Green Plains (GPRE) 10-Q 2 Nov 17 2017 Q3 Quarterly report Financial data

Document And Entity Information

Document And Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Oct. 27, 2017
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2017
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2,017
Entity Registrant Name	Green Plains Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	1,309,402
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		41,162,204
Trading Symbol	gpre

Consolidated Balance Sheets

Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 261,588	$ 304,211
Restricted cash		30,773	51,979
Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $234 and $266, respectively		114,978	147,495
Income taxes receivable		14,145	10,379
Inventories		612,447	422,181
Prepaid expenses and other		14,895	17,095
Derivative financial instruments		51,563	47,236
Total current assets		1,100,389	1,000,576
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $489,349 and $417,993, respectively		1,188,270	1,178,706
Goodwill		182,879	183,696
Other assets		156,999	143,514
Total assets	[1]	2,628,537	2,506,492
Current liabilities
Accounts payable		174,788	192,275
Accrued and other liabilities		48,500	67,473
Derivative financial instruments		12,004	8,916
Short-term notes payable and other borrowings		457,764	291,223
Current maturities of long-term debt		6,486	35,059
Total current liabilities		699,542	594,946
Long-term debt		829,923	782,610
Deferred income taxes		48,787	140,262
Other liabilities		35,892	9,483
Total liabilities		1,614,144	1,527,301
Commitments and contingencies (Note 13)
Stockholders’ equity
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 75,000,000 shares authorized; 46,430,449 and 46,079,108 shares issued, and 41,163,335 and 38,364,118 shares outstanding, respectively		46	46
Additional paid-in capital		682,073	659,200
Retained earnings		283,592	283,214
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(13,607)	(4,137)
Treasury stock, 5,267,114 and 7,714,990 shares, respectively		(54,193)	(75,816)
Total Green Plains stockholders’ equity		897,911	862,507
Noncontrolling interests		116,482	116,684
Total stockholders’ equity		1,014,393	979,191
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		$ 2,628,537	$ 2,506,492
[1]	Asset balances by segment exclude intercompany receivable balances

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Pa

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Consolidated Balance Sheets [Abstract]
Accounts receivable, allowances	$ 234	$ 266
Property, plant and equipment, accumulated depreciation	$ 489,349	$ 417,993
Common stock, par value	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Common stock, shares authorized	75,000,000	75,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	46,430,449	46,079,108
Common stock, shares outstanding	41,163,335	38,364,118
Treasury stock, shares	5,267,114	7,714,990

Consolidated Statements Of Oper

Consolidated Statements Of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Consolidated Statements Of Operations [Abstract]
Product revenues	$ 899,534	$ 839,786	$ 2,670,458	$ 2,472,741
Service revenues	1,701	2,066	4,724	6,042
Total revenues	901,235	841,852	2,675,182	2,478,783
Costs of goods sold	815,787	758,883	2,457,702	2,293,094
Operations and maintenance expenses	8,309	8,564	25,107	25,713
Selling, general and administrative expenses	28,589	24,264	77,946	68,226
Depreciation and amortization expenses	27,834	19,286	80,105	56,132
Total costs and expenses	880,519	810,997	2,640,860	2,443,165
Operating income	20,716	30,855	34,322	35,618
Other income (expense)
Interest income	383	484	1,061	1,263
Interest expense	(31,889)	(11,819)	(69,815)	(33,117)
Other, net	1,444	(1,553)	2,811	(2,050)
Total other expense	(30,062)	(12,888)	(65,943)	(33,904)
Income (loss) before income taxes	(9,346)	17,967	(31,621)	1,714
Income tax expense (benefit)	(48,775)	5,083	(60,905)	(4,339)
Net income	39,429	12,884	29,284	6,053
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	5,035	4,956	14,853	14,072
Net income (loss) attributable to Green Plains	$ 34,394	$ 7,928	$ 14,431	$ (8,019)
Earnings per share:
Net income (loss) attributable to Green Plains - basic	$ 0.83	$ 0.21	$ 0.36	$ (0.21)
Net income (loss) attributable to Green Plains - diluted	$ 0.74	$ 0.20	$ 0.48	$ (0.21)
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic	41,348	38,282	40,008	38,301
Diluted	50,647	39,136	50,693	38,301
Cash dividend declared per share	$ 0.12	$ 0.12	$ 0.36	$ 0.36

Consolidated Statements Of Comp

Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensive Income (Loss) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Net income	$ 39,429	$ 12,884	$ 29,284	$ 6,053
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives arising during period, net of tax (expense) benefit of $4,575, $(1,331), $5,633 and $762, respectively	(7,660)	1,919	(9,436)	(1,395)
Reclassification of realized (gains) losses on derivatives, net of tax expense (benefit) of $(2,650), $(1,144), $21 and $(1,369), respectively	4,453	2,150	(34)	2,506
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(3,207)	4,069	(9,470)	1,111
Comprehensive income	36,222	16,953	19,814	7,164
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	5,035	4,956	14,853	14,072
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Green Plains	$ 31,187	$ 11,997	$ 4,961	$ (6,908)

Consolidated Statements Of Com6

Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Unrealized gains on derivatives arising during period, tax expense	$ 4,575	$ (1,331)	$ 5,633	$ 762
Reclassification of realized gains on derivatives, tax expense	$ (2,650)	$ (1,144)	$ 21	$ (1,369)

Consolidated Statements Of Cash

Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 29,284	$ 6,053
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided (used) by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	80,105	56,132
Amortization of debt issuance costs and debt discount	11,222	7,588
Loss on exchange of 3.25% convertible notes due 2018	1,291
Gain on disposal of assets	(2,439)
Write-off of deferred financing fees related to extinguishment of debt	9,460
Deferred income taxes	(88,565)	(16,413)
Other noncurrent assets and liabilities	18,062
Stock-based compensation	8,761	7,043
Undistributed equity in loss of affiliates	120	2,067
Other		57
Changes in operating assets and liabilities before effects of business combinations:
Accounts receivable	32,267	(36,431)
Inventories	(168,788)	46,126
Derivative financial instruments	(16,430)	6,279
Prepaid expenses and other assets	2,180	(849)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(34,278)	(23,704)
Current income taxes	(1,540)	8,089
Other	1,361	1,150
Change in restricted cash	(4,289)
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities	(122,216)	63,187
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment, net	(36,475)	(35,658)
Acquisition of a business, net of cash acquired	(61,727)	(252,488)
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries	(12,033)	(1,388)
Net cash used by investing activities	(110,235)	(289,534)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt	551,500	337,000
Payments of principal on long-term debt	(487,450)	(40,578)
Proceeds from short-term borrowings	3,301,630	2,969,034
Payments on short-term borrowings	(3,135,347)	(2,967,191)
Cash payment for exchange of 3.25% convertible notes due 2018	(8,523)
Payments for repurchase of common stock	(5,733)	(6,005)
Payments of cash dividends and distributions	(29,267)	(27,837)
Payment penalty on early extinguishment of debt	(2,881)
Change in restricted cash	25,495	(7,200)
Payments of loan fees	(15,541)	(7,810)
Payments related to tax withholdings for stock-based compensation	(4,105)	(2,206)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	50	1,632
Net cash provided by financing activities	189,828	248,839
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(42,623)	22,492
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	304,211	384,867
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	261,588	407,359
Exchange of 3.25% convertible notes due 2018 for shares of common stock	47,743
Exchange of common stock held in treasury stock for 3.25% convertible notes due 2018	27,356
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow
Cash paid for income taxes	2,062	3,348
Cash paid for interest	39,984	24,280
Supplemental investing and financing activities:
Assets acquired in acquisitions and mergers, net of cash	62,209	257,942
Less: liabilities assumed	(482)	(2,647)
Less: allocation of noncontrolling interest in consolidation of BioProcess Algae		(2,807)
Net assets acquired	$ 61,727	$ 252,488

Consolidated Statements Of Cas8

Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (Parenthetical)	Sep. 30, 2017
3.25% Convertible Senior Notes [Member]
Interest rate, stated percentage	3.25%

Basis Of Presentation, Descript

Basis Of Presentation, Description Of Business And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Basis Of Presentation, Description Of Business And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis Of Presentation, Description Of Business And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies	1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION, DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES  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 Inc., an Iowa corporation, and its subsidiaries.  Consolidated Financial Statements  The consolidated financial statements include the company’s accounts and all significant intercompany balances and transactions are eliminated. Unconsolidated entities are included in the financial statements on an equity basis. The company owns a 62.5% limited partner interest and a 2.0% general partner interest in Green Plains Partners LP. Public investors own the remaining 35.5% limited partner interest in the partnership. The company determined that the limited partners in the partnership with equity at risk lack the power, through voting rights or similar rights, to direct the activities that most significantly impact partnership’s economic performance; therefore, the partnership is considered a VIE. The company, through its ownership of the general partner interest in the partnership, has the power to direct the activities that most significantly affect economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that could be potentially significant to the partnership; therefore, the company is considered the primary beneficiary and consolidates the partnership. The assets of the partnership cannot be used by the company for general corporate purposes. The partnership’s consolidated total assets as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 are $73.0 million and $75.0 million, respectively, and primarily consist of property and equipment and goodwill. The partnership’s consolidated total liabilities as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 are $155.8 million and $156.0 million, respectively, which primarily consist of long-term debt as discussed in Note 8 – Debt. The liabilities recognized as a result of consolidating the partnership do not represent additional claims on our general assets. The partnership is consolidated in the company’s financial statements. Effective April 1, 2016, the company increased its ownership of BioProcess Algae, a joint venture formed in 2008, to 82.8% and consolidated BioProcess Algae in its consolidated financial statements beginning on that date.  The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP for interim financial information and the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Because they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP, the consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 .  The unaudited financial information reflects adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of results of operations, financial position and cash flows for the periods presented. The adjustments are normal and recurring in nature, unless otherwise noted. Interim period results are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the entire year.  Reclassifications  Certain prior year amounts were reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. These reclassifications did not affect total revenues, costs and expenses, net income or stockholders’ equity.  Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Consolidated Financial Statements  The p reparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with 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. The company bases its estimates on historical experience and assumptions it believes are proper and reasonable under the circumstances and regularly evaluates the appropriateness of its estimates and assumptions. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Key accounting policies, including but not limited to those relating to revenue recognition, depreciation of property and equipment, impairment of long-lived assets and goodwill, derivative financial instruments, and accounting for income taxes, are impacted significantly by judgments, assumptions and estimates used in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements.  Description of Business  Green Plains is North America’s second largest consolidated owner of ethanol plants. The company operates four business segments: (1) ethanol production, which includes the production of ethanol, distillers grains and corn oil, (2) agribusiness and energy services, which includes grain handling and storage and marketing and merchant trading for company-produced and third-party ethanol, distillers grains, corn oil, natural gas and other commodities, (3) food and ingredients, which includes cattle feedlots, vinegar production and food-grade corn oil operations, and (4) partnership, which includes fuel storage and transportation services.  Revenue Recognition  The company recognizes revenue when the following criteria are satisfied: persuasive evidence that an arrangement exists, title of product and risk of loss are transferred to the customer, price is fixed and determinable and collectability is reasonably assured.  Sales of ethanol, distillers grains, corn oil, natural gas and other commodities by the company’s marketing business are recognized when title of product and risk of loss are transferred to an external customer. Revenues related to marketing for third parties are presented on a gross basis when the company takes title of the product and assumes risk of loss. Unearned revenue is recorded for goods in transit when the company has received payment but the title has not yet been transferred to the customer. Revenues for receiving, storing, transferring and transporting ethanol and other fuels are recognized when the product is delivered to the customer.  The company routinely enters into fixed-price, physical-delivery energy commodity purchase and sale agreements. At times, the company settles these transactions by transferring its obligations to other counterparties rather than delivering the physical commodity. 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 or loss.  Sales of products, including agricultural commodities, cattle and vinegar, are recognized when title of product and risk of loss are transferred to the customer, which depends on the agreed upon terms. The sales terms provide passage of title when shipment is made or the commodity is delivered. Revenues related to grain merchandising are presented gross and include shipping and handling, which is also a component of cost of goods sold. Revenues from grain storage are recognized when services are rendered.  A substantial portion of the partnership revenues are derived from fixed-fee commercial agreements for storage, terminal or transportation services. The partnership recognizes revenue when there is evidence an arrangement exists, risk of loss and title transfer to the customer, the price is fixed or determinable, and collectability is reasonably ensured. Revenues from base storage, terminal or transportation services are recognized once these services are performed, which occurs when the product is delivered to the customer.  Cost of Goods Sold  Cost of goods sold includes direct labor, materials and plant overhead costs. Direct labor includes all compensation and related benefits of non-management personnel involved in ethanol plant, vinegar and cattle feedlot operations. Grain purchasing and receiving costs, excluding labor costs for grain buyers and scale operators, are also included in cost of goods sold. Materials include the cost of corn feedstock, denaturant, process chemicals, cattle and veterinary supplies. 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 as well as 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 or loss. Plant overhead consists primarily of plant and feedlot utilities, repairs and maintenance, yard expenses and outbound freight charges. Shipping costs incurred by the company, including railcar costs, are also reflected in cost of goods sold.  The company uses exchange-traded futures and options contracts to minimize the effect of price changes on grain and cattle inventories and forward purchase and sales contracts. Exchange-traded futures and options contracts are valued at quoted market prices and settled predominantly in cash. The company is exposed to loss when counterparties default on forward purchase and sale contracts. Grain inventories held for sale and forward purchase and sale contracts are valued at market prices when available or other market quotes adjusted for differences, primarily in transportation, between the exchange-traded market and local market where the terms of the contract is based. Changes in the fair value of grain inventories held for sale, forward purchase and sale contracts and exchange-traded futures and options contracts are recognized as a component of cost of goods sold.  Operations and Maintenance Expenses  In the partnership segment, transportation expenses represent the primary component of operations and maintenance expenses. Transportation expenses includes railcar leases, freight and shipping of the company’s ethanol and co-products, as well as costs incurred storing ethanol at destination terminals.  Derivative Financial Instruments  The company uses various derivative financial instruments, including exchange-traded futures and exchange-traded and over-the-counter options contracts, to minimize risk and the effect of price changes related to corn, ethanol, cattle, natural gas and crude oil. The company monitors and manages this exposure as part of its overall risk management policy to reduce the adverse effect market volatility may have on its operating results. The company may hedge these commodities as one way to mitigate risk, however, there may be situations when these hedging activities themselves result in losses.  By using derivatives to hedge exposures to changes in commodity prices, the company is exposed to credit and market risk. The company’s exposure to credit risk includes the counterparty’s failure 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 their financial condition. 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 parameters to monitor exposure within its risk management strategy, which limits the types of derivative instruments and strategies the company can use and the degree of market risk it can take using derivative instruments.  The company evaluates its physical delivery contracts to determine if they qualify for normal purchase or sale exemptions which are expected to be used or sold over a reasonable period in the normal course of business. Contracts that do not meet the normal purchase or sale criteria are recorded at fair value. Changes in fair value are recorded in operating income unless the contracts qualify for, and the company elects, hedge accounting treatment.  Certain qualifying derivatives related to ethanol production, agribusiness and energy services and food and ingredients segments are designated as cash flow hedges. The company evaluates the derivative instrument to ascertain its effectiveness prior to entering into cash flow hedges. Ineffectiveness is recognized in current period results, while other unrealized gains and losses are reflected in accumulated other comprehensive income until the gain or loss from the underlying hedged transaction is realized. When it becomes probable a forecasted transaction will not occur, the cash flow hedge treatment is discontinued, which affects earnings. These derivative financial instruments are recognized in current assets or other current liabilities at fair value.  At times, the company hedges its exposure to changes in the value of inventories and designates qualifying derivatives as fair value hedges. The carrying amount of the hedged inventory is adjusted in current period results for changes in fair value. Ineffectiveness of the hedges is recognized in current period results to the extent the change in fair value of the inventory is not offset by the change in fair value of the derivative.  Recent Accounting Pronouncements  Effective January 1, 2017, the company adopted the amended guidance in ASC Topic 330, Inventory: Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory , which requires inventory to be measured at lower of cost or net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling prices during the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation. The amended guidance was applied prospectively.  Effective January 1, 2017, the company adopted the amended guidance in ASC Topic 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation: Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting , which requires all income tax effects related to awards to be recognized in the income statement when the awards vest or settle. The amended guidance also allows an employer to repurchase more of an employee’s shares for tax withholding purposes without triggering liability accounting and make a policy election to account for forfeitures as they occur. The amended guidance requiring recognition of excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies in the income statement was applied prospectively. The amended guidance related to the timing of when excess tax benefits are recognized, did not have an impact on the consolidated financial statements. The amended guidance related to the presentation of employee taxes paid on the statement of cash flows was applied retrospectively. This change resulted in a $2.2 million increase in cash flows from operating activities and a decrease in cash flows from financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 . The company has elected to account for forfeitures as they occur. This change did not have a material impact on the financial statements.  Effective January 1, 2018, the company will adopt the amended guidance in ASC Topic 230, Statement of Cash Flows: Restricted Cash , which requires amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents to be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. The amended guidance will be applied retrospectively.  Effective January 1, 2018, the company will adopt the amended guidance in ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers . ASC Topic 606 is designed to create improved revenue recognition and disclosure comparability in financial statements. The provisions of ASC Topic 606 include a five-step process by which an entity will determine revenue recognition, depicting the transfer of goods or services to customers in amounts which reflect the payment an entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for goods or services. The new guidance requires the company to apply the following steps: (1) identify the contract with the customer; (2) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (3) determine the transaction price; (4) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (5) recognize revenue when, or as, the company satisfies the performance obligation. In addition, ASC Topic 606 requires certain disclosures about contracts with customers and provides comprehensive guidance for transactions such as service revenue, contract modifications and multiple-element arrangements. The new standard is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2017, and allows for early adoption.  The company completed a comparison of the current revenue recognition policies to ASC Topic 606 requirements for each of the comp any’s major revenue categories. Results indicate that the amended guidance will not materially change the amount or timing of revenues recognized by the company and the majority of the company's contracts will continue to be recognized at a point in time and that the number of performance obligations and the accounting for variable consideration are not expected to be significantly different from current practice. In addition, many of the company's sales contracts are considered derivatives under ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging , and are therefore excluded from the scope of Topic 606. ASC Topic 606 also requires disclosure of significant changes in contract asset and contract liability balances between periods and the amount of the transaction price allocated to performance obligations that are unsatisfied or partially unsatisfied as of the end of the reporting period, when applicable. ASC Topic 606 may be adopted retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented or as a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the date of adoption. The company anticipates adopting the amended guidance using the modified retrospective transition method.  Effective January 1, 2018, the company will adopt the amended guidance in ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes: Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets other than Inventory , which requires the recognition of current and deferred income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory when the transfer occurs. The amended guidance will be applied on a modified retrospective basis, with a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the year of adoption.  Effective January 1, 2018, the company will adopt the amended guidance in ASC Topic 805, Business Combinations: Clarifying the Definition of a Business , which clarifies the definition of a business with the objective of adding guidance to assist companies and other reporting organizations with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions or disposals of assets or businesses. The amended guidance will be applied prospectively.  Effective January 1, 2019, the company will adopt the amended guidance in ASC Topic 842, Leases , which aims to make leasing activities more transparent and comparable, requiring substantially all leases to be recognized by lessees on the balance sheet as a right-of-use asset and corresponding lease liability, including leases currently accounted for as operating leases. The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 and interim periods within those years, and allows for early adoption. The company has established an implementation team to evaluate the impact of the new standard. The new standard will significantly increase right-of-use assets and lease liabilities on the company’s consolidated balance sheet, primarily due to operating leases that are currently not recognized on the balance sheet. The company anticipates adopt ing the amended guidance using the modified retrospective transition method.  Effective January 1, 2019, the amended guidance in ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging: Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities , becomes effective. ASC Topic 815 is designed to improve the alignment of risk management activities and financial reporting for hedging relationships through changes to both the designation and measurement guidance for qualifying hedging relationships and the pr esentation of hedging results. The provisions of Topic 815 expand and refine hedge accounting for both nonfinancial and financial risk components and align the recognition and presentation of the effects of the hedging instrument and the hedged item in the financial statements. For cash flow and net investment hedges existing at the date of adoption, an entity should apply a cumulative-effect adjustment related to eliminating the separate measurement of ineffectiveness to accumulated other comprehensive income with a corresponding adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings as of the beginning of the fiscal year that an entity adopts the amendments in this u pdate. Early adoption is permitted and the amended presentation and disclosure guidance is required only prospectively. Based on the company’s initial assessment, no ma terial changes are anticipated and t he company intends to implement the amended guidance in ASC Topic 815 in either the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017 or the first quarter of fiscal 2018.  Effective January 1, 2020, the company will adopt the amended guidance in ASC Topic 350, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other: Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment , which simplifies the measurement of goodwill by eliminating Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. The annual goodwill impairment test will be performed by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. An impairment charge equal to the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value, not to exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit, would be recognized. The amended guidance will be applied prospectively.

