Green Plains (GPRE) 10-Q 9 Nov 18 2018 Q3 Quarterly report Financial data

Document And Entity Information

Document And Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Nov. 05, 2018
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2018
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2,018
Entity Registrant Name	Green Plains Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	1,309,402
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		41,414,396
Trading Symbol	gpre

Consolidated Balance Sheets

Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 171,674	$ 266,651
Restricted cash	62,797	45,709
Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $206 and $217, respectively	134,950	151,122
Income taxes receivable	13,211	6,413
Inventories	765,198	711,878
Prepaid expenses and other	15,529	17,808
Derivative financial instruments	24,254	6,890
Total current assets	1,187,613	1,206,471
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $588,336 and $514,585, respectively	1,143,551	1,176,707
Goodwill	182,879	182,879
Other assets	170,791	218,593
Total assets	2,684,834	2,784,650
Current liabilities
Accounts payable	155,663	205,479
Accrued and other liabilities	47,955	63,886
Derivative financial instruments	41,725	12,884
Income taxes payable		9,909
Short-term notes payable and other borrowings	556,566	526,180
Current maturities of long-term debt	65,614	67,923
Total current liabilities	867,523	886,261
Long-term debt	767,177	767,396
Deferred income taxes	21,764	56,801
Other liabilities	14,235	15,056
Total liabilities	1,670,699	1,725,514
Commitments and contingencies (Note 14)
Stockholders’ equity
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 75,000,000 shares authorized; 46,746,346 and 46,410,405 shares issued, and 41,420,454 and 41,084,463 shares outstanding, respectively	47	46
Additional paid-in capital	695,143	685,019
Retained earnings	276,082	325,411
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(17,176)	(13,110)
Treasury stock, 5,325,892 and 5,325,942 shares, respectively	(55,183)	(55,184)
Total Green Plains stockholders’ equity	898,913	942,182
Noncontrolling interests	115,222	116,954
Total stockholders’ equity	1,014,135	1,059,136
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$ 2,684,834	$ 2,784,650

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Pa

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Consolidated Balance Sheets [Abstract]
Accounts receivable, allowances	$ 206	$ 217
Property, and equipment, accumulated depreciation	$ 588,336	$ 514,585
Common stock, par value	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Common stock, shares authorized	75,000,000	75,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	46,746,346	46,410,405
Common stock, shares outstanding	41,420,454	41,084,463
Treasury stock, shares	5,325,892	5,325,942

Consolidated Statements Of Oper

Consolidated Statements Of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Revenues
Revenues	$ 1,000,100	$ 901,235	$ 3,032,224	$ 2,675,182
Costs and expenses
Cost of goods sold (excluding depreciation and amortization expenses reflected below)	936,384	815,787	2,835,344	2,457,702
Operations and maintenance expenses	7,271	8,309	23,564	25,107
Selling, general and administrative expenses	25,083	28,589	80,817	77,946
Depreciation and amortization expenses	30,713	27,834	84,010	80,105
Total costs and expenses	999,451	880,519	3,023,735	2,640,860
Operating income	649	20,716	8,489	34,322
Other income (expense)
Interest income	790	383	2,136	1,061
Interest expense	(23,399)	(31,889)	(67,548)	(69,815)
Other, net	(117)	1,444	2,362	2,811
Total other expense	(22,726)	(30,062)	(63,050)	(65,943)
Loss before income taxes	(22,077)	(9,346)	(54,561)	(31,621)
Income tax benefit	14,658	48,775	31,438	60,905
Net income (loss)	(7,419)	39,429	(23,123)	29,284
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	5,050	5,035	14,457	14,853
Net income (loss) attributable to Green Plains	$ (12,469)	$ 34,394	$ (37,580)	$ 14,431
Earnings per share:
Net income (loss) attributable to Green Plains - basic	$ (0.31)	$ 0.83	$ (0.94)	$ 0.36
Net income (loss) attributable to Green Plains - diluted	$ (0.31)	$ 0.74	$ (0.94)	$ 0.48
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic	40,229	41,348	40,189	40,008
Diluted	40,229	50,647	40,189	50,693
Cash dividend declared per share	$ 0.12	$ 0.12	$ 0.36	$ 0.36
Product [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	$ 998,802	$ 899,534	$ 3,027,678	$ 2,670,458
Service [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	$ 1,298	$ 1,701	$ 4,546	$ 4,724

