deposits		77,102			-		-77,102		-
	Inventories carried at market		-			23,782		-		23,782
	Unrealized gains on derivatives		3,629			18,712		26,295		48,636
	Other assets (1)		2,200			-		-		2,200
	Total assets measured at fair value	$	381,952		$	42,494	$	-50,807	$	373,639
	Liabilities:
	Unrealized losses on derivatives	$	50,807		$	4,612	$	-50,807	$	4,612
	Other		9			-		-		9
	Total liabilities measured at fair value	$	50,816		$	4,612	$	-50,807	$	4,621
		-1		Represents long-term restricted cash related to the $22.0 million revenue bond of Green Plains Bluffton.
		Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2012
		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets			Significant Other Observable Inputs		Reclassification for Balance Sheet
		(Level 1)			(Level 2)		Presentation		Total
	Assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	254,289		$	-	$	-	$	254,289
	Restricted cash		28,015			-		-		28,015
	Margin deposits		12,847			-		-12,847		-
	Inventories carried at market		-			61,763		-		61,763
	Unrealized gains on derivatives		7,337			3,254		10,347		20,938
	Total assets measured at fair value	$	302,488		$	65,017	$	-2,500	$	365,005
	Liabilities:
	Unrealized losses on derivatives	$	2,544		$	2,103	$	-2,500	$	2,147
	Other		107			-		-		107
	Total liabilities measured at fair value	$	2,651		$	2,103	$	-2,500	$	2,254
	The Company believes the fair value of its debt approximated $775.7 million compared to a book value of $735.2 million at December 31, 2013; and that at December 31, 2012, the fair value of its debt, which was $663.3 million, approximated book value. The Company estimates the fair value of its outstanding debt using Level 2 inputs. The Company believes the fair values of its accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate book value, which were $106.8 million and $112.0 million, respectively, at December 31, 2013 and $80.5 million and $95.6 million, respectively, at December 31, 2012.
	Although the Company currently does not have any recurring Level 3 financial measurements, the fair values of the tangible assets, equity component of convertible debt and goodwill acquired represent Level 3 measurements and were derived using a combination of the income approach, the market approach and the cost approach as considered appropriate for the specific assets being valued.

Segment_Information

Segment Information	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Information [Abstract]	'
Segment Information	'
	5.  SEGMENT INFORMATION
	Company management reviews financial and operating performance in the following four separate operating segments: (1) production of ethanol and distillers grains, collectively referred to as ethanol production, (2) corn oil production, (3) grain handling and storage, collectively referred to as agribusiness, and (4) marketing and logistics services for Company-produced and third-party ethanol, distillers grains, corn oil and other commodities, and the operation of blending and terminaling facilities, collectively referred to as marketing and distribution. Selling, general and administrative expenses, primarily consisting of compensation of corporate employees, professional fees and overhead costs not directly related to a specific operating segment, are reflected in the table below as corporate activities.
	During the normal course of business, the Company enters into transactions between segments. Examples of these intersegment transactions include, but are not limited to, the ethanol production segment selling ethanol to the marketing and distribution segment and the agribusiness segment selling grain to the ethanol production segment. These intersegment activities are recorded by each segment at prices approximating market and treated as if they are third-party transactions. Consequently, these transactions impact segment performance. However, revenues and corresponding costs are eliminated in consolidation and do not impact the Company’s consolidated results.
	The following are certain financial data for the Company’s operating segments for the periods indicated (in thousands):
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013		2012		2011
	Revenues:
	Ethanol production:
	Revenues from external customers	$	116,272	$	200,443	$	128,780
	Intersegment revenues		1,934,770		1,708,800		2,005,141
	Total segment revenues		2,051,042		1,909,243		2,133,921
	Corn oil production:
	Revenues from external customers		-		529		1,466
	Intersegment revenues		69,163		57,315		43,391
	Total segment revenues		69,163		57,844		44,857
	Agribusiness:
	Revenues from external customers		51,883		408,622		358,968
	Intersegment revenues		761,835		176,062		195,172
	Total segment revenues		813,718		584,684		554,140
	Marketing and distribution:
	Revenues from external customers		2,872,856		2,867,276		3,064,498
	Intersegment revenues		21,790		355		467
	Total segment revenues		2,894,646		2,867,631		3,064,965
	Revenues including intersegment activity		5,828,569		5,419,402		5,797,883
	Intersegment eliminations		-2,787,558		-1,942,532		-2,244,171
	Revenues as reported	$	3,041,011	$	3,476,870	$	3,553,712
	Gross profit (loss):
	Ethanol production	$	79,109	$	-4,895	$	87,010
	Corn oil production		36,615		32,388		27,067
	Agribusiness		6,258		35,973		34,749
	Marketing and distribution		57,671		32,362		23,112
	Intersegment eliminations		-6,633		943		294
		$	173,020	$	96,771	$	172,232
	Operating income (loss):
	Ethanol production	$	63,012	$	-20,393	$	73,242
	Corn oil production		36,569		32,140		26,999
	Agribusiness		3,324		60,030		11,721
	Marketing and distribution		40,971		17,290		9,475
	Intersegment eliminations		-6,588		977		334
	Corporate activities		-29,437		-25,159		-22,758
		$	107,851	$	64,885	$	99,013
	Income (loss) before income taxes:
	Ethanol production	$	44,061	$	-42,430	$	49,612
	Corn oil production		36,570		32,142		26,998
	Agribusiness		793		54,172		6,170
	Marketing and distribution		37,098		13,768		6,760
	Intersegment eliminations		-6,588		977		334
	Corporate activities		-39,653		-33,473		-27,975
		$	72,281	$	25,156	$	61,899
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013		2012		2011
	Depreciation and amortization:
	Ethanol production	$	45,312	$	44,239	$	43,169
	Corn oil production		1,175		1,156		859
	Agribusiness		362		4,209		3,975
	Marketing and distribution		2,836		1,942		1,623
	Corporate activities		1,317		1,282		450
		$	51,002	$	52,828	$	50,076
	Interest expense:
	Ethanol production	$	18,988	$	22,081	$	23,725
	Corn oil production		-		-		-
	Agribusiness		2,531		5,881		5,569
	Marketing and distribution		4,079		3,532		2,716
Intersegment eliminations		-982		-1,137		-849
Corporate activities		8,741		7,164		5,484
	$	33,357	$	37,521	$	36,645
Capital expenditures:
Ethanol production	$	8,469	$	7,637	$	11,416
Corn oil production		1,782		725		15,375
Agribusiness		6,514		2,006		8,977
Marketing and distribution		2,347		15,791		2,476
Corporate activities		652		617		4,239
	$	19,764	$	26,776	$	42,483
The following are total assets for the Company’s operating segments for the periods indicated (in thousands):
	Year Ended December 31,
	2013		2012
Total assets:
Ethanol production	$	911,315	$	831,939
Corn oil production		28,569		27,751
Agribusiness		165,570		179,930
Marketing and distribution		258,361		184,541
Corporate assets		175,210		150,797
Intersegment eliminations		-6,980		-25,224
	$	1,532,045	$	1,349,734
The following table sets forth revenues by product line for the periods indicated (in thousands):
	Year Ended December 31,
	2013		2012		2011
Revenues:
Ethanol	$	2,339,470	$	2,507,119	$	2,720,918
Distillers grains		488,396		433,088		405,094
Corn oil		74,251		58,640		44,857
Grain		92,487		348,413		290,538
Agronomy		249		58,641		61,174
products
Other		46,158		70,969		31,131
	$	3,041,011	$	3,476,870	$	3,553,712

Inventories

Inventories	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Inventories [Abstract]	'
Inventories	'
	6.  INVENTORIES
	Inventories are carried at the lower of cost or market, except grain held for sale, which is valued at market value. The components of inventories are as follows (in thousands):
		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Finished goods	$	56,664	$	58,080
	Grain held for sale		23,782		61,763
	Raw materials		51,726		28,494
	Work-in-process		11,506		13,326
	Supplies and parts		14,650		10,346
		$	158,328	$	172,009

Property_And_Equipment

Property And Equipment	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Property And Equipment [Abstract]	'
Property And Equipment	'
	7.  PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
	The components of property and equipment are as follows (in thousands):
		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Plant equipment	$	749,627	$	673,454
	Buildings and improvements		147,663		90,240
	Land and improvements		59,481		57,491
	Railroad track and equipment		39,852		34,070
	Construction-in-progress		3,789		3,499
	Computers and software		7,380		6,228
	Office furniture and equipment		1,662		1,636
	Leasehold improvements and other		12,111		5,937
	Total property and equipment		1,021,565		872,555
	Less: accumulated depreciation		-215,519		-164,445
	Property and equipment, net	$	806,046	$	708,110

Goodwill

Goodwill	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Goodwill [Abstract]	'
Goodwill	'
	8.  GOODWILL
	The Company did not have any changes in the total carrying amount of goodwill, which was $40.9 million during the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012. Goodwill of $30.3 million is attributable to the ethanol production segment and $10.6 million is attributable to the marketing and distribution segment.

Derivative_Financial_Instrumen

Derivative Financial Instruments	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Derivative Financial Instruments [Abstract]	'
Derivative Financial Instruments	'
	9.  DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
	At December 31, 2013, the consolidated balance sheets reflect unrealized losses, net of tax, of $6.3 million in accumulated other comprehensive loss. The Company expects all of the unrealized losses at December 31, 2013 will be reclassified into income over the next 12 months as a result of hedged transactions that are forecasted to occur. The amount ultimately realized in income, however, will differ as commodity prices change.
	Fair Values of Derivative Instruments
	The following table provides information about the fair values of the Company’s derivative financial instruments and the line items on the consolidated balance sheets in which the fair values are reflected (in thousands).
		Asset Derivatives'						Liability Derivatives'
		Fair Value at December 31,						Fair Value at December 31,
		2013			2012			2013			2012
	Derivative financial instruments (1)	$	-28,466	-2	$	8,091	-3	$	-		$	-
	Accrued and other liabilities		-			-			4,612			2,103
	Other liabilities		-			-			-			44
	Total	$	-28,466		$	8,091		$	4,612		$	2,147
	(1) Derivative financial instruments as reflected on the balance sheet include a margin deposit assets of $77.1 million and $12.8 million at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
	(2) Balance at December 31, 2013, includes $47.1 million of net unrealized losses on derivative financial instruments designated as cash flow hedging instruments.
	(3)Balance at December 31, 2012, includes $2.1 million of net unrealized gains on derivative financial instruments designated as cash flow hedging instruments.
	Refer to Note 4 - Fair Value Disclosures, which also contains fair value information related to derivative financial instruments.
	Effect of Derivative Instruments on Consolidated Statements of Operations and Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity and Comprehensive Income
	The following tables provide information about the gain or loss recognized in income and other comprehensive income on the Company’s derivative financial instruments and the line items in the financial statements in which such gains and losses are reflected (in thousands).
	Gains (Losses) on Derivative Instruments Not		Year Ended December 31,
	Designated in a Hedging Relationship		2013			2012			2011
	Revenue		$	-10,855		$	-6,206		$	1,595
	Cost of goods sold			13,375			-12,050			-35,013
	Net increase (decrease) recognized in earnings before tax		$	2,520		$	-18,256		$	-33,418
	Gain (Loss) Due to Ineffectiveness		Year Ended December 31,
	of Cash Flow Hedges		2013			2012			2011
	Revenue		$	-84		$	-10		$	-201
	Cost of goods sold			-490			-			-30
	Net decrease recognized in earnings before tax		$	-574		$	-10		$	-231
	Gains (Losses) Reclassified from Accumulated		Year Ended December 31,
	Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
	into Net Income (Loss)		2013			2012			2011
	Revenue		$	-96,736		$	-17,318		$	-46,686
	Cost of goods sold			-25,852			56,848			-4,437
	Net increase (decrease) recognized in earnings before tax		$	-122,588		$	39,530		$	-51,123
	Effective Portion of Cash Flow		Year Ended December 31,
	Hedges Recognized in
	Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)		2013			2012			2011
	Commodity Contracts		$	-138,589		$	49,999		$	-55,356
	There were no gains or losses due to the discontinuance of cash flow hedge treatment or fair value hedge exposure during the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012.
	The table below summarizes the volumes of open commodity derivative positions as of December 31, 2013 (in thousands):
	31-Dec-13
			Exchange Traded		Non-Exchange Traded
	Derivative Instruments		Net Long & (Short) (1)		Long (2)		(Short) (2)		Unit of Measure		Commodity
	Futures		-3,695						Bushels		Corn, Soybeans and Wheat
	Futures		53,240	-3					Bushels		Corn
	Futures		-5,115	-4					Bushels		Corn
	Futures		8,274						Gallons		Ethanol
	Futures		-215,082	-3					Gallons		Ethanol
	Futures		-1,040						mmBTU		Natural Gas
	Options		1,415						Bushels		Corn, Soybeans and Wheat
	Options		-10,173						Gallons		Ethanol
	Forwards				7,736		-3,650		Bushels		Corn and Soybeans
	Forwards				6,265		-219,653		Gallons		Ethanol
	Forwards				27		-317		Tons		Distillers Grains
	Forwards				672		-55,481		Pounds		Corn Oil
		-1		Exchange traded futures and options are presented on a net long and (short) position basis. Options are presented on a delta-adjusted basis.
		-2		Non-exchange traded forwards are presented on a gross long and (short) position basis including both fixed-price and basis contracts.
		-3		Futures used for cash flow hedges.
		-4		Futures used for fair value hedges
	Energy trading contracts that do not involve physical delivery are presented net in revenues on the consolidated statements of operations. Revenues and cost of goods sold under such contracts are summarized in the table below for the periods indicated (in thousands).
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
	Revenue	$	27,778		$	26,563		$	133,619
	Cost of goods sold	$	28,952		$	26,072		$	132,234