Acquisitions

Acquisitions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Acquisitions	2. ACQUISITIONS  Acquisition of Cattle Feedlots  On May 16, 2017 , the company acquired two cattle-feeding operations from Cargill Cattle Feeders, LLC for $57.7 million, including certain working capital adjustments. The transaction included the feed yards located in Leoti, Kansas and Yuma, Colorado , which added combined feedlot capacity of 155,000 head of cattle to the company’s operations. The transaction was financed using cash on hand. There were no material acquisition costs recorded for the acquisition.  As part of the transaction, the company also entered into a long-term cattle supply agreement with Cargill Meat Solutions Corporation. Under the cattle supply agreement, all cattle placed in the Leoti, Yuma and the company’s existing Kismet, Kansas feedlots will be sold exclusively to Cargill Meat Solutions under an agreed upon pricing arrangement.  The purchase price allocation is based on the preliminary results of internal valuations. The purchase price and purchase price allocation are preliminary until contractual post-closing working capital adjustments and valuations are finalized.  The following is a summary of the preliminary purchase price of assets acquired and liabilities assumed (in thousands ):     Amounts of Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed  Inventory $ 20,576  Prepaid expenses and other 52  Property and equipment, net 37,205   Current liabilities (180)  Total identifiable net assets $ 57,653  Acquisition of Fleischmann’s Vinegar Company  On October 3, 2016 , the company acquired all of the issued and outstanding stock of SCI Ingredients Holdings, Inc. , the holding company of Fleischmann’s Vinegar Company, Inc., for $258.3 million in cash. A portion of the purchase price was used to repay existing debt. Fleischmann’s Vinegar is one of the world’s largest producers of food-grade industrial vinegar. The following is a summary of assets acquired and liabilities assumed (in thousands ):     Amounts of Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed  Cash $ 4,148  Inventory 9,308  Accounts receivable, net 13,919  Prepaid expenses and other 1,054  Property and equipment 49,175  Intangible assets 90,500   Current liabilities (9,689)  Income taxes payable (216)  Deferred tax liabilities (41,882)  Total identifiable net assets 116,317   Goodwill 142,002  Purchase price $ 258,319  The amounts above reflect the final purchase price allocation. As of September 30, 2017 , based on the final valuations , assets acquired and liabilities assumed were adjusted from the prior quarter to reflect an increase in the fair value of property and equipment of $6.2 million , a decrease in accumulated depreciation of $0.5 million , a decrease in the fair value of intangible assets of $4.0 million , a de crease in accumulated amortization of $0.3 million , a decrease in the fair value of goodwill of $0.8 million, a de crease of $0.1 million in income taxes payable and a n in crease in deferred tax liabilities of $1.5 million .  As of September 30, 2017 , based on the final valuations , the company’s custome r relationship intangible asset recognized in connection with the Fleischmann’s acquisition is $74.7 million , net of $5.3 million of accumulated amortization, and has a remaining 1 4 -year weighted-average amortization period. As of September 30, 2017 , the company also has an indefinite-lived trade name intangible asset of $10.5 million . The company recognized $1.1 million and $3.9 million of amortization expense associated with the amortizing customer relationship intangible asset during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 , respectively, and expects estimated amortization expense for the next five years of $5.6 million per annum. The excess purchase price over the intangibles fair values was allocated to goodwill, none of which is expected to be deductible for tax purposes. The goodwill is primarily attributable to the synergies expected to arise after the acquisition.  Acquisition of Ethanol Plants  On September 23, 2016 , the company acquired three ethanol plants located in Madison, Illinois, Mount Vernon, Indiana, and York, Nebraska from subsidiaries of Abengoa S.A. for approximatel y $234.9 million for the ethanol plant assets, and $19.1 million for working capital acquired and liabilities assumed. These ethanol facilities have a combined annual production capacity of approximately 230 mmgy.  The following is a summary of assets acquired and liabilities assumed (in thousands ):     Amounts of Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed  Inventory $ 16,904  Accounts receivable, net 1,826  Prepaid expenses and other 2,224  Property and equipment, net 234,947  Other assets 3,885   Current maturities of long-term debt (406)  Current liabilities (2,580)  Long-term debt (2,763)  Total identifiable net assets $ 254,037  The amounts above reflect the final purchase price allocation, which did not change materially from the initial allocation.  Concurrently with the company’s acquisition of the Abengoa ethanol plants, on September 23, 2016, the partnership acquired the storage assets of the Abengoa ethanol plants from the company for $90.0 million in a transfer between entities under common control and entered into amendments to the related commercial agreements with Green Plains Trade .

Fair Value Disclosures

Fair Value Disclosures	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair Value Disclosures	3 . FAIR VALUE DISCLOSURES  The following methods, assumptions and valuation techniques were used to estimate the fair value of the company’s financial instruments:  Level 1 – unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities the company can 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 through correlation or other means. Grain inventories held for sale in the agribusiness segment are valued at nearby futures values, plus or minus nearby basis.  Level 3 – unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and comprise 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 company’s assets and liabilities by level are as follows (in thousands ):    Fair Value Measurements at September 30, 2017  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 $ 261,588 $ - $ - $ 261,588  Restricted cash 30,773 - - 30,773  Margin deposits 52,527 - (52,527) -  Inventories carried at market - 114,410 - 114,410  Unrealized gains on derivatives 14,690 5,061 31,812 51,563  Other assets 115 - - 115  Total assets measured at fair value $ 359,693 $ 119,471 $ (20,715) $ 458,449   Liabilities:  Accounts payable (1) $ - $ 31,377 $ - $ 31,377  Unrealized losses on derivatives 20,715 12,004 (20,715) 12,004  Other - 15 - 15  Total liabilities measured at fair value $ 20,715 $ 43,396 $ (20,715) $ 43,396     Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2016  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 $ 304,211 $ - $ - $ 304,211  Restricted cash 51,979 - - 51,979  Margin deposits 50,601 - (50,601) -  Inventories carried at market (2) - 154,022 - 154,022  Unrealized gains on derivatives 8,272 14,818 24,146 47,236  Other assets 116 - - 116  Total assets measured at fair value $ 415,179 $ 168,840 $ (26,455) $ 557,564   Liabilities:  Accounts payable (1) $ - $ 35,288 $ - $ 35,288  Unrealized losses on derivatives 26,455 8,916 (26,455) 8,916  Other liabilities - 81 - 81  Total liabilities measured at fair value $ 26,455 $ 44,285 $ (26,455) $ 44,285  (1) Accounts payable is generally stated at historical amounts with the exception of $31.4 million and $35.3 million at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, related to certain delivered inventory subject to changes in commodity prices. These payables are hybrid financial instruments for which the company has elected the fair value option. (2) Inventories carried at market have been revised from previously reported results to include $77.0 million of inventories held under a fair value hedging relationship. There was no impact to the financial statements resulting from this revision.  The company believes the fair value of its debt was approximately $1.3 billion compared with a book value of $1.3 billion at September 30, 2017 , and approximately $1.1 billion compared with a book value of $1.1 billion at December 31, 2016 . The company estimated the fair value of its outstanding debt using Level 2 inputs. The company believes the fair values of its accounts receivable approximated book value, which was $ 115.0 million and $ 147.5 million at September 30, 2017 , and December 31, 2016 , respectively.  Although the company currently does not have any recurring Level 3 financial measurements, the fair values of tangible assets and goodwill acquired and the equity component of convertible debt issued repr esent Level 3 measurements that were derived using a combination of the income approach, market approach and cost approach for the specific assets or liabilities being valued .

Segment Information

Segment Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Segment Information [Abstract]
Segment Information	4. SEGMENT INFORMATION  As a result of acquisitions during 2016, the company implemented organizational segment changes during the fourth quarter of 2016, whereby the company management now reports the financial and operating performance in the following four operating segments: (1) ethanol production, which includes the production of ethanol, distillers grains and corn oil, (2) agribusiness and energy services, which includes grain handling and storage and marketing and merchant trading for company-produced and third-party ethanol, distillers grains, corn oil, natural gas and other commodities, (3) food and ingredients, which includes cattle feedlots, vinegar production and food-grade corn oil operations and (4) partnership, which includes fuel storage and transportation services. Prior periods have been reclassified to conform to the revised segment presentation.  T he company has re-evaluated the profitability measure of its reportable segments’ operating performance and has determined that segment EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) is primarily used by the company’s management to evaluate segment operating activities, and therefore is a more meaningful profitability measure than the previously r eported segment operating income . In addition, EBITDA is a financial measure that is widely used by analysts and investors in the company’s industries. As a result, the company is now including segment EBITDA as a performance measure.  Corporate activities include selling , general and administrative expenses, consisting primarily of compensation, professional fees and overhead costs not directly related to a specific operating segment.  During the normal course of business, the operating segments conduct business with each other. For example, the agribusiness and energy services segment procures grain and natural gas and sells products, including ethanol, distillers grains and corn oil for the ethanol production segment. The partnership segment provides fuel storage and transportation services for the agribusiness and energy services segment. These intersegment activities are treated like third-party transactions with origination, marketing and storage fees charged at estimated market values. Consequently, these transactions affect segment performance; however, they do not impact the company’s consolidated results since the revenues and corresponding costs are eliminated.  The following tables set forth certain financial data for the company’s operating segments (in thousands):    Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,  2017 2016 2017 2016  Revenues:  Ethanol production:  Revenues from external customers $ 620,180 $ 586,988 $ 1,857,356 $ 1,710,484  Intersegment revenues 3,579 - 6,624 -  Total segment revenues 623,759 586,988 1,863,980 1,710,484  Agribusiness and energy services:  Revenues from external customers 164,604 168,143 483,670 531,445  Intersegment revenues 14,406 8,936 33,679 24,934  Total segment revenues 179,010 177,079 517,349 556,379  Food and ingredients:  Revenues from external customers 114,750 84,655 329,432 230,812  Intersegment revenues 38 37 113 112  Total segment revenues 114,788 84,692 329,545 230,924  Partnership:  Revenues from external customers 1,701 2,066 4,724 6,042  Intersegment revenues 24,748 24,139 74,019 69,445  Total segment revenues 26,449 26,205 78,743 75,487  Revenues including intersegment activity 944,006 874,964 2,789,617 2,573,274  Intersegment eliminations (42,771) (33,112) (114,435) (94,491)  Revenues as reported $ 901,235 $ 841,852 $ 2,675,182 $ 2,478,783       Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,  2017 2016 2017 2016  Cost of goods sold:  Ethanol production $ 590,904 $ 549,705 $ 1,802,688 $ 1,649,641  Agribusiness and energy services 168,735 163,643 487,239 518,135  Food and ingredients 98,854 78,792 281,898 219,087  Partnership - - - -  Intersegment eliminations (42,706) (33,257) (114,123) (93,769)  $ 815,787 $ 758,883 $ 2,457,702 $ 2,293,094      Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,  2017 2016 2017 2016  EBITDA:  Ethanol production $ 25,570 $ 30,155 $ 38,521 $ 39,164  Agribusiness and energy services 5,150 6,310 15,910 21,246  Food and ingredients 13,272 5,465 39,741 10,430  Partnership 17,589 16,620 51,549 47,241  Intersegment eliminations 8 (39) (147) (1,174)  Corporate activities (11,212) (9,439) (27,275) (25,944)  $ 50,377 $ 49,072 $ 118,299 $ 90,963      Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,  2017 2016 2017 2016  Depreciation and amortization:  Ethanol production $ 20,959 $ 15,725 $ 61,443 $ 46,655  Agribusiness and energy services 1,457 628 2,776 1,882  Food and ingredients 3,139 257 9,259 802  Partnership 1,280 1,515 3,781 4,220  Corporate activities 999 1,161 2,846 2,573  $ 27,834 $ 19,286 $ 80,105 $ 56,132  The following tab le reconciles net income to EBITDA for the periods indicated (in thousands ):     Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,  2017 2016 2017 2016  Net income $ 39,429 $ 12,884 $ 29,284 $ 6,053  Interest expense 31,889 11,819 69,815 33,117  Income tax expense (benefit) (48,775) 5,083 (60,905) (4,339)  Depreciation and amortization 27,834 19,286 80,105 56,132  EBITDA $ 50,377 $ 49,072 $ 118,299 $ 90,963  The following table sets forth third-party revenues by product line (in thousands ):     Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,  2017 2016 2017 2016  Revenues:  Ethanol $ 625,787 $ 550,724 $ 1,830,887 $ 1,622,168  Distillers grains 97,136 129,345 303,527 357,070  Corn oil 33,678 49,844 121,166 111,727  Grain 19,338 30,003 73,860 145,800  Food and ingredients 112,697 70,012 305,211 201,423  Service revenues 1,701 2,066 4,724 6,042  Other 10,898 9,858 35,807 34,553  $ 901,235 $ 841,852 $ 2,675,182 $ 2,478,783  The following table sets forth total assets by operating segment (in thousands):    September 30, 2017 December 31, 2016  Total assets (1) :  Ethanol production $ 1,137,903 $ 1,206,155  Agribusiness and energy services 467,955 579,977  Food and ingredients 691,663 406,429  Partnership 72,965 74,999  Corporate assets 272,844 257,652  Intersegment eliminations (14,793) (18,720)  $ 2,628,537 $ 2,506,492  (1) Asset balances by segment exclude intercompany receivable balances .

Inventories

Inventories	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Inventories [Abstract]
Inventories	5. INVENTORIES  Inventories are carried at lower of cost or net realizable value, except for commodities held for sale and fair-value hedged inventories. Commodities held for sale are reported at market value.  The components of inventories are as follows (in thousands ):       September 30, 2017 December 31, 2016  Finished goods $ 123,860 $ 99,009  Commodities held for sale 42,783 65,926  Raw materials 128,072 135,516  Work-in-process 283,936 91,093  Supplies and parts 33,796 30,637  $ 612,447 $ 422,181

Goodwill

Goodwill	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Goodwill [Abstract]
Goodwill	6. GOODWILL  Changes in carrying amount of goodwill attributable to each business segment for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, were as follows (in thousands ):    Ethanol Production Food and Food  Production Ingredients Partnership Total  Balance, December 31, 2016 $ 30,279 $ 142,819 $ 10,598 $ 183,696  Adjustment to preliminary Fleischmann's Vinegar Valuation - (817) - (817)  Balance, September 30, 2017 $ 30,279 $ 142,002 $ 10,598 $ 182,879  As of September 30, 2017 , based on the final valuations in connection with the Fleischmann’s acquisition , the fair value of goodwill was reduced by $0.8 million.