Debt

Debt	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Debt [Abstract]	'
Debt	'
	10. DEBT
	The principal balances of the components of long-term debt are as follows (in thousands):
		December 31,
		2013			2012
	Green Plains Bluffton:
	$70.0 million term loan	$	26,621		$	41,018
	$20.0 million revolving term loan		15,000			20,000
	$22.0 million revenue bond		15,780			17,510
	Green Plains Central City:
	$55.0 million term loan		33,100			38,635
	$30.5 million revolving term loan		17,739			28,639
	$11.0 million revolving line of credit		-			10,600
	Equipment financing loan		36			105
	Green Plains Fairmont and Green Plains Wood River:
	$50.0 million term loan		50,000			-
	Tax increment financing bond		3,626			-
	Capital leases on grain facilities		9,994			-
	Capital lease - equipment		5,489			-
	Green Plains Holdings II:
	$26.4 million term loan		15,914			21,914
	$51.1 million revolving term loan		31,960			45,320
	Green Plains Obion:
	$60.0 million term loan		3,879			13,479
	$37.4 million revolving term loan		28,400			37,400
	Equipment financing loan		126			334
	Economic development grant		1,245			1,335
	Green Plains Ord:
	$25.0 million term loan		15,143			17,675
	$13.0 million revolving term loan		2,151			12,151
	$5.0 million revolving line of credit		-			4,749
	Green Plains Otter Tail:
	$30.3 million term loan		17,960			22,791
	$4.7 million revolver		-			4,675
	$19.2 million note payable		19,151			19,014
	Capital lease - equipment		-			53
	Green Plains Shenandoah:
	$17.0 million revolving term loan		9,000			17,000
	Green Plains Superior:
	$40.0 million term loan		9,750			15,250
	$10.0 million revolving term loan		8,000			10,000
	Equipment financing loan		18			89
	Corporate:
	$90.0 million convertible notes		90,000			90,000
	$120.0 million convertible notes		96,653			-
	Notes payable		-			1,625
	Capital lease		188			403
	Other		10,000			211
	Total long-term debt		536,923			491,975
	Less: current portion of long-term debt		-56,177			-129,426
	Long-term debt	$	480,746		$	362,549
	Scheduled long-term debt repayments, excluding the effects of any debt discounts, are as follows (in thousands):
	Year Ending December 31,		Amount
	2014		$	56,177
	2015			204,093
	2016			80,160
	2017			33,980
	2018			159,941
	Thereafter			25,918
	Total		$	560,269
	Short-term notes payable and other borrowings at December 31, 2013 included working capital revolvers at Green Plains Grain and Green Plains Trade with outstanding balances of $95.0 million and $76.5 million, respectively, and a short-term loan at Green Plains Fairmont and Green Plains Wood River of $26.8 million. Short-term notes payable and other borrowings at December 31, 2012 included working capital revolvers at Green Plains Grain and Green Plains Trade with outstanding balances of $105.0 million and $39.1 million, respectively, and a $27.2 million short-term note payable issued in conjunction with a repurchase of common stock in March 2012.
	Loan Terminology
	Related to loan covenant discussions below, the following definitions generally apply to the Company’s loans (all calculated in accordance with GAAP consistently applied):
		·		Working capital – current assets less current liabilities.
	·		Net worth – total assets less total liabilities plus subordinated debt.
	·		Tangible Net worth – total assets less intangible assets less total liabilities plus subordinated debt.
	·		Tangible owner’s equity ratio – tangible net worth divided by total assets.
	·		Debt service coverage ratio* – (1) net income (after taxes), plus depreciation and amortization, divided by (2) all current portions of regularly scheduled long-term debt for the prior period (previous year end).
	·		Fixed charge coverage ratio* –
	· (1) adjusted EBITDA divided by (2) fixed charges, which are generally the sum of interest expense, scheduled principal payments, distributions, and maintenance capital, within the ethanol production segment.
	· (1) EBITDA, less capital expenditures and interest expense of working capital financings divided by (2) scheduled principal payments and interest expense on long-term indebtedness, within the agribusiness segment.
	· (1) EBITDA less capital expenditures less distributions less cash taxes, divided by (2) all debt payments for the previous four quarters, on a trailing quarter basis, within the marketing and distribution segment.
	·		Leverage ratio – total liabilities divided by tangible net worth.
*Certain credit agreements allow for the inclusion of equity contributions from the parent company in the calculations of the debt service and fixed charge coverage ratios.
Ethanol Production Segment
Loan Repayment Terms
	·		Term Loans –
	o		Scheduled principal payments are as follows:
•	Green Plains Bluffton	$0.3 million per month
•	Green Plains Central City	$0.5 million per month
•	Green Plains Fairmont and
	Green Plains Wood River	$2.5 million per quarter
•	Green Plains Holdings II	$1.5 million per quarter
•	Green Plains Obion	$2.4 million per quarter
•	Green Plains Ord	$0.2 million per month
•	Green Plains Otter Tail	$0.4 million per month
•	Green Plains Superior	$1.4 million per quarter
	o		Final maturity dates (at the latest) are as follows:
•	Green Plains Bluffton	31-Jan-15
•	Green Plains Central City	1-Jul-16
•	Green Plains Fairmont and
	Green Plains Wood River	27-Nov-15
•	Green Plains Holdings II	1-Jul-16
•	Green Plains Obion	20-May-14
•	Green Plains Ord	1-Jul-16
•	Green Plains Otter Tail	1-Sep-18
•	Green Plains Superior	20-Jul-15
	o		Each term loan, except for the Green Plains Fairmont and Green Plains Wood River and Green Plains Otter Tail term loans, has a provision that requires the respective subsidiary to make annual special payments equal to a percentage ranging from 65% to 75% of the available free cash flow from the related entity’s operations (as defined in the respective loan agreements), subject to certain limitations and provided that if such payment would result in a covenant default under the respective loan agreements, the amount of the payment shall be reduced to an amount which would not result in a covenant default.
	o		As of December 31, 2013, free cash flow payments are discontinued when the aggregate of such future payments meets the following amounts:
•	Green Plains Bluffton	$16.0 million
•	Green Plains Central City and
	Green Plains Ord combined	$16.0 million
•	Green Plains Holdings II	$18.0 million
•	Green Plains Obion	$10.1 million
•	Green Plains Superior	$10.0 million
	o		Free cash flow payments currently are not to exceed the following amounts in any given year:
•	Green Plains Bluffton	$4.0 million
•	Green Plains Central City and
	Green Plains Ord combined	$4.0 million
•	Green Plains Obion	$8.0 million
	·		Revolving Term Loans – The revolving term loans are generally available for advances throughout the life of the commitment, subject, in certain cases, to borrowing base restrictions. Allowable advances under the Green Plains Shenandoah loan agreement are reduced by $0.4 million each quarter. Allowable advances under the Green Plains Superior loan agreement are reduced by $2.5 million each six-month period commencing on the first day of the month beginning six months after repayment of the term loan, but in no event later than January 1, 2016. Allowable advances under the Green Plains Obion loan agreement are reduced by $4.7 million on a semi-annual basis commencing on March 1, 2015. Allowable advances under the Green Plains Holdings II loan agreement are reduced by $2.7 million on a semi-annual basis commencing on April 1, 2012 and are reduced by $5.7 million on a semi-annual basis commencing on October 1, 2016. Interest-only payments are due each month on all revolving term loans until the final maturity date for the Green Plains Bluffton, Green Plains Central City, Green Plains Ord, Green Plains Otter Tail, Green Plains Shenandoah, and Green Plains Superior loan agreements.
	o		Final maturity dates (at the latest) are as follows:
•	Green Plains Bluffton	31-Jan-15
•	Green Plains Central City	1-Jul-16
•	Green Plains Holdings II	1-Oct-18
•	Green Plains Obion	1-Jun-18
•	Green Plains Ord	1-Jul-16
•	Green Plains Shenandoah	20-Sep-18
•	Green Plains Superior	1-Jul-17
Interest and Fees
The term loans bear interest at LIBOR plus 3.00% to 4.50% or lender-established prime rates. Some have established a 2% floor on the underlying LIBOR index.  A portion of the Green Plains Holdings II term loan is fixed at 8.22%.The revolving term loans bear interest at LIBOR plus 3.00% to 4.50% or lender-established prime rates. Some have established a 2% floor on the underlying LIBOR index. Unused commitment fees, when charged, are 0.25% to 0.75%.
Security
As security for the loans, the lenders received a first-position lien on all personal property and real estate owned by the respective entity borrowing the funds, including an assignment of all contracts and rights pertinent to construction and on-going operations of the plant. These borrowing entities are also required to maintain certain financial and non-financial covenants during the terms of the loans. In addition, the debt facilities within Green Plains Central City and Green Plains Ord loans are cross-collateralized.
Covenants
The loan agreements contain affirmative covenants (including financial covenants) and negative covenants including:
Maintenance of working capital, including unused portion of revolver, as follows:
•	Green Plains Bluffton	$5.0 million
•	Green Plains Central City	$10.0 million excluding current
	and Green Plains Ord combined	maturities of long-term debt
•	Green Plains Holdings II	$22.5 million
•	Green Plains Obion	$9.0 million
•	Green Plains Otter Tail	$5.0 million
•	Green Plains Shenandoah	$6.0 million
•	Green Plains Superior	$3.0 million
Maintenance of net worth as follows:
•	Green Plains Holdings II	$80.0 million
•	Green Plains Obion	$90.0 million
•	Green Plains Shenandoah	$65.0 million
•	Green Plains Superior	$23.0 million
Maintenance of tangible net worth as follows:
•	Green Plains Bluffton	$82.5 million
•	Green Plains Otter Tail	$8.0 million
Maintenance of tangible owner’s equity as follows:
•	Green Plains Bluffton	at least 50%
Maintenance of annual fixed charge coverage ratios:
•	Green Plains Bluffton	1.15 to 1.0
•	Green Plains Central City
	and Green Plains Ord combined	1.15 to 1.0
•	Green Plains Otter Tail	1.15 to 1.0
Maintenance of annual debt service coverage ratios:
•	Green Plains Fairmont and Green Plains Wood River	2.25 to 1.0
•	Green Plains Holdings II	1.25 to 1.0
•	Green Plains Obion	1.0 to 1.0
•	Green Plains Shenandoah	1.0 to 1.0
•	Green Plains Superior	1.0 to 1.0
Maintenance of annual leverage ratio:
•	Green Plains Fairmont and Green Plains Wood River	3.25 to 1.0 (decreasing to 2.0 to 1.0 in 2015)
Annual capital expenditures will be limited as follows:
•	Green Plains Bluffton	$2.0 million
•	Green Plains Central City	$2.0 million
•	Green Plains Fairmont and Green Plains Wood River	$2.0 million
•	Green Plains Holdings II	$6.0 million
•	Green Plains Obion	$2.0 million
•	Green Plains Ord	$2.0 million
•	Green Plains Otter Tail	$2.0 million
•	Green Plains Shenandoah	$1.3 million
•	Green Plains Superior	$0.6 million
Allowable dividends or other annual distributions from each respective subsidiary, subject to certain additional restrictions including compliance with all loan covenants, terms and conditions, are as follows:
•	Green Plains Bluffton	Up to 35% of net profit before tax, and up to
		an additional 15% of net profit before tax,
		after free cash flow payment is made
•	Green Plains Central City
	and Green Plains Ord	Up to 35% of net profit before tax, and an
		unlimited amount may be distributed after free
		cash flow payment is made, provided
		maintenance of 70% tangible owners equity
•	Green Plains Fairmont
	and Green Plains Wood River	Up to amounts equal to permitted tax
		distributions, as defined in the loan agreement
•	Green Plains Holdings II	Up to 40% of net profit before tax, and
		unlimited after free cash flow payment is made
•	Green Plains Obion	Up to 40% of net profit before tax, and
		unlimited after free cash flow payment is made
•	Green Plains Otter Tail	Up to 40% of net profit before tax, and an
		amount reasonably acceptable to the lender
		may be distributed provided maintenance of
		40% tangible owner equity
•	Green Plains Superior	Up to 40% of net profit before tax, and
		unlimited after free cash flow payment is made
Bluffton Revenue Bond
Green Plains Bluffton issued a $22.0 million Subordinate Solid Waste Disposal Facility Revenue Bond with the City of Bluffton, Indiana. The revenue bond requires: (1) semi-annual principal and interest payments of approximately $1.5 million through March 1, 2019, and (2) a final principal and interest payment of $3.745 million on September 1, 2019. The revenue bond bears interest at 7.50% per annum. At December 31, 2013, Green Plains Bluffton had $3.2 million of cash, presented as restricted cash with the long-term portion in other assets on the consolidated balance sheet, the use of which was restricted for principal and interest payments towards the revenue bond.
Otter Tail Promissory Note
Green Plains Otter Tail issued $19.2 million in senior notes under New Market Tax Credits financing. The notes bear interest at an annual rate equal to the prime rate (as defined) plus 1.5%, but not less than 4.0%, payable monthly and require monthly principal payments of approximately $0.3 million beginning in September 2014. The notes mature on September 1, 2018 with an expected outstanding balance of $4.7 million upon maturity.
Agribusiness Segment
Green Plains Grain has a $125.0 million senior secured revolving credit facility with various lenders, as amended on August 27, 2013, to provide the agribusiness segment with working capital funding subject to a borrowing base as defined in the facility. The revolving credit facility matures on August 26, 2016. The revolving credit facility includes total revolving credit commitments of $125.0 million and an accordion feature whereby amounts available under the facility may be increased by up to $75.0 million of new lender commitments upon agent approval. The facility also allows for additional seasonal borrowings up to $50.0 million. The total commitments outstanding under the facility cannot exceed $250.0 million. As security for the revolving credit facility, the lender received a first priority lien on certain cash, inventory, accounts receivable and other assets owned by subsidiaries of the agribusiness segment. Advances are subject to interest charges at a rate per annum equal to the LIBOR rate for the outstanding period plus the applicable margin or a rate per annum equal to the base rate plus the applicable margin. In addition to other customary covenants, this revolving credit facility contains restrictions on distributions with respect to capital stock, with exceptions for distributions of up to 40% of net profit before tax, subject to certain conditions.
Marketing and Distribution Segment
Green Plains Trade has a senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility pursuant to which the lender will loan up to $130.0 million on eligible collateral. This credit facility was increased from $70.0 million in April 2013. The amount of eligible collateral is determined by a calculated borrowing base value equal to the sum of percentages of eligible receivables and eligible inventories, less certain miscellaneous adjustments. The outstanding balance, if any, is subject to interest charges at the lender’s floating base rate plus the applicable margin or LIBOR plus the applicable margin. The revolving credit facility expires on April 25, 2016. In addition to other customary covenants, this revolving credit facility contains restrictions on distributions with respect to capital stock, with exceptions (i) for distributions with respect to tax obligations, subject to certain conditions, and (ii) whereby distributions may be made in an amount up to 50% of net income if (a) undrawn availability under this facility, on a pro forma basis, is greater than $10.0 million for the preceding 30 days and (b) as of the date of the distribution, the borrower would be in compliance with the fixed charge coverage ratio on a pro forma basis. At December 31, 2013, Green Plains Trade had $26.0 million, presented as restricted cash on the consolidated balance sheets, the use of which was restricted for repayment towards the outstanding loan balance.
In June 2013, subsidiaries of the Company executed a New Markets Tax Credits financing transaction. In order to facilitate this financing transaction, the Company was required to issue promissory notes payable in the amount of $10.0 million and a note receivable in the amount of $8.1 million. The promissory notes payable and note receivable bear interest at 1% per annum, payable quarterly. Beginning in March 2020, the promissory notes and note receivable each require quarterly principal and interest payments of approximately $0.2 million; the Company retains the right to call $8.1 million of the promissory notes in 2020. The promissory notes payable and note receivable mature on September 15, 2031 and will be fully amortized upon maturity. In connection with the New Markets Tax Credits financing transaction, income tax credits were generated for the benefit of the lender. The Company has guaranteed the lender the value of these income tax credits over their statutory lives, a period of seven years, in the event that the income tax credits are recaptured or reduced. The value of the income tax credits was anticipated to be $5.0 million at the time of the transaction. The Company believes the likelihood of recapture or reduction of the income tax credits is remote, and therefore has not established a liability in connection with this guarantee.
Corporate Activities
On September 20, 2013, the Company issued $120.0 million of 3.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2018, or the 3.25% Notes. The 3.25% Notes represent senior, unsecured obligations of the Company, with interest payable on April 1 and October 1 of each year. Conversion of the 3.25% Notes may only be settled in shares of the Company’s common stock unless shareholder approval is received to allow for flexible settlement consisting of, at the Company's election, cash, shares of the Company's common stock, or a combination of cash and shares of the Company's common stock (and cash in lieu of fractional shares) until the close of business on the scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date. As a result, the 3.25% Notes contain liability and equity components which were bifurcated and accounted for separately. The liability component of the 3.25% Notes, as of the issuance date, was calculated by estimating the fair value of a similar liability issued at an 8.21% effective interest rate, which was determined by considering the estimated rate of return investors would require for the Company’s debt without the conversion feature. The amount of the equity component was calculated by deducting the fair value of the liability component from the principal amount of the 3.25% Notes, resulting in the initial recognition of $24.5 million as debt discount costs recorded in additional paid-in capital. The carrying amount of the 3.25% Notes will be accreted to the principal amount over the remaining term to maturity and the Company will record a corresponding amount of noncash interest expense. Additionally, the Company incurred debt issuance costs of $5.1 million related to the 3.25% Notes and allocated $4.0 million of debt issuance costs to the liability component of the 3.25% Notes. These costs will be amortized to noncash interest expense over the five-year term of the 3.25% Notes. Prior to April 1, 2018, the 3.25% Notes will not be convertible unless certain conditions are satisfied. The initial conversion rate is 47.9627 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of 3.25% Notes, which is equal to an initial conversion price of approximately $20.85 per share. The conversion rate is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events, including the payment of a quarterly cash dividend that exceeds $0.04 per share. In addition, the Company may be obligated to increase the conversion rate for any conversion that occurs in connection with certain corporate events, including the Company calling the 3.25% Notes for redemption.
The Company may redeem for cash all, but not less than all, of the 3.25% Notes at any time on or after October 1, 2016 if the sale price of the Company's common stock equals or exceeds 140% of the applicable conversion price for a specified time period ending on the trading day immediately prior to the date the Company delivers notice of the redemption. The redemption price will equal 100% of the principal amount of the 3.25% Notes, plus any accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date. In addition, upon the occurrence of a fundamental change, such as a change in control, holders of the 3.25% Notes will have the right, at their option, to require the Company to repurchase their 3.25% Notes in cash at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 3.25% Notes to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest. Default with respect to any loan in excess of $10.0 million constitutes an event of default under the 3.25% Notes, which could result in the 3.25% Notes being declared due and payable.
In November 2010, the Company issued $90.0 million of 5.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2015, or the 5.75% Notes. The 5.75% Notes represent senior, unsecured obligations of the Company, with interest payable on May 1 and November 1 of each year. The 5.75% Notes may be converted into shares of the Company’s common stock and cash in lieu of fractional shares of the common stock based on a conversion rate equal to 70.1208 shares of the common stock per $1,000 principal amount of 5.75% Notes at December 31, 2013, which is equal to a conversion price of approximately $14.26 per share. The conversion rate is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of specified events, including the payment of a cash dividend. The conversion rate was adjusted to reflect the payment of cash dividends during 2013. The Company may redeem for cash all, but not less than all, of the 5.75% Notes at any time on or after November 1, 2013, if the last reported sale price of the Company’s common stock equals or exceeds 140% of the applicable conversion price for a specified time period, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 5.75% Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest. Default with respect to any loan in excess of $10.0 million constitutes an event of default under the 5.75% Notes, which could result in the 5.75% Notes being declared due and payable.
Covenant Compliance
The Company, including all of its subsidiaries, was in compliance with its debt covenants as of December 31, 2013.
Capitalized Interest
The Company had no capitalized interest during the year ended December 31, 2013, $285 thousand in capitalized interest during the year ended December 31, 2012 and no capitalized interest during the year ended December 31, 2011.
Restricted Net Assets
At December 31, 2013, there were approximately $636.9 million of net assets at the Company’s subsidiaries that were not available to be transferred to the parent company in the form of dividends, loans, or advances due to restrictions contained in the credit facilities of these subsidiaries.

StockBased_Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Stock-Based Compensation [Abstract]	'
Stock-Based Compensation	'
	11.  STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
	The Company has equity incentive plans which reserve a combined total of 3.5 million shares of common stock for issuance pursuant to their terms. The plans provide for the granting of shares of stock, including options to purchase shares of common stock, stock appreciation rights tied to the value of common stock, non-vested stock and non-vested stock unit awards to eligible employees, non-employee directors and consultants. The Company measures share-based compensation grants at fair value on the grant date, adjusted for estimated forfeitures. The Company records noncash compensation expense related to equity awards in its financial statements over the requisite service period on a straight-line basis. All of the Company’s existing share-based compensation awards have been determined to be equity awards.
	Grants under the equity incentive plans may include:
		·	Options – Stock options may be granted that are currently exercisable, that become exercisable in installments, or that are not exercisable until a fixed future date. Certain options that have been issued are exercisable during their term regardless of termination of employment while other options have been issued that terminate at a designated time following the date employment is terminated. Options issued to date may be exercised immediately and/or at future vesting dates, and must be exercised no later than five to eight years after the grant date or they will expire.
		·	Stock Awards – Stock awards may be granted to directors and employees with ownership of the common stock vesting immediately or over a period determined by the Compensation Committee and stated in the award. Stock awards granted to date vested in some cases immediately and at other times over a period determined by the Compensation Committee and were restricted as to sales for a specified period. Compensation expense was recognized upon the grant award date if fully vested, or over the requisite vesting period.
		·	Deferred Stock Units – Deferred stock units may be granted to directors and employees with ownership of the common stock vesting immediately or over a period determined by the Compensation Committee and stated in the award. As determined by the Compensation Committee, deferred stock units granted to date vest over a specific period with underlying shares of common stock issuable in a period beyond the vesting date. Compensation expense was recognized upon the grant award date if fully vested, or over the requisite vesting period.
	For stock options granted during the periods indicated below, the fair value of options granted was estimated on the date of grant using the Black‑Scholes option‑pricing model, a pricing model acceptable under GAAP. The Company did not grant any stock option awards during the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2011. The fair value of stock option awards granted in 2012 were calculated with the following weighted-average assumptions:
				2012
	Expected life			6
	Interest rate			0.63%
	Volatility			76.26%
	Dividend yield			-
	The expected life of options granted represents the period of time in years that options granted are expected to be outstanding. The interest rate represents the annual interest rate a risk-free investment could potentially earn during the expected life of the option grant. Expected volatility is based on weighted-average historical volatility of the Company’s common stock.
	All of the Company’s existing share-based compensation awards have been determined to be equity awards. The Company recognizes compensation costs for stock option awards which vest with the passage of time with only service conditions on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period.
	A summary of stock option activity for the year ended December 31, 2013 is as follows:
		Shares	Weighted-Average Exercise Price		Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years)	Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in thousands)
	Outstanding at December 31, 2012	726,750	$	10.10	4.3	$	625
	Granted	-		-
	Exercised	-111,500		6.43			745
	Forfeited	-		-
	Expired	-5,000		16.95
	Outstanding at December 31, 2013	610,250	$	10.71	3.4	$	5,310
	Exercisable at December 31, 2013 (1)	610,250	$	10.71	3.4	$	5,310
		-1	Includes in-the-money options totaling 550,250 shares at a weighted-average exercise price of $9.70.
	The Company’s option awards allow employees to exercise options through cash payment to the Company for the shares of common stock or through a simultaneous broker-assisted cashless exercise of a share option, through which the employee authorizes the exercise of an option and the immediate sale of the option shares in the open market. The Company uses newly-issued shares of common stock to satisfy its share-based payment obligations.
	The following table summarizes non-vested stock activity and deferred stock unit activity for the year ended December 31, 2013:
		Non-Vested Shares and Deferred Stock Units	Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value		Weighted-Average Remaining Vesting Term
					(in years)
	Nonvested at December 31, 2012	628,090	$	11.41
	Granted	578,151		9.72
	Forfeited	-5,358		9.80
	Vested	-461,933		10.94
	Nonvested at December 31, 2013	738,950	$	10.39	1.7
	Compensation costs expensed for share-based payment plans described above were approximately $5.5 million, $5.5 million and $4.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. At December 31, 2013, there were $4.5 million of unrecognized compensation costs from share-based compensation arrangements, which is related to non-vested shares. This compensation is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately 1.7 years. The potential tax benefit realizable for the anticipated tax deductions of the exercise of share-based payment arrangements generally would approximate 38% of these expense amounts.

Earnings_Per_Share

Earnings Per Share	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Earnings Per Share	'
	12.  EARNINGS PER SHARE
	Basic earnings per common shares, or EPS, is calculated by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS is computed by dividing net income on an if-converted basis available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period, adjusted for the dilutive effect of any outstanding dilutive securities. The calculation of diluted earnings per share gives effect to common stock equivalents. The reconciliations of net income to net income on an if-converted basis and basic and diluted earnings per share are as follows (in thousands):
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013		2012		2011
	Basic EPS:
	Net income attributable to Green Plains	$	43,391	$	11,779	$	38,418
	Weighted average shares outstanding - basic		30,183		30,296		35,276
	Income attributable to Green Plains stockholders - basic	$	1.44	$	0.39	$	1.09
	Diluted EPS:
	Net income attributable to Green Plains	$	43,391	$	11,779	$	38,418
	Interest and amortization on convertible debt, net of tax effect:
	5.75% Notes due 2015		3,578		-		3,610
	3.25% Notes due 2018		1,473		-		-
	Net income attributable to Green Plains on an if-converted basis	$	48,442	$	11,779	$	42,028
	Weighted average shares outstanding - basic		30,183		30,296		35,276
	Effect of dilutive convertible debt:
	5.75% Notes due 2015		6,286		-		6,280
	3.25% Notes due 2018		1,624		-		-
	Effect of dilutive stock-based compensation awards		211		167		252
	Total potential shares outstanding		38,304		30,463		41,808
	Net income attributable to Green Plains stockholders - diluted	$	1.26	$	0.39	$	1.01
	Excluded from the computations of diluted EPS for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, were stock options, stock awards and DSUs totaling 14 thousand, 0.8 million and 0.9 million shares, respectively, because the exercise prices or the grant-date fair value, as applicable, of the corresponding awards were greater than the average market price of the Company’s common stock during the respective periods. Also, the effect of 5.75% Notes due 2015 was excluded from the computation of diluted EPS for the year ended December 31, 2012 as inclusion would be antidilutive.