Derivative Financial Instrument

Derivative Financial Instruments	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Derivative Financial Instruments [Abstract]
Derivative Financial Instruments	7. DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS  At September 30, 2017 , the company’s consolidated balance sheet reflected unrealized losses of $13.6 million , net of tax, in accumulated o ther comprehensive loss . The company expects these losses will be reclassified in operating income over the next 12 months as a result of hedged transactions that are forecasted to occur. The amount realized in operating income will differ as commodity prices change.  Fair Values of Derivative Instruments  The fair values of the company’s derivative financial instruments and the line items on the consolidated balance sheets where they are reported are as follows (in thousands ):       Asset Derivatives' Liability Derivatives'  Fair Value Fair Value  September 30, 2017 December 31, 2016 September 30, 2017 December 31, 2016  Derivative financial instruments (1) $ 5,061 $ 14,818 (3) $ - $ -  Accrued and other liabilities - - 18,029 (2) 27,099  Other liabilities - - 15 81  Total $ 5,061 $ 14,818 $ 18,044 $ 27,180  (1) Derivative financial instruments as reflected on the consolidated balance sheets include related margin deposit assets of $ 52.5 million and $ 50.6 million at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 , respectively. (2) Balance at September 30, 2017 includes $ 15.7 million of net unrealized losses on derivative financial instruments designated as cash flow hedging instruments. (3) Balance at December 31, 2016 includ es $ 17.0 million of net unrealized losses on deri vative financial instruments designated as cash flow hedging instruments.   Refer to Note 3 - Fair Value Disclosures , which 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 gains or losses recognized in income and other comprehensive income (loss) related to the company’s derivative financial instruments and the line items on the consolidated financial statements where they are reported are as follows (in thousands ):    Gains (Losses) on Derivative Instruments Not Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,  Designated in a Hedging Relationship 2017 2016 2017 2016  Revenues $ 2,863 $ (1,084) $ (7,400) $ 6,187  Cost of goods sold 2,036 (39) 17,256 (8,740)  Net increase (decrease) recognized in earnings before tax $ 4,899 $ (1,123) $ 9,856 $ (2,553)     Gains (Losses) Due to Ineffectiveness Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,  of Cash Flow Hedges 2017 2016 2017 2016  Revenues $ (48) $ 34 $ (229) $ (5)  Cost of goods sold (213) 96 (213) (65)  Net increase (decrease) recognized in earnings before tax $ (261) $ 130 $ (442) $ (70)     Gains (Losses) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,  into Net Income 2017 2016 2017 2016  Revenues $ (5,242) $ 25,254 $ 1,734 $ 12,029  Cost of goods sold (1,861) (28,548) (1,679) (15,904)  Net increase (decrease) recognized in earnings before tax $ (7,103) $ (3,294) $ 55 $ (3,875)     Effective Portion of Cash Flow Hedges Recognized in Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,  Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) 2017 2016 2017 2016  Commodity Contracts $ (12,235) $ 3,250 $ (15,069) $ (2,157)     Gains (Losses) from Fair Value Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,  Hedges of Inventory 2017 2016 2017 2016  Revenues (effect of change in inventory value) $ 61 $ (40) $ 1,451 $ 1,379  Cost of goods sold (effect of change in inventory value) (1,775) (470) (6,229) 7,712  Revenues (effect of fair value hedge) (61) 40 (1,734) (1,379)  Cost of goods sold (effect of fair value hedge) 3,085 918 8,530 (7,648)  Ineffectiveness recognized in earnings before tax $ 1,310 $ 448 $ 2,018 $ 64  There were no gains or losses from discontinuing cash flow or fair value hedge treatment during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 .  The open commodity derivative positions as of September 30, 2017 , are as follows (in thousands):     September 30, 2017  Exchange Traded Non-Exchange Traded  Derivative Instruments Net Long & (Short) (1) Long (2) (Short) (2) Unit of Measure Commodity   Futures (39,030) Bushels Corn, Soybeans and Wheat  Futures 67,775 (3) Bushels Corn  Futures (13,175) (4) Bushels Corn  Futures 9,828 Gallons Ethanol  Futures (285,852) (3) Gallons Ethanol  Futures 1,745 MmBTU Natural Gas  Futures (13,753) (4) MmBTU Natural Gas  Futures (7,200) Pounds Livestock  Futures (336,300) (3) Pounds Livestock  Futures 40 Barrels Crude Oil  Futures (293) (4) Barrels Crude Oil  Futures (420) Pounds Soybean Oil  Futures 5,838 (3) Gallons Natural Gasoline  Options (1,010) Bushels Corn, Soybeans and Wheat  Options 2,156 Gallons Ethanol  Options (3,456) Pounds Livestock  Options (1,032) Pounds Soybean Oil  Options 29 Barrels Crude Oil  Forwards 17,166 (247) Bushels Corn and Soybeans  Forwards 53,872 (336,067) Gallons Ethanol  Forwards 173 (375) Tons Distillers Grains  Forwards 14,367 (92,344) Pounds Corn Oil  Forwards 14,862 (1,036) MmBTU Natural Gasoline  Forwards 712 (412) Barrels Crude 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 or non-exchange traded forwards 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. Included in revenues are net gains on energy trading contracts of $3.1 million and $18.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 , respectively, and net gains of $2.7 million and $5.7 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 , respectively.

Debt

Debt	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Debt [Abstract]
Debt	8. DEBT  The components of long-term debt are as follows (in thousands ):      September 30, 2017 December 31, 2016  Corporate:  $500.0 million term loan $ 487,440 $ -  $120.0 million convertible notes due 2018 60,241 108,817  $170.0 million convertible notes due 2022 131,752 127,239  Green Plains Partners:  $155.0 million revolving credit facility 129,000 129,000  Green Plains Processing:  $345.0 million term loan - 294,011  Fleischmann's Vinegar:  $130.0 million term loan - 125,609  $15.0 million revolving credit facility - 4,000  Other 27,976 28,993  Total long-term debt 836,409 817,669  Less: current portion of long-term debt (6,486) (35,059)  Long-term debt $ 829,923 $ 782,610  Short-term notes payable and other borrowings at September 30, 2017 , include working capital revolvers at Green Plains Cattle, Green Plains Grain and Green Plains Trade with outstanding balances of $246.7 million , $ 64.0 million and $ 143.3 million , respectively . Green Plains Grain also had $3.7 million in outstanding short-term inventory financing arrangements at September 30, 2017 . Short-term notes payable and other borrowings at December 31, 2016 , include working capital revolvers at Green Plains Cattle, Green Plains Grain and Green Plains Trade with outstanding balances of $63.5 million , $ 102.0 million and $ 125.7 million , respectively.  Corporate Activities  In August 201 6, the company issued $170.0 million of 4.125% convertible senior notes due 2022. The 4.125% notes are senior, unsecured obligations of the company, with interest payable on March 1 and September 1 of each year. The company may settle the 4.125% notes in cash, common stock or a combination of cash and common stock.  Prior to March 1, 2022, the 4.125% notes are not convertible unless certain conditions are satisfied. The conversion rate is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events, including when the quarterly cash dividend exceeds $0.12 per share and upon redemption of the 4.125% notes. The initial conversion rate is 35.7143 shares of common stock per $1,000 of principal, which is equal to a conversion price of approximately $28.00 per share.  The company may redeem all, but not less than all, of the 4.125% notes at any time on or after September 1, 2020, if 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 plus any accrued and unpaid interest. Holders of the 4.125% notes have the option to require the company to repurchase the 4.125% notes in cash at a price equal to 100% of the principal plus accrued and unpaid interest when there is a fundamental change, such as change in control. If an event of default occurs, it could result in the 4.125% notes being declared due and payable.  In September 201 3, the company issued $120.0 million of 3.25% convertible senior notes due October 1, 2018. The 3.25% notes are senior, unsecured obligations of the company, with interest payable on April 1 and October 1 of each year. The company may settle the 3.25% notes in cash, common stock or a combination of cash and common stock.  Prior to April 1, 2018, the 3.25% notes are not convertible unless certain conditions are satisfied. The conversion rate is subject to adjustment when the quarterly cash dividend exceeds $0.04 per share . The conversion rate was recently adjusted to 49.9981 shares of common stock per $1,000 of principal, which is equal to a conversion price of approximately $20.00 per share. The company may be obligated to increase the conversion rate in certain events, including redemption of the 3.25% notes.  The company may redeem all of the 3.25% notes at any time, if 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 plus any accrued and unpaid interest. Holders of the 3.25% notes have the option to require the company to repurchase the 3.25% notes in cash at a price equal to 100% of the principal plus accrued and unpaid interest when there is a fundamental change, such as change in control. If an event of default occurs, it could result in the 3.25% notes being declared due and payable.  During the second quarter of 2017, the company entered into several privately negotiated agreements with holders, on behalf of certain beneficial owners of the company’s 3.25% notes. Under these agreements, 2,783,725 shares of the company’s common stock and approximately $8.5 million in cash plus accrued but unpaid interest on the 3.25% notes, were exchanged for approximately $56.3 million in aggregate principal amount of the 3.25% notes. Common stock held as treasury shares were exchanged for the 3.25% notes. Following the closings of the agreements, $63.7 million aggregate principal amount of the 3.25% notes remain outstanding.  At issuance, the company separately accounted for the liability and equity components of the convertible notes by bifurcating the gross proceeds between the indebtedness, or liability component, and the embedded conversion option, or equity component. This bifurcation was done by estimating an effective interest rate on the date of issuance for similar notes. The embedded conversion option was recorded in stockholders’ equity. Since the company did not exercise the embedded conversion option associated with the notes, pursuant to the guidance within ASC Topic 470, Debt , the company recorded a loss upon extinguishment measured by the difference between the fair value and carrying value of the liability portion of the notes. As a result, the company recorded a charge to interest expense in the consolidated financial statements of approximately $1.3 million during the three months ended June 30, 2017. This charge included $0.6 million of unamortized debt issuance costs related to the principal balance extinguished. The remaining settlement consideration transferred was allocated to the reacquisition of the embedded conversion option and recognized as a reduction of additional paid-in capital.  On August 29, 2017, the company entered into a $500.0 million term loan agreement, which matures on August 29, 2023, to refinance approximately $405.0 million of total debt outstanding issued by Green Plains Processing and Fleischmann’s Vinegar Company, pay associated fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes. The term loan is guaranteed by the company and substantially all of its subsidiaries, but not Green Plains Partners and certain other entities, and secured by substantially all of the assets of the company, including 17 ethanol production facilities, vinegar production facilities and a second priority lien on the assets secured under the revolving credit facilities at Green Plains Trade, Green Plains Cattle and Green Plains Grain.  The credit agreement contains certain customary representations and warranties, affirmative covenants, negative covenants, financial covenants and events of default. The negative covenants include restrictions on the ability to incur additional indebtedness, acquire and sell assets, create liens, make investments, make distributions and enter into transactions with affiliates. At the end of each fiscal quarter, the covenants of the credit agreement require the company to maintain a maximum term debt to total term capitalization of not more than 55% and a minimum interest coverage ratio of not less than 1.25 x, as de fined in the credit agreement. Beginning in 2018, the credit facility also has a provision requiring the company to make special annual payment s of 50% or 75% of its available free cash flow, subject to certain limitations. Voluntary term loan prepayments are subject to prepayment fees of 1.0% if prepaid before the eighteen month anniversary of the credit agreement. Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2017, scheduled principal payments are $1.25 million until maturity. The term loan bears interest at a floating rate of a base rate plus a margin of 4.50% or LIBOR plus a margin of 5.50% .  Ethanol Production Segment  Green Plains Processing had a $345.0 million senior secured credit facility, which was guaranteed by the company and certain subsidiaries of Green Plains Processing and secured by the stock and substantially all of the assets of Green Plains Processing. The interest rate was LIBOR, subject to a 1.00% floor, plus 5.50% and was scheduled to mature on June 30, 2020. The terms of the credit facility require d the borrower to maintain a maximum total leverage ratio of 4.00x at the end of each quarter, decreasing to 3.25x over the life of the credit facility, and a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.25x . This senior secured credit facility was extinguished in full on August 29, 2017 with the proceeds from the new $500.0 million secured term loan facility. In connection with the extinguishment of the senior secured credit facility, the company wrote off deferred financing fees of $5.9 million which were recorded as interest expense in the consolidated statement of operations during the three months ended September 30, 2017.  Agribusiness and Energy Services Segment  Green Plains Grain has a $ 125.0 million senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility, to finance working capital up to the maximum commitment based on eligible collateral equal to the sum of percentages of eligible cash, receivables and inventories, less miscellaneous adjustments. The credit facility matures on July 26, 2019. Advances are subject to an interest rate equal to LIBOR plus 3.00% or the lenders’ base rate plus 2.00% . The credit facility also includes an accordion feature that enables the facility to be increased by up to $ 75.0 million with agent approval. The credit facility can also be increased by up to $50.0 million for seasonal borrowings. Total commitments outstanding cannot exceed $250.0 million .  Lenders receive a first priority lien on certain cash, inventory, accounts receivable and other assets owned by Green Plains Grain as security on the credit facility. The terms impose affirmative and negative covenants, including maintaining minimum working capital of $20.0 million and tangible net worth of $26.3 million for 2017 . Capital expenditures are limited to $8.0 million per year under the credit facility, plus equity contributions from the company and unused amounts of up to $8.0 million from the previous year. In addition, the credit facility requires the company to maintain a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.25 to 1.00 and a maximum annual leverage ratio of 6.00 to 1.00 at the end of each quarter. The fixed charge coverage ratio and long-term capitalization ratio apply only if Green Plains Grain has long-term indebtedness on the date of calculation. As of September 30, 2017, Green Plains Grain had no long-term indebtedness. The credit facility also contains restrictions on distributions related to capital stock, with exceptions for distributions up to 50% of net profit before tax, subject to certain conditions.  Green Plains Trade has a senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility, which was amended on July 28, 2017, to increase the maximum commitment from $150 million to $300 million and extend the maturity date to July 28, 2022. The revolving credit facility finances working capital for marketing and distribution activities based on eligible collateral equal to the sum of percentages of eligible receivables and inventories, less miscellaneous adjustments. The amended $300 million maximum commitment consists of a $285 million credit facility and a $15 million first-in-last-out (FILO) credit facility. The amended credit facility also includes an accordion feature that enables the credit facility to be increased by up to $70.0 million with agent approval. Advances are subject to variable interest rates equal to daily LIBOR plus 2.25% on the credit facility and daily LIBOR plus 3.25% on the FILO credit facility. The total unused portion of the $300 million revolving credit facility is also subject to a commitment fee of 0.375% per annum.  The terms impose affirmative and negative covenants, including maintaining a fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.15x . Capital expenditures are limited to $1.5 million per year under the credit facility. The credit facility also restricts distributions related to capital stock, with an exception for distributions up to 50% of net income if, on a pro forma basis, (a) availability has been greater than $10.0 million for the last 30 days and (b) the borrower would be in compliance with the fixed charge coverage ratio on the distribution date.  At September 30, 2017 , Green Plains T rade had restricted cash of $9.5 million on the consolidated balance sheet, the use of which was restricted for repayment towards the outstanding loan balance.  Food and Ingredients Segment  Green Plains Cattle has a $300.0 million senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility, which matures on April 30, 2020, to finance working capital for the cattle feedlot operations up to the maximum commitment based on eligible collateral equal to the sum of percentages of eligible receivabl es, inventories and other current assets, less miscellaneous adjustments. Advances, as amended, are subject to variable interest rates equal to LIBOR plus 2.00% to 3.00% , or the base rate plus 1.00% to 2.00% , depending upon the preceding three months’ excess borrowing availability . The amended credit facility also includes an accordion feature that enables the credit facility to be increased by up to $100.0 million with agent approval. The unused portion of the credit facility is also subject to a commitment fee of 0.20% to 0.30% per annum, depending on the preceding three months’ excess borrowing availability.  Lenders receive a first priority lien on certain cash, inventory, accounts receivable, property and equipment and other assets owned by Green Plains Cattle as security on the credit facility. The amended terms impose affirmative and negative covenants, including maintaining working capital of 15% of the commitment amount, tangible net worth of 20% of the commitment amount, plus 50% of net profit from the previous year, and a total debt to tangible net worth ratio of 3.50x . Capital expenditures are limited to $10.0 million per year under the credit facility, plus $10.0 million per year if funded by a contribution from parent, plus any unused amounts from the previous year.  Fleischmann’s Vinegar had a $130.0 million senior secured term loan and a $15.0 million senior secured revolving credit facility, which was used to finance the purchase of Fleischmann’s Vinegar and to fund working capital for its vinegar manufacturing operations , and were scheduled to mature on October 3, 2022 . Beginning January 1, 2017, the term loan was subject to mandatory prepayments based on the preceding fiscal year’s excess cash flow. Term loan prepayments were generally subject to prepayment fees of 1.0% to 2.0% if prepaid before the second anniversary of the credit agreement. The term loan and loans under the revolving credit facility each b ore interest at a floating rate based on the consolidated total net leverage ratio, adjusted quarterly beginning September 30, 2017, to either a base rate plus an applicable margin of 5.0% to 6.0% or to LIBOR plus an applicable margin of 6.0% to 7.0% . The unused portion of the revolving credit facility was also subject to a commitment fee of 0.5% per annum.  This senior secured credit term loan and senior secured revolving credit facility were extinguished in full on August 29, 2017 with the proceeds from the new $500.0 million secured term loan facility. In connection with the extinguishment of the senior secured credit facility, the company wrote off deferred financing fees of $3.5 million and paid a prepayment penalty of $2.9 million. These expenses are recorded as interest expense in the consolidated statement of operations during the three months ended September 30, 2017.  Partnership Segment  Green Plains Partners, through a wholly owned subsidiary, has a $155.0 million revolving credit facility, as amended, which matures on July 1, 2020, to fund working capital, acquisitions, distributions, capital expenditures and other general partnership purposes. Advances under the credit facility are subject to a floating interest rate based on the preceding fiscal quarter’s consolidated le verage ratio at a base rate plus 1.25% to 2.00% or LIBOR plus 2.25% to 3.00% . The credit facility may be increased up to $100.0 million without the consent of the lenders. The unused portion of the credit facility is also subject to a commitment fee of 0.35% to 0.50% , depending on the preceding fiscal quarter’s consolidated leverage ratio.  The partnership’s obligations under the credit facility are secured by a first priority lien on (i) the capital stock of the partnership’s present and future subsidiaries, (ii) all of the partnership’s present and future personal property, such as investment property, general intangibles and contract rights, including rights under agreements with Green Plains Trade, and (iii) all proceeds and products of the equity interests of the partnership’s present and future subsidiaries and its personal property. The terms impose affirmative and negative covenants including restricting the partnership’s ability to incur additional debt, acquire and sell assets, create liens, invest capital, pay distributions and materially amend the partnership’s commercial agreements with Green Plains Trade. The credit facility also requires the partnership to maintain a maximum consolidated net leverage ratio of no more than 3.50x , and a minimum consolidated interest coverage ratio of no less than 2.75x , each of which is calculated on a pro forma basis with respect to acquisitions and divestitures occurring during the applicable period. Covenant Compliance  The company was in compliance with its debt covenants as of September 30, 2017 .  Capitalized Interest  The compa ny had $ 16 thousand and $39 thousand of capitalized interest during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 , respectively, and $483 thousand and $1.4 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 , respectively.  Restricted Net Assets  At September 30, 2017 , there were approximately $ 124.5 million of net asse ts at the company’s subsidiaries that could not 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 .