Stockholders_Equity

Stockholders' Equity	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Stockholders Equity Abstract	'
Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	13.  STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
	Treasury Stock
	In March 2012 and September 2011, the Company repurchased 3.7 million shares and 3.5 million shares of its common stock for $37.2 million and $28.0 million, respectively. Shares of repurchased common stock are recorded at cost as treasury stock and result in a reduction of stockholders’ equity in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. When shares are reissued, the Company will use the weighted average cost method for determining the cost basis. The difference between the cost of the shares and the issuance price will be added or deducted from additional paid-in capital. The Company does not have a share repurchase program and does not intend to retire the repurchased shares.
	Dividends
	On August 22, 2013 the Company announced that its Board of Directors approved the initiation of a quarterly cash dividend. An initial dividend of $0.04 per common share was paid to all shareholders of record as of September 5, 2013. On November 4, 2013 the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.04 per common share that was paid to all shareholders of record as of November 29, 2013.
	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
	Changes in accumulated other comprehensive income relate primarily to gains and losses on derivative financial instruments. Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income for the periods indicated are as follows (in thousands):
		Year Ended December 31,						Statements of Operations
		2013		2012		2011		Classification
	Gains (losses) on cash flow hedges:
	Ethanol commodity derivatives	$	-96,736	$	-17,318	$	-46,686	Revenues
	Corn commodity derivatives		-25,852		56,848		-4,437	Cost of goods sold
	Total		-122,588		39,530		-51,123	Income (loss) before income taxes
	Income tax benefit		-46,941		15,032		-20,531	Income tax expense (benefit)
	Amounts reclassified from accumulated
	other comprehensive income (loss)	$	-75,647	$	24,498	$	-30,592

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Taxes [Abstract]	'
Income Taxes	'
	14.  INCOME TAXES
	Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases, and for net operating loss and tax credit carry-forwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.
	Income tax expense consists of the following (in thousands):
			Year Ended December 31,
			2013			2012			2011
	Current		$	1,397		$	2,689		$	-612
	Deferred			27,493			10,704			24,298
	Total		$	28,890		$	13,393		$	23,686
	Differences between the income tax expense (benefit) computed at the statutory federal income tax rate and as presented on the consolidated statements of operations are summarized as follows (in thousands):
			Year Ended December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
	Tax expense at federal statutory
	rate of 35%	$	25,299		$	8,810		$	21,737
	State income tax expense, net
	of federal benefit		2,400			1,970			2,989
	Increase (decrease) in valuation allowance
	against deferred tax assets		-1,075			2,086			-2,084
	Nondeductible compensation		1,380			-			-
	Other		886			527			1,044
	Income tax expense	$	28,890		$	13,393		$	23,686
	Significant components of deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows (in thousands):
		December 31,
		2013			2012
	Deferred tax assets:
	Net operating loss carryforwards - Federal	$	-		$	10,688
	Net operating loss carryforwards - State		1,855			1,275
	Tax credit carryforwards - Federal		2,062			2,354
	Tax credit carryforwards - State		5,662			5,637
	Derivative financial instruments		2,297			-
	Organizational and start-up costs		2,371			4,245
	Stock-based compensation		2,998			4,031
	Accrued Expenses		6,969			6,361
	Other		1,294			1,223
	Total deferred tax assets		25,508			35,814
	Deferred tax liabilities:
	Derivative financial instruments	$	-		$	-2,074
	Convertible debt		-8,444			-
	Fixed assets		-95,655			-82,867
	Investment in partnerships		-995			-45
	Total deferred tax liabilities		-105,094			-84,986
	Valuation allowance		-3,765			-4,840
	Deferred income taxes	$	-83,351		$	-54,012
	As of December 31, 2013, the Company has utilized all of its federal net operating loss carryforwards of $30.5 million from 2012. At December 31, 2013, the Company had state net operating losses, and federal and state tax credit carryforwards. The Company continues to maintain a valuation allowance against some of its net deferred tax assets due to the uncertainty of realizing these assets in the future. The deferred tax valuation allowance of $3.8 million as of December 31, 2013 relates to certain Iowa tax credits that will expire in years 2014 through 2016. In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income and other tax attributes during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, and tax planning strategies in making this assessment.
	The Company conducts business and files tax returns in several states within the U.S. The Company’s federal and state returns for the tax years ended November 30, 2010 and later are still subject to audit.
	A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows (in thousands):
	Unrecognized Tax Benefits
	Balance at January 1, 2013	$	107
	Gross increases from tax positions in prior periods		-
	Settlements		-
	Balance at December 31, 2013	$	107
	The unrecognized tax benefits, if recognized, would favorably impact the Company’s effective tax rate. The Company accrues interest and penalties associated with uncertain tax positions as part of selling, general and administrative expense.

Commitments_And_Contingencies

Commitments And Contingencies	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Commitments And Contingencies [Abstract]	'
Commitments And Contingencies	'
	15.  COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
	Operating Leases
	The Company leases certain facilities and parcels of land under agreements that expire at various dates. For accounting purposes, rent expense is based on a straight-line amortization of the total payments required over the lease term. The Company incurred lease expenses of $19.9 million, $18.3 million and $16.8 million during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Aggregate minimum lease payments under these agreements for future fiscal years are as follows (in thousands):
	Year Ending December 31,	Amount
	2014	$	16,766
	2015		15,488
	2016		13,380
	2017		8,620
	2018		6,140
	Thereafter		3,163
	Total	$	63,557
	Commodities
	As of December 31, 2013 the Company had contracted for future purchases of grain, natural gas, ethanol and distillers grains valued at approximately $324.5 million, $18.2 million, $7.4 million and $6.0 million, respectively.
	Legal
	In April 2011, Aventine Renewable Energy, Inc. filed a complaint in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware in connection with its Chapter 11 bankruptcy naming as defendants Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc., Green Plains Obion LLC, Green Plains Bluffton LLC, Green Plains VBV LLC and Green Plains Trade Group LLC. This action alleged $24.4 million of damages from preferential transfers or, in the alternative, $28.4 million of damages from fraudulent transfers under an ethanol marketing agreement and an unspecified amount of damages for a continuing breach of a termination agreement related to rail cars. In April 2012, the parties mutually agreed to a negotiated settlement whereby the Company agreed to a cash payment and the purchase of 20 million gallons of ethanol from Aventine over a four-month period beginning in May 2012. An after-tax charge of $2.4 million for the settlement was reflected in operations for the year ended December 31, 2012.
	In addition to the above-described proceeding, the Company is currently involved in other litigation that has arisen in the ordinary course of business, but it does not believe that any other pending litigation will have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Employee_Benefit_Plans

Employee Benefit Plans	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Employee Benefit Plans [Abstract]	'
Employee Benefit Plans	'
	16.  EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
	The Company offers eligible employees a comprehensive employee benefits plan that includes health, dental, vision, life and accidental death, short-term disability and long-term disability insurance, and flexible spending accounts. Additionally, the Company offers a 401(k) retirement plan that enables eligible employees to save on a tax-deferred basis up to the limits allowable under the Internal Revenue Code. The Company matches up to 4% of eligible employee contributions. Employee and employer contributions are 100% vested immediately. Employer contributions to the 401(k) plan were $0.9 million, $0.9 million and $0.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
	Green Plains Grain contributes to a defined benefit pension plan. Although benefits under the plan were frozen as of January 1, 2009, Green Plains Grain remains obligated to ensure that the plan is funded in accordance with applicable requirements. As of December 31, 2013, assets of the plan were $6.3 million and liabilities of the plan were $6.0 million. Excess plan assets over plan liabilities of $0.3 million were included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2013 and excess plan liabilities over plan assets of $0.7 million were included in other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2012. Minimum funding standards generally require a plan’s underfunding to be made up over a seven-year period. The amount of funding could increase or decrease based on investment returns of the plan’s assets or changes in the assumed discount rate used to value benefit obligations.

Related_Party_Transactions

Related Party Transactions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]	'
Related Party Transactions	'
	17.  RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
	Commercial Contracts
	Two subsidiaries of the Company have executed separate financing agreements for equipment with AXIS Capital Inc. Gordon F. Glade, President and Chief Executive Officer of AXIS Capital, is a member of the Company’s Board of Directors. Totals of $0.1 million and $0.2 million were included in debt at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, under these financing arrangements. Payments, including principal and interest, totaled $0.1 million, $0.3 million and $0.7 for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and the weighted average interest rate for all outstanding financing agreements is 6.2%.
	The Company has entered into ethanol purchase and sale agreements with Center Oil Company. Gary R. Parker was President and Chief Executive Officer of Center Oil and a member of the Company’s Board of Directors until his unexpected death on February 8, 2014. During the year ended December 31, 2013, cash receipts from Center Oil totaled $3.4 million and payments to Center Oil totaled $5.6 million on these contracts. During the year ended December 31, 2012, cash receipts from Center Oil totaled $20.6 million and payments to Center Oil totaled $5.3 million on these contracts. During the year ended December 31, 2011, cash receipts and payments totaled $146.9 million and $8.7 million, respectively, on these contracts. The Company had no outstanding receivables from or payables to Center Oil at December 31, 2013 and $14 thousand included in accounts receivable, net of any outstanding payables, from Center Oil at December 31, 2012.
	Aircraft Lease
	The Company has entered into an agreement with Hoovestol, Inc. for the lease of an aircraft. Wayne B. Hoovestol, President of Hoovestol Inc., is Chairman of the Company’s Board of Directors. The Company has agreed to pay $6,667 per month for use of up to 100 hours per year of the aircraft. Any flight time in excess of 100 hours per year will incur additional hourly-based charges. For the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, payments related to this lease totaled $136 thousand, $121 thousand and $149 thousand, respectively. The Company did not have any payables to Hoovestol Inc at December 31, 2013 or 2012.

Quarterly_Financial_Data

Quarterly Financial Data	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Quarterly Financial Data[Abstract]	'
Quarterly Financial Data	'
	18.  QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (Unaudited)
	The following table sets forth certain unaudited financial data for each of the quarters within the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 (in thousands, except per share amounts). This information has been derived from the Company’s consolidated financial statements and in management’s opinion, reflects all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the information for the quarters presented. The operating results for any quarter are not necessarily indicative of results for any future period.
		Three Months Ended
		December 31,		September 30,		June 30,		March 31,
		2013		2013		2013		2013
	Revenues	$	712,869	$	757,971	$	804,696	$	765,476
	Cost of goods sold		640,697		716,947		772,085		738,262
	Operating income		51,051		25,534		18,562		12,704
	Other expense		-10,219		-8,491		-8,309		-8,551
	Income tax expense		15,371		7,633		4,288		1,598
	Net income attributable to Green Plains		25,461		9,410		5,965		2,555
	Basic earnings per share attributable to Green Plains		0.84		0.31		0.20		0.09
	Diluted earnings per share attributable to Green Plains		0.65		0.28		0.19		0.08
		Three Months Ended
		December 31,		September 30,		June 30,		March 31,
		2012		2012		2012		2012
	Revenues	$	883,707	$	947,413	$	870,356	$	775,395
	Cost of goods sold		841,736		919,516		852,222		766,625
	Operating income (loss) (1)		68,435		8,624		-1,083		-11,091
	Other expense		-9,273		-10,234		-10,616		-9,606
	Income tax expense (benefit)		26,142		-604		-4,145		-8,001
	Net income (loss) attributable to Green Plains		33,023		-1,002		-7,550		-12,692
	Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to Green Plains		1.11		-0.03		-0.25		-0.39
	Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Green
	Plains		0.94		-0.03		-0.25		-0.39

Schedule_I_Condensed_Financial

Schedule I - Condensed Financial Information Of The Registrant	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Schedule I - Condensed Financial Information Of The Registrant [Abstract]	'
Schedule I - Condensed Financial Information Of The Registrant	'
	Schedule I – Condensed Financial Information of the Registrant (Parent Company Only)
	GREEN PLAINS RENEWABLE ENERGY, INC.
	CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF THE REGISTRANT
	STATEMENTS OF BALANCE SHEET – PARENT COMPANY ONLY
	(in thousands)
			December 31,
			2013			2012
	ASSETS
	Current assets
	Cash and cash equivalents		$	143,852		$	100,051
	Accounts receivable, including amounts from related parties of
	$69 and $30, respectively			128			88
	Prepaid expenses and other			860			728
	Due from subsidiaries			20,987			8,284
	Total current assets			165,827			109,151
	Property and equipment, net			3,052			3,759
	Investment in consolidated subsidiaries			568,410			493,057
	Other assets			19,374			19,225
	Total assets		$	756,663		$	625,192
	LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
	Current liabilities
	Accounts payable		$	4,310		$	1,516
	Accrued liabilities			14,344			13,354
	Short term notes payable			-			27,162
	Current maturities of long-term debt			188			1,840
	Total current liabilities			18,842			43,872
	Long-term debt			186,654			90,188
	Deferred income taxes			5,446			-
	Other liabilities			363			630
	Total liabilities			211,305			134,690
	Stockholders' equity
	Common stock			38			37
	Additional paid-in capital			468,962			445,198
	Retained earnings			148,505			107,540
	Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)			-6,339			3,535
	Treasury stock			-65,808			-65,808
	Total stockholders' equity			545,358			490,502
	Total liabilities and stockholders' equity		$	756,663		$	625,192
	See accompanying notes to the condensed financial statements.
	GREEN PLAINS RENEWABLE ENERGY, INC.
	CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF THE REGISTRANT
	STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS – PARENT COMPANY ONLY
	(in thousands)
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
	Selling, general and administrative expenses	$	88		$	-		$	471
	Operating (loss)		-88			-			-471
	Other income (expense)
	Interest income		192			112			197
	Interest expense		-8,742			-7,165			-5,484
	Other, net		-2,647			-2,399			-779
	Total other expense		-11,197			-9,452			-6,066
	Loss before income taxes		-11,285			-9,452			-6,537
	Income tax benefit		5,018			218			2,462
	Loss before equity in earnings of subsidiaries		-6,267			-9,234			-4,075
	Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries		49,658			21,013			42,493
	Net income	$	43,391		$	11,779		$	38,418
	See accompanying notes to the condensed financial statements.
	GREEN PLAINS RENEWABLE ENERGY, INC.
	CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF THE REGISTRANT
	STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS – PARENT COMPANY ONLY
	(in thousands)
		Year Ended December 31,
	2013			2012			2011
Cash flows from operating activities:	$	-1,338		$	-279		$	36,400
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities		-1,338			-279			36,400
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment		-652			-616			-4,239
Proceeds on disposal of assets, net		42			-			-
Investment in subsidiaries, net		-54,340			54,426			-32,651
Issuance of notes receivable from subsidiaries,
net of payments received		15,356			-6,832			-9,011
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries		-3,264			-7,998			-4,162
Net cash provided (used) by investing activities		-42,858			38,980			-50,063
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt		120,000			-			-
Payments of principal on long-term debt		-1,841			-204			-535
Payments on short-term borrowings		-27,162			-			-
Payments for repurchase of common stock		-			-10,445			-28,201
Payment of cash dividends		-2,426			-			-
Payment of loan fees		-5,072			-			-
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options		4,498			-			-
Other, net		-			452			-619
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities		87,997			-10,197			-29,355
Net change in cash and equivalents		43,801			28,504			-43,018
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		100,051			71,547			114,565
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	143,852		$	100,051		$	71,547
See accompanying notes to the condensed financial statements.
GREEN PLAINS RENEWABLE ENERGY, INC.
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF THE REGISTRANT
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – PARENT COMPANY ONLY
1.  BASIS OF PRESENTATION
Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc., the Parent Company, is a holding company that conducts substantially all of its business operations through its subsidiaries. As specified in certain of its subsidiaries’ debt agreements, there are restrictions on the Parent Company’s ability to obtain funds from certain of its subsidiaries through dividends, loans or advances. See Note 10 – Debt in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further information. Accordingly, these condensed financial statements have been presented on a “parent-only” basis. Under a parent-only presentation, the Parent Company’s investments in its consolidated subsidiaries are presented under the equity method of accounting. These parent-only financial statements should be read in conjunction with Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc.’s audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere herein.
2.  COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Operating Leases
The Parent Company leases certain facilities under agreements that expire at various dates. For accounting purposes, rent expense is based on a straight-line amortization of the total payments required over the lease term. The Parent Company incurred lease expenses of $0.9 million, $0.9 million and $1.0 million during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Aggregate minimum lease payments under these agreements for future fiscal years are as follows (in thousands):
Year Ending December 31,		Amount
2014		$	955
2015			821
2016			846
2017			179
2018			120
Thereafter			371
Total		$	3,292
Parent Guarantees
The various operating subsidiaries of the Parent Company enter into contracts as a routine part of their business activities. Examples of these contracts include financing and lease arrangements, commodity purchase and sale agreements, and agreements with vendors. In certain instances, the contractual obligations of such subsidiaries are guaranteed by, or otherwise supported by the Parent Company. As of December 31, 2013, the Parent Company had $141.1 million in guarantees of subsidiary contracts and indebtedness.
3.  DEBT
Parent Company debt is comprised of 5.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2015, 3.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2018 and capital leases obligations.
Scheduled long-term debt repayments, excluding the effects of any debt discounts, are as follows (in thousands):
Year Ending December 31,		Amount
2014		$	188
2015			90,000
2016			-
2017			-
2018			120,000
Thereafter			-
Total		$	210,188

Basis_Of_Presentation_And_Desc1

Basis Of Presentation And Description Of Business (Policy)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Basis Of Presentation And Description Of Business [Abstract]	'
Consolidated Financial Statements	'
	Consolidated Financial Statements
	The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its controlled subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated on a consolidated basis for reporting purposes. Unconsolidated entities are included in the financial statements on an equity basis.
Use Of Estimates In The Preparation Of Consolidated Financial Statements	'
	Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Consolidated Financial Statements
	The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Summary_Of_Significant_Account1

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Policy)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Cash And Cash Equivalents And Restricted Cash	'
	Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash
	The Company considers short-term highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents include bank deposits. The Company also has restricted cash which is comprised of cash restricted as to use for payment towards a revenue bond and cash restricted as to use for payment towards a revolving credit agreement.
Revenue Recognition	'
	Revenue Recognition
	The Company recognizes revenue when all of the following criteria are satisfied: persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists; risk of loss and title transfer to the customer; the price is fixed and determinable; and collectability is reasonably assured.
	For sales of ethanol, distillers grains and other commodities by the Company’s marketing business, revenue is recognized when title to the product and risk of loss transfer to an external customer. Revenues related to marketing operations for third parties are recorded on a gross basis as the Company takes title to the product and assumes risk of loss. Unearned revenue is reflected on the consolidated balance sheets for goods in transit for which the Company has received payment and title has not been transferred to the customer. Revenues from the Company’s biofuel terminal operations, which include ethanol transload and splash blending services, are recognized as these services are rendered.
	The Company routinely enters into fixed-price, physical-delivery ethanol sales agreements. In certain instances, the Company intends to settle the transaction by open market purchases of ethanol rather than by delivery from its own production. These transactions are reported net as a component of revenues. Revenues also include realized gains and losses on related derivative financial instruments, ineffectiveness on cash flow hedges, and reclassifications of realized gains and losses on effective cash flow hedges from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).
	Sales of agricultural commodities are recognized when title to the product and risk of loss transfer to the customer, which is dependent on the agreed upon sales terms with the customer. These sales terms provide for passage of title either at the time shipment is made or at the time the commodity has been delivered to its destination and final weights, grades and settlement prices have been agreed upon with the customer. Revenues related to grain merchandising are presented gross in the statements of operations with amounts billed for shipping and handling included in revenues and also as a component of cost of goods sold. Revenues from grain storage are recognized as services are rendered.
Cost Of Goods Sold	'
	Cost of Goods Sold
	Cost of goods sold includes costs for direct labor, materials and certain plant overhead costs. Direct labor includes all compensation and related benefits of non-management personnel involved in the operation of the Company’s ethanol plants. Grain purchasing and receiving costs, other than labor costs for grain buyers and scale operators, are also included in cost of goods sold. Direct materials consist of the costs of corn feedstock, denaturant, and process chemicals. Corn feedstock costs include unrealized gains and losses on related derivative financial instruments not designated as cash flow hedges, inbound freight charges, inspection costs and transfer costs. Corn feedstock costs also include realized gains and losses on related derivative financial instruments, ineffectiveness on cash flow hedges, and reclassifications of realized gains and losses on effective cash flow hedges from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Plant overhead costs primarily consist of plant utilities, plant depreciation and outbound freight charges. Shipping costs incurred directly by the Company, including railcar lease costs, are also reflected in cost of goods sold.
	The Company uses exchange-traded futures and options contracts to minimize the effects of changes in the prices of agricultural commodities on its agribusiness segment’s grain inventories and forward purchase and sales contracts. Exchange-traded futures and options contracts are valued at quoted market prices. Grain inventories held for sale, forward purchase contracts and forward sale contracts in the agribusiness segment are valued at market prices, where available, or other market quotes adjusted for differences, primarily transportation, between the exchange-traded market and the local markets on which the terms of the contracts are based. Changes in the fair value of grain inventories held for sale, forward purchase and sale contracts, and exchange-traded futures and options contracts in the agribusiness segment, are recognized in earnings as a component of cost of goods sold. These contracts are predominantly settled in cash. The Company is exposed to loss in the event of non-performance by the counter-party to forward purchase and forward sales contracts.
Derivative Financial Instruments	'
	Derivative Financial Instruments
	To minimize the risk and the effects of the volatility of commodity price changes primarily related to corn, ethanol and natural gas, the Company uses various derivative financial instruments, including exchange-traded futures, and exchange-traded and over-the-counter options contracts. The Company monitors and manages this exposure as part of its overall risk management policy. As such, the Company seeks to reduce the potentially adverse effects that the volatility of these markets may have on its operating results. The Company may take hedging positions in these commodities as one way to mitigate risk. While the Company attempts to link its hedging activities to purchase and sales activities, there are situations in which these hedging activities can themselves result in losses.
	By using derivatives to hedge exposures to changes in commodity prices, the Company has exposures on these derivatives to credit and market risk. The Company is exposed to credit risk that the counterparty might fail to fulfill its performance obligations under the terms of the derivative contract. The Company minimizes its credit risk by entering into transactions with high quality counterparties, limiting the amount of financial exposure it has with each counterparty and monitoring the financial condition of its counterparties. Market risk is the risk that the value of the financial instrument might be adversely affected by a change in commodity prices or interest rates. The Company manages market risk by incorporating monitoring parameters within its risk management strategy that limit the types of derivative instruments and derivative strategies the Company uses, and the degree of market risk that may be undertaken by the use of derivative instruments.
	The Company evaluates its contracts that involve physical delivery to determine whether they may qualify for the normal purchases or normal sales exemption and are expected to be used or sold over a reasonable period in the normal course of business. Any contracts that do not meet the normal purchase or sales criteria are recorded at fair value with the change in fair value recorded in operating income unless the contracts qualify for, and the Company elects, hedge accounting treatment.
	Certain qualifying derivatives related to ethanol production are designated as cash flow hedges. Prior to entering into cash flow hedges, the Company evaluates the derivative instrument to ascertain its effectiveness. For cash flow hedges, any ineffectiveness is recognized in current period results, while other unrealized gains and losses are reflected in accumulated other comprehensive income until gains and losses from the underlying hedged transaction are realized. In the event that it becomes probable that a forecasted transaction will not occur, the Company would discontinue cash flow hedge treatment, which would affect earnings. These derivative financial instruments are recognized in current assets or other current liabilities at fair value.
	At times, the Company hedges its exposures to changes in the value of inventories and designates certain qualifying derivatives as fair value hedges. The carrying amount of the hedged inventory is adjusted through current period results for changes in the fair value arising from changes in underlying prices. Any ineffectiveness is recognized in current period results to the extent that the change in the fair value of the inventory is not offset by the change in the fair value of the derivative.
Concentrations Of Credit Risk	'
	Concentrations of Credit Risk
	In the normal course of business, the Company is exposed to credit risk resulting from the possibility that a loss may occur from the failure of another party to perform according to the terms of a contract. The Company transacts sales of ethanol and distillers grains and is marketing products for third parties, which may result in concentrations of credit risk from a variety of customers, including major integrated oil companies, large independent refiners, petroleum wholesalers, other marketers and jobbers. The Company is also exposed to credit risk resulting from sales of grain to large commercial buyers, including other ethanol plants, which it continually monitors. Although payments are typically received within fifteen days of sale for ethanol and distillers grains, the Company continually monitors this credit risk exposure. In addition, the Company may prepay for or make deposits on undelivered inventories. Concentrations of credit risk with respect to inventory advances are primarily with a few major suppliers of petroleum products and agricultural inputs.
Inventories	'
	Inventories
	Corn to be used in ethanol production, ethanol and distillers grains inventories are stated at the lower of average cost or market.
	Other grain inventories include readily-marketable physical quantities of grain, forward contracts to buy and sell grain, and exchange traded futures and option contracts (all stated at market value). The futures and options contracts, which are used to hedge the value of both owned grain and forward contracts, are considered derivatives. All grain inventories held for sale are marked to the market price with changes reflected in cost of goods sold. The forward contracts require performance in future periods. Contracts to purchase grain from producers generally relate to the current or future crop years for delivery periods quoted by regulated commodity exchanges. Contracts for the sale of grain to processors or other consumers generally do not extend beyond one year. The terms of contracts for the purchase and sale of grain are consistent with industry standards.
	Finished goods inventory consists of denatured ethanol and its related co-products and is valued at the lower of average cost or market.
Property And Equipment	'
	Property and Equipment
	Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation of these assets is generally computed using the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives of the assets:
		Years
	Plant, buildings and improvements	Oct-40
	Ethanol production equipment	15 - 40
	Other machinery and equipment	7-May
	Land improvements	20
	Railroad track and equipment	20
	Computer and software	5-Mar
	Office furniture and equipment	7-May
	Property and equipment is capitalized at cost. Land improvements are capitalized and depreciated. Expenditures for property betterments and renewals are capitalized. Costs of repairs and maintenance are charged to expense as incurred. The Company periodically evaluates whether events and circumstances have occurred that may warrant revision of the estimated useful life of its fixed assets.
Impairment Of Long-Lived Assets	'
	Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
	The Company reviews its long-lived assets, currently consisting of property and equipment, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of a long-lived asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized in the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset. Significant management judgment is required in determining the fair value of long-lived assets to measure impairment, including projections of future discounted cash flows. No impairment charges were recorded for the periods reported.
Goodwill	'
	Goodwill
	Goodwill is an asset representing the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized. The Company has recorded goodwill for business combinations to the extent the purchase price exceeded the fair value of the net identifiable tangible and intangible assets of each acquired company. The Company’s goodwill currently is comprised of amounts relating to its acquisitions of Green Plains Ord, Green Plains Central City, Green Plains Holdings II, Green Plains Otter Tail and BlendStar.
	Goodwill is reviewed for impairment at least annually. The qualitative factors of goodwill are assessed to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test. Under the first step, the fair value of the reporting unit is compared with its carrying value (including goodwill). If the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying value, an indication of goodwill impairment exists for the reporting unit and the entity must perform step two of the impairment test. Under the second step, an impairment loss is recognized for any excess of the carrying amount of the reporting unit’s goodwill over the implied fair value of that goodwill. The implied fair value of goodwill is determined by allocating the fair value of the reporting unit in a manner similar to a purchase price allocation and the residual fair value after this allocation is the implied fair value of the reporting unit goodwill. Fair value of the reporting unit is determined using a discounted cash flow analysis. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying value, no further analysis is necessary. The Company performs its annual impairment review of goodwill at October 1, and when a triggering event occurs between annual impairment tests. No impairment losses were recorded for the periods reported.
Financing Costs	'
	Financing Costs
	Fees and costs related to securing debt financing are recorded as financing costs. Debt issuance costs are stated at cost and are amortized utilizing the effective interest method for term loans and on a straight-line basis for revolving credit arrangements over the life of the agreements. However, during periods of construction, amortization of such costs is capitalized in construction-in-progress.
Selling, General And Administrative Expenses	'
	Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
	Selling, general and administrative expenses are primarily general and administrative expenses for employee salaries, incentives and benefits; office expenses; director compensation; and professional fees for accounting, legal, consulting, and investor relations activities; as well as non-plant depreciation and amortization costs.
Environmental Expenditures	'
	Environmental Expenditures
	Environmental expenditures that pertain to current operations and relate to future revenue are expensed or capitalized consistent with the Company’s capitalization policy. Probable liabilities incurred that are reasonably estimable are also expensed or capitalized according to this policy and if material, would be disclosed in its quarterly and annual filings. Expenditures that result from the remediation of an existing condition caused by past operations and that do not contribute to future revenue are expensed as incurred.
Stock-Based Compensation	'
	Stock-Based Compensation
	The Company recognizes compensation cost using a fair value based method whereby compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the value of the award and is recognized over the service period, which is usually the vesting period. The Company uses the Black-Scholes pricing model to calculate the fair value of options and warrants issued to both employees and non-employees. Stock issued for compensation is valued using the market price of the stock on the date of the related agreement.
Income Taxes	'
	Income Taxes
	The provision for income taxes is computed using the asset and liability method, under which deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax consequences attributable to temporary differences between the financial reporting carrying amount of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in operating results in the period of enactment. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.
	The Company recognizes uncertainties in income taxes within the financial statements under a process by which the likelihood of a tax position is gauged based upon the technical merits of the position, and then a subsequent measurement relates the maximum benefit and the degree of likelihood to determine the amount of benefit recognized in the financial statements. The Company excludes interest and penalties on tax uncertainties from the computation of income tax expense. These costs are treated as pre-tax expenses.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	'
	Recent Accounting Pronouncements
	Effective January 1, 2013, the Company adopted the amended guidance in ASC Topic 210, Balance Sheet. The amended guidance addresses disclosure of offsetting financial assets and liabilities. It requires entities to add disclosures showing both gross and net information about instruments and transactions eligible for offset in the balance sheet and instruments and transactions subject to an agreement similar to a master netting arrangement. The updated disclosures have been implemented retrospectively and do not impact the Company’s financial position or results of operations.
	Effective January 1, 2013, the Company adopted the amended guidance in ASC Topic 220, Comprehensive Income. The amended guidance requires entities to disclose additional information about reclassification adjustments, including (1) changes in accumulated other comprehensive income by component and (2) significant items reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by presenting the amount reclassified and the individual income statement line items affected. The updated disclosures have been implemented prospectively and do not impact our financial position or results of operations. Refer to Note 13, Stockholders’ Equity, for expanded disclosures.

Summary_Of_Significant_Account2

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Schedule Of Estimated Useful Lives Of Assets	'
		Years
	Plant, buildings and improvements	Oct-40
	Ethanol production equipment	15 - 40
	Other machinery and equipment	7-May
	Land improvements	20
	Railroad track and equipment	20
	Computer and software	5-Mar
	Office furniture and equipment	7-May

Acquisitions_and_Dispositions_

Acquisitions and Dispositions (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'
Schedule Of Disposed Assets And Liabilities	'
	Amounts of Disposed Assets and Liabilities
	Current assets	$	146,527
	Property and equipment, net		44,640
	Current liabilities		92,386
	Long-term debt, net		27,974
Green Plains Fairmont and Green Plains Wood River [Member]	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'
Schedule Of Identifiable Assets Acquired And Liabilities Assumed	'
	Amounts of Identifiable Assets Acquired
	and Liabilities Assumed
	Accounts receivable			$	912
	Inventory				8,680
	Prepaid expenses and other				2,696
	Property and equipment, net				104,592
	Other assets				4,188
	Current liabilities				-3,648
	Long-term portion of capital leases and
	tax increment financing bond				-7,931
	Other liabilities				-1,489
	Total identifiable net assets			$	108,000
Acquisition Of Otter Tail [Member]	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'
Schedule Of Identifiable Assets Acquired And Liabilities Assumed	'
	Amounts of Identifiable Assets Acquired
	and Liabilities Assumed
	Inventory			$	4,986
	Other current assets				738
	Property and equipment, net				51,925
	Current liabilities				-409
	Other				-138
		Total identifiable net assets			57,102
	Goodwill				2,600
		Purchase price		$	59,702

Fair_Value_Disclosures_Tables

Fair Value Disclosures (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Schedule Of Assets And Liabilities Fair Value	'
		Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2013
		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets			Significant Other Observable Inputs		Reclassification for Balance Sheet
		(Level 1)			(Level 2)		Presentation		Total
	Assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	272,027		$	-	$	-	$	272,027
	Restricted cash		26,994			-		-		26,994
	Margin deposits		77,102			-		-77,102		-
	Inventories carried at market		-			23,782		-		23,782
	Unrealized gains on derivatives		3,629			18,712		26,295		48,636
	Other assets (1)		2,200			-		-		2,200
	Total assets measured at fair value	$	381,952		$	42,494	$	-50,807	$	373,639
	Liabilities:
	Unrealized losses on derivatives	$	50,807		$	4,612	$	-50,807	$	4,612
	Other		9			-		-		9
	Total liabilities measured at fair value	$	50,816		$	4,612	$	-50,807	$	4,621
		-1		Represents long-term restricted cash related to the $22.0 million revenue bond of Green Plains Bluffton.
		Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2012
		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets			Significant Other Observable Inputs		Reclassification for Balance Sheet
		(Level 1)			(Level 2)		Presentation		Total
	Assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	254,289		$	-	$	-	$	254,289
	Restricted cash		28,015			-		-		28,015
	Margin deposits		12,847			-		-12,847		-
	Inventories carried at market		-			61,763		-		61,763
	Unrealized gains on derivatives		7,337			3,254		10,347		20,938
	Total assets measured at fair value	$	302,488		$	65,017	$	-2,500	$	365,005
	Liabilities:
	Unrealized losses on derivatives	$	2,544		$	2,103	$	-2,500	$	2,147
	Other		107			-		-		107
	Total liabilities measured at fair value	$	2,651		$	2,103	$	-2,500	$	2,254

Segment_Information_Tables

Segment Information (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Information [Abstract]	'
Summary Of Financial Data	'
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013		2012		2011
	Revenues:
	Ethanol production:
	Revenues from external customers	$	116,272	$	200,443	$	128,780
	Intersegment revenues		1,934,770		1,708,800		2,005,141
	Total segment revenues		2,051,042		1,909,243		2,133,921
	Corn oil production:
	Revenues from external customers		-		529		1,466
	Intersegment revenues		69,163		57,315		43,391
	Total segment revenues		69,163		57,844		44,857
	Agribusiness:
	Revenues from external customers		51,883		408,622		358,968
	Intersegment revenues		761,835		176,062		195,172
	Total segment revenues		813,718		584,684		554,140
	Marketing and distribution:
	Revenues from external customers		2,872,856		2,867,276		3,064,498
	Intersegment revenues		21,790		355		467
	Total segment revenues		2,894,646		2,867,631		3,064,965
	Revenues including intersegment activity		5,828,569		5,419,402		5,797,883
	Intersegment eliminations		-2,787,558		-1,942,532		-2,244,171
	Revenues as reported	$	3,041,011	$	3,476,870	$	3,553,712
	Gross profit (loss):
	Ethanol production	$	79,109	$	-4,895	$	87,010
	Corn oil production		36,615		32,388		27,067
	Agribusiness		6,258		35,973		34,749
	Marketing and distribution		57,671		32,362		23,112
	Intersegment eliminations		-6,633		943		294
		$	173,020	$	96,771	$	172,232
	Operating income (loss):
	Ethanol production	$	63,012	$	-20,393	$	73,242
	Corn oil production		36,569		32,140		26,999
	Agribusiness		3,324		60,030		11,721
	Marketing and distribution		40,971		17,290		9,475
	Intersegment eliminations		-6,588		977		334
	Corporate activities		-29,437		-25,159		-22,758
		$	107,851	$	64,885	$	99,013
	Income (loss) before income taxes:
	Ethanol production	$	44,061	$	-42,430	$	49,612
	Corn oil production		36,570		32,142		26,998
	Agribusiness		793		54,172		6,170
	Marketing and distribution		37,098		13,768		6,760
	Intersegment eliminations		-6,588		977		334
	Corporate activities		-39,653		-33,473		-27,975
		$	72,281	$	25,156	$	61,899
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013		2012		2011
	Depreciation and amortization:
	Ethanol production	$	45,312	$	44,239	$	43,169
	Corn oil production		1,175		1,156		859
	Agribusiness		362		4,209		3,975
	Marketing and distribution		2,836		1,942		1,623
	Corporate activities		1,317		1,282		450
		$	51,002	$	52,828	$	50,076
	Interest expense:
	Ethanol production	$	18,988	$	22,081	$	23,725
	Corn oil production		-		-		-
	Agribusiness		2,531		5,881		5,569
	Marketing and distribution		4,079		3,532		2,716
	Intersegment eliminations		-982		-1,137		-849
	Corporate activities		8,741		7,164		5,484
		$	33,357	$	37,521	$	36,645
	Capital expenditures:
Ethanol production	$	8,469	$	7,637	$	11,416
Corn oil production		1,782		725		15,375
Agribusiness		6,514		2,006		8,977
Marketing and distribution		2,347		15,791		2,476
Corporate activities		652		617		4,239
	$	19,764	$	26,776	$	42,483
Summary Of Total Assets For Operating Segments	'
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013		2012
	Total assets:
	Ethanol production	$	911,315	$	831,939
	Corn oil production		28,569		27,751
	Agribusiness		165,570		179,930
	Marketing and distribution		258,361		184,541
	Corporate assets		175,210		150,797
	Intersegment eliminations		-6,980		-25,224
		$	1,532,045	$	1,349,734
Schedule Of Revenues By Product	'
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013		2012		2011
	Revenues:
	Ethanol	$	2,339,470	$	2,507,119	$	2,720,918
	Distillers grains		488,396		433,088		405,094
	Corn oil		74,251		58,640		44,857
	Grain		92,487		348,413		290,538
	Agronomy		249		58,641		61,174
	products
	Other		46,158		70,969		31,131
		$	3,041,011	$	3,476,870	$	3,553,712

Inventories_Tables

Inventories (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Inventories [Abstract]	'
Schedule Of Inventories	'
		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Finished goods	$	56,664	$	58,080
	Grain held for sale		23,782		61,763
	Raw materials		51,726		28,494
	Work-in-process		11,506		13,326
	Supplies and parts		14,650		10,346
		$	158,328	$	172,009

Property_And_Equipment_Tables

Property And Equipment (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Property And Equipment [Abstract]	'
Schedule Of Components Of Property And Equipment	'
		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Plant equipment	$	749,627	$	673,454
	Buildings and improvements		147,663		90,240
	Land and improvements		59,481		57,491
	Railroad track and equipment		39,852		34,070
	Construction-in-progress		3,789		3,499
	Computers and software		7,380		6,228
	Office furniture and equipment		1,662		1,636
	Leasehold improvements and other		12,111		5,937
	Total property and equipment		1,021,565		872,555
	Less: accumulated depreciation		-215,519		-164,445
	Property and equipment, net	$	806,046	$	708,110

Derivative_Financial_Instrumen1

Derivative Financial Instruments (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Schedule Of Fair Values Of Derivative Financial Instruments	'
		Asset Derivatives'						Liability Derivatives'
		Fair Value at December 31,						Fair Value at December 31,
		2013			2012			2013			2012
	Derivative financial instruments (1)	$	-28,466	-2	$	8,091	-3	$	-		$	-
	Accrued and other liabilities		-			-			4,612			2,103
	Other liabilities		-			-			-			44
	Total	$	-28,466		$	8,091		$	4,612		$	2,147
	(1) Derivative financial instruments as reflected on the balance sheet include a margin deposit assets of $77.1 million and $12.8 million at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
	(2) Balance at December 31, 2013, includes $47.1 million of net unrealized losses on derivative financial instruments designated as cash flow hedging instruments.
	(3)Balance at December 31, 2012, includes $2.1 million of net unrealized gains on derivative financial instruments designated as cash flow hedging instruments.
Schedule of Effective Portion of Cash Flow Hedges Recognized In Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	'
	Effective Portion of Cash Flow		Year Ended December 31,
	Hedges Recognized in
	Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)		2013			2012			2011
	Commodity Contracts		$	-138,589		$	49,999		$	-55,356
Schedule Of Gains (Losses) On Derivative Instruments Not Designated In Hedging Relationship [Member]	'
Schedule Of Gains (Losses) On Derivative Instruments Not Designated In Hedging Relationship	'
	Gains (Losses) on Derivative Instruments Not		Year Ended December 31,
	Designated in a Hedging Relationship		2013			2012			2011
	Revenue		$	-10,855		$	-6,206		$	1,595
	Cost of goods sold			13,375			-12,050			-35,013
	Net increase (decrease) recognized in earnings before tax		$	2,520		$	-18,256		$	-33,418
Schedule Of Gain (Loss) Due To Ineffectiveness Of Cash Flow Hedges [Member]	'
Schedule of Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) in Statement of Financial Performance	'
	Gain (Loss) Due to Ineffectiveness		Year Ended December 31,
	of Cash Flow Hedges		2013			2012			2011
	Revenue		$	-84		$	-10		$	-201
	Cost of goods sold			-490			-			-30
	Net decrease recognized in earnings before tax		$	-574		$	-10		$	-231
Schedule Of Gains (Losses) Reclassified From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Into Net Income (Loss) [Member]	'
Schedule of Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) in Statement of Financial Performance	'
	Gains (Losses) Reclassified from Accumulated		Year Ended December 31,
	Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
	into Net Income (Loss)		2013			2012			2011
	Revenue		$	-96,736		$	-17,318		$	-46,686
	Cost of goods sold			-25,852			56,848			-4,437
	Net increase (decrease) recognized in earnings before tax		$	-122,588		$	39,530		$	-51,123
Schedule Of Volumes of Open Commodity Derivative Positions [Member]	'
Schedule Of Open Positition Derivative Financial Instruments	'
	31-Dec-13
			Exchange Traded		Non-Exchange Traded
	Derivative Instruments		Net Long & (Short) (1)		Long (2)		(Short) (2)		Unit of Measure		Commodity
	Futures		-3,695						Bushels		Corn, Soybeans and Wheat
	Futures		53,240	-3					Bushels		Corn
	Futures		-5,115	-4					Bushels		Corn
	Futures		8,274						Gallons		Ethanol
	Futures		-215,082	-3					Gallons		Ethanol
	Futures		-1,040						mmBTU		Natural Gas
	Options		1,415						Bushels		Corn, Soybeans and Wheat
	Options		-10,173						Gallons		Ethanol
	Forwards				7,736		-3,650		Bushels		Corn and Soybeans
	Forwards				6,265		-219,653		Gallons		Ethanol
	Forwards				27		-317		Tons		Distillers Grains
	Forwards				672		-55,481		Pounds		Corn Oil
		-1		Exchange traded futures and options are presented on a net long and (short) position basis. Options are presented on a delta-adjusted basis.
		-2		Non-exchange traded forwards are presented on a gross long and (short) position basis including both fixed-price and basis contracts.
		-3		Futures used for cash flow hedges.
		-4		Futures used for fair value hedges
Schedule Of Equity Trading Contracts Not Involving Physical Delivery Revenue And Cost Of Goods Sold [Member]	'
Schedule Of Gains (Losses) On Derivative Instruments Not Designated In Hedging Relationship	'
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
	Revenue	$	27,778		$	26,563		$	133,619
	Cost of goods sold	$	28,952		$	26,072		$	132,234