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Stock-Based Compensation [Abstract]
Stock-Based Compensation	9. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION  The company has an equity incentive plan that reserves 4,110,000 shares of common stock for issuance to its directors and employees. The plan provides for shares, including options to purchase shares of common stock, stock appreciation rights tied to the value of common stock, restricted stock, and restricted and deferred stock unit awards, to be granted to eligible employees, non-employee directors and consultants. The company measures stock-based compensation at fair value on the grant date . The company records noncash compensation expense related to equity awards in its consolidated financial statements over the requisite period on a straight-line basis. Substantially all of the existing stock-based compensation has been equity awards. The activity related to the exercisable stock options for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 , is as follows:      Shares Weighted-Average Exercise Price Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years) Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in thousands)   Outstanding at December 31, 2016 148,750 $ 12.36 2.8 $ 2,305  Granted - - - -  Exercised (5,000) 10.00 - 78  Forfeited - - - -  Expired - - - -  Outstanding at September 30, 2017 143,750 $ 12.44 2.1 $ 1,109  Exercisable at September 30, 2017 (1) 143,750 $ 12.44 2.1 $ 1,109  (1) Includes in-the-money options totaling 143,750 shares at a weighted-average exercise price of $ 12.44 .  Option awards allow employees to exercise options through cash payment for the shares of common stock or simultaneous broker-assisted transactions in which the employee authorizes the exercise and immediate sale of the options in the open market. The company uses newly issued shares of common stock to satisfy its stock-based payment obligations.  The non-vested stock award and deferred stock unit activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 , is as follows:    Non-Vested Shares and Deferred Stock Units Weighted- Average Grant- Date Fair Value Weighted-Average Remaining Vesting Term (in years)   Non-Vested at December 31, 2016 1,139,560 $ 17.65  Granted 566,165 24.03  Forfeited (42,430) 19.08  Vested (542,764) 18.37  Non-Vested at September 30, 2017 1,120,531 $ 20.47 2.0  Green Plains Partners  Green Plains Partners has adopted the LTIP, an incentive plan intended to promote the interests of the partnership, its general partner and affiliates by providing incentive compensation based on units to employees, consultants and directors to encourage superior performance. The incentive plan reserves 2,500,000 common units for issuance in the form of options, restricted units, phantom units, distributable equivalent rights, substitute awards, unit appreciation rights, unit awards, profits interest units or other unit-based awards. The partnership measures unit-based compensation related to equity awards in its consolidated financial statements over the requisite service period on a straight-line basis.  The non-vested unit-based awards activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 , is as follows:     Non-Vested Shares and Deferred Stock Units Weighted- Average Grant- Date Fair Value Weighted-Average Remaining Vesting Term (in years)   Non-Vested at December 31, 2016 15,009 $ 15.99  Granted 12,834 18.70  Forfeited (4,278) 18.70  Vested (15,009) 15.99  Non-Vested at September 30, 2017 8,556 $ 18.70 0.8  Compensation costs for stock-based and unit-based payment plans during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 , were approximately $ 3.3 million and $8.8 million , respectively , and $ 2.4 million and $7.0 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 , respectively. At September 30, 2017 , there was $ 16.2 million of unrecognized compensation costs from stock-based and unit-based compensation related to non-vested awards. This compensation is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately 2.0 years. The potential tax benefit related to stock-based payment is approximately 37.7% these expenses .

Earnings Per Share

Earnings Per Share	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Earnings Per Share	10. EARNINGS PER SHARE  Basic earnings per share, or EPS, is calculated by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period.  During 2016, d iluted EPS was computed using the treasury stock method for the convertible debt instruments, b y dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period, adjusted for the dilutive effect of the convertible debt instruments and any other outstanding dilutive securities. During the first quarter of 2017, the company changed its method for calculating dilutive EPS related to its convertible debt instruments from the treasury stock method to the if-converted method, as the company changed its financial strategy with respect to cash settlement of these instruments. As such, the company computed diluted EPS for 2017 by dividing net income on an if-converted basis, adjusted to add back net interest expense related to the convertible debt instruments, by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period, adjusted to include the shares that would be issued if the convertible debt instruments were converted to common shares and the effect of any outstanding dilutive securities.  The basic and diluted EPS are calculated as follows (in thousands ):    Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,  2017 2016 2017 2016  Basic EPS:  Net income (loss) attributable to Green Plains $ 34,394 $ 7,928 $ 14,431 $ (8,019)  Weighted average shares outstanding - basic 41,348 38,282 40,008 38,301  EPS - basic $ 0.83 $ 0.21 $ 0.36 $ (0.21)   Diluted EPS:  Net income (loss) attributable to Green Plains $ 34,394 $ 7,928 $ 14,431 $ (8,019)  Interest and amortization on convertible debt, net of tax effect:  3.25% notes 840 - 3,582 -  4.125% notes 2,050 - 6,089 -  Net income (loss) attributable to Green Plains - diluted $ 37,284 $ 7,928 $ 24,102 $ (8,019)   Weighted average shares outstanding - basic 41,348 38,282 40,008 38,301  Effect of dilutive convertible debt:  3.25% notes 3,178 760 4,551 -  4.125% notes 6,071 - 6,071 -  Effect of dilutive stock-based compensation awards 50 94 63 -  Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted 50,647 39,136 50,693 38,301   EPS - diluted $ 0.74 $ 0.20 $ 0.48 $ (0.21)  For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, 10 8 thousand shares related to stock-based compensation awards and convertible debt were excluded from the computation of diluted EPS as the inclusion of these shares would have been antidilutive.

Stockholders Equity

Stockholders Equity	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Stockholders Equity [Abstract]
Stockholders Equity	11. STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY  Components of stockholders’ equity are as follows (in thousands ):        Accum. Total  Additional Other Green Plains Non- Total  Common Stock Paid-in Retained Comp. Treasury Stock Stockholders' Controlling Stockholders'  Shares Amount Capital Earnings Loss Shares Amount Equity Interests Equity   Balance, December 31, 2016 46,079 $ 46 $ 659,200 $ 283,214 $ (4,137) 7,715 $ (75,816) $ 862,507 $ 116,684 $ 979,191  Net income - - - 14,431 - - - 14,431 14,853 29,284  Cash dividends and distributions declared - - - (14,053) - - - (14,053) (15,214) (29,267)  Other comprehensive loss before reclassification - - - - (9,436) - - (9,436) - (9,436)  Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss - - - - (34) - - (34) - (34)  Other comprehensive loss, net of tax - - - - (9,470) - - (9,470) - (9,470)  Repurchase of common stock - - - - - 336 (5,733) (5,733) - (5,733)  Exchange of 3.25% convertible notes due 2018 - - 18,326 - - (2,784) 27,356 45,682 - 45,682  Stock-based compensation 346 - 4,497 - - - - 4,497 159 4,656  Stock options exercised 5 - 50 - - - - 50 - 50  Balance, September 30, 2017 46,430 $ 46 $ 682,073 $ 283,592 $ (13,607) 5,267 $ (54,193) $ 897,911 $ 116,482 $ 1,014,393  Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) are as follows (in thousands ):     Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30, Statements of Operations  2017 2016 2017 2016 Classification  Gains on cash flow hedges:  Commodity derivatives $ (5,242) $ 25,254 $ 1,734 $ 12,029 Revenues  Commodity derivatives (1,861) (28,548) (1,679) (15,904) Cost of goods sold  Total (7,103) (3,294) 55 (3,875) Income (loss) before income taxes  Income tax expense (benefit) (2,650) (1,144) 21 (1,369) Income tax expense (benefit)  Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) $ (4,453) $ (2,150) $ 34 $ (2,506)

Income Taxes

Income Taxes	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Income Taxes [Abstract]
Income Taxes	12. INCOME TAXES  The company records actual income tax expense or benefit during interim periods rather than on an annual effective tax rate method. Certain items are given discrete period treatment and the tax effect of those items are reported in full in the relevant interim period. Green Plains Partners is a limited partnership, which is treated as a flow-through entity for federal income tax purposes and is not subject to federal income taxes. As a result, the consolidated financial statements do not reflect such income taxes on pre-tax income or loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest in the partnership.  The 2017 effective tax rate can be affected by variances among the estimates and amounts of taxable income among the various states, entities and activity types, realization of tax credits, adjustments from resolution of tax matters under review, valuation allowances and the company’s assessment of its liability for uncertain tax positions.  Income tax benefit was $48.8 million and $60.9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, compared with income tax expense of $5.1 million and income tax benefit of $4.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively. The variation in tax expense was due primarily to the company’s recognition of tax benefits related to R&D Credits.  A study was conducted to determine whether certain activities the company performs qualify for the R&D credit allowed by the Internal Revenue Code Section 41. As a result of this study, the company concluded these activities do qualify for the credit and determined it was appropriate to claim the benefit of these credits for all open tax years.  During the quarter ended September 30, 2017 , the company recognized a net tax benefit of $49.5 million for federal and state R&D Credits relating to tax years 2013 to 2016 as well as an estimated year-to-date tax benefit for federal and state R&D Credits for the 2017 tax year. Of this amount, $9.0 million ( $5.9 million net) in refundable credits not dependent upon taxable income was recorded as a reduction of cost of goods sold and $43.6 million was recorded as an income tax benefit.  The amount of unrecognized tax benefits for uncertain tax positions was $27.3 million as of September 30, 2017 , and $0.2 million as of December 31, 2016. Recognition of these benefits would have a favorable impact on the company’ s effective tax rate.

Commitments And Contingencies

Commitments And Contingencies	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Commitments And Contingencies [Abstract]
Commitments And Contingencies	13. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES  Operating Leases  The company leases certain facilities, equipment 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. The company incurred lease expenses of $ 11.2 million and $33.4 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 , respectively, and $9.1 million and $27.2 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 , respectively.  Aggregate minimum lease payments under these agreements for the remainder of 2017 and in future years are as follows (in thousands ):     Year Ending December 31, Amount  2017 $ 10,168  2018 28,976  2019 19,544  2020 13,160  2021 6,444  Thereafter 22,105  Total $ 100,397  Commodities  As of September 30, 2017 , the company had contracted future purchases of grain, corn oil, natural gas, crude oil, ethanol, distillers grains and cattle, valu ed at approximately $ 454.4 million .  Legal  In November 201 3, the company acquired two ethanol plants located in Fairmont, Minnesota and Wood River, Nebraska. There is ongoing litigation related to the consideration for this acquisition. On August 19, 2016, the Delaware Superior Court granted Green Plains’ motion for summary judgment in part and held that the seller’s attempt to disclaim liability for certain shortfall amounts through the use of a disclaimer provision was ineffective. Based on the court order, the company determined that previously accrued contingent liabilities of approximately $6.3 million no longer represented probable losses. These accruals were reversed as a reduction of cost of goods sold during the year ended December 31, 2016, because the adjustment relates to a reduction in the cost of inventory purchased in the acquisitions. The court has directed the company and the seller to work together to determine the precise shortfall amount due to Green Plains. The company believes the remaining amount due to Green Plains is approximately $5.5 million ; however, the seller has the right to dispute the details of the calculation and appeal the underlying Superior Court order. Accordingly, the total amount Green Plains may receive is yet to be determined. The remaining amount due to the company represents a gain contingency which will not be recorded until all contingencies are resolved.  In addition to the above-described proceeding, the company is currently involved in litigation that has arisen in the ordinary course of business, but does not believe any pending litigation will have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Related Party Transactions

Related Party Transactions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
Related Party Transactions	14. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS  Commercial Contracts  Three subsidiaries of the company have executed separate financing agreements for equipment with Amur Equipment Finance. Gordon Glade, a member of the company’s board of directors, is a shareholder of Amur Equipment Finance. Balances of approximately $ 638 thousand and $808 thousand related to these financing arrangements were included in debt at September 30, 2017 , and December 31, 2016 , respectively. Payments, including principal and interest, totaled $ 69 thousand and $207 thousand during each of the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The weighted average interest rate for the financing agreements with Amur Equipment Finance was 6.8 %.  Aircraft Leases  Effective August 1, 201 7 , the company entered into two agreements with an entity controlled by Wayne Hoovestol for the lease of two aircrafts , replacing the prior agreements . Mr. Hoovestol is chairman of the company’s board of directors. The company agreed to pay $ 11,589 per month for the combined use of up to 125 hours per year of the aircrafts. Flight time in excess of 125 hours per year will incur additional hourly charges . Payments related to these leases totaled $39 thousand and $141 thousand during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 , respectively, and $49 thousand and $137 thousand during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 , respectively. The company had $2 thousand in outstanding payables related to these agreements at September 30, 2017 , and no outstanding payables related to these agreements at December 31, 2016.

Subsequent Events

Subsequent Events	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Events	1 5 . SUBSEQUENT EVENTS  On October 27, 2017, the partnership upsized its revolving credit facility by $40 million, from $155 million to $195 million, by accessing a portion of the $100 million incremental commitment in place on the facility.