Debt_Tables

Debt (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Schedule Of The Components Of Long-Term Debt	'
		December 31,
		2013			2012
	Green Plains Bluffton:
	$70.0 million term loan	$	26,621		$	41,018
	$20.0 million revolving term loan		15,000			20,000
	$22.0 million revenue bond		15,780			17,510
	Green Plains Central City:
	$55.0 million term loan		33,100			38,635
	$30.5 million revolving term loan		17,739			28,639
	$11.0 million revolving line of credit		-			10,600
	Equipment financing loan		36			105
	Green Plains Fairmont and Green Plains Wood River:
	$50.0 million term loan		50,000			-
	Tax increment financing bond		3,626			-
	Capital leases on grain facilities		9,994			-
	Capital lease - equipment		5,489			-
	Green Plains Holdings II:
	$26.4 million term loan		15,914			21,914
	$51.1 million revolving term loan		31,960			45,320
	Green Plains Obion:
	$60.0 million term loan		3,879			13,479
	$37.4 million revolving term loan		28,400			37,400
	Equipment financing loan		126			334
	Economic development grant		1,245			1,335
	Green Plains Ord:
	$25.0 million term loan		15,143			17,675
	$13.0 million revolving term loan		2,151			12,151
	$5.0 million revolving line of credit		-			4,749
	Green Plains Otter Tail:
	$30.3 million term loan		17,960			22,791
	$4.7 million revolver		-			4,675
	$19.2 million note payable		19,151			19,014
	Capital lease - equipment		-			53
	Green Plains Shenandoah:
	$17.0 million revolving term loan		9,000			17,000
	Green Plains Superior:
	$40.0 million term loan		9,750			15,250
	$10.0 million revolving term loan		8,000			10,000
	Equipment financing loan		18			89
	Corporate:
	$90.0 million convertible notes		90,000			90,000
	$120.0 million convertible notes		96,653			-
	Notes payable		-			1,625
	Capital lease		188			403
	Other		10,000			211
	Total long-term debt		536,923			491,975
	Less: current portion of long-term debt		-56,177			-129,426
	Long-term debt	$	480,746		$	362,549
Schedule Of Maturities Of Long-Term Debt	'
	Year Ending December 31,		Amount
	2014		$	56,177
	2015			204,093
	2016			80,160
	2017			33,980
	2018			159,941
	Thereafter			25,918
	Total		$	560,269
Schedule of Financial Covenants	'
	Maintenance of working capital, including unused portion of revolver, as follows:
	•	Green Plains Bluffton	$5.0 million
	•	Green Plains Central City	$10.0 million excluding current
		and Green Plains Ord combined	maturities of long-term debt
	•	Green Plains Holdings II	$22.5 million
	•	Green Plains Obion	$9.0 million
	•	Green Plains Otter Tail	$5.0 million
	•	Green Plains Shenandoah	$6.0 million
	•	Green Plains Superior	$3.0 million
	Maintenance of net worth as follows:
	•	Green Plains Holdings II	$80.0 million
	•	Green Plains Obion	$90.0 million
	•	Green Plains Shenandoah	$65.0 million
	•	Green Plains Superior	$23.0 million
	Maintenance of tangible net worth as follows:
	•	Green Plains Bluffton	$82.5 million
	•	Green Plains Otter Tail	$8.0 million
	Maintenance of tangible owner’s equity as follows:
	•	Green Plains Bluffton	at least 50%
	Maintenance of annual fixed charge coverage ratios:
	•	Green Plains Bluffton	1.15 to 1.0
	•	Green Plains Central City
		and Green Plains Ord combined	1.15 to 1.0
	•	Green Plains Otter Tail	1.15 to 1.0
	Maintenance of annual debt service coverage ratios:
	•	Green Plains Fairmont and Green Plains Wood River	2.25 to 1.0
	•	Green Plains Holdings II	1.25 to 1.0
	•	Green Plains Obion	1.0 to 1.0
	•	Green Plains Shenandoah	1.0 to 1.0
	•	Green Plains Superior	1.0 to 1.0
	Maintenance of annual leverage ratio:
	•	Green Plains Fairmont and Green Plains Wood River	3.25 to 1.0 (decreasing to 2.0 to 1.0 in 2015)
	Annual capital expenditures will be limited as follows:
	•	Green Plains Bluffton	$2.0 million
	•	Green Plains Central City	$2.0 million
	•	Green Plains Fairmont and Green Plains Wood River	$2.0 million
	•	Green Plains Holdings II	$6.0 million
	•	Green Plains Obion	$2.0 million
	•	Green Plains Ord	$2.0 million
	•	Green Plains Otter Tail	$2.0 million
	•	Green Plains Shenandoah	$1.3 million
	•	Green Plains Superior	$0.6 million
Schedule of Allowable Dividends	'
	•	Green Plains Bluffton	Up to 35% of net profit before tax, and up to
			an additional 15% of net profit before tax,
			after free cash flow payment is made
	•	Green Plains Central City
		and Green Plains Ord	Up to 35% of net profit before tax, and an
			unlimited amount may be distributed after free
			cash flow payment is made, provided
			maintenance of 70% tangible owners equity
	•	Green Plains Fairmont
		and Green Plains Wood River	Up to amounts equal to permitted tax
			distributions, as defined in the loan agreement
	•	Green Plains Holdings II	Up to 40% of net profit before tax, and
			unlimited after free cash flow payment is made
	•	Green Plains Obion	Up to 40% of net profit before tax, and
			unlimited after free cash flow payment is made
	•	Green Plains Otter Tail	Up to 40% of net profit before tax, and an
			amount reasonably acceptable to the lender
			may be distributed provided maintenance of
			40% tangible owner equity
	•	Green Plains Superior	Up to 40% of net profit before tax, and
			unlimited after free cash flow payment is made
Term Loan [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Schedule Of Principal Payments Of Long-Term Debt	'
	•	Green Plains Bluffton	$0.3 million per month
	•	Green Plains Central City	$0.5 million per month
	•	Green Plains Fairmont and
		Green Plains Wood River	$2.5 million per quarter
	•	Green Plains Holdings II	$1.5 million per quarter
	•	Green Plains Obion	$2.4 million per quarter
	•	Green Plains Ord	$0.2 million per month
	•	Green Plains Otter Tail	$0.4 million per month
	•	Green Plains Superior	$1.4 million per quarter
Schedule Of Maturity Dates Of Long-Term Debt	'
	•	Green Plains Bluffton	31-Jan-15
	•	Green Plains Central City	1-Jul-16
	•	Green Plains Fairmont and
		Green Plains Wood River	27-Nov-15
	•	Green Plains Holdings II	1-Jul-16
	•	Green Plains Obion	20-May-14
	•	Green Plains Ord	1-Jul-16
	•	Green Plains Otter Tail	1-Sep-18
	•	Green Plains Superior	20-Jul-15
Schedule Of Aggregate Future Payments Necessary to Discontinue Free Cash Flow Payments	'
	•	Green Plains Bluffton	$16.0 million
	•	Green Plains Central City and
		Green Plains Ord combined	$16.0 million
	•	Green Plains Holdings II	$18.0 million
	•	Green Plains Obion	$10.1 million
	•	Green Plains Superior	$10.0 million
Schedule Of Free Cash Flow Payments Annual Threshold	'
	•	Green Plains Bluffton	$4.0 million
	•	Green Plains Central City and
		Green Plains Ord combined	$4.0 million
	•	Green Plains Obion	$8.0 million
Revolving Term Loans [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Schedule Of Maturity Dates Of Long-Term Debt	'
	•	Green Plains Bluffton	31-Jan-15
	•	Green Plains Central City	1-Jul-16
	•	Green Plains Holdings II	1-Oct-18
	•	Green Plains Obion	1-Jun-18
	•	Green Plains Ord	1-Jul-16
	•	Green Plains Shenandoah	20-Sep-18
	•	Green Plains Superior	1-Jul-17

StockBased_Compensation_Tables

Stock-Based Compensation (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Stock-Based Compensation [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Stock Option Valuation Assumptions	'
				2012
	Expected life			6
	Interest rate			0.63%
	Volatility			76.26%
	Dividend yield			-
Schedule Of Stock Option Activity	'
		Shares	Weighted-Average Exercise Price		Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years)	Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in thousands)
	Outstanding at December 31, 2012	726,750	$	10.10	4.3	$	625
	Granted	-		-
	Exercised	-111,500		6.43			745
	Forfeited	-		-
	Expired	-5,000		16.95
	Outstanding at December 31, 2013	610,250	$	10.71	3.4	$	5,310
	Exercisable at December 31, 2013 (1)	610,250	$	10.71	3.4	$	5,310
	Includes in-the-money options totaling 550,250 shares at a weighted-average exercise price of $9.70.
Schedule Of Non-Vested Stock Award And DSU Activity	'
		Non-Vested Shares and Deferred Stock Units	Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value		Weighted-Average Remaining Vesting Term
					(in years)
	Nonvested at December 31, 2012	628,090	$	11.41
	Granted	578,151		9.72
	Forfeited	-5,358		9.80
	Vested	-461,933		10.94
	Nonvested at December 31, 2013	738,950	$	10.39	1.7

Earnings_Per_Share_Tables

Earnings Per Share (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Schedule Of Basic And Diluted Earnings Per Share	'
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013		2012		2011
	Basic EPS:
	Net income attributable to Green Plains	$	43,391	$	11,779	$	38,418
	Weighted average shares outstanding - basic		30,183		30,296		35,276
	Income attributable to Green Plains stockholders - basic	$	1.44	$	0.39	$	1.09
	Diluted EPS:
	Net income attributable to Green Plains	$	43,391	$	11,779	$	38,418
	Interest and amortization on convertible debt, net of tax effect:
	5.75% Notes due 2015		3,578		-		3,610
	3.25% Notes due 2018		1,473		-		-
	Net income attributable to Green Plains on an if-converted basis	$	48,442	$	11,779	$	42,028
	Weighted average shares outstanding - basic		30,183		30,296		35,276
	Effect of dilutive convertible debt:
	5.75% Notes due 2015		6,286		-		6,280
	3.25% Notes due 2018		1,624		-		-
	Effect of dilutive stock-based compensation awards		211		167		252
	Total potential shares outstanding		38,304		30,463		41,808
	Net income attributable to Green Plains stockholders - diluted	$	1.26	$	0.39	$	1.01

Stockholders_Equity_Tables

Stockholders' Equity (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Stockholders’ Equity [Abstract]	'
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Table Text Block]	'
		Year Ended December 31,						Statements of Operations
		2013		2012		2011		Classification
	Gains (losses) on cash flow hedges:
	Ethanol commodity derivatives	$	-96,736	$	-17,318	$	-46,686	Revenues
	Corn commodity derivatives		-25,852		56,848		-4,437	Cost of goods sold
	Total		-122,588		39,530		-51,123	Income (loss) before income taxes
	Income tax benefit		-46,941		15,032		-20,531	Income tax expense (benefit)
	Amounts reclassified from accumulated
	other comprehensive income (loss)	$	-75,647	$	24,498	$	-30,592

Income_Taxes_Tables

Income Taxes (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Taxes [Abstract]	'
Schedule Of Income Tax Expense	'
			Year Ended December 31,
			2013			2012			2011
	Current		$	1,397		$	2,689		$	-612
	Deferred			27,493			10,704			24,298
	Total		$	28,890		$	13,393		$	23,686
Schedule Of Differences Between The Income Tax Expense (Benefit)Computed At The Statutory Federal income Tax Rate And As Presented On The Consolidated Statements Of Operations	'
			Year Ended December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
	Tax expense at federal statutory
	rate of 35%	$	25,299		$	8,810		$	21,737
	State income tax expense, net
	of federal benefit		2,400			1,970			2,989
	Increase (decrease) in valuation allowance
	against deferred tax assets		-1,075			2,086			-2,084
	Nondeductible compensation		1,380			-			-
	Other		886			527			1,044
	Income tax expense	$	28,890		$	13,393		$	23,686
Schedule Of Significant Components Of Deferred Tax Assets And Liabilities	'
		December 31,
		2013			2012
	Deferred tax assets:
	Net operating loss carryforwards - Federal	$	-		$	10,688
	Net operating loss carryforwards - State		1,855			1,275
	Tax credit carryforwards - Federal		2,062			2,354
	Tax credit carryforwards - State		5,662			5,637
	Derivative financial instruments		2,297			-
	Organizational and start-up costs		2,371			4,245
	Stock-based compensation		2,998			4,031
	Accrued Expenses		6,969			6,361
	Other		1,294			1,223
	Total deferred tax assets		25,508			35,814
	Deferred tax liabilities:
	Derivative financial instruments	$	-		$	-2,074
	Convertible debt		-8,444			-
	Fixed assets		-95,655			-82,867
	Investment in partnerships		-995			-45
	Total deferred tax liabilities		-105,094			-84,986
	Valuation allowance		-3,765			-4,840
	Deferred income taxes	$	-83,351		$	-54,012
Reconciliation Of The Beginning And Ending Amounts Of Unrecognized Tax Benefits	'
	Unrecognized Tax Benefits
	Balance at January 1, 2013	$	107
	Gross increases from tax positions in prior periods		-
	Settlements		-
	Balance at December 31, 2013	$	107

Commitments_And_Contingencies_

Commitments And Contingencies (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Commitments And Contingencies [Abstract]	'
Schedule Of Aggregate Minimum Lease Payments	'
	Year Ending December 31,	Amount
	2014	$	16,766
	2015		15,488
	2016		13,380
	2017		8,620
	2018		6,140
	Thereafter		3,163
	Total	$	63,557

Quarterly_Financial_Data_Table

Quarterly Financial Data (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Quarterly Financial Data[Abstract]	'
Schedule Of Quarterly Financial Information	'
		Three Months Ended
		December 31,		September 30,		June 30,		March 31,
		2013		2013		2013		2013
	Revenues	$	712,869	$	757,971	$	804,696	$	765,476
	Cost of goods sold		640,697		716,947		772,085		738,262
	Operating income		51,051		25,534		18,562		12,704
	Other expense		-10,219		-8,491		-8,309		-8,551
	Income tax expense		15,371		7,633		4,288		1,598
	Net income attributable to Green Plains		25,461		9,410		5,965		2,555
	Basic earnings per share attributable to Green Plains		0.84		0.31		0.20		0.09
	Diluted earnings per share attributable to Green Plains		0.65		0.28		0.19		0.08
		Three Months Ended
		December 31,		September 30,		June 30,		March 31,
		2012		2012		2012		2012
	Revenues	$	883,707	$	947,413	$	870,356	$	775,395
	Cost of goods sold		841,736		919,516		852,222		766,625
	Operating income (loss) (1)		68,435		8,624		-1,083		-11,091
	Other expense		-9,273		-10,234		-10,616		-9,606
	Income tax expense (benefit)		26,142		-604		-4,145		-8,001
	Net income (loss) attributable to Green Plains		33,023		-1,002		-7,550		-12,692
	Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to Green Plains		1.11		-0.03		-0.25		-0.39
	Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Green
	Plains		0.94		-0.03		-0.25		-0.39

Schedule_I_Condensed_Financial1

Schedule I - Condensed Financial Information Of The Registrant (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Scheduled Long-Term Debt Repayments	'
	Year Ending December 31,		Amount
	2014		$	56,177
	2015			204,093
	2016			80,160
	2017			33,980
	2018			159,941
	Thereafter			25,918
	Total		$	560,269
Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc. [Member]	'
Condensed Financial Information Of The Registrant Statements Of Balance Sheet - Parent Company Only	'
			December 31,
			2013			2012
	ASSETS
	Current assets
	Cash and cash equivalents		$	143,852		$	100,051
	Accounts receivable, including amounts from related parties of
	$69 and $30, respectively			128			88
	Prepaid expenses and other			860			728
	Due from subsidiaries			20,987			8,284
	Total current assets			165,827			109,151
	Property and equipment, net			3,052			3,759
	Investment in consolidated subsidiaries			568,410			493,057
	Other assets			19,374			19,225
	Total assets		$	756,663		$	625,192
	LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
	Current liabilities
	Accounts payable		$	4,310		$	1,516
	Accrued liabilities			14,344			13,354
	Short term notes payable			-			27,162
	Current maturities of long-term debt			188			1,840
	Total current liabilities			18,842			43,872
	Long-term debt			186,654			90,188
	Deferred income taxes			5,446			-
	Other liabilities			363			630
	Total liabilities			211,305			134,690
	Stockholders' equity
	Common stock			38			37
	Additional paid-in capital			468,962			445,198
	Retained earnings			148,505			107,540
	Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)			-6,339			3,535
	Treasury stock			-65,808			-65,808
	Total stockholders' equity			545,358			490,502
	Total liabilities and stockholders' equity		$	756,663		$	625,192
Condensed Financial Information Of The Registrant Statements Of Operations - Parent Company Only	'
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
	Selling, general and administrative expenses	$	88		$	-		$	471
	Operating (loss)		-88			-			-471
	Other income (expense)
	Interest income		192			112			197
	Interest expense		-8,742			-7,165			-5,484
	Other, net		-2,647			-2,399			-779
	Total other expense		-11,197			-9,452			-6,066
	Loss before income taxes		-11,285			-9,452			-6,537
	Income tax benefit		5,018			218			2,462
	Loss before equity in earnings of subsidiaries		-6,267			-9,234			-4,075
	Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries		49,658			21,013			42,493
	Net income	$	43,391		$	11,779		$	38,418
Condensed Financial Information Of The Registrant Statements Of Cash Flows - Parent Company Only	'
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
	Cash flows from operating activities:	$	-1,338		$	-279		$	36,400
	Net cash provided (used) by operating activities		-1,338			-279			36,400
	Cash flows from investing activities:
	Purchases of property and equipment		-652			-616			-4,239
	Proceeds on disposal of assets, net		42			-			-
	Investment in subsidiaries, net		-54,340			54,426			-32,651
	Issuance of notes receivable from subsidiaries,
	net of payments received		15,356			-6,832			-9,011
	Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries		-3,264			-7,998			-4,162
	Net cash provided (used) by investing activities		-42,858			38,980			-50,063
	Cash flows from financing activities:
	Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt		120,000			-			-
	Payments of principal on long-term debt		-1,841			-204			-535
	Payments on short-term borrowings		-27,162			-			-
	Payments for repurchase of common stock		-			-10,445			-28,201
	Payment of cash dividends		-2,426			-			-
	Payment of loan fees		-5,072			-			-
	Proceeds from the exercise of stock options		4,498			-			-
	Other, net		-			452			-619
	Net cash provided (used) by financing activities		87,997			-10,197			-29,355
	Net change in cash and equivalents		43,801			28,504			-43,018
	Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		100,051			71,547			114,565
	Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	143,852		$	100,051		$	71,547
Schedule Of Aggregate Minimum Lease Payments	'
	Year Ending December 31,		Amount
	2014		$	955
	2015			821
	2016			846
	2017			179
	2018			120
	Thereafter			371
	Total		$	3,292
Scheduled Long-Term Debt Repayments	'
	Year Ending December 31,		Amount
	2014		$	188
	2015			90,000
	2016			-
	2017			-
	2018			120,000
	Thereafter			-
	Total		$	210,188

Basis_Of_Presentation_And_Desc2

Basis Of Presentation And Description Of Business (Narrative) (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
	segment
	gal
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]	'
Number of operating segments	4
Annual ethanol production capacity, gallons	1,000,000,000
Ethanol Production Segment [Member]	'
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]	'
Number of ethanol plants	12
Annual corn consumption capacity, bushels	360,000,000
Annual distillers grains production capacity, tons	2,900,000
Corn Oil Production Segment [Member]	'
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]	'
Annual corn oil production, pounds	250,000,000
Agribusiness Segment [Member]	'
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]	'
Grain elevator storage capacity, bushels	8,200,000
Ethanol plants, storage capacity, bushels	22,600,000
Marketing And Distribution Segment [Member]	'
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]	'
Number of ethanol plants	12
Number of blending and terminaling facilities	8
Blending and terminaling throughput capacity, gallons	822,000,000
Number of states, in south central U.S., served by BlendStar LLC blending and terminaling facilities	7

Summary_Of_Significant_Account3

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Schedule Of Estimated Useful Lives Of Assets) (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Plant, Buildings And Improvements [Member] | Maximum [Member]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'
Estimated useful lives	'40
Plant, Buildings And Improvements [Member] | Minimum [Member]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'
Estimated useful lives	'10
Ethanol Production Equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'
Estimated useful lives	'40
Ethanol Production Equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'
Estimated useful lives	'15
Other Machinery And Equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'
Estimated useful lives	'7
Other Machinery And Equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'
Estimated useful lives	'5
Land Improvements [Member]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'
Estimated useful lives	'20
Railroad Track And Equipment [Member]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'
Estimated useful lives	'20
Computer And Software [Member] | Maximum [Member]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'
Estimated useful lives	'5
Computer And Software [Member] | Minimum [Member]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'
Estimated useful lives	'3
Office Furniture And Equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'
Estimated useful lives	'7
Office Furniture And Equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'
Estimated useful lives	'5

Acquisitions_and_Dispositions_1

Acquisitions and Dispositions (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
	gal
Disposition Of Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash proceeds from sale of grain elevators	$245,000	$117,711,000	'
Pre-tax gain from sale of grain elevators	'	47,133,000	'
Expected annual ethanol production capacity	1,000,000,000	'	'
Purchase price of acquisition	123,301,000	1,490,000	8,115,000
Cash equity utilized to reduce outstanding debt	303,495,000	120,153,000	206,866,000
Disposed Asset [Member]	'	'	'
Disposition Of Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Number of grain elevators sold in divestiture	12	'	'
Grain elevator storage capacity, bushels	32,600,000	'	'
Percent of agribusiness grain storage capacity	83.00%	'	'
Gross proceeds from the sale, including the assumptions of debt, current liabilities and fees	241,000,000	'	'
Cash proceeds from sale of grain elevators	117,700,000	'	'
Pre-tax gain from sale of grain elevators	47,100,000	'	'
Acquisition Of Otter Tail [Member]	'	'	'
Disposition Of Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Expected annual ethanol production capacity	60,000,000	'	'
Purchase price of acquisition	59,702,000	'	'
Cash paid for business acquisition	5,900,000	'	'
Acquisition Of Otter Tail [Member] | MMCDC New Markets Fund II LLC [Member]	'	'	'
Disposition Of Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Business acquisition purchase price allocation indebtedness	19,200,000	'	'
Business acquisition purchase price allocation outstanding debt	18,800,000	'	'
Acquisition Of Otter Tail [Member] | AgStar Financial Services [Member]	'	'	'
Disposition Of Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Business acquisition purchase price allocation outstanding debt	35,000,000	'	'
Acquisition Of Green Plains Fairmont and Green Plains Wood River [Member]	'	'	'
Disposition Of Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Expected annual ethanol production capacity	230,000,000	'	'
Cash paid for business acquisition	108,000,000	'	'
Transaction Costs	800,000	'	'
Revenue of acquiree since acquisition	32,500,000	'	'
Earnings of acquiree since acquisition	7,600,000	'	'
Notes Payable	77,000,000	'	'
Number of ethanol plants	2	'	'
Consolidated pro forma revenue	3,300,000,000	3,900,000,000	'
Consolidated pro forma net income	47,700,000	200,000	'
Capital Lease Obligations Incurred	$10,000,000	'	'

Acquisitions_and_Dispositions_2

Acquisitions and Dispositions (Schedule Of Disposed Assets And Liabilities) (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Acquisitions And Dispositions [Line Items]	'	'
Current assets	$633,305	$568,035
Property and equipment, net	806,046	708,110
Current liabilities	409,197	432,384
Long-term debt, net	536,923	491,975
Disposed Asset [Member]	'	'
Acquisitions And Dispositions [Line Items]	'	'
Current assets	146,527	'
Property and equipment, net	44,640	'
Disposed Liability [Member]	'	'
Acquisitions And Dispositions [Line Items]	'	'
Current liabilities	92,386	'
Long-term debt, net	$27,974	'

Acquisitions_and_Dispositions_3

Acquisitions and Dispositions (Schedule Of Identifiable Assets Acquired And Liabilities Assumed) (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'	'
Goodwill	$40,877	$40,877	'
Purchase Price	123,301	1,490	8,115
Acquisition Of Green Plains Fairmont and Green Plains Wood River [Member]	'	'	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'	'
Accounts receivable	912	'	'
Inventory	8,680	'	'
Prepaid expenses and other	2,696	'	'
Property and equipment, net	104,592	'	'
Other assets	4,188	'	'
Current liabilities	-3,648	'	'
Long-term portion of capital lease and tax increment financing bond	-7,931	'	'
Other	-1,489	'	'
Total identifiable net assets	108,000	'	'
Acquisition Of Otter Tail [Member]	'	'	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'	'
Inventory	4,986	'	'
Other current assets	738	'	'
Property and equipment, net	51,925	'	'
Current liabilities	-409	'	'
Other	-138	'	'
Total identifiable net assets	57,102	'	'
Goodwill	2,600	'	'
Purchase Price	$59,702	'	'

Fair_Value_Disclosures_Narrati

Fair Value Disclosures (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'	'
Fair value of debt	$775.70	$663.30
Book Value Of Debt	735.2	'
Fair value of accounts receivable	106.8	80.5
Fair value of accounts payable	$112	$95.60

Fair_Value_Disclosures_Schedul

Fair Value Disclosures (Schedule Of Assets And Liabilities Fair Value) (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Assets	'		'
Cash and cash equivalents	$272,027		$254,289
Restricted cash	26,994		28,015
Margin deposits	'		'
Inventories carried at market	23,782		61,763
Unrealized gains on derivatives	48,636		20,938
Other assets	2,200	[1]	'
Total assets measured at fair value	373,639		365,005
Liabilities	'		'
Unrealized losses on derivatives	4,612		2,147
Other	9		107
Total liabilities measured at fair value	4,621		2,254
Quoted Prices In Active Markets For Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]	'		'
Assets	'		'
Cash and cash equivalents	272,027		254,289
Restricted cash	26,994		28,015
Margin deposits	77,102		12,847
Inventories carried at market	'		'
Unrealized gains on derivatives	3,629		7,337
Other assets	2,200	[1]	'
Total assets measured at fair value	381,952		302,488
Liabilities	'		'
Unrealized losses on derivatives	50,807		2,544
Other	9		107
Total liabilities measured at fair value	50,816		2,651
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]	'		'
Assets	'		'
Inventories carried at market	23,782		61,763
Unrealized gains on derivatives	18,712		3,254
Total assets measured at fair value	42,494		65,017
Liabilities	'		'
Unrealized losses on derivatives	4,612		2,103
Total liabilities measured at fair value	4,612		2,103
Reclassification For Balance Sheet Presentation [Member]	'		'
Assets	'		'
Margin deposits	-77,102		-12,847
Unrealized gains on derivatives	26,295		10,347
Total assets measured at fair value	-50,807		-2,500
Liabilities	'		'
Unrealized losses on derivatives	-50,807		-2,500
Total liabilities measured at fair value	($50,807)		($2,500)
[1]	Represents long-term restricted cash related to the $22.0 million revenue bond of Green Plains Bluffton.

Segment_Information_Narrative_

Segment Information (Narrative) (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
	segment
Segment Information [Abstract]	'
Number of reportable segments	4

Segment_Information_Summary_Of

Segment Information (Summary Of Financial Data) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenues	$712,869	$757,971	$804,696	$765,476	$883,707	$947,413	$870,356	$775,395	$3,041,011	$3,476,870	$3,553,712
Gross profit	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	173,020	96,771	172,232
Operating income (loss)	51,051	25,534	18,562	12,704	68,435	8,624	-1,083	-11,091	107,851	64,885	99,013
Income (loss) before income taxes	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	72,281	25,156	61,899
Depreciation and amortization	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	51,002	52,828	50,076
Interest expense	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	33,357	37,521	36,645
Capital expenditures	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	19,764	26,776	42,483
Revenue Including Intersegment Activity [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenues	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	5,828,569	5,419,402	5,797,883
Ethanol Production [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenues	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	2,051,042	1,909,243	2,133,921
Gross profit	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	79,109	-4,895	87,010
Operating income (loss)	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	63,012	-20,393	73,242
Income (loss) before income taxes	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	44,061	-42,430	49,612
Depreciation and amortization	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	45,312	44,239	43,169
Interest expense	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	18,988	22,081	23,725
Capital expenditures	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	8,469	7,637	11,416
Ethanol Production [Member] | Revenue From External Customers [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenues	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	116,272	200,443	128,780
Ethanol Production [Member] | Intersegment Revenue [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenues	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	1,934,770	1,708,800	2,005,141
Corn Oil Production [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenues	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	69,163	57,844	44,857
Gross profit	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	36,615	32,388	27,067
Operating income (loss)	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	36,569	32,140	26,999
Income (loss) before income taxes	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	36,570	32,142	26,998
Depreciation and amortization	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	1,175	1,156	859
Capital expenditures	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	1,782	725	15,375
Corn Oil Production [Member] | Revenue From External Customers [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenues	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	529	1,466
Corn Oil Production [Member] | Intersegment Revenue [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenues	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	69,163	57,315	43,391
Agribusiness [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenues	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	813,718	584,684	554,140
Gross profit	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	6,258	35,973	34,749
Operating income (loss)	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	3,324	60,030	11,721
Income (loss) before income taxes	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	793	54,172	6,170
Depreciation and amortization	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	362	4,209	3,975
Interest expense	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	2,531	5,881	5,569
Capital expenditures	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	6,514	2,006	8,977
Agribusiness [Member] | Revenue From External Customers [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenues	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	51,883	408,622	358,968
Agribusiness [Member] | Intersegment Revenue [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenues	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	761,835	176,062	195,172
Marketing And Distribution [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenues	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	2,894,646	2,867,631	3,064,965
Gross profit	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	57,671	32,362	23,112
Operating income (loss)	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	40,971	17,290	9,475
Income (loss) before income taxes	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	37,098	13,768	6,760
Depreciation and amortization	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	2,836	1,942	1,623
Interest expense	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	4,079	3,532	2,716
Capital expenditures	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	2,347	15,791	2,476
Marketing And Distribution [Member] | Revenue From External Customers [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenues	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	2,872,856	2,867,276	3,064,498
Marketing And Distribution [Member] | Intersegment Revenue [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenues	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	21,790	355	467
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenues	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-2,787,558	-1,942,532	-2,244,171
Gross profit	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-6,633	943	294
Operating income (loss)	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-6,588	977	334
Income (loss) before income taxes	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-6,588	977	334
Interest expense	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-982	-1,137	-849
Corporate Activities [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Operating income (loss)	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-29,437	-25,159	-22,758
Income (loss) before income taxes	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-39,653	-33,473	-27,975
Depreciation and amortization	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	1,317	1,282	450
Interest expense	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	8,741	7,164	5,484
Capital expenditures	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	$652	$617	$4,239

Segment_Information_Summary_Of1

Segment Information (Summary Of Total Assets For Operating Segments) (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Total assets	$1,532,045	$1,349,734
Ethanol Production [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Total assets	911,315	831,939
Corn Oil Production [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Total assets	28,569	27,751
Agribusiness [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Total assets	165,570	179,930
Marketing And Distribution [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Total assets	258,361	184,541
Corporate Assets [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Total assets	175,210	150,797
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Total assets	($6,980)	($25,224)

Segment_Information_Schedule_O

Segment Information (Schedule Of Revenues By Product) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenues	$712,869	$757,971	$804,696	$765,476	$883,707	$947,413	$870,356	$775,395	$3,041,011	$3,476,870	$3,553,712
Ethanol [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenues	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	2,339,470	2,507,119	2,720,918
Distillers Grains [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenues	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	488,396	433,088	405,094
Corn Oil [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenues	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	74,251	58,640	44,857
Grain [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenues	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	92,487	348,413	290,538
Agronomy Products [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenues	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	249	58,641	61,174
Other [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenues	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	$46,158	$70,969	$31,131

Inventories_Schedule_Of_Invent

Inventories (Schedule Of Inventories) (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Inventories [Abstract]	'	'
Finished goods	$56,664	$58,080
Grain held for sale	23,782	61,763
Raw materials	51,726	28,494
Work-in-process	11,506	13,326
Supplies and parts	14,650	10,346
Inventories	$158,328	$172,009

Property_And_Equipment_Schedul

Property And Equipment (Schedule Of Components Of Property And Equipment) (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Total property and equipment	$1,021,565	$872,555
Less: accumulated depreciation	-215,519	-164,445
Property and equipment, net	806,046	708,110
Plant Equipment [Member]	'	'
Total property and equipment	749,627	673,454
Plant, Buildings And Improvements [Member]	'	'
Total property and equipment	147,663	90,240
Land And Improvements [Member]	'	'
Total property and equipment	59,481	57,491
Railroad Track And Equipment [Member]	'	'
Total property and equipment	39,852	34,070
Construction-In-Progress [Member]	'	'
Total property and equipment	3,789	3,499
Computer And Software [Member]	'	'
Total property and equipment	7,380	6,228
Office Furniture And Equipment [Member]	'	'
Total property and equipment	1,662	1,636
Leasehold Improvements And Other [Member]	'	'
Total property and equipment	$12,111	$5,937

Goodwill_Details

Goodwill (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Goodwill [Line Items]	'	'
Goodwill	$40,877	$40,877
Ethanol Production [Member]	'	'
Goodwill [Line Items]	'	'
Goodwill	30,300	'
Marketing And Distribution [Member]	'	'
Goodwill [Line Items]	'	'
Goodwill	$10,600	'

Derivative_Financial_Instrumen2

Derivative Financial Instruments (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Derivative Financial Instruments [Abstract]	'	'
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	($6,339)	$3,535

Derivative_Financial_Instrumen3

Derivative Financial Instruments (Schedule Of Fair Values Of Derivative Financial Instruments) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'		'
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	($28,466,000)	[1]	$8,091,000	[2]
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	4,612,000		2,147,000
Margin deposit asset	77,100,000		12,800,000
Net unrealized gains or losses on cash flow hedges	47,100,000		2,100,000
Derivative Financial Instruments [Member]	'		'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'		'
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	-28,466,000	[1],[3]	8,091,000	[2],[3]
Accrued And Other Liabilities [Member]	'		'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'		'
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	'	[1]	'
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	4,612,000		2,103,000
Other Liabilities [Member]	'		'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'		'
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	'	[1]	'
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	'		$44,000
[1]	Balance at December 31, 2013, includes $47.1 million of net unrealized losses on derivative financial instruments designated as cash flow hedging instruments.
[2]	Balance at December 31, 2012, includes $2.1 million of net unrealized gains on derivative financial instruments designated as cash flow hedging instruments.
[3]	Derivative financial instruments as reflected on the balance sheet include a margin deposit assets of $77.1 million and $12.8 million at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Derivative_Financial_Instrumen4

Derivative Financial Instruments (Schedule Of Gain Or Loss Recognized In Income And Other Comprehensive Income) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'
Gains (Losses) on Derivative Instruments Not Designated in a Hedging Relationship	$2,520	($18,256)	($33,418)
Gain (Loss) Due to Ineffectiveness of Cash Flow Hedges	-574	-10	-231
Gains (losses) on cash flow hedges reclassified	-122,588	39,530	-51,123
Revenue [Member]	'	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'
Gains (Losses) on Derivative Instruments Not Designated in a Hedging Relationship	-10,855	-6,206	1,595
Gain (Loss) Due to Ineffectiveness of Cash Flow Hedges	-84	-10	-201
Gains (losses) on cash flow hedges reclassified	-96,736	-17,318	-46,686
Cost Of Goods Sold [Member]	'	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'
Gains (Losses) on Derivative Instruments Not Designated in a Hedging Relationship	13,375	-12,050	-35,013
Gain (Loss) Due to Ineffectiveness of Cash Flow Hedges	-490	'	-30
Gains (losses) on cash flow hedges reclassified	($25,852)	$56,848	($4,437)

Derivative_Financial_Instrumen5

Derivative Financial Instruments (Commodity Contracts) (Details) (Commodity Contracts [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Commodity Contracts [Member]	'	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'
Effective Portion of Cash Flow Hedges Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	($138,589)	$49,999	($55,356)

Derivative_Financial_Instrumen6

Derivative Financial Instruments (Schedule Of Volumes Of Open Commodity Derivative Positions) (Details)	Dec. 31, 2013
	contract
Futures [Member] | Exchange Traded Net Long & Short [Member] | Corn, Soybeans And Wheat In Bushels [Member]	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	-3,695,000	[1]
Futures [Member] | Exchange Traded Net Long & Short [Member] | Corn In Bushels [Member] | Cash Flow Hedges [Member]	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	53,240,000	[1],[2]
Futures [Member] | Exchange Traded Net Long & Short [Member] | Corn In Bushels [Member] | Fair Value Hedging [Member]	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	-5,115,000	[1],[3]
Futures [Member] | Exchange Traded Net Long & Short [Member] | Ethanol In Gallons [Member]	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	8,274,000	[1]
Futures [Member] | Exchange Traded Net Long & Short [Member] | Ethanol In Gallons [Member] | Cash Flow Hedges [Member]	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	-215,082,000	[1],[2]
Futures [Member] | Exchange Traded Net Long & Short [Member] | Natural Gas In mmBTU [Member]	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	-1,040,000	[1]
Options [Member] | Exchange Traded Net Long & Short [Member] | Corn, Soybeans And Wheat In Bushels [Member]	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	1,415,000	[1]
Options [Member] | Exchange Traded Net Long & Short [Member] | Ethanol In Gallons [Member]	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	-10,173,000	[1]
Forwards [Member] | Non-Exchange Traded Long [Member] | Ethanol In Gallons [Member]	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	6,265,000	[4]
Forwards [Member] | Non-Exchange Traded Long [Member] | Corn And Soybeans In Bushels [Member]	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	7,736,000	[4]
Forwards [Member] | Non-Exchange Traded Long [Member] | Distillers Grains In Tons [Member]	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	27,000	[4]
Forwards [Member] | Non-Exchange Traded Long [Member] | Corn Oil in Pounds [Member]	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	672,000	[4]
Forwards [Member] | Non-Exchange Traded Short [Member] | Ethanol In Gallons [Member]	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	-219,653,000	[4]
Forwards [Member] | Non-Exchange Traded Short [Member] | Corn And Soybeans In Bushels [Member]	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	-3,650,000	[4]
Forwards [Member] | Non-Exchange Traded Short [Member] | Distillers Grains In Tons [Member]	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	-317,000	[4]
Forwards [Member] | Non-Exchange Traded Short [Member] | Corn Oil in Pounds [Member]	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	-55,481,000	[4]
[1]	Exchange traded futures and options are presented on a net long and (short) position basis. Options are presented on a delta-adjusted basis.
[2]	Futures used for cash flow hedges.
[3]	Futures used for fair value hedges
[4]	Non-exchange traded forwards are presented on a gross long and (short) position basis including both fixed-price and basis contracts.