Basis Of Presentation And Descr

Basis Of Presentation And Description Of Business And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Policy)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Basis Of Presentation, Description Of Business And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Consolidated Financial Statements	Consolidated Financial Statements  The consolidated financial statements include the company’s accounts and all significant intercompany balances and transactions are eliminated. Unconsolidated entities are included in the financial statements on an equity basis. The company owns a 62.5% limited partner interest and a 2.0% general partner interest in Green Plains Partners LP. Public investors own the remaining 35.5% limited partner interest in the partnership. The company determined that the limited partners in the partnership with equity at risk lack the power, through voting rights or similar rights, to direct the activities that most significantly impact partnership’s economic performance; therefore, the partnership is considered a VIE. The company, through its ownership of the general partner interest in the partnership, has the power to direct the activities that most significantly affect economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that could be potentially significant to the partnership; therefore, the company is considered the primary beneficiary and consolidates the partnership. The assets of the partnership cannot be used by the company for general corporate purposes. The partnership’s consolidated total assets as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 are $73.0 million and $75.0 million, respectively, and primarily consist of property and equipment and goodwill. The partnership’s consolidated total liabilities as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 are $155.8 million and $156.0 million, respectively, which primarily consist of long-term debt as discussed in Note 8 – Debt. The liabilities recognized as a result of consolidating the partnership do not represent additional claims on our general assets. The partnership is consolidated in the company’s financial statements. Effective April 1, 2016, the company increased its ownership of BioProcess Algae, a joint venture formed in 2008, to 82.8% and consolidated BioProcess Algae in its consolidated financial statements beginning on that date.  The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP for interim financial information and the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Because they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP, the consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 .  The unaudited financial information reflects adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of results of operations, financial position and cash flows for the periods presented. The adjustments are normal and recurring in nature, unless otherwise noted. Interim period results are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the entire year.
Reclassifications	Reclassifications  Certain prior year amounts were reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. These reclassifications did not affect total revenues, costs and expenses, net income or stockholders’ equity.
Use Of Estimates In The Preparation Of Consolidated Financial Statements	Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Consolidated Financial Statements  The p reparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with 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. The company bases its estimates on historical experience and assumptions it believes are proper and reasonable under the circumstances and regularly evaluates the appropriateness of its estimates and assumptions. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Key accounting policies, including but not limited to those relating to revenue recognition, depreciation of property and equipment, impairment of long-lived assets and goodwill, derivative financial instruments, and accounting for income taxes, are impacted significantly by judgments, assumptions and estimates used in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements.
Description Of Business	Description of Business  Green Plains is North America’s second largest consolidated owner of ethanol plants. The company operates four business segments: (1) ethanol production, which includes the production of ethanol, distillers grains and corn oil, (2) agribusiness and energy services, which includes grain handling and storage and marketing and merchant trading for company-produced and third-party ethanol, distillers grains, corn oil, natural gas and other commodities, (3) food and ingredients, which includes cattle feedlots, vinegar production and food-grade corn oil operations, and (4) partnership, which includes fuel storage and transportation services.
Revenue Recognition	 Revenue Recognition  The company recognizes revenue when the following criteria are satisfied: persuasive evidence that an arrangement exists, title of product and risk of loss are transferred to the customer, price is fixed and determinable and collectability is reasonably assured.  Sales of ethanol, distillers grains, corn oil, natural gas and other commodities by the company’s marketing business are recognized when title of product and risk of loss are transferred to an external customer. Revenues related to marketing for third parties are presented on a gross basis when the company takes title of the product and assumes risk of loss. Unearned revenue is recorded for goods in transit when the company has received payment but the title has not yet been transferred to the customer. Revenues for receiving, storing, transferring and transporting ethanol and other fuels are recognized when the product is delivered to the customer.  The company routinely enters into fixed-price, physical-delivery energy commodity purchase and sale agreements. At times, the company settles these transactions by transferring its obligations to other counterparties rather than delivering the physical commodity. 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 or loss.  Sales of products, including agricultural commodities, cattle and vinegar, are recognized when title of product and risk of loss are transferred to the customer, which depends on the agreed upon terms. The sales terms provide passage of title when shipment is made or the commodity is delivered. Revenues related to grain merchandising are presented gross and include shipping and handling, which is also a component of cost of goods sold. Revenues from grain storage are recognized when services are rendered.  A substantial portion of the partnership revenues are derived from fixed-fee commercial agreements for storage, terminal or transportation services. The partnership recognizes revenue when there is evidence an arrangement exists, risk of loss and title transfer to the customer, the price is fixed or determinable, and collectability is reasonably ensured. Revenues from base storage, terminal or transportation services are recognized once these services are performed, which occurs when the product is delivered to the customer. 
Cost Of Goods Sold	Cost of Goods Sold  Cost of goods sold includes direct labor, materials and plant overhead costs. Direct labor includes all compensation and related benefits of non-management personnel involved in ethanol plant, vinegar and cattle feedlot operations. Grain purchasing and receiving costs, excluding labor costs for grain buyers and scale operators, are also included in cost of goods sold. Materials include the cost of corn feedstock, denaturant, process chemicals, cattle and veterinary supplies. 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 as well as 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 or loss. Plant overhead consists primarily of plant and feedlot utilities, repairs and maintenance, yard expenses and outbound freight charges. Shipping costs incurred by the company, including railcar costs, are also reflected in cost of goods sold.  The company uses exchange-traded futures and options contracts to minimize the effect of price changes on grain and cattle inventories and forward purchase and sales contracts. Exchange-traded futures and options contracts are valued at quoted market prices and settled predominantly in cash. The company is exposed to loss when counterparties default on forward purchase and sale contracts. Grain inventories held for sale and forward purchase and sale contracts are valued at market prices when available or other market quotes adjusted for differences, primarily in transportation, between the exchange-traded market and local market where the terms of the contract is based. Changes in the fair value of grain inventories held for sale, forward purchase and sale contracts and exchange-traded futures and options contracts are recognized as a component of cost of goods sold. 
Operations and Maintenance Expenses	Operations and Maintenance Expenses  In the partnership segment, transportation expenses represent the primary component of operations and maintenance expenses. Transportation expenses includes railcar leases, freight and shipping of the company’s ethanol and co-products, as well as costs incurred storing ethanol at destination terminals.
Derivative Financial Instruments	Derivative Financial Instruments  The company uses various derivative financial instruments, including exchange-traded futures and exchange-traded and over-the-counter options contracts, to minimize risk and the effect of price changes related to corn, ethanol, cattle, natural gas and crude oil. The company monitors and manages this exposure as part of its overall risk management policy to reduce the adverse effect market volatility may have on its operating results. The company may hedge these commodities as one way to mitigate risk, however, there may be situations when these hedging activities themselves result in losses.  By using derivatives to hedge exposures to changes in commodity prices, the company is exposed to credit and market risk. The company’s exposure to credit risk includes the counterparty’s failure 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 their financial condition. 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 parameters to monitor exposure within its risk management strategy, which limits the types of derivative instruments and strategies the company can use and the degree of market risk it can take using derivative instruments.  The company evaluates its physical delivery contracts to determine if they qualify for normal purchase or sale exemptions which are expected to be used or sold over a reasonable period in the normal course of business. Contracts that do not meet the normal purchase or sale criteria are recorded at fair value. Changes in fair value are recorded in operating income unless the contracts qualify for, and the company elects, hedge accounting treatment.  Certain qualifying derivatives related to ethanol production, agribusiness and energy services and food and ingredients segments are designated as cash flow hedges. The company evaluates the derivative instrument to ascertain its effectiveness prior to entering into cash flow hedges. Ineffectiveness is recognized in current period results, while other unrealized gains and losses are reflected in accumulated other comprehensive income until the gain or loss from the underlying hedged transaction is realized. When it becomes probable a forecasted transaction will not occur, the cash flow hedge treatment is discontinued, which affects earnings. These derivative financial instruments are recognized in current assets or other current liabilities at fair value.  At times, the company hedges its exposure to changes in the value of inventories and designates qualifying derivatives as fair value hedges. The carrying amount of the hedged inventory is adjusted in current period results for changes in fair value. Ineffectiveness of the hedges is recognized in current period results to the extent the change in fair value of the inventory is not offset by the change in fair value of the derivative. 
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	Recent Accounting Pronouncements  Effective January 1, 2017, the company adopted the amended guidance in ASC Topic 330, Inventory: Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory , which requires inventory to be measured at lower of cost or net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling prices during the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation. The amended guidance was applied prospectively.  Effective January 1, 2017, the company adopted the amended guidance in ASC Topic 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation: Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting , which requires all income tax effects related to awards to be recognized in the income statement when the awards vest or settle. The amended guidance also allows an employer to repurchase more of an employee’s shares for tax withholding purposes without triggering liability accounting and make a policy election to account for forfeitures as they occur. The amended guidance requiring recognition of excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies in the income statement was applied prospectively. The amended guidance related to the timing of when excess tax benefits are recognized, did not have an impact on the consolidated financial statements. The amended guidance related to the presentation of employee taxes paid on the statement of cash flows was applied retrospectively. This change resulted in a $2.2 million increase in cash flows from operating activities and a decrease in cash flows from financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 . The company has elected to account for forfeitures as they occur. This change did not have a material impact on the financial statements.  Effective January 1, 2018, the company will adopt the amended guidance in ASC Topic 230, Statement of Cash Flows: Restricted Cash , which requires amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents to be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. The amended guidance will be applied retrospectively.  Effective January 1, 2018, the company will adopt the amended guidance in ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers . ASC Topic 606 is designed to create improved revenue recognition and disclosure comparability in financial statements. The provisions of ASC Topic 606 include a five-step process by which an entity will determine revenue recognition, depicting the transfer of goods or services to customers in amounts which reflect the payment an entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for goods or services. The new guidance requires the company to apply the following steps: (1) identify the contract with the customer; (2) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (3) determine the transaction price; (4) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (5) recognize revenue when, or as, the company satisfies the performance obligation. In addition, ASC Topic 606 requires certain disclosures about contracts with customers and provides comprehensive guidance for transactions such as service revenue, contract modifications and multiple-element arrangements. The new standard is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2017, and allows for early adoption.  The company completed a comparison of the current revenue recognition policies to ASC Topic 606 requirements for each of the comp any’s major revenue categories. Results indicate that the amended guidance will not materially change the amount or timing of revenues recognized by the company and the majority of the company's contracts will continue to be recognized at a point in time and that the number of performance obligations and the accounting for variable consideration are not expected to be significantly different from current practice. In addition, many of the company's sales contracts are considered derivatives under ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging , and are therefore excluded from the scope of Topic 606. ASC Topic 606 also requires disclosure of significant changes in contract asset and contract liability balances between periods and the amount of the transaction price allocated to performance obligations that are unsatisfied or partially unsatisfied as of the end of the reporting period, when applicable. ASC Topic 606 may be adopted retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented or as a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the date of adoption. The company anticipates adopting the amended guidance using the modified retrospective transition method.  Effective January 1, 2018, the company will adopt the amended guidance in ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes: Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets other than Inventory , which requires the recognition of current and deferred income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory when the transfer occurs. The amended guidance will be applied on a modified retrospective basis, with a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the year of adoption.  Effective January 1, 2018, the company will adopt the amended guidance in ASC Topic 805, Business Combinations: Clarifying the Definition of a Business , which clarifies the definition of a business with the objective of adding guidance to assist companies and other reporting organizations with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions or disposals of assets or businesses. The amended guidance will be applied prospectively.  Effective January 1, 2019, the company will adopt the amended guidance in ASC Topic 842, Leases , which aims to make leasing activities more transparent and comparable, requiring substantially all leases to be recognized by lessees on the balance sheet as a right-of-use asset and corresponding lease liability, including leases currently accounted for as operating leases. The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 and interim periods within those years, and allows for early adoption. The company has established an implementation team to evaluate the impact of the new standard. The new standard will significantly increase right-of-use assets and lease liabilities on the company’s consolidated balance sheet, primarily due to operating leases that are currently not recognized on the balance sheet. The company anticipates adopt ing the amended guidance using the modified retrospective transition method.  Effective January 1, 2019, the amended guidance in ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging: Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities , becomes effective. ASC Topic 815 is designed to improve the alignment of risk management activities and financial reporting for hedging relationships through changes to both the designation and measurement guidance for qualifying hedging relationships and the pr esentation of hedging results. The provisions of Topic 815 expand and refine hedge accounting for both nonfinancial and financial risk components and align the recognition and presentation of the effects of the hedging instrument and the hedged item in the financial statements. For cash flow and net investment hedges existing at the date of adoption, an entity should apply a cumulative-effect adjustment related to eliminating the separate measurement of ineffectiveness to accumulated other comprehensive income with a corresponding adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings as of the beginning of the fiscal year that an entity adopts the amendments in this u pdate. Early adoption is permitted and the amended presentation and disclosure guidance is required only prospectively. Based on the company’s initial assessment, no ma terial changes are anticipated and t he company intends to implement the amended guidance in ASC Topic 815 in either the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017 or the first quarter of fiscal 2018.  Effective January 1, 2020, the company will adopt the amended guidance in ASC Topic 350, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other: Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment , which simplifies the measurement of goodwill by eliminating Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. The annual goodwill impairment test will be performed by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. An impairment charge equal to the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value, not to exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit, would be recognized. The amended guidance will be applied prospectively.

Acquisitions (Tables)

Acquisitions (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Asset Purchase Agreement With Cargill Cattle Feeders, LLC [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Schedule Of Identifiable Assets Acquired And Liabilities Assumed	  Amounts of Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed  Inventory $ 20,576  Prepaid expenses and other 52  Property and equipment, net 37,205   Current liabilities (180)  Total identifiable net assets $ 57,653 
Acquisition of Fleischmann’s Vinegar Company, Inc. [Member}
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Schedule Of Identifiable Assets Acquired And Liabilities Assumed	  Amounts of Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed  Cash $ 4,148  Inventory 9,308  Accounts receivable, net 13,919  Prepaid expenses and other 1,054  Property and equipment 49,175  Intangible assets 90,500   Current liabilities (9,689)  Income taxes payable (216)  Deferred tax liabilities (41,882)  Total identifiable net assets 116,317   Goodwill 142,002  Purchase price $ 258,319 
Acquisition of Abengoa Ethanol Plants [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Schedule Of Identifiable Assets Acquired And Liabilities Assumed	  Amounts of Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed  Inventory $ 16,904  Accounts receivable, net 1,826  Prepaid expenses and other 2,224  Property and equipment, net 234,947  Other assets 3,885   Current maturities of long-term debt (406)  Current liabilities (2,580)  Long-term debt (2,763)  Total identifiable net assets $ 254,037 

Fair Value Disclosures (Tables)

Fair Value Disclosures (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Schedule Of Assets And Liabilities Fair Value	The company’s assets and liabilities by level are as follows (in thousands ):    Fair Value Measurements at September 30, 2017  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 $ 261,588 $ - $ - $ 261,588  Restricted cash 30,773 - - 30,773  Margin deposits 52,527 - (52,527) -  Inventories carried at market - 114,410 - 114,410  Unrealized gains on derivatives 14,690 5,061 31,812 51,563  Other assets 115 - - 115  Total assets measured at fair value $ 359,693 $ 119,471 $ (20,715) $ 458,449   Liabilities:  Accounts payable (1) $ - $ 31,377 $ - $ 31,377  Unrealized losses on derivatives 20,715 12,004 (20,715) 12,004  Other - 15 - 15  Total liabilities measured at fair value $ 20,715 $ 43,396 $ (20,715) $ 43,396     Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2016  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 $ 304,211 $ - $ - $ 304,211  Restricted cash 51,979 - - 51,979  Margin deposits 50,601 - (50,601) -  Inventories carried at market (2) - 154,022 - 154,022  Unrealized gains on derivatives 8,272 14,818 24,146 47,236  Other assets 116 - - 116  Total assets measured at fair value $ 415,179 $ 168,840 $ (26,455) $ 557,564   Liabilities:  Accounts payable (1) $ - $ 35,288 $ - $ 35,288  Unrealized losses on derivatives 26,455 8,916 (26,455) 8,916  Other liabilities - 81 - 81  Total liabilities measured at fair value $ 26,455 $ 44,285 $ (26,455) $ 44,285  (1) Accounts payable is generally stated at historical amounts with the exception of $31.4 million and $35.3 million at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, related to certain delivered inventory subject to changes in commodity prices. These payables are hybrid financial instruments for which the company has elected the fair value option. (2) Inventories carried at market have been revised from previously reported results to include $77.0 million of inventories held under a fair value hedging relationship. There was no impact to the financial statements resulting from this revision.

Segment Information (Tables)

Segment Information (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Segment Information [Abstract]
Summary Of Financial Data	The following tables set forth certain financial data for the company’s operating segments (in thousands):    Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,  2017 2016 2017 2016  Revenues:  Ethanol production:  Revenues from external customers $ 620,180 $ 586,988 $ 1,857,356 $ 1,710,484  Intersegment revenues 3,579 - 6,624 -  Total segment revenues 623,759 586,988 1,863,980 1,710,484  Agribusiness and energy services:  Revenues from external customers 164,604 168,143 483,670 531,445  Intersegment revenues 14,406 8,936 33,679 24,934  Total segment revenues 179,010 177,079 517,349 556,379  Food and ingredients:  Revenues from external customers 114,750 84,655 329,432 230,812  Intersegment revenues 38 37 113 112  Total segment revenues 114,788 84,692 329,545 230,924  Partnership:  Revenues from external customers 1,701 2,066 4,724 6,042  Intersegment revenues 24,748 24,139 74,019 69,445  Total segment revenues 26,449 26,205 78,743 75,487  Revenues including intersegment activity 944,006 874,964 2,789,617 2,573,274  Intersegment eliminations (42,771) (33,112) (114,435) (94,491)  Revenues as reported $ 901,235 $ 841,852 $ 2,675,182 $ 2,478,783       Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,  2017 2016 2017 2016  Cost of goods sold:  Ethanol production $ 590,904 $ 549,705 $ 1,802,688 $ 1,649,641  Agribusiness and energy services 168,735 163,643 487,239 518,135  Food and ingredients 98,854 78,792 281,898 219,087  Partnership - - - -  Intersegment eliminations (42,706) (33,257) (114,123) (93,769)  $ 815,787 $ 758,883 $ 2,457,702 $ 2,293,094      Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,  2017 2016 2017 2016  EBITDA:  Ethanol production $ 25,570 $ 30,155 $ 38,521 $ 39,164  Agribusiness and energy services 5,150 6,310 15,910 21,246  Food and ingredients 13,272 5,465 39,741 10,430  Partnership 17,589 16,620 51,549 47,241  Intersegment eliminations 8 (39) (147) (1,174)  Corporate activities (11,212) (9,439) (27,275) (25,944)  $ 50,377 $ 49,072 $ 118,299 $ 90,963      Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,  2017 2016 2017 2016  Depreciation and amortization:  Ethanol production $ 20,959 $ 15,725 $ 61,443 $ 46,655  Agribusiness and energy services 1,457 628 2,776 1,882  Food and ingredients 3,139 257 9,259 802  Partnership 1,280 1,515 3,781 4,220  Corporate activities 999 1,161 2,846 2,573  $ 27,834 $ 19,286 $ 80,105 $ 56,132 
Schedule Of Reconciliation Of Net Income (Loss) To EBITDA	  Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,  2017 2016 2017 2016  Net income $ 39,429 $ 12,884 $ 29,284 $ 6,053  Interest expense 31,889 11,819 69,815 33,117  Income tax expense (benefit) (48,775) 5,083 (60,905) (4,339)  Depreciation and amortization 27,834 19,286 80,105 56,132  EBITDA $ 50,377 $ 49,072 $ 118,299 $ 90,963 
Schedule Of Revenues By Product	  Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,  2017 2016 2017 2016  Revenues:  Ethanol $ 625,787 $ 550,724 $ 1,830,887 $ 1,622,168  Distillers grains 97,136 129,345 303,527 357,070  Corn oil 33,678 49,844 121,166 111,727  Grain 19,338 30,003 73,860 145,800  Food and ingredients 112,697 70,012 305,211 201,423  Service revenues 1,701 2,066 4,724 6,042  Other 10,898 9,858 35,807 34,553  $ 901,235 $ 841,852 $ 2,675,182 $ 2,478,783 
Summary Of Total Assets For Operating Segments	The following table sets forth total assets by operating segment (in thousands):    September 30, 2017 December 31, 2016  Total assets (1) :  Ethanol production $ 1,137,903 $ 1,206,155  Agribusiness and energy services 467,955 579,977  Food and ingredients 691,663 406,429  Partnership 72,965 74,999  Corporate assets 272,844 257,652  Intersegment eliminations (14,793) (18,720)  $ 2,628,537 $ 2,506,492  (1) Asset balances by segment exclude intercompany receivable balances .

Inventories (Tables)

Inventories (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Inventories [Abstract]
Schedule of Inventories	  September 30, 2017 December 31, 2016  Finished goods $ 123,860 $ 99,009  Commodities held for sale 42,783 65,926  Raw materials 128,072 135,516  Work-in-process 283,936 91,093  Supplies and parts 33,796 30,637  $ 612,447 $ 422,181 

Goodwill (Tables)

Goodwill (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Goodwill [Abstract]
Schedule of Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill Attributable to Each Business Segment	Changes in carrying amount of goodwill attributable to each business segment for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, were as follows (in thousands ):    Ethanol Production Food and Food  Production Ingredients Partnership Total  Balance, December 31, 2016 $ 30,279 $ 142,819 $ 10,598 $ 183,696  Adjustment to preliminary Fleischmann's Vinegar Valuation - (817) - (817)  Balance, September 30, 2017 $ 30,279 $ 142,002 $ 10,598 $ 182,879 

Derivative Financial Instrume30

Derivative Financial Instruments (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Schedule Of Fair Values Of Derivative Financial Instruments	  Asset Derivatives' Liability Derivatives'  Fair Value Fair Value  September 30, 2017 December 31, 2016 September 30, 2017 December 31, 2016  Derivative financial instruments (1) $ 5,061 $ 14,818 (3) $ - $ -  Accrued and other liabilities - - 18,029 (2) 27,099  Other liabilities - - 15 81  Total $ 5,061 $ 14,818 $ 18,044 $ 27,180  (1) Derivative financial instruments as reflected on the consolidated balance sheets include related margin deposit assets of $ 52.5 million and $ 50.6 million at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 , respectively. (2) Balance at September 30, 2017 includes $ 15.7 million of net unrealized losses on derivative financial instruments designated as cash flow hedging instruments. (3) Balance at December 31, 2016 includ es $ 17.0 million of net unrealized losses on deri vative 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 Hedges Recognized in Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,  Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) 2017 2016 2017 2016  Commodity Contracts $ (12,235) $ 3,250 $ (15,069) $ (2,157) 
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 Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,  Designated in a Hedging Relationship 2017 2016 2017 2016  Revenues $ 2,863 $ (1,084) $ (7,400) $ 6,187  Cost of goods sold 2,036 (39) 17,256 (8,740)  Net increase (decrease) recognized in earnings before tax $ 4,899 $ (1,123) $ 9,856 $ (2,553) 
Schedule Of Gain (Loss) Due To Ineffectiveness Of Cash Flow Hedges [Member]
Schedule of Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) in Statement of Financial Performance	  Gains (Losses) Due to Ineffectiveness Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,  of Cash Flow Hedges 2017 2016 2017 2016  Revenues $ (48) $ 34 $ (229) $ (5)  Cost of goods sold (213) 96 (213) (65)  Net increase (decrease) recognized in earnings before tax $ (261) $ 130 $ (442) $ (70) 
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 Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,  into Net Income 2017 2016 2017 2016  Revenues $ (5,242) $ 25,254 $ 1,734 $ 12,029  Cost of goods sold (1,861) (28,548) (1,679) (15,904)  Net increase (decrease) recognized in earnings before tax $ (7,103) $ (3,294) $ 55 $ (3,875) 
Schedule Of Gain (Loss) From Fair Value Hedges Of Inventory [Member]
Schedule of Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) in Statement of Financial Performance	  Gains (Losses) from Fair Value Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,  Hedges of Inventory 2017 2016 2017 2016  Revenues (effect of change in inventory value) $ 61 $ (40) $ 1,451 $ 1,379  Cost of goods sold (effect of change in inventory value) (1,775) (470) (6,229) 7,712  Revenues (effect of fair value hedge) (61) 40 (1,734) (1,379)  Cost of goods sold (effect of fair value hedge) 3,085 918 8,530 (7,648)  Ineffectiveness recognized in earnings before tax $ 1,310 $ 448 $ 2,018 $ 64 
Schedule Of Volumes of Open Commodity Derivative Positions [Member]
Schedule Of Open Position Derivative Financial Instruments	The open commodity derivative positions as of September 30, 2017 , are as follows (in thousands):     September 30, 2017  Exchange Traded Non-Exchange Traded  Derivative Instruments Net Long & (Short) (1) Long (2) (Short) (2) Unit of Measure Commodity   Futures (39,030) Bushels Corn, Soybeans and Wheat  Futures 67,775 (3) Bushels Corn  Futures (13,175) (4) Bushels Corn  Futures 9,828 Gallons Ethanol  Futures (285,852) (3) Gallons Ethanol  Futures 1,745 MmBTU Natural Gas  Futures (13,753) (4) MmBTU Natural Gas  Futures (7,200) Pounds Livestock  Futures (336,300) (3) Pounds Livestock  Futures 40 Barrels Crude Oil  Futures (293) (4) Barrels Crude Oil  Futures (420) Pounds Soybean Oil  Futures 5,838 (3) Gallons Natural Gasoline  Options (1,010) Bushels Corn, Soybeans and Wheat  Options 2,156 Gallons Ethanol  Options (3,456) Pounds Livestock  Options (1,032) Pounds Soybean Oil  Options 29 Barrels Crude Oil  Forwards 17,166 (247) Bushels Corn and Soybeans  Forwards 53,872 (336,067) Gallons Ethanol  Forwards 173 (375) Tons Distillers Grains  Forwards 14,367 (92,344) Pounds Corn Oil  Forwards 14,862 (1,036) MmBTU Natural Gasoline  Forwards 712 (412) Barrels Crude 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 or non-exchange traded forwards used for fair value hedges.