Derivative_Financial_Instrumen7

Derivative Financial Instruments (Schedule Of Revenues And Cost Of Goods Sold) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Revenue [Member]	'	'	'
Trading Activity, Gains and Losses, Net [Line Items]	'	'	'
Net in revenue	$27,778	$26,563	$133,619
Cost Of Goods Sold [Member]	'	'	'
Trading Activity, Gains and Losses, Net [Line Items]	'	'	'
Net in revenue	$28,952	$26,072	$132,234

Debt_Schedule_Of_The_Component

Debt (Schedule Of The Components Of Long-Term Debt) (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total long-term debt	$536,923,000	$491,975,000
Less: current portion of long-term debt	-56,177,000	-129,426,000
Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities	480,746,000	362,549,000
Notes Due 2015 [Member] | Convertible Notes [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total long-term debt	90,000,000	90,000,000
Debt instrument amount	90,000,000	'
3.25% Notes due 2018 [Member] | Convertible Notes [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total long-term debt	96,653,000	'
Debt instrument amount	120,000,000	'
Green Plains Bluffton [Member] | Term Loan [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total long-term debt	26,621,000	41,018,000
Debt instrument amount	70,000,000	'
Green Plains Bluffton [Member] | Revolving Term Loans [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total long-term debt	15,000,000	20,000,000
Debt instrument amount	20,000,000	'
Green Plains Bluffton [Member] | Revenue Bond [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total long-term debt	15,780,000	17,510,000
Debt instrument amount	22,000,000	'
Green Plains Central City [Member] | Term Loan [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total long-term debt	33,100,000	38,635,000
Debt instrument amount	55,000,000	'
Green Plains Central City [Member] | Revolving Term Loans [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total long-term debt	17,739,000	28,639,000
Debt instrument amount	30,500,000	'
Green Plains Central City [Member] | Revolving Line Of Credit [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total long-term debt	'	10,600,000
Debt instrument amount	11,000,000	'
Green Plains Central City [Member] | Equipment Financing Loan [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total long-term debt	36,000	105,000
Green Plains Fairmont and Green Plains Wood River [Member] | Tax Increment Financing Bond [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total long-term debt	3,626,000	'
Green Plains Fairmont and Green Plains Wood River [Member] | Term Loan [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total long-term debt	50,000,000	'
Debt instrument amount	50,000,000	'
Green Plains Fairmont and Green Plains Wood River [Member] | Equipment Financing Loan [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total long-term debt	5,489,000	'
Green Plains Fairmont and Green Plains Wood River [Member] | Capital Lease Payable [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total long-term debt	9,994,000	'
Green Plains Holdings II [Member] | Term Loan [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total long-term debt	15,914,000	21,914,000
Debt instrument amount	26,400,000	'
Green Plains Holdings II [Member] | Revolving Term Loans [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total long-term debt	31,960,000	45,320,000
Debt instrument amount	51,100,000	'
Green Plains Obion [Member] | Term Loan [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total long-term debt	3,879,000	13,479,000
Debt instrument amount	60,000,000	'
Green Plains Obion [Member] | Revolving Term Loans [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total long-term debt	28,400,000	37,400,000
Debt instrument amount	37,400,000	'
Green Plains Obion [Member] | Equipment Financing Loan [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total long-term debt	126,000	334,000
Green Plains Obion [Member] | Economic Development Grant [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total long-term debt	1,245,000	1,335,000
Green Plains Ord [Member] | Term Loan [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total long-term debt	15,143,000	17,675,000
Debt instrument amount	25,000,000	'
Green Plains Ord [Member] | Revolving Term Loans [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total long-term debt	2,151,000	12,151,000
Debt instrument amount	13,000,000	'
Green Plains Ord [Member] | Revolving Line Of Credit [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total long-term debt	'	4,749,000
Line of credit, maximum borrowing capacity	5,000,000	'
Green Plains Otter Tail [Member] | Term Loan [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total long-term debt	17,960,000	22,791,000
Debt instrument amount	30,300,000	'
Green Plains Otter Tail [Member] | Revolver [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total long-term debt	'	4,675,000
Debt instrument amount	4,700,000	'
Green Plains Otter Tail [Member] | Note Payable [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total long-term debt	19,151,000	19,014,000
Debt instrument amount	19,200,000	'
Green Plains Otter Tail [Member] | Capital Lease Payable [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total long-term debt	'	53,000
Green Plains Shenandoah [Member] | Revolving Term Loans [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total long-term debt	9,000,000	17,000,000
Debt instrument amount	17,000,000	'
Green Plains Superior [Member] | Term Loan [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total long-term debt	9,750,000	15,250,000
Debt instrument amount	40,000,000	'
Green Plains Superior [Member] | Revolving Term Loans [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total long-term debt	8,000,000	10,000,000
Debt instrument amount	10,000,000	'
Green Plains Superior [Member] | Equipment Financing Loan [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total long-term debt	18,000	89,000
Corporate [Member] | Note Payable [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total long-term debt	'	1,625,000
Corporate [Member] | Capital Lease Payable [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total long-term debt	188,000	403,000
Other Debt Obligations [Member] | Other Debt Obligations [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total long-term debt	$10,000,000	$211,000

Debt_Schedule_Of_Maturities_Of

Debt (Schedule Of Maturities Of Long-Term Debt) (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Debt [Abstract]	'
2014	$56,177
2015	204,093
2016	80,160
2017	33,980
2018	159,941
Thereafter	25,918
Total	$560,269

Debt_Narrative_Shortterm_notes

Debt (Narrative - Short-term notes payable and other borrowings) (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Green Plains Grain [Member] | Revolving Line Of Credit [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Line of Credit Facility, Amount Outstanding	$95	$105
Green Plains Trade [Member] | Revolving Line Of Credit [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Line of Credit Facility, Amount Outstanding	76.5	39.1
Corporate [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Outstanding note payable	'	27.2
Green Plains Fairmont and Green Plains Wood River [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Outstanding note payable	$26.80	'

Debt_Narrative_Ethanol_Product

Debt (Narrative - Ethanol Production Segment) (Details) (USD $)

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Green Plains Bluffton [Member]

Green Plains Bluffton [Member]

Green Plains Bluffton [Member]

Green Plains Bluffton [Member]

Green Plains Central City [Member]

Green Plains Central City [Member]

Green Plains Central City [Member]

Green Plains Central City And Green Plains Ord Combined [Member]

Green Plains Holdings II [Member]

Green Plains Holdings II [Member]

Green Plains Holdings II [Member]

Green Plains Obion [Member]

Green Plains Obion [Member]

Green Plains Obion [Member]

Green Plains Ord [Member]

Green Plains Ord [Member]

Green Plains Ord [Member]

Green Plains Otter Tail [Member]

Green Plains Otter Tail [Member]

Green Plains Otter Tail [Member]

Green Plains Shenandoah [Member]

Green Plains Superior [Member]

Green Plains Superior [Member]

Green Plains Superior [Member]

Ethanol Production Segment [Member]

Ethanol Production Segment [Member]

Ethanol Production Segment [Member]

Ethanol Production Segment [Member]

Ethanol Production Segment [Member]

Ethanol Production Segment [Member]

Ethanol Production Segment [Member]

Ethanol Production Segment [Member]

Ethanol Production Segment [Member]

Ethanol Production Segment [Member]

Ethanol Production Segment [Member]

Ethanol Production Segment [Member]

Ethanol Production Segment [Member]

Ethanol Production Segment [Member]

Ethanol Production Segment [Member]

Ethanol Production Segment [Member]

Ethanol Production Segment [Member]

Ethanol Production Segment [Member]

Ethanol Production Segment [Member]

Ethanol Production Segment [Member]

Ethanol Production Segment [Member]

Ethanol Production Segment [Member]

Ethanol Production Segment [Member]

Ethanol Production Segment [Member]

Ethanol Production Segment [Member]

Ethanol Production Segment [Member]

Ethanol Production Segment [Member]

Ethanol Production Segment [Member]

Ethanol Production Segment [Member]

Ethanol Production Segment [Member]

Ethanol Production Segment [Member]

Term Loan [Member]

Revolving Term Loans [Member]

Revenue Bond [Member]

Term Loan [Member]

Revolving Term Loans [Member]

Term Loan [Member]

Revolving Term Loans [Member]

Term Loan [Member]

Revolving Term Loans [Member]

Term Loan [Member]

Revolving Term Loans [Member]

Term Loan [Member]

Revenue Bond [Member]

Revolving Term Loans [Member]

Term Loan [Member]

Revolving Term Loans [Member]

Maximum [Member]

Minimum [Member]

Term Loan [Member]

Term Loan [Member]

Term Loan [Member]

Revolving Term Loans [Member]

Revolving Term Loans [Member]

Revolving Term Loans [Member]

Green Plains Bluffton [Member]

Green Plains Bluffton [Member]

Green Plains Bluffton [Member]

Green Plains Bluffton [Member]

Green Plains Central City [Member]

Green Plains Central City [Member]

Green Plains Central City [Member]

Green Plains Holdings II [Member]

Green Plains Holdings II [Member]

Green Plains Holdings II [Member]

Green Plains Obion [Member]

Green Plains Obion [Member]

Green Plains Obion [Member]

Green Plains Ord [Member]

Green Plains Ord [Member]

Green Plains Ord [Member]

Green Plains Otter Tail [Member]

Green Plains Shenandoah [Member]

Green Plains Shenandoah [Member]

Green Plains Shenandoah [Member]

Green Plains Superior [Member]

Green Plains Superior [Member]

Green Plains Superior [Member]

Maximum [Member]

Minimum [Member]

Maximum [Member]

Minimum [Member]

Term Loan [Member]

Term Loan [Member]

Revolving Term Loans [Member]

Revenue Bond [Member]

Term Loan [Member]

Term Loan [Member]

Revolving Term Loans [Member]

Term Loan [Member]

Revolving Term Loans [Member]

Term Loan [Member]

Term Loan [Member]

Revolving Term Loans [Member]

Term Loan [Member]

Term Loan [Member]

Revolving Term Loans [Member]

Revenue Bond [Member]

Term Loan [Member]

Term Loan [Member]

Revolving Term Loans [Member]

Term Loan [Member]

Term Loan [Member]

Revolving Term Loans [Member]

Maximum [Member]

Minimum [Member]

Maximum [Member]

Minimum [Member]

Maximum [Member]

Minimum [Member]

Maximum [Member]

Minimum [Member]

Maximum [Member]

Minimum [Member]

Maximum [Member]

Minimum [Member]

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Percentage of available free cash flow from operations, used to determine annual payments

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

75.00%

65.00%

'

'

75.00%

65.00%

'

'

'

'

75.00%

65.00%

'

75.00%

65.00%

'

'

75.00%

65.00%

'

75.00%

65.00%

'

Allowable advances decrease

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$5,700,000

'

$2,700,000

'

'

$4,700,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

$400,000

'

'

$2,500,000

Interest rate added to LIBOR

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1.50%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

4.50%

3.00%

'

4.50%

3.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt instrument, floor interest rate

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2.00%

'

'

2.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt instrument, interest rate, effective percentage

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

4.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

7.50%

'

'

'

'

8.22%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt instrument unused borrowing capacity fee, percentage

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0.75%

0.25%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Allowable dividends as percentage of net profit before tax

'

'

35.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

35.00%

40.00%

'

'

40.00%

'

'

'

'

'

40.00%

'

'

'

40.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt instrument amount

'

'

'

70,000,000

20,000,000

22,000,000

'

55,000,000

30,500,000

'

'

26,400,000

51,100,000

'

60,000,000

37,400,000

'

25,000,000

13,000,000

'

30,300,000

'

17,000,000

'

40,000,000

10,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

22,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

19,200,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

Principal payments (plus interest)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,500,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

300,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

Final principal and interest payment on September 1, 2019

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

3,745,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt maturity dates

'

'

31-Jan-15

'

'

'

1-Jul-16

'

'

'

1-Jul-16

'

'

20-May-14

'

'

1-Jul-16

'

'

1-Sep-18

'

'

'

20-Jul-15

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

31-Jan-15

'

'

'

1-Jul-16

'

'

1-Oct-18

'

'

1-Jun-18

'

'

1-Jul-16

1-Sep-18

'

'

20-Sep-18

'

'

1-Jul-17

Expected outstanding balance upon maturity

560,269,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

4,700,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

Restricted cash

$26,994,000

$25,815,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$3,200,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt_Narrative_Agribusiness_Se

Debt (Narrative - Agribusiness Segment, Marketing And Distribution Segment, Corporate Activities, Capitalized Interest, And Restricted Net Assets) (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Apr. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
	Agribusiness Segment [Member]	Agribusiness Segment [Member]	Marketing And Distribution Segment [Member]	Marketing And Distribution Segment [Member]	Marketing And Distribution Segment [Member]	Marketing And Distribution Segment [Member]	Corporate Activities [Member]	Corporate Activities [Member]	Capitalized Interest [Member]	Restricted Net Assets [Member]
	Seasonal Borrowings [Member]	Revolving Credit Facility [Member]	Green Plains Trade [Member]	Green Plains Trade [Member]	BlendStar LLC [member]	BlendStar LLC [member]	3.25% Convertible Senior Notes [Member]	5.75% Convertible Senior Notes [Member]
						Note Payable [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Debt Issuance Costs Assigned To Liability	'	'	'	'	'	'	$4,000,000	'	'	'
Convertible Debt Cross Default Threshold	'	'	'	'	'	'	10,000,000	10,000,000	'	'
Anticipated Tax Credits	'	'	'	'	5,000,000	'	'	'	'	'
Statutory Life In Years	'	'	'	'	'7 years	'	'	'	'	'
Debt instrument, interest rate, effective percentage	'	'	'	'	'	'	8.21%	'	'	'
Principal payments (plus interest)	'	'	'	'	200,000	'	'	'	'	'
Undrawn Availability of Revolving Credit Facility On A ProForma Basis	'	'	10,000,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Allowable Dividends As Percentage Of Net Profit Before Tax	'	40.00%	50.00%	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Debt instrument amount	'	125,000,000	130,000,000	70,000,000	'	10,000,000	120,000,000	90,000,000	'	'
Additional amounts available under facility	'	75,000,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Line of credit, maximum borrowing capacity	50,000,000	250,000,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Restricted cash	'	'	26,000,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Debt instrument stated percentage	'	'	'	'	1.00%	'	3.25%	5.75%	'	'
Debt conversion rate shares	'	'	'	'	'	'	47.9627	70.1208	'	'
Debt conversion amount	'	'	'	'	'	'	1,000	1,000	'	'
Debt conversion price	'	'	'	'	'	'	$20.85	$14.26	'	'
Conversion price percentage	'	'	'	'	'	'	140.00%	140.00%	'	'
Principal amount of notes, percentage	'	'	'	'	'	'	100.00%	100.00%	'	'
Capitalized interest	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	285,000	'
Restricted assets	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	636,900,000
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Net, Noncurrent	'	'	'	'	8,100,000	'	'	'	'	'
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage	'	'	'	'	'	'	8.21%	'	'	'
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount	'	'	'	'	'	'	24,500,000	'	'	'
Debt Issuance Cost	'	'	'	'	'	'	5,100,000	'	'	'
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Cash Paid	'	'	'	'	'	'	$0.04	'	'	'
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity	$50,000,000	$250,000,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'

Debt_Schedule_Of_Principal_Pay

Debt (Schedule Of Principal Payments Of Long-Term Debt) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013
Green Plains Fairmont and Green Plains Wood River [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Scheduled principal payments, periodic	$2.50
Ethanol Production Segment [Member] | Green Plains Bluffton [Member] | Term Loan [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Scheduled principal payments, periodic	0.3
Ethanol Production Segment [Member] | Green Plains Central City [Member] | Term Loan [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Scheduled principal payments, periodic	0.5
Ethanol Production Segment [Member] | Green Plains Holdings II [Member] | Term Loan [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Scheduled principal payments, periodic	1.5
Ethanol Production Segment [Member] | Green Plains Obion [Member] | Term Loan [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Scheduled principal payments, periodic	2.4
Ethanol Production Segment [Member] | Green Plains Ord [Member] | Term Loan [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Scheduled principal payments, periodic	0.2
Ethanol Production Segment [Member] | Green Plains Otter Tail [Member] | Term Loan [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Scheduled principal payments, periodic	0.4
Ethanol Production Segment [Member] | Green Plains Superior [Member] | Term Loan [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Scheduled principal payments, periodic	$1.40

Debt_Schedule_Of_Maturity_Date

Debt (Schedule Of Maturity Dates Of Long-Term Debt) (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Green Plains Bluffton [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Debt maturity dates	31-Jan-15
Green Plains Central City [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Debt maturity dates	1-Jul-16
Green Plains Fairmont and Green Plains Wood River [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Debt maturity dates	27-Nov-15
Green Plains Holdings II [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Debt maturity dates	1-Jul-16
Green Plains Obion [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Debt maturity dates	20-May-14
Green Plains Ord [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Debt maturity dates	1-Jul-16
Green Plains Otter Tail [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Debt maturity dates	1-Sep-18
Green Plains Superior [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Debt maturity dates	20-Jul-15
Ethanol Production Segment [Member] | Green Plains Bluffton [Member] | Revolving Term Loans [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Debt maturity dates	31-Jan-15
Ethanol Production Segment [Member] | Green Plains Central City [Member] | Revolving Term Loans [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Debt maturity dates	1-Jul-16
Ethanol Production Segment [Member] | Green Plains Holdings II [Member] | Revolving Term Loans [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Debt maturity dates	1-Oct-18
Ethanol Production Segment [Member] | Green Plains Obion [Member] | Revolving Term Loans [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Debt maturity dates	1-Jun-18
Ethanol Production Segment [Member] | Green Plains Ord [Member] | Revolving Term Loans [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Debt maturity dates	1-Jul-16
Ethanol Production Segment [Member] | Green Plains Shenandoah [Member] | Revolving Term Loans [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Debt maturity dates	20-Sep-18
Ethanol Production Segment [Member] | Green Plains Superior [Member] | Revolving Term Loans [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Debt maturity dates	1-Jul-17

Debt_Schedule_Of_Aggregate_Fut

Debt (Schedule Of Aggregate Future Payments Necessary to Discontinue Free Cash Flow Payments) (Details) (Ethanol Production Segment [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013
	Green Plains Bluffton [Member]	Green Plains Central City And Green Plains Ord Combined [Member]	Green Plains Obion [Member]	Green Plains Holdings II [Member]	Green Plains Superior [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Aggregate of future payments necessary to discontinue free cash flow payments	$16	$16	$10.10	$18	$10

Debt_Schedule_Of_Free_Cash_Flo

Debt (Schedule Of Free Cash Flow Payments Annual Threshold) (Details) (Ethanol Production Segment [Member], Term Loan [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013
Green Plains Bluffton [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Free cash flow payment annual threshold	$4
Green Plains Central City And Green Plains Ord Combined [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Free cash flow payment annual threshold	4
Green Plains Obion [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Free cash flow payment annual threshold	$8

Debt_Schedule_of_Financial_Cov

Debt (Schedule of Financial Covenants) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013
	item
Green Plains Bluffton [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Working capital	$5
Tangible net worth	82.5
Tangible owner's equity	50.00%
Fixed charge coverage ratio	1.15
Annual capital expenditures	2
Green Plains Central City [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Annual capital expenditures	2
Green Plains Central City And Green Plains Ord Combined [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Working capital	10
Tangible owner's equity	70.00%
Fixed charge coverage ratio	1.15
Green Plains Fairmont and Green Plains Wood River [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Debt service coverage ratio	2.25
Annual Leverage Ratio	'3.25
Annual capital expenditures	2
Green Plains Holdings II [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Working capital	22.5
Net worth	80
Debt service coverage ratio	1.25
Annual capital expenditures	6
Green Plains Obion [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Working capital	9
Net worth	90
Debt service coverage ratio	1
Annual capital expenditures	2
Green Plains Ord [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Annual capital expenditures	2
Green Plains Otter Tail [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Working capital	5
Tangible net worth	8
Tangible owner's equity	40.00%
Fixed charge coverage ratio	1.15
Annual capital expenditures	2
Green Plains Shenandoah [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Working capital	6
Net worth	65
Debt service coverage ratio	1
Annual capital expenditures	1.3
Green Plains Superior [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Working capital	3
Net worth	23
Debt service coverage ratio	1
Annual capital expenditures	$0.60

Debt_Schedule_of_Allowable_Div

Debt (Schedule of Allowable Dividends) (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Green Plains Bluffton [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Allowable dividends as percentage of net profit before tax	35.00%
Additional allowable dividends as percentage of net profit before tax, after free cash flow payment	15.00%
Tangible owner's equity	50.00%
Green Plains Central City And Green Plains Ord Combined [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Allowable dividends as percentage of net profit before tax	35.00%
Tangible owner's equity	70.00%
Green Plains Holdings II [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Allowable dividends as percentage of net profit before tax	40.00%
Green Plains Obion [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Allowable dividends as percentage of net profit before tax	40.00%
Green Plains Otter Tail [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Allowable dividends as percentage of net profit before tax	40.00%
Tangible owner's equity	40.00%
Green Plains Superior [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Allowable dividends as percentage of net profit before tax	40.00%

StockBased_Compensation_Narrat

Stock-Based Compensation (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Compensation costs expensed	$5.50	$5.50	$4.40
Unrecognized compensation costs	$4.50	'	'
Compensation expected to be recognized, weighted-average period in years	'1 year 8 months 12 days	'	'
Potential tax benefit, percentage	38.00%	'	'
Equity Incentive Plans [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Share-based compensation arrangement by share-based payment award, number of shares authorized	3,500,000	'	'
Maximum [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Exercisable options, expiration period, years	'8 years	'	'
Minimum [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Exercisable options, expiration period, years	'5 years	'	'

StockBased_Compensation_Schedu

Stock-Based Compensation (Schedule of Stock Option Valuation Assumptions) (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012
Stock-Based Compensation [Abstract]	'
Expected life	'6 years
Interest rate	0.63%
Volatility	76.26%
Dividend yield	'

StockBased_Compensation_Schedu1

Stock-Based Compensation (Schedule Of Stock Option Activity) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Stock-Based Compensation [Abstract]	'		'
Outstanding at December 31, 2012, Shares	726,750		'
Outstanding at December 31, 2013, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$10.10		'
Outstanding at December 31, 2012, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	'3 years 4 months 24 days		'4 years 3 months 18 days
Outstanding at December 31, 2012, Aggregate Intrinsic Value	$625		'
Exercised, Shares	-111,500		'
Exercised, Weighted Average Exercise price	$6.43		'
Exercised, Aggregate Intrinsic Value	745		'
Expired, Shares	-5,000		'
Expired, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$16.95		'
Outstanding at December 31, 2013, Shares	610,250		726,750
Outstanding at December 31, 2013, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$10.71		$10.10
Outstanding at December 31, 2013, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual	'3 years 4 months 24 days		'4 years 3 months 18 days
Outstanding at December 31, 2013, Aggregate Intrinsic Value	5,310		625
Exercisable at December 31, 2013, Shares	610,250	[1]	'
Exercisable at December 31, 2013, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$10.71	[1]	'
Exercisable at December 31, 2013, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual	'3 years 4 months 24 days	[1]	'
Exercisable at December 31, 2013, Aggregate Intrinsic Value	$5,310	[1]	'
In-the-money options, shares	550,250		'
In-the-money options, weighted-average exercise price	$9.70		'
[1]	Includes in-the-money options totaling 550,250 shares at a weighted-average exercise price of $9.70.