Debt (Tables)

Debt (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Debt [Abstract]
Schedule Of The Components Of Long-Term Debt	The components of long-term debt are as follows (in thousands ):      September 30, 2017 December 31, 2016  Corporate:  $500.0 million term loan $ 487,440 $ -  $120.0 million convertible notes due 2018 60,241 108,817  $170.0 million convertible notes due 2022 131,752 127,239  Green Plains Partners:  $155.0 million revolving credit facility 129,000 129,000  Green Plains Processing:  $345.0 million term loan - 294,011  Fleischmann's Vinegar:  $130.0 million term loan - 125,609  $15.0 million revolving credit facility - 4,000  Other 27,976 28,993  Total long-term debt 836,409 817,669  Less: current portion of long-term debt (6,486) (35,059)  Long-term debt $ 829,923 $ 782,610 

Stock-Based Compensation (Table

Stock-Based Compensation (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Schedule of Stock Option Valuation Assumptions	The activity related to the exercisable stock options for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 , is as follows:      Shares Weighted-Average Exercise Price Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years) Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in thousands)   Outstanding at December 31, 2016 148,750 $ 12.36 2.8 $ 2,305  Granted - - - -  Exercised (5,000) 10.00 - 78  Forfeited - - - -  Expired - - - -  Outstanding at September 30, 2017 143,750 $ 12.44 2.1 $ 1,109  Exercisable at September 30, 2017 (1) 143,750 $ 12.44 2.1 $ 1,109  (1) Includes in-the-money options totaling 143,750 shares at a weighted-average exercise price of $ 12.44 .
Schedule of Non-Vest Stock Award and Deferred Stock Unit Activity	  Non-Vested Shares and Deferred Stock Units Weighted- Average Grant- Date Fair Value Weighted-Average Remaining Vesting Term (in years)   Non-Vested at December 31, 2016 1,139,560 $ 17.65  Granted 566,165 24.03  Forfeited (42,430) 19.08  Vested (542,764) 18.37  Non-Vested at September 30, 2017 1,120,531 $ 20.47 2.0 
Green Plains Partners LP [Member]
Schedule of Non-vested Unit-based Awards Activity	  The non-vested unit-based awards activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 , is as follows:     Non-Vested Shares and Deferred Stock Units Weighted- Average Grant- Date Fair Value Weighted-Average Remaining Vesting Term (in years)   Non-Vested at December 31, 2016 15,009 $ 15.99  Granted 12,834 18.70  Forfeited (4,278) 18.70  Vested (15,009) 15.99  Non-Vested at September 30, 2017 8,556 $ 18.70 0.8 

Earnings Per Share (Tables)

Earnings Per Share (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Schedule Of Basic And Diluted Earnings Per Share	  Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,  2017 2016 2017 2016  Basic EPS:  Net income (loss) attributable to Green Plains $ 34,394 $ 7,928 $ 14,431 $ (8,019)  Weighted average shares outstanding - basic 41,348 38,282 40,008 38,301  EPS - basic $ 0.83 $ 0.21 $ 0.36 $ (0.21)   Diluted EPS:  Net income (loss) attributable to Green Plains $ 34,394 $ 7,928 $ 14,431 $ (8,019)  Interest and amortization on convertible debt, net of tax effect:  3.25% notes 840 - 3,582 -  4.125% notes 2,050 - 6,089 -  Net income (loss) attributable to Green Plains - diluted $ 37,284 $ 7,928 $ 24,102 $ (8,019)   Weighted average shares outstanding - basic 41,348 38,282 40,008 38,301  Effect of dilutive convertible debt:  3.25% notes 3,178 760 4,551 -  4.125% notes 6,071 - 6,071 -  Effect of dilutive stock-based compensation awards 50 94 63 -  Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted 50,647 39,136 50,693 38,301   EPS - diluted $ 0.74 $ 0.20 $ 0.48 $ (0.21) 

Stockholders Equity (Tables)

Stockholders Equity (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Stockholders Equity [Abstract]
Stockholders Equity	   Accum. Total  Additional Other Green Plains Non- Total  Common Stock Paid-in Retained Comp. Treasury Stock Stockholders' Controlling Stockholders'  Shares Amount Capital Earnings Loss Shares Amount Equity Interests Equity   Balance, December 31, 2016 46,079 $ 46 $ 659,200 $ 283,214 $ (4,137) 7,715 $ (75,816) $ 862,507 $ 116,684 $ 979,191  Net income - - - 14,431 - - - 14,431 14,853 29,284  Cash dividends and distributions declared - - - (14,053) - - - (14,053) (15,214) (29,267)  Other comprehensive loss before reclassification - - - - (9,436) - - (9,436) - (9,436)  Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss - - - - (34) - - (34) - (34)  Other comprehensive loss, net of tax - - - - (9,470) - - (9,470) - (9,470)  Repurchase of common stock - - - - - 336 (5,733) (5,733) - (5,733)  Exchange of 3.25% convertible notes due 2018 - - 18,326 - - (2,784) 27,356 45,682 - 45,682  Stock-based compensation 346 - 4,497 - - - - 4,497 159 4,656  Stock options exercised 5 - 50 - - - - 50 - 50  Balance, September 30, 2017 46,430 $ 46 $ 682,073 $ 283,592 $ (13,607) 5,267 $ (54,193) $ 897,911 $ 116,482 $ 1,014,393 
Reclassification Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	  Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30, Statements of Operations  2017 2016 2017 2016 Classification  Gains on cash flow hedges:  Commodity derivatives $ (5,242) $ 25,254 $ 1,734 $ 12,029 Revenues  Commodity derivatives (1,861) (28,548) (1,679) (15,904) Cost of goods sold  Total (7,103) (3,294) 55 (3,875) Income (loss) before income taxes  Income tax expense (benefit) (2,650) (1,144) 21 (1,369) Income tax expense (benefit)  Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) $ (4,453) $ (2,150) $ 34 $ (2,506) 

Commitments And Contingencies (

Commitments And Contingencies (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Commitments And Contingencies [Abstract]
Schedule of Aggregate Minimum Lease Payments	  Year Ending December 31, Amount  2017 $ 10,168  2018 28,976  2019 19,544  2020 13,160  2021 6,444  Thereafter 22,105  Total $ 100,397 

Basis Of Presentation And Des36

Basis Of Presentation And Description Of Business And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands		Apr. 01, 2016	Jul. 01, 2015	Sep. 30, 2017USD ($)segment	Sep. 30, 2016USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016USD ($)
Asset	[1]			$ 2,628,537		$ 2,506,492
Total liabilities				$ 1,614,144		1,527,301
Number of operating segments | segment				4
Increase in cash flows from operating activities, Share-based compensation				$ 8,761	$ 7,043
Decrease in cash flows from financing activities, Payments related to tax withholdings for stock-based compensation				4,105	2,206
Green Plains Partners L.P. [Member]
Total liabilities				155,800		156,000
Accounting Standards Update 2016-09 [Member]
Increase in cash flows from operating activities, Share-based compensation					2,168
Decrease in cash flows from financing activities, Payments related to tax withholdings for stock-based compensation					$ 2,168
BioProcess Algae [Member]
Less than wholy owned subsidiary, parent ownership perecentage		82.80%
Green Plains Partners LP [Member] | Green Plains Partners L.P. [Member]
Asset				$ 73,000		$ 75,000
IPO [Member] | Limited Partner [Member]
Ownership interest, public, percentage			35.50%
IPO [Member] | Limited Partner [Member] | Green Plains Inc. [Member]
Ownership interest, percentage			62.50%
IPO [Member] | General Partner [Member] | Green Plains Inc. [Member]
Ownership interest, percentage			2.00%
[1]	Asset balances by segment exclude intercompany receivable balances

Acquisitions (Narrative) (Detai

Acquisitions (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands, gal in Millions	May 16, 2017USD ($)item	Oct. 03, 2016USD ($)	Sep. 23, 2016USD ($)propertygal	Sep. 30, 2017USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017USD ($)
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Decrease in the fair value of goodwill					$ 817
Asset Purchase Agreement With Cargill Cattle Feeders, LLC [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquisition date	May 16, 2017
Number of cattle-feeding operations | item	2
Feedlot capacity, head of cattle | item	155,000
Purchase price	$ 57,653
Acquisition of Fleischmann’s Vinegar Company, Inc. [Member}
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquisition date		Oct. 3, 2016
Purchase price		$ 258,319
Increase in the fair value of property and equipment					6,200
Decrease in accumulated amortization					300
Decrease in the fair value intangible assets					4,000
Decrease in accumulated depreciation					500
Decrease in the fair value of goodwill					800
Decrease in income taxes payable					100
Increase in deferred tax liabilities					1,500
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Finite-Lived Intangibles				$ 74,700	74,700
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization				5,300	$ 5,300
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life					14 years
Amortization expense				1,100	$ 3,900
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Next Twelve Months				5,600	5,600
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Two				5,600	5,600
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Three				5,600	5,600
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Four				5,600	5,600
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Five				5,600	5,600
Acquisition of Fleischmann’s Vinegar Company, Inc. [Member} | Trade Names [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets				$ 10,500	$ 10,500
Acquisition of Abengoa Ethanol Plants [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquisition date			Sep. 23, 2016
Number of ethanol plants | property			3
Expected annual ethanol production capacity | gal			230
Working capital acquired or assumed			$ 19,100
Green Plains Partners LP [Member] | Acquisition of Abengoa Ethanol Plants [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Transfer between entities under control			$ 90,000

Acquisitions (Schedule Of Ident

Acquisitions (Schedule Of Identifiable Assets Acquired And Liabilities Assumed) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	May 16, 2017	Oct. 03, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 23, 2016
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill			$ 182,879	$ 183,696
Asset Purchase Agreement With Cargill Cattle Feeders, LLC [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Inventory	$ 20,576
Prepaid expenses and other	52
Property and equipment, net	37,205
Current liabilities	(180)
Total identifiable net assets	57,653
Purchase price	$ 57,653
Acquisition of Fleischmann’s Vinegar Company, Inc. [Member}
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash		$ 4,148
Inventory		9,308
Accounts receivable, net		13,919
Prepaid expenses and other		1,054
Property and equipment, net		49,175
Intangible assets		90,500
Current liabilities		(9,689)
Income taxes payable		(216)
Deferred tax liabilities		(41,882)
Total identifiable net assets		116,317
Goodwill		142,002
Purchase price		$ 258,319
Acquisition of Abengoa Ethanol Plants [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Inventory					$ 16,904
Accounts receivable, net					1,826
Prepaid expenses and other					2,224
Property and equipment, net					234,947
Other assets					3,885
Current maturities of long-term debt					(406)
Current liabilities					(2,580)
Long-term debt					(2,763)
Total identifiable net assets					$ 254,037

Fair Value Disclosures (Narrati

Fair Value Disclosures (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair value of debt	$ 1,300,000	$ 1,100,000
Book value of debt	1,300,000	1,100,000
Accounts receivable, book value	$ 114,978	$ 147,495

Fair Value Disclosures (Schedul

Fair Value Disclosures (Schedule Of Assets And Liabilities Fair Value) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 261,588	$ 304,211
Restricted cash		30,773	51,979
Inventories carried at market		114,410	154,022	[1]
Unrealized gains on derivatives		51,563	47,236
Other assets		115	116
Total assets measured at fair value		458,449	557,564
Liabilities:
Accounts payable	[2]	31,377	35,288
Unrealized losses on derivatives		12,004	8,916
Other		15	81
Total liabilities measured at fair value		43,396	44,285
Fair Value Hedging [Member]
Assets:
Inventories carried at market			77,000
Reclassification for Balance Sheet Presentation [Member]
Assets:
Margin deposits		(52,527)	(50,601)
Unrealized gains on derivatives		31,812	24,146
Total assets measured at fair value		(20,715)	(26,455)
Liabilities:
Unrealized losses on derivatives		(20,715)	(26,455)
Total liabilities measured at fair value		(20,715)	(26,455)
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		261,588	304,211
Restricted cash		30,773	51,979
Margin deposits		52,527	50,601
Unrealized gains on derivatives		14,690	8,272
Other assets		115	116
Total assets measured at fair value		359,693	415,179
Liabilities:
Unrealized losses on derivatives		20,715	26,455
Total liabilities measured at fair value		20,715	26,455
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
Assets:
Inventories carried at market		114,410	154,022	[1]
Unrealized gains on derivatives		5,061	14,818
Total assets measured at fair value		119,471	168,840
Liabilities:
Accounts payable	[2]	31,377	35,288
Unrealized losses on derivatives		12,004	8,916
Other		15	81
Total liabilities measured at fair value		$ 43,396	$ 44,285
[1]	Inventories carried at market have been revised from previously reported results to include $77.0 million of inventories held under a fair value hedging relationship. There was no impact to the financial statements resulting from this revision.
[2]	Accounts payable is generally stated at historical amounts with the exception of $31.4 million and $35.3 million at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, related to certain delivered inventory subject to changes in commodity prices. These payables are hybrid financial instruments for which the company has elected the fair value option.

Segment Information (Narrative)

Segment Information (Narrative) (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017segment
Segment Information [Abstract]
Number of operating segments	4

Segment Information (Summary Of

Segment Information (Summary Of Financial Data) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 901,235	$ 841,852	$ 2,675,182	$ 2,478,783
Costs of goods sold	815,787	758,883	2,457,702	2,293,094
EBITDA	50,377	49,072	118,299	90,963
Depreciation and amortization	27,834	19,286	80,105	56,132
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Costs of goods sold	(42,706)	(33,257)	(114,123)	(93,769)
EBITDA	8	(39)	(147)	(1,174)
Revenue From External Customers [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	901,235	841,852	2,675,182	2,478,783
Intersegment Revenue [Member] | Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	(42,771)	(33,112)	(114,435)	(94,491)
Revenue Including Intersegment Activity [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	944,006	874,964	2,789,617	2,573,274
Ethanol Production [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Costs of goods sold	590,904	549,705	1,802,688	1,649,641
EBITDA	25,570	30,155	38,521	39,164
Depreciation and amortization	20,959	15,725	61,443	46,655
Ethanol Production [Member] | Revenue From External Customers [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	620,180	586,988	1,857,356	1,710,484
Ethanol Production [Member] | Intersegment Revenue [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	3,579		6,624
Ethanol Production [Member] | Revenue Including Intersegment Activity [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	623,759	586,988	1,863,980	1,710,484
Agribusiness And Energy Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Costs of goods sold	168,735	163,643	487,239	518,135
EBITDA	5,150	6,310	15,910	21,246
Depreciation and amortization	1,457	628	2,776	1,882
Agribusiness And Energy Services [Member] | Revenue From External Customers [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	164,604	168,143	483,670	531,445
Agribusiness And Energy Services [Member] | Intersegment Revenue [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	14,406	8,936	33,679	24,934
Agribusiness And Energy Services [Member] | Revenue Including Intersegment Activity [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	179,010	177,079	517,349	556,379
Food And Ingredients [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Costs of goods sold	98,854	78,792	281,898	219,087
EBITDA	13,272	5,465	39,741	10,430
Depreciation and amortization	3,139	257	9,259	802
Food And Ingredients [Member] | Revenue From External Customers [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	114,750	84,655	329,432	230,812
Food And Ingredients [Member] | Intersegment Revenue [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	38	37	113	112
Food And Ingredients [Member] | Revenue Including Intersegment Activity [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	114,788	84,692	329,545	230,924
Partnership [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Costs of goods sold
EBITDA	17,589	16,620	51,549	47,241
Depreciation and amortization	1,280	1,515	3,781	4,220
Partnership [Member] | Revenue From External Customers [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	1,701	2,066	4,724	6,042
Partnership [Member] | Intersegment Revenue [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	24,748	24,139	74,019	69,445
Partnership [Member] | Revenue Including Intersegment Activity [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	26,449	26,205	78,743	75,487
Corporate Activities [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
EBITDA	(11,212)	(9,439)	(27,275)	(25,944)
Depreciation and amortization	$ 999	$ 1,161	$ 2,846	$ 2,573

Segment Information (Schedule O

Segment Information (Schedule Of Reconciliation Of Net Income (Loss) To EBITDA) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Segment Information [Abstract]
Net income	$ 39,429	$ 12,884	$ 29,284	$ 6,053
Interest expense	31,889	11,819	69,815	33,117
Income tax expense (benefit)	(48,775)	5,083	(60,905)	(4,339)
Depreciation and amortization	27,834	19,286	80,105	56,132
EBITDA	$ 50,377	$ 49,072	$ 118,299	$ 90,963

Segment Information (Schedule44

Segment Information (Schedule Of Revenues By Product) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 901,235	$ 841,852	$ 2,675,182	$ 2,478,783
Ethanol [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	625,787	550,724	1,830,887	1,622,168
Distillers Grains [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	97,136	129,345	303,527	357,070
Corn Oil [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	33,678	49,844	121,166	111,727
Grain [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	19,338	30,003	73,860	145,800
Food And Ingredients [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	112,697	70,012	305,211	201,423
Service Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	1,701	2,066	4,724	6,042
Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 10,898	$ 9,858	$ 35,807	$ 34,553

Segment Information (Summary 45

Segment Information (Summary Of Total Assets For Operating Segments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	[1]	$ 2,628,537	$ 2,506,492
Ethanol Production [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	[1]	1,137,903	1,206,155
Agribusiness And Energy Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	[1]	467,955	579,977
Food And Ingredients [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	[1]	691,663	406,429
Partnership [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	[1]	72,965	74,999
Corporate Assets [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	[1]	272,844	257,652
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	[1]	$ (14,793)	$ (18,720)
[1]	Asset balances by segment exclude intercompany receivable balances

Inventories (Schedule Of Invent

Inventories (Schedule Of Inventories) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Inventories [Abstract]
Finished goods	$ 123,860	$ 99,009
Commodities held for sale	42,783	65,926
Raw materials	128,072	135,516
Work-in-process	283,936	91,093
Supplies and parts	33,796	30,637
Inventories	$ 612,447	$ 422,181

Goodwill (Narrative) (Details)

Goodwill (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017USD ($)
Goodwill reduction	$ (817)
Acquisition of Fleischmann’s Vinegar Company, Inc. [Member}
Goodwill reduction	$ (800)

Goodwill (Schedule of Changes i

Goodwill (Schedule of Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill Attributable to Each Business Segment) (Details) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017USD ($)
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Beginning Balance	$ 183,696
Adjustment to preliminary Fleischmann's Vinegar Valuation	(817)
Goodwill, Ending Balance	182,879
Ethanol Production [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Beginning Balance	30,279
Goodwill, Ending Balance	30,279
Food And Ingredients [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Beginning Balance	142,819
Adjustment to preliminary Fleischmann's Vinegar Valuation	(817)
Goodwill, Ending Balance	142,002
Partnership [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Beginning Balance	10,598
Goodwill, Ending Balance	$ 10,598

Derivative Financial Instrume49

Derivative Financial Instruments (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	$ (13,607,000)		$ (13,607,000)		$ (4,137,000)
Energy trading contracts, gain (loss)	3,100,000	$ 2,700,000	18,300,000	$ 5,700,000
Discontinuing Cash Flow Or Fair Value Hedging [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Energy trading contracts, gain (loss)	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0

Derivative Financial Instrume50

Derivative Financial Instruments (Schedule Of Fair Values Of Derivative Financial Instruments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2017		Dec. 31, 2016
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value		$ 5,061		$ 14,818
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value		18,044		27,180
Margin deposit asset		52,500		50,600
Net unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges		(15,700)		(17,000)
Derivative Financial Instruments [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	[1]	5,061		14,818	[2]
Accrued and Other Liabilities [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	[1]	18,029	[3]	27,099
Other Liabilities [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value		$ 15		$ 81
[1]	Derivative financial instruments as reflected on the consolidated balance sheets include related margin deposit assets of $52.5 million and $50.6 million at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.
[2]	Balance at December 31, 2016 includes $17.0 million of net unrealized losses on derivative financial instruments designated as cash flow hedging instruments.
[3]	Balance at September 30, 2017 includes $15.7 million of net unrealized losses on derivative financial instruments designated as cash flow hedging instruments.

Derivative Financial Instrume51

Derivative Financial Instruments (Schedule Of Gain Or Loss Recognized In Income And Other Comprehensive Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Gains (Losses) on Derivative Instruments Not Designated in a Hedging Relationship	$ 4,899	$ (1,123)	$ 9,856	$ (2,553)
Gains (Losses) Due to Ineffectiveness of Cash Flow Hedges	(261)	130	(442)	(70)
Gains (Losses) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) into Net Income	(7,103)	(3,294)	55	(3,875)
Gains (Losses) from Fair Value Hedges of Inventory	1,310	448	2,018	64
Revenue [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Gains (Losses) on Derivative Instruments Not Designated in a Hedging Relationship	2,863	(1,084)	(7,400)	6,187
Gains (Losses) Due to Ineffectiveness of Cash Flow Hedges	(48)	34	(229)	(5)
Gains (Losses) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) into Net Income	(5,242)	25,254	1,734	12,029
Revenue (Effect of Change In Inventory Value) [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Gains (Losses) from Fair Value Hedges of Inventory	61	(40)	1,451	1,379
Revenue (Effect of Fair Value Hedge) [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Gains (Losses) from Fair Value Hedges of Inventory	(61)	40	(1,734)	(1,379)
Cost of Goods Sold [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Gains (Losses) on Derivative Instruments Not Designated in a Hedging Relationship	2,036	(39)	17,256	(8,740)
Gains (Losses) Due to Ineffectiveness of Cash Flow Hedges	(213)	96	(213)	(65)
Gains (Losses) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) into Net Income	(1,861)	(28,548)	(1,679)	(15,904)
Cost of Goods Sold (Effect of Change in Inventory Value) [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Gains (Losses) from Fair Value Hedges of Inventory	(1,775)	(470)	(6,229)	7,712
Cost of Goods Sold (Effect of Fair Value Hedge) [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Gains (Losses) from Fair Value Hedges of Inventory	$ 3,085	$ 918	$ 8,530	$ (7,648)

Derivative Financial Instrume52

Derivative Financial Instruments (Commodity Contracts) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Commodity Contracts [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Effective Portion of Cash Flow Hedges Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	$ (12,235)	$ 3,250	$ (15,069)	$ (2,157)

Derivative Financial Instrume53

Derivative Financial Instruments (Schedule Of Volumes Of Open Commodity Derivative Positions) (Details) contract in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2017contract
Corn, Soybeans And Wheat In Bushels [Member] | Exchange Traded [Member] | Short [Member] | Futures [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	39,030	[1]
Corn, Soybeans And Wheat In Bushels [Member] | Exchange Traded [Member] | Short [Member] | Options [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	1,010	[1],[2]
Corn In Bushels [Member] | Exchange Traded [Member] | Long [Member] | Cash Flow Hedges [Member] | Futures [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	67,775	[1]
Corn In Bushels [Member] | Exchange Traded [Member] | Short [Member] | Fair Value Hedging [Member] | Futures [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	13,175	[1],[3]
Ethanol In Gallons [Member] | Exchange Traded [Member] | Long [Member] | Futures [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	9,828	[1]
Ethanol In Gallons [Member] | Exchange Traded [Member] | Long [Member] | Options [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	2,156	[1]
Ethanol In Gallons [Member] | Exchange Traded [Member] | Short [Member] | Cash Flow Hedges [Member] | Futures [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	285,852	[1]
Ethanol In Gallons [Member] | Non-Exchange Traded [Member] | Long [Member] | Forwards [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	53,872	[4]
Ethanol In Gallons [Member] | Non-Exchange Traded [Member] | Short [Member] | Forwards [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	336,067	[4]
Natural Gas In mmBTU [Member] | Exchange Traded [Member] | Long [Member] | Futures [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	1,745	[1]
Natural Gas In mmBTU [Member] | Exchange Traded [Member] | Short [Member] | Fair Value Hedging [Member] | Futures [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	13,753	[1]
Livestock in Pounds [Member] | Exchange Traded [Member] | Short [Member] | Options [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	3,456	[1]
Livestock in Pounds [Member] | Exchange Traded [Member] | Short [Member] | Cash Flow Hedges [Member] | Futures [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	336,300	[1]
Livestock in Pounds [Member] | Exchange Traded [Member] | Short [Member] | Fair Value Hedging [Member] | Futures [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	7,200	[1],[3]
Crude Oil In Barrels [Member] | Exchange Traded [Member] | Long [Member] | Futures [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	40	[1],[2]
Crude Oil In Barrels [Member] | Exchange Traded [Member] | Long [Member] | Options [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	29	[1]
Crude Oil In Barrels [Member] | Exchange Traded [Member] | Short [Member] | Fair Value Hedging [Member] | Futures [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	293	[1]
Crude Oil In Barrels [Member] | Non-Exchange Traded [Member] | Long [Member] | Forwards [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	712	[4]
Crude Oil In Barrels [Member] | Non-Exchange Traded [Member] | Short [Member] | Forwards [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	412	[4]
Soybean Oil in Pounds [Member] | Exchange Traded [Member] | Short [Member] | Futures [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	420	[1],[3]
Soybean Oil in Pounds [Member] | Exchange Traded [Member] | Short [Member] | Options [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	1,032	[1]
Natural Gasoline In Gallons [Member] | Exchange Traded [Member] | Long [Member] | Cash Flow Hedges [Member] | Futures [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	5,838	[1]
Natural Gasoline In Gallons [Member] | Non-Exchange Traded [Member] | Long [Member] | Forwards [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	14,862	[4]
Natural Gasoline In Gallons [Member] | Non-Exchange Traded [Member] | Short [Member] | Forwards [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	1,036	[4]
Corn And Soybeans In Bushels [Member] | Non-Exchange Traded [Member] | Long [Member] | Forwards [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	17,166	[4]
Corn And Soybeans In Bushels [Member] | Non-Exchange Traded [Member] | Short [Member] | Forwards [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	247	[4]
Distillers Grains In Tons [Member] | Non-Exchange Traded [Member] | Long [Member] | Forwards [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	173	[4]
Distillers Grains In Tons [Member] | Non-Exchange Traded [Member] | Short [Member] | Forwards [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	375	[4]
Corn Oil in Pounds [Member] | Non-Exchange Traded [Member] | Long [Member] | Forwards [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	14,367	[4]
Corn Oil in Pounds [Member] | Non-Exchange Traded [Member] | Short [Member] | Forwards [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	92,344	[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 or non-exchange traded forwards 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.

Debt (Narrative - Short-term De

Debt (Narrative - Short-term Debt) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Green Plains Cattle [Member] | Revolvers [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding note payable	$ 246.7	$ 63.5
Green Plains Grain [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Short-term inventory financing arrangements	3.7
Green Plains Grain [Member] | Revolvers [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding note payable	64	102
Green Plains Trade [Member] | Revolvers [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding note payable	$ 143.3	$ 125.7

Debt (Narrative - Corporate Act

Debt (Narrative - Corporate Activities) (Details)	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017USD ($)$ / sharesproperty	Jun. 30, 2017USD ($)shares	Sep. 30, 2016USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017USD ($)$ / sharespropertyshares	Sep. 30, 2016USD ($)	Aug. 29, 2017USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Cash payment for conversion of 3.25% convertible notes due 2018				$ 8,523,000
Interest expense	$ 31,889,000		$ 11,819,000	69,815,000	$ 33,117,000
Long-term Debt	$ 836,409,000			$ 836,409,000			$ 817,669,000
3.25% Convertible Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	3.25%			3.25%
Corporate Activities [Member] | 4.125% Convertible Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount	$ 170,000,000			$ 170,000,000
Interest rate, stated percentage	4.125%			4.125%
Common stock, dividends per share, cash paid per share | $ / shares				$ 0.12
Common stock for conversion, shares | shares				35.7143
Debt conversion amount				$ 1,000
Debt conversion price | $ / shares	$ 28			$ 28
Conversion price percentage				140.00%
Principal amount of notes, percentage				100.00%
Corporate Activities [Member] | 3.25% Convertible Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding note payable		$ 63,700,000
Debt instrument, face amount	$ 120,000,000			$ 120,000,000
Interest rate, stated percentage	3.25%			3.25%
Common stock, dividends per share, cash paid per share | $ / shares				$ 0.04
Common stock for conversion, shares | shares		2,783,725
Debt conversion amount				$ 1,000
Debt conversion price | $ / shares	$ 20			$ 20
Conversion price percentage				140.00%
Principal amount of notes, percentage				100.00%
Conversion rate				49.9981
Cash payment for conversion of 3.25% convertible notes due 2018		$ 8,523,000
Debt instrument, exchange amount		56,300,000
Interest expense		$ 1,300,000
Unamortized debt issuance costs	$ 600,000			$ 600,000
Corporate Activities [Member] | Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Prepayment fees				1.00%
Prepayment fee required in paid within term				18 months
Debt Instrument, Periodic Payment, Principal				$ 1,250,000
Corporate Activities [Member] | Term Loan [Member] | LIBOR [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, basis spread on variable rate, percentage				5.50%
Interest rate, basis for effective rate				LIBOR plus a margin of 5.50%
Corporate Activities [Member] | Term Loan [Member] | Base Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, basis spread on variable rate, percentage				4.50%
Interest rate, basis for effective rate				base rate plus a margin of 4.50%
Corporate Activities [Member] | Term Loan [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest coverage ratio	1.25			1.25
Special annual payments from available free cash flow, percentage				50.00%
Corporate Activities [Member] | Term Loan [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Term debt to total term capitalization				55.00%
Special annual payments from available free cash flow, percentage				75.00%
Corporate Activities [Member] | Green Plains Processing & Fleischmanns Vinegar Company [Member] | Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt						$ 405,000,000
Corporate Activities [Member] | Green Plains Processing & Fleischmanns Vinegar Company [Member] | Term Loan [Member] | Collateral Pledged [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Number of ethanol plants | property	17			17

Debt (Narrative - Ethanol Produ

Debt (Narrative - Ethanol Production Segment) (Details) - Term Loan [Member]	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017USD ($)
Ethanol Production Segment [Member] | Green Plains Processing [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount	$ 345,000,000
Interest rate, basis for effective rate	LIBOR, subject to a 1.00% floor, plus
Write off deferred financing fees	$ 5,900,000
Ethanol Production Segment [Member] | Green Plains Processing [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total leverage ratio, initial ratio	4
Total leverage ratio, decreased ratio over the life of the debt	3.25
Ethanol Production Segment [Member] | Green Plains Processing [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, basis spread on variable rate, percentage	1.00%
Fixed charge coverage ratio	1.25
Ethanol Production Segment [Member] | Green Plains Processing [Member] | LIBOR [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, basis spread on variable rate, percentage	5.50%
$500 Million Term Loan [Member] | Corporate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount	$ 500,000,000

Debt (Narrative - Agribusiness

Debt (Narrative - Agribusiness And Energy Services Segment) (Details) - Agribusiness And Energy Services Segment [Member] - USD ($)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017
Green Plains Grain [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount	$ 125,000,000
Debt maturity dates	Jul. 26, 2019
Additional amounts available under facility, accordion feature	$ 75,000,000
Line of credit, maximum borrowing capacity	250,000,000
Minimum working capital required for compliance	20,000,000
Minimum net worth required for compliance	26,300,000
Annual capital expenditures, maximum	$ 8,000,000
Allowable dividends as percentage of net profit before taxes	50.00%
Green Plains Grain [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | LIBOR [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, basis for effective rate	LIBOR plus 3.00%
Interest rate, basis spread on variable rate, percentage	3.00%
Green Plains Grain [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Base Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, basis for effective rate	base rate plus 2.00%
Interest rate, basis spread on variable rate, percentage	2.00%
Green Plains Grain [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fixed charge coverage ratio	1.25
Green Plains Grain [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Annual leverage ratio	6
Green Plains Grain [Member] | Seasonal Borrowings [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit, maximum borrowing capacity	$ 50,000,000
Green Plains Trade [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Additional amounts available under facility, accordion feature	70,000,000
Line of credit, maximum borrowing capacity	300,000,000	$ 150,000,000
Annual capital expenditures, maximum	$ 1,500,000
Fixed charge coverage ratio	1.15
Allowable dividends as percentage of net profit before taxes	50.00%
Undrawn availability of revolving credit facility on a pro forma basis	$ 10,000,000
Restricted cash	$ 9,500,000
Unused capacity fee, percentage	0.375%
Green Plains Trade [Member] | Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit, maximum borrowing capacity	$ 285,000,000
Green Plains Trade [Member] | Credit Facility [Member] | LIBOR [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, basis for effective rate	LIBOR plus 2.25%
Interest rate, basis spread on variable rate, percentage	2.25%
Green Plains Trade [Member] | First-in-last-out (FILO) Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit, maximum borrowing capacity	$ 15,000,000
Green Plains Trade [Member] | First-in-last-out (FILO) Credit Facility [Member] | LIBOR [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, basis for effective rate	LIBOR plus 3.25%
Interest rate, basis spread on variable rate, percentage	3.25%