StockBased_Compensation_Schedu2

Stock-Based Compensation (Schedule Of Non-Vested Stock Award And DSU Activity) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Stock-Based Compensation [Abstract]	'
Nonvested at December 31, 2012, Non-Vested Shares and Deferred Stock Units	628,090
Nonvested at December 31, 2012, Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value	$11.41
Granted, Non-Vested Shares and Deferred Stock Units	578,151
Granted, Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value	$9.72
Forfeited, Non-Vested Shares and Deferred Stock Units	-5,358
Forfeited, Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value	$9.80
Vested, Non-Vested Shares and Deferred Stock Units	-461,933
Vested, Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value	$10.94
Nonvested at December 31, 2013, Non-Vested Shares and Deferred Stock Units	738,950
Nonvested at December 31, 2013, Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value	$10.39
Nonvested at December 31, 2013, Weighted-Average Remaining Vesting Term (in years)	'1 year 8 months 12 days

Earnings_Per_Share_Narrative_D

Earnings Per Share (Narrative) (Details) (Antidilutive Securities [Member])	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Antidilutive Securities [Member]	'	'	'
Stock-based compensation awards excluded from computations of diluted EPS	14	800	900

Earnings_Per_Share_Schedule_Of

Earnings Per Share (Schedule Of Basic And Diluted Earnings Per Share) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Net income (loss) attributable to Green Plains	$25,461	$9,410	$5,965	$2,555	$33,023	($1,002)	($7,550)	($12,692)	$43,391	$11,779	$38,418
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	30,183	30,296	35,276
Income (loss) attributable to Green Plains stockholders - basic	$0.84	$0.31	$0.20	$0.09	$1.11	($0.03)	($0.25)	($0.39)	$1.44	$0.39	$1.09
Net income (loss) attributable to Green Plains on an as-if-converted basis	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	48,442	11,779	42,028
Effect of dilutive stock-based compensation awards	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	211	167	252
Total potential shares outstanding	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	38,304	30,463	41,808
Income (loss) attributable to Green Plains stockholders - diluted	$0.65	$0.28	$0.19	$0.08	$0.94	($0.03)	($0.25)	($0.39)	$1.26	$0.39	$1.01
5.75% Convertible Notes due 2015 [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Interest and amortization on convertible debt, net of tax effect	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	3,578	'	3,610
Effect of dilutive convertible debt	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	6,286	'	6,280
3.25% Convertible Notes due 2018 [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Interest and amortization on convertible debt, net of tax effect	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	$1,473	'	'
Effect of dilutive convertible debt	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	1,624	'	'

Stockholders_Equity_Narrative_

Stockholders' Equity (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Stockholders Equity Abstract	'	'	'	'
Repurchase of common stock, shares	'	'	3,700,000	3,500,000
Repurchase of common stock	'	'	$37.20	$28
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Declared	$0.04	$0.04	'	'
Dividends Payable, Date Declared	4-Nov-13	22-Aug-13	'	'
Dividends Payable, Date of Record	29-Nov-13	5-Sep-13	'	'

Stockholders_Equity_Schedule_o

Stockholders' Equity (Schedule of Reclassification From AOCI) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Gains (losses) on cash flow hedges reclassified	($122,588)	$39,530	($51,123)
Income tax benefit	46,941	-15,032	20,531
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	-75,647	24,498	-30,592
Revenue [Member]	'	'	'
Gains (losses) on cash flow hedges reclassified	-96,736	-17,318	-46,686
Cost Of Goods Sold [Member]	'	'	'
Gains (losses) on cash flow hedges reclassified	-25,852	56,848	-4,437
Income Loss Before Income Taxes [Member]	'	'	'
Gains (losses) on cash flow hedges reclassified	-122,588	39,530	-51,123
Income Tax Expense Benefit [Member]	'	'	'
Income tax benefit	($46,941)	$15,032	($20,531)

Income_Taxes_Narrative_Details

Income Taxes (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Income Taxes [Abstract]	'	'
Deferred tax valuation allowance	$3,765,000	$4,840,000
Net operating loss carryforwards, federal	'	$30,500,000

Income_Taxes_Schedule_Of_Incom

Income Taxes (Schedule Of Income Tax Expense) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Income Taxes [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Current	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	$1,397	$2,689	($612)
Deferred	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	27,493	10,704	24,298
Income tax expense (benefit)	$15,371	$7,633	$4,288	$1,598	$26,142	($604)	($4,145)	($8,001)	$28,890	$13,393	$23,686

Income_Taxes_Schedule_Of_Diffe

Income Taxes (Schedule Of Differences Between The Income Tax Expense (Benefit)Computed At The Statutory Federal income Tax Rate And As Presented On The Consolidated Statements Of Operations) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Income Taxes [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Tax expense at federal statutory rate of 35%, Federal statutory income tax rate	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
Tax expense at federal statutory rate of 35%	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	$25,299	$8,810	$21,737
State income tax expense (benefit), net of federal expense	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	2,400	1,970	2,989
Increase (decrease) in valuation allowance against deferred tax assets	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-1,075	2,086	-2,084
Nondeductible compensation	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	1,380	'	'
Other	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	886	527	1,044
Income tax expense (benefit)	$15,371	$7,633	$4,288	$1,598	$26,142	($604)	($4,145)	($8,001)	$28,890	$13,393	$23,686

Income_Taxes_Schedule_Of_Signi

Income Taxes (Schedule Of Significant Components Of Deferred Tax Assets And Liabilities) (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Income Taxes [Abstract]	'	'
Deferrred tax assets: Net operating loss carryforwards - Federal	'	$10,688
Deferrred tax assets: Net operating loss carryforwards - State	1,855	1,275
Deferrred tax assets: Tax credit carryforwards - Federal	2,062	2,354
Deferrred tax assets: Tax credit carryforwards - State	5,662	5,637
Deferrred tax assets: Derivative financial instruments	2,297	'
Deferred tax assets: Organizational and start-up costs	2,371	4,245
Deferrred tax assets: Stock-based compensation	2,998	4,031
Deferred tax assets: Accrued Expenses	6,969	6,361
Deferred tax assets: Other	1,294	1,223
Total deferred tax assets	25,508	35,814
Deferred tax liabilities: Derivative financial instruments	'	-2,074
Deferred tax liabilities: Convertible Debt	-8,444	'
Deferred tax liabilities: Fixed assets	-95,655	-82,867
Deferred tax liabilities: Investment in partnerships	-995	-45
Total deferred tax liabilities	-105,094	-84,986
Valuation allowance	-3,765	-4,840
Deferred income taxes	$83,351	$54,012

Income_Taxes_Reconciliation_Of

Income Taxes (Reconciliation Of The Beginning And Ending Amounts Of Unrecognized Tax Benefits) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Taxes [Abstract]	'
Balance at January 1, 2012	$107
Gross increases from tax positions in prior periods	'
Settlements	'
Balance at December 31, 2012	$107

Commitments_And_Contingencies_1

Commitments And Contingencies (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
		gal
Trading Activity, Gains and Losses, Net [Line Items]	'	'	'
Lease expenses	$19.90	$18.30	$16.80
Non-monetary settlement requirement	'	20,000,000	'
After-tax charge for settlement	'	2.4	'
Commodities [Member] | Future Grain Deliveries [Member]	'	'	'
Trading Activity, Gains and Losses, Net [Line Items]	'	'	'
Contracted future deliveries	324.5	'	'
Commodities [Member] | Natural Gas Deliveries [Member]	'	'	'
Trading Activity, Gains and Losses, Net [Line Items]	'	'	'
Contracted future deliveries	18.2	'	'
Commodities [Member] | Ethanol Product Deliveries [Member]	'	'	'
Trading Activity, Gains and Losses, Net [Line Items]	'	'	'
Contracted future deliveries	7.4	'	'
Commodities [Member] | Distillers Grains Product Deliveries [Member]	'	'	'
Trading Activity, Gains and Losses, Net [Line Items]	'	'	'
Contracted future deliveries	6	'	'
Damages From Preferential Transfers [Member]	'	'	'
Trading Activity, Gains and Losses, Net [Line Items]	'	'	'
Damages from transfers	'	24.4	'
Damages From Fraudulent Transfers [Member]	'	'	'
Trading Activity, Gains and Losses, Net [Line Items]	'	'	'
Damages from transfers	'	$28.40	'

Commitments_And_Contingencies_2

Commitments And Contingencies (Future Minimum Lease Payments) (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Commitments And Contingencies [Abstract]	'
2014	$16,766
2015	15,488
2016	13,380
2017	8,620
2018	6,140
Thereafter	3,163
Total	$63,557

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Details

Employee Benefit Plans (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Employee Benefit Plans [Abstract]	'	'	'
Defined contribution plan, employer matching contribution, percent	4.00%	'	'
Defined contribution plan, employers matching contribution, vesting percentage	100.00%	'	'
Employer contributions to the 401(k) plan	$0.90	$0.90	$0.90
Defined benefit plan, assets	6.3	'	'
Defined benefit pension plan, liabilities	6	'	'
Excess plan assets over plan liabilities	$0.30	$0.70	'
Defined benefit plan, underfunded plan, make up period	'7 years	'	'

Related_Party_Transactions_Nar

Related Party Transactions (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'
Outstanding accounts payable	$112,001,000	$95,564,000	'
AXIS Capital [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'
Debt included in financing arrangements	100,000	200,000	'
Principal payments (plus interest)	100,000	300,000	700,000
Weighted average interest rate	6.20%	'	'
Ethanol Purchase And Sale Agreements [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash receipts	3,400,000	20,600,000	146,900,000
Cash payments	5,600,000	5,300,000	8,700,000
Accounts receivable	'	14,000	'
Hoovestol Inc [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash payments	136,000	121,000	149,000
Aircraft lease amount payable, per month	$6,667	'	'
Aircraft hours available each month under lease	100	'	'

Quarterly_Financial_Data_Detai

Quarterly Financial Data (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Quarterly Financial Data[Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenues	$712,869	$757,971	$804,696	$765,476	$883,707	$947,413	$870,356	$775,395	$3,041,011	$3,476,870	$3,553,712
Cost of goods sold	640,697	716,947	772,085	738,262	841,736	919,516	852,222	766,625	2,867,991	3,380,099	3,381,480
Operating income (loss)	51,051	25,534	18,562	12,704	68,435	8,624	-1,083	-11,091	107,851	64,885	99,013
Other expense	-10,219	-8,491	-8,309	-8,551	-9,273	-10,234	-10,616	-9,606	-35,570	-39,729	-37,114
Income tax expense (benefit)	15,371	7,633	4,288	1,598	26,142	-604	-4,145	-8,001	28,890	13,393	23,686
Net income (loss) attributable to Green Plains	25,461	9,410	5,965	2,555	33,023	-1,002	-7,550	-12,692	43,391	11,779	38,418
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to Green Plains	$0.84	$0.31	$0.20	$0.09	$1.11	($0.03)	($0.25)	($0.39)	$1.44	$0.39	$1.09
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Green Plains	$0.65	$0.28	$0.19	$0.08	$0.94	($0.03)	($0.25)	($0.39)	$1.26	$0.39	$1.01
Pre-tax gain from sale of grain elevators	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	$47,133	'

Schedule_I_Condensed_Financial2

Schedule I - Condensed Financial Information Of The Registrant (Condensed Financial Information Of The Registrant Statements Of Balance Sheet - Parent Company Only) (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Current assets	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$272,027	$254,289	$174,988	$233,205
Accounts receivable, including amounts from related parties of $69 and $30, respectively	106,808	80,537	'	'
Prepaid expenses and other	12,893	12,314	'	'
Total current assets	633,305	568,035	'	'
Property and equipment, net	806,046	708,110	'	'
Other assets	51,817	32,712	'	'
Total assets	1,532,045	1,349,734	'	'
Current liabilities	'	'	'	'
Accounts payable	112,001	95,564	'	'
Accrued liabilities	38,645	32,475	'	'
Current maturities of long-term debt	56,177	129,426	'	'
Total current liabilities	409,197	432,384	'	'
Long-term debt	480,746	362,549	'	'
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Noncurrent	91,294	60,082	'	'
Other liabilities	5,450	4,217	'	'
Total liabilities	986,687	859,232	'	'
Stockholders’ equity	'	'	'	'
Common stock	38	37	'	'
Additional paid-in capital	468,962	445,198	'	'
Retained earnings	148,505	107,540	'	'
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	-6,339	3,535	'	'
Treasury stock	-65,808	-65,808	'	'
Total stockholders' equity	545,358	490,502	'	'
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	1,532,045	1,349,734	'	'
Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc. [Member]	'	'	'	'
Current assets	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	143,852	100,051	71,547	114,565
Accounts receivable, including amounts from related parties of $69 and $30, respectively	128	88	'	'
Prepaid expenses and other	860	728	'	'
Due from subsidiaries	20,987	8,284	'	'
Total current assets	165,827	109,151	'	'
Property and equipment, net	3,052	3,759	'	'
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries	568,410	493,057	'	'
Other assets	19,374	19,225	'	'
Total assets	756,663	625,192	'	'
Current liabilities	'	'	'	'
Accounts payable	4,310	1,516	'	'
Accrued liabilities	14,344	13,354	'	'
Short term notes payable	'	27,162	'	'
Current maturities of long-term debt	188	1,840	'	'
Total current liabilities	18,842	43,872	'	'
Long-term debt	186,654	90,188	'	'
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Noncurrent	5,446	'	'	'
Other liabilities	363	630	'	'
Total liabilities	211,305	134,690	'	'
Stockholders’ equity	'	'	'	'
Common stock	38	37	'	'
Additional paid-in capital	468,962	445,198	'	'
Retained earnings	148,505	107,540	'	'
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	-6,339	3,535	'	'
Treasury stock	-65,808	-65,808	'	'
Total stockholders' equity	545,358	490,502	'	'
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	756,663	625,192	'	'
Accounts receivable, amounts from related parties	$69	$30	'	'

Schedule_I_Condensed_Financial3

Schedule I - Condensed Financial Information Of The Registrant (Condensed Financial Information Of The Registrant Statements Of Operations - Parent Company Only) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Selling, general and administrative expenses	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	$65,169	$79,019	$73,219
Operating income	51,051	25,534	18,562	12,704	68,435	8,624	-1,083	-11,091	107,851	64,885	99,013
Interest income	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	294	191	310
Interest expense	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-33,357	-37,521	-36,645
Other, net	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-2,507	-2,399	-779
Total other income (expense)	-10,219	-8,491	-8,309	-8,551	-9,273	-10,234	-10,616	-9,606	-35,570	-39,729	-37,114
Income before income taxes	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	72,281	25,156	61,899
Income tax benefit	-15,371	-7,633	-4,288	-1,598	-26,142	604	4,145	8,001	-28,890	-13,393	-23,686
Net income	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	43,391	11,763	38,213
Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc. [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Selling, general and administrative expenses	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	88	'	471
Operating income	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-88	'	-471
Interest income	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	192	112	197
Interest expense	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-8,742	-7,165	-5,484
Other, net	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-2,647	-2,399	-779
Total other income (expense)	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-11,197	-9,452	-6,066
Income before income taxes	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-11,285	-9,452	-6,537
Income tax benefit	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	5,018	218	2,462
Loss before equity in earnings of subsidiaries	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-6,267	-9,234	-4,075
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	49,658	21,013	42,493
Net income	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	$43,391	$11,779	$38,418

Schedule_I_Condensed_Financial4

Schedule I - Condensed Financial Information Of The Registrant (Condensed Financial Information Of The Registrant Statements Of Cash Flows - Parent Company Only) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract]	'	'	'
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities	$107,336	($13,724)	$108,889
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'	'
Purchases of property and equipment	-19,764	-26,776	-42,483
Proceeds on disposal of assets	245	117,711	'
Net cash provided (used) by investing activities	-147,584	81,447	-54,521
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'	'
Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt	343,799	73,100	138,088
Payments of principal on long-term debt	-303,495	-120,153	-206,866
Payments on short-term borrowings	-3,321,556	-3,249,371	-3,543,798
Payments for repurchase of common stock	'	-10,445	-28,201
Payment of cash dividends	-2,426	'	'
Payments of loan fees	-10,046	-332	-3,648
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options and warrants	4,498	452	179
Other, net	'	'	-2,426
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities	57,986	11,578	-112,585
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	17,738	79,301	-58,217
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	254,289	174,988	233,205
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	272,027	254,289	174,988
Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc. [Member]	'	'	'
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract]	'	'	'
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities	-1,338	-279	36,400
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'	'
Purchases of property and equipment	-652	-616	-4,239
Proceeds on disposal of assets	42	'	'
Investment in subsidiaries	-54,340	54,426	-32,651
Issuance of notes receivable from subsidiaries, net of payments received	15,356	-6,832	-9,011
Other, net	-3,264	-7,998	-4,162
Net cash provided (used) by investing activities	-42,858	38,980	-50,063
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'	'
Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt	120,000	'	'
Payments of principal on long-term debt	-1,841	-204	-535
Payments on short-term borrowings	-27,162	'	'
Payments for repurchase of common stock	'	-10,445	-28,201
Payment of cash dividends	-2,426	'	'
Payments of loan fees	-5,072	'	'
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options and warrants	4,498	'	'
Other, net	'	452	-619
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities	87,997	-10,197	-29,355
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	43,801	28,504	-43,018
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	100,051	71,547	114,565
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$143,852	$100,051	$71,547

Schedule_I_Condensed_Financial5

Schedule I - Condensed Financial Information Of The Registrant (Commitments And Contingencies) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Total	$63,557,000	'	'
Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc. [Member]	'	'	'
Incurred lease expenses	900,000	900,000	1,000,000
2014	955,000	'	'
2015	821,000	'	'
2016	846,000	'	'
2017	179,000	'	'
2018	120,000	'	'
Thereafter	371,000	'	'
Total	3,292,000	'	'
Guarantees of subsidiary contracts and indebtedness	$141,100,000	'	'

Schedule_I_Condensed_Financial6

Schedule I - Condensed Financial Information Of The Registrant (Debt) (Details) (Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc. [Member], USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc. [Member]	'
2014	$188
2015	90,000
2016	'
2017	'
2018	120,000
Thereafter	'
Total	$210,188