Debt (Narrative - Food And Ingr

Debt (Narrative - Food And Ingredients Segment, Partnership Segment, Capitalized Interest, And Restricted Net Assets) (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Payment for Debt Extinguishment or Debt Prepayment Cost			$ 2,881,000
Cash payment for conversion of 3.25% convertible notes due 2018			8,523,000
Interest expense	$ 31,889,000	$ 11,819,000	69,815,000	$ 33,117,000
Capitalized interest	16,000	$ 483,000	39,000	$ 1,400,000
Restricted assets	124,500,000		124,500,000
Food And Ingredients Segment [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Write off deferred financing fees			3,500,000
Food And Ingredients Segment [Member] | Green Plains Cattle [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit, maximum borrowing capacity	$ 300,000,000		300,000,000
Additional amounts available under facility, accordion feature			$ 100,000,000
Minimum working capital required for compliance, percentage			15.00%
Minimum net worth required for compliance, percentage			20.00%
Allowable dividends as percentage of net profit before taxes	50.00%		50.00%
Annual leverage ratio	3.50		3.50
Annual capital expenditures, maximum			$ 10,000,000
Annual capital expenditures, maximum, funded by parent			$ 10,000,000
Food And Ingredients Segment [Member] | Green Plains Cattle [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | LIBOR [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, basis for effective rate			LIBOR plus 2.00% to 3.00%
Food And Ingredients Segment [Member] | Green Plains Cattle [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Base Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, basis for effective rate			base rate plus 1.00% to 2.00%
Food And Ingredients Segment [Member] | Green Plains Cattle [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unused capacity fee, percentage			0.20%
Food And Ingredients Segment [Member] | Green Plains Cattle [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Minimum [Member] | LIBOR [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, basis spread on variable rate, percentage			2.00%
Food And Ingredients Segment [Member] | Green Plains Cattle [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Base Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, basis spread on variable rate, percentage			1.00%
Food And Ingredients Segment [Member] | Green Plains Cattle [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unused capacity fee, percentage			0.30%
Food And Ingredients Segment [Member] | Green Plains Cattle [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Maximum [Member] | LIBOR [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, basis spread on variable rate, percentage			3.00%
Food And Ingredients Segment [Member] | Green Plains Cattle [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Base Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, basis spread on variable rate, percentage			2.00%
Food And Ingredients Segment [Member] | Fleischmanns Vinegar Company [Member] | Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unused capacity fee, percentage			0.50%
Food And Ingredients Segment [Member] | Fleischmanns Vinegar Company [Member] | Term Loan [Member] | LIBOR [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, basis for effective rate			LIBOR plus an applicable margin of 6.0% to 7.0%
Food And Ingredients Segment [Member] | Fleischmanns Vinegar Company [Member] | Term Loan [Member] | Base Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, basis for effective rate			base rate plus an applicable margin of 5.0% to 6.0%
Food And Ingredients Segment [Member] | Fleischmanns Vinegar Company [Member] | Term Loan [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Prepayment fees			1.00%
Food And Ingredients Segment [Member] | Fleischmanns Vinegar Company [Member] | Term Loan [Member] | Minimum [Member] | LIBOR [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, basis spread on variable rate, percentage			6.00%
Food And Ingredients Segment [Member] | Fleischmanns Vinegar Company [Member] | Term Loan [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Base Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, basis spread on variable rate, percentage			5.00%
Food And Ingredients Segment [Member] | Fleischmanns Vinegar Company [Member] | Term Loan [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Prepayment fees			2.00%
Food And Ingredients Segment [Member] | Fleischmanns Vinegar Company [Member] | Term Loan [Member] | Maximum [Member] | LIBOR [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, basis spread on variable rate, percentage			7.00%
Food And Ingredients Segment [Member] | Fleischmanns Vinegar Company [Member] | Term Loan [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Base Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, basis spread on variable rate, percentage			6.00%
Partnership [Member] | Green Plains Operating Company LLC [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount	$ 155,000,000		$ 155,000,000
Additional amount available under credit facility without consent of the lenders	$ 100,000,000		$ 100,000,000
Partnership [Member] | Green Plains Operating Company LLC [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | LIBOR [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, basis for effective rate			LIBOR plus 2.25% to 3.00%
Partnership [Member] | Green Plains Operating Company LLC [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Base Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, basis for effective rate			base rate plus 1.25% to 2.00%
Partnership [Member] | Green Plains Operating Company LLC [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unused capacity fee, percentage			0.35%
Interest coverage ratio	2.75		2.75
Partnership [Member] | Green Plains Operating Company LLC [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Minimum [Member] | LIBOR [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, basis spread on variable rate, percentage			2.25%
Partnership [Member] | Green Plains Operating Company LLC [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Base Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, basis spread on variable rate, percentage			1.25%
Partnership [Member] | Green Plains Operating Company LLC [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unused capacity fee, percentage			0.50%
Net leverage ratio	3.50		3.50
Partnership [Member] | Green Plains Operating Company LLC [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Maximum [Member] | LIBOR [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, basis spread on variable rate, percentage			3.00%
Partnership [Member] | Green Plains Operating Company LLC [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Base Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, basis spread on variable rate, percentage			2.00%
$130.0 Million Term Loan [Member] | Fleischmanns Vinegar Company [Member] | Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount	$ 130,000,000		$ 130,000,000		$ 130,000,000
$15.0 Million Revoling Credit Facility [Member] | Fleischmanns Vinegar Company [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount	$ 15,000,000		$ 15,000,000		$ 15,000,000

Debt (Schedule Of The Component

Debt (Schedule Of The Components Of Long-Term Debt) (Details) - USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 836,409,000	$ 817,669,000
Less: current portion of long-term debt	(6,486,000)	(35,059,000)
Long-term debt	829,923,000	782,610,000
Term Loan [Member] | $500 Million Term Loan [Member] | Corporate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	487,440,000
Debt instrument, face amount	500,000,000
Convertible Notes [Member] | $120.0 Million Convertible Notes [Member] | Corporate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	60,241,000	108,817,000
Debt instrument, face amount	120,000,000	120,000,000
Convertible Notes [Member] | $170.0 Million Convertible Notes [Member] | Corporate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	131,752,000	127,239,000
Debt instrument, face amount	170,000,000
Other Debt Obligations [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	27,976,000	28,993,000
Partnership [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | $155.0 Million Revoling Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	129,000,000	129,000,000
Debt instrument, face amount	155,000,000	155,000,000
Green Plains Processing [Member] | Term Loan [Member] | $345.0 Million Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt		294,011,000
Debt instrument, face amount		345,000,000
Fleischmanns Vinegar Company [Member] | Term Loan [Member] | $130.0 Million Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt		125,609,000
Debt instrument, face amount	130,000,000	130,000,000
Fleischmanns Vinegar Company [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | $15.0 Million Revoling Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt		4,000,000
Debt instrument, face amount	$ 15,000,000	$ 15,000,000

Stock-Based Compensation (Narra

Stock-Based Compensation (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of shares or units authorized	4,110,000		4,110,000
Units granted during period, weighted average price per unit
Compensation costs expensed	$ 3.3	$ 2.4	$ 8.8	$ 7
Unrecognized compensation costs	$ 16.2		$ 16.2
Compensation expected to be recognized, weighted-average period in years			2 years
Potential tax benefit, percentage			37.70%
Green Plains Partners LP 2015 Long-Term Incentive Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of shares or units authorized	2,500,000		2,500,000

Stock-Based Compensation (Sched

Stock-Based Compensation (Schedule Of Stock Option Activity) (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands		9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2017USD ($)$ / sharesshares	Dec. 31, 2016USD ($)$ / sharesshares
Stock-Based Compensation [Abstract]
Outstanding, Shares | shares		148,750
Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price | $ / shares		$ 12.36
Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term		2 years 1 month 6 days	2 years 9 months 18 days
Outstanding, Aggregate Intrinsic Value | $		$ 2,305
Granted, Shares | shares
Granted, Weighted Average Exercise price | $ / shares
Exercised, Shares | shares		(5,000)
Exercised, Weighted Average Exercise price | $ / shares		$ 10
Exercised, Aggregate Intrinsic Value | $		$ 78
Forfeited, Shares | shares
Forfeited, Weighted Average Exercise Price | $ / shares
Expired, Shares | shares
Expired, Weighted Average Exercise Price | $ / shares
Outstanding, Shares | shares		143,750	148,750
Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price | $ / shares		$ 12.44	$ 12.36
Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term		2 years 1 month 6 days	2 years 9 months 18 days
Outstanding, Aggregate Intrinsic Value | $		$ 1,109	$ 2,305
Exercisable, Shares | shares	[1]	143,750
Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price | $ / shares	[1]	$ 12.44
Exercisable, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual	[1]	2 years 1 month 6 days
Exercisable, Aggregate Intrinsic Value | $	[1]	$ 1,109
In-the-money options, shares | shares		143,750
In-the-money options, weighted-average exercise price | $ / shares		12.44
[1]	Includes in-the-money options totaling 143,750 shares at a weighted-average exercise price of $12.44.

Stock-Based Compensation (Sch62

Stock-Based Compensation (Schedule Of Non-Vested Stock Award And DSU Activity) (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017$ / sharesshares
Stock-Based Compensation [Abstract]
Non-vested, shares or units | shares	1,139,560
Non-vested, Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value | $ / shares	$ 17.65
Granted, shares or units | shares	566,165
Granted, Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value | $ / shares	$ 24.03
Forfeited, shares or units | shares	(42,430)
Forfeited, Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value | $ / shares	$ 19.08
Vested, shares or units | shares	(542,764)
Vested, Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value | $ / shares	$ 18.37
Non-vested, shares or units | shares	1,120,531
Non-vested, Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value | $ / shares	$ 20.47
Non-vested, Weighted-Average Remaining Vesting Term (in years)	2 years

Stock-Based Compensation (Sch63

Stock-Based Compensation (Schedule Of Non-Vested Unit-Based Award Activity) (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017$ / sharesshares
Non-vested, shares or units | shares	1,139,560
Non-vested, Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value | $ / shares	$ 17.65
Granted, shares or units | shares	566,165
Granted, Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value | $ / shares	$ 24.03
Forfeited, shares or units | shares	(42,430)
Forfeited, Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value | $ / shares	$ 19.08
Vested, shares or units | shares	(542,764)
Vested, Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value | $ / shares	$ 18.37
Non-vested, shares or units | shares	1,120,531
Non-vested, Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value | $ / shares	$ 20.47
Non-vested, Weighted-Average Remaining Vesting Term (in years)	2 years
Green Plains Partners LP [Member] | Green Plains Partners LP 2015 Long-Term Incentive Plan [Member] | Restricted unit awards [Member]
Non-vested, shares or units | shares	15,009
Non-vested, Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value | $ / shares	$ 15.99
Granted, shares or units | shares	12,834
Granted, Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value | $ / shares	$ 18.70
Forfeited, shares or units | shares	(4,278)
Forfeited, Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value | $ / shares	$ 18.70
Vested, shares or units | shares	(15,009)
Vested, Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value | $ / shares	$ 15.99
Non-vested, shares or units | shares	8,556
Non-vested, Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value | $ / shares	$ 18.70
Non-vested, Weighted-Average Remaining Vesting Term (in years)	9 months 18 days

Earnings Per Share (Narrative)

Earnings Per Share (Narrative) (Details) shares in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016shares
Stock Compensation Plan And Convertible Debt Member
Stock-based compensation awards excluded from computations of diluted EPS	108

Earnings Per Share (Schedule Of

Earnings Per Share (Schedule Of Basic And Diluted Earnings Per Share) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Net income (loss) attributable to Green Plains	$ 34,394	$ 7,928	$ 14,431	$ (8,019)
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic	41,348	38,282	40,008	38,301
EPS - basic	$ 0.83	$ 0.21	$ 0.36	$ (0.21)
Net income (loss) attributable to Green Plains - diluted	$ 37,284	$ 7,928	$ 24,102	$ (8,019)
Effect of dilutive stock-based compensation awards	50	94	63
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted	50,647	39,136	50,693	38,301
EPS - diluted	$ 0.74	$ 0.20	$ 0.48	$ (0.21)
3.25% Convertible Senior Notes [Member]
Net income (loss) attributable to Green Plains - diluted	$ 840		$ 3,582
Effect of dilutive stock-based compensation awards	3,178	760	4,551
4.125% Convertible Senior Notes [Member]
Net income (loss) attributable to Green Plains - diluted	$ 2,050		$ 6,089
Effect of dilutive stock-based compensation awards	6,071		6,071

Stockholders' Equity (Schedule

Stockholders' Equity (Schedule Of Stockholders' Equity) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Stockholders' Equity [Line Items]
Beginning balance			$ 979,191
Net income (loss)	$ 39,429	$ 12,884	29,284	$ 6,053
Cash dividends and distributions declared			(29,267)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications			(9,436)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)			(34)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(3,207)	$ 4,069	(9,470)	$ 1,111
Repurchase of common stock			(5,733)
Exchange of 3.25% convertible notes due 2018			45,682
Stock-based compensation			$ 4,656
Stock options exercised, Shares			5,000
Stock options exercised			$ 50
Ending balance	$ 1,014,393		$ 1,014,393
Common Units [Member]
Stockholders' Equity [Line Items]
Beginning balance, Shares			46,079,000
Beginning balance			$ 46
Stock-based compensation, Shares			346,000
Stock options exercised, Shares			5,000
Ending balance, Shares	46,430,000		46,430,000
Ending balance	$ 46		$ 46
Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]
Stockholders' Equity [Line Items]
Beginning balance			659,200
Exchange of 3.25% convertible notes due 2018			18,326
Stock-based compensation			4,497
Stock options exercised			50
Ending balance	682,073		682,073
Retained Earnings [Member]
Stockholders' Equity [Line Items]
Beginning balance			283,214
Net income (loss)			14,431
Cash dividends and distributions declared			(14,053)
Ending balance	283,592		283,592
Accum. Other Comp. Income (Loss) [Member]
Stockholders' Equity [Line Items]
Beginning balance			(4,137)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications			(9,436)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)			(34)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax			(9,470)
Ending balance	$ (13,607)		$ (13,607)
Treasury Stock [Member]
Stockholders' Equity [Line Items]
Beginning balance, Shares			7,715,000
Beginning balance			$ (75,816)
Repurchase of common stock			$ (5,733)
Repurchase of common stock, Shares			336,000
Exchange of 3.25% convertible notes due 2018			$ 27,356
Exchange of 3.25% convertible notes due 2018, Shares			(2,784,000)
Ending balance, Shares	5,267,000		5,267,000
Ending balance	$ (54,193)		$ (54,193)
Total Green Plains Stockholders' Equity [Member]
Stockholders' Equity [Line Items]
Beginning balance			862,507
Net income (loss)			14,431
Cash dividends and distributions declared			(14,053)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications			(9,436)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)			(34)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax			(9,470)
Repurchase of common stock			(5,733)
Exchange of 3.25% convertible notes due 2018			45,682
Stock-based compensation			4,497
Stock options exercised			50
Ending balance	897,911		897,911
Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
Stockholders' Equity [Line Items]
Beginning balance			116,684
Net income (loss)			14,853
Cash dividends and distributions declared			(15,214)
Stock-based compensation			159
Ending balance	$ 116,482		$ 116,482

Stockholders Equity (Reclassifi

Stockholders Equity (Reclassification From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Gains (losses) on cash flow hedges	$ (7,103)	$ (3,294)	$ 55	$ (3,875)
Income tax expense (benefit)	(2,650)	(1,144)	21	(1,369)
Net income	39,429	12,884	29,284	6,053
Amounts Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Net income	(4,453)	(2,150)	34	(2,506)
Revenue [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Gains (losses) on cash flow hedges	(5,242)	25,254	1,734	12,029
Revenue [Member] | Ethanol Commodity Derivatives [Member] | Amounts Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Gains (losses) on cash flow hedges	(5,242)	25,254	1,734	12,029
Cost of Goods Sold [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Gains (losses) on cash flow hedges	(1,861)	(28,548)	(1,679)	(15,904)
Cost of Goods Sold [Member] | Corn Commodity Derivatives [Member] | Amounts Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Gains (losses) on cash flow hedges	(1,861)	(28,548)	(1,679)	(15,904)
Income (loss) before income taxes [Member] | Amounts Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Gains (losses) on cash flow hedges	(7,103)	(3,294)	55	(3,875)
Income tax expense (benefit) [Member] | Amounts Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Income tax expense (benefit)	$ (2,650)	$ (1,144)	$ 21	$ (1,369)

Income Taxes (Details)

Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Income tax expense (benefit)	$ (48,775)	$ 5,083	$ (60,905)	$ (4,339)
Tax benefit for federal and state R&D credits	49,500
Uncategorized tax benefits	27,300		$ 27,300		$ 200
Cost of Goods Sold [Member]
Income tax expense (benefit)	(43,600)
Tax benefit for federal and state R&D credits	9,000
Tax benefit for federal and state R&D credits, net	$ 5,900

Commitments And Contingencies69

Commitments And Contingencies (Narrative) (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017USD ($)property	Sep. 30, 2016USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017USD ($)property	Sep. 30, 2016USD ($)
Trading Activity, Gains and Losses, Net [Line Items]
Lease expenses	$ 11.2	$ 9.1	$ 33.4	$ 27.2
Contracted future purchases	$ 454.4		$ 454.4
Acquisition Of Fairmont, Minnesota and Wood River, Nebraska Ethanol Plants [Member]
Trading Activity, Gains and Losses, Net [Line Items]
Number of ethanol plants | property	2		2
Previously accrued contingent liabilities that no longer represent probable losses	$ 6.3		$ 6.3
Gain contingency	$ 5.5		$ 5.5

Commitments And Contingencies70

Commitments And Contingencies (Future Minimum Lease Payments) (Details) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2017USD ($)
Commitments And Contingencies [Abstract]
2,017	$ 10,168
2,018	28,976
2,019	19,544
2,020	13,160
2,021	6,444
Thereafter	22,105
Total	$ 100,397

Related Party Transactions (Nar

Related Party Transactions (Narrative) (Details)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017USD ($)itementity	Sep. 30, 2016USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016USD ($)
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Number of subsidiaries | entity			3
Outstanding accounts payable	$ 174,788,000		$ 174,788,000		$ 192,275,000
AXIS Capital [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Due to related parties, current	638,000		638,000		808,000
Principal payments (including interest)	$ 69,000	$ 69,000	$ 207,000	$ 207,000
Weighted average interest rate	6.80%		6.80%
Board of Directors Chairman [Member] | Aircraft Lease [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Number of related party transaction agreements | item			2
Number of leased aircrafts | item			2
Aircraft lease amount payable, per month			$ 11,589
Aircraft hours available each year under lease			125 hours
Cash payments	$ 39,000	$ 49,000	$ 141,000	$ 137,000
Outstanding accounts payable	$ 2,000		$ 2,000		$ 0

Subsequent Events (Details)

Subsequent Events (Details) - Revolving Credit Facility [Member] - USD ($)	Oct. 27, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
$155.0 Million Revoling Credit Facility [Member] | Partnership [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount		$ 155,000,000	$ 155,000,000
$155.0 Million Revoling Credit Facility [Member] | Partnership [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Line Of Credit Facility Additional Amount Of Increase Without Consent Of Lenders	$ 40,000,000
Debt instrument, face amount	$ 195,000,000
Partnership [Member] | Green Plains Operating Company LLC [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount		155,000,000
Line of Credit Facility, Additional Amount Available Without Consent of Lenders		$ 100,000,000