Consolidated Statements Of Comp

Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income (loss)	$ (7,419)	$ 39,429	$ (23,123)	$ 29,284
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Unrealized losses on derivatives arising during the period, net of tax benefit of $4,314, $4,575, $343 and $5,633, respectively	(14,395)	(7,660)	(1,522)	(9,436)
Reclassification of realized losses (gains) on derivatives, net of tax expense (benefit) of ($420), ($2,650), ($55) and $21, respectively	1,427	4,453	243	(34)
Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(12,968)	(3,207)	(1,279)	(9,470)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(20,387)	36,222	(24,402)	19,814
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	5,050	5,035	14,457	14,853
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Green Plains	$ (25,437)	$ 31,187	$ (38,859)	$ 4,961

Consolidated Statements Of Co_2

Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensive Income (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Unrealized losses on derivatives arising during period, tax benefit	$ 4,314	$ 4,575	$ 343	$ 5,633
Reclassification of realized (gains) losses on derivatives, tax expense (benefit)	$ (420)	$ (2,650)	$ (55)	$ 21

Consolidated Statements Of Cash

Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ (23,123)	$ 29,284
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	84,010	80,105
Amortization of debt issuance costs and debt discount	11,343	11,222
Loss on exchange of 3.25% convertible notes due 2018		1,291
Gain on disposal of assets	(2,743)	(2,439)
Write-off of deferred financing fees related to extinguishment of debt		9,460
Deferred income taxes	(37,980)	(88,565)
Other noncurrent assets and liabilities		18,062
Stock-based compensation	8,726	8,761
Undistributed equity loss of affiliates	489	120
Changes in operating assets and liabilities before effects of business combinations:
Accounts receivable	18,069	32,267
Inventories	53,363	(168,788)
Derivative financial instruments	9,843	(12,738)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	2,184	2,180
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(68,520)	(34,278)
Current income taxes	31,220	(1,540)
Other	(2,493)	1,361
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	84,388	(114,235)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment, net	(31,114)	(36,475)
Acquisition of a business, net of cash acquired	(124,407)	(61,727)
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries	(2,446)	(12,033)
Other investing activities	7,500
Net cash used in investing activities	(150,467)	(110,235)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt	58,700	551,500
Payments of principal on long-term debt	(62,537)	(487,450)
Proceeds from short-term borrowings	3,095,927	3,301,630
Payments on short-term borrowings	(3,065,953)	(3,135,347)
Cash payment for exchange of 3.25% convertible notes due 2018		(8,523)
Payments for repurchase of common stock		(5,733)
Payments of cash dividends and distributions	(30,921)	(29,267)
Payment penalty on early extinguishment of debt		(2,881)
Payments of loan fees	(3,961)	(15,541)
Payments related to tax withholdings for stock-based compensation	(3,215)	(4,105)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	150	50
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(11,810)	164,333
Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	(77,889)	(60,137)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period	312,360	406,791
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period	234,471	346,654
Reconciliation of total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash:
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	312,360	406,791
Modification of 3.25% convertible notes due 2019	4,660
Exchange of 3.25% convertible notes due 2018 for shares		47,743
Exchange of common stock held in treasury stock for 3.25% convertible notes due 2018	1	27,356
Supplemental investing and financing activities:
Assets acquired in acquisitions, net of cash	124,525	62,209
Less: liabilities assumed	(118)	(482)
Net assets acquired	124,407	61,727
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow
Cash paid (received) for income taxes	(23,568)	2,062
Cash paid for interest	$ 58,297	$ 39,984

Consolidated Statements Of Ca_2

Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (Parenthetical)	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
3.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2018 [Member]
Interest rate, stated percentage	3.25%	3.25%
3.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2019 [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, 2018
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	GREEN PLAINS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES  NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  (unaudited)  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. As of September 30, 2018 , the company owns a 62.4% limited partner interest and a 2.0% general partner interest in Green Plains Partners LP. Public investors own the remaining 35.6% 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 variable interest entity. 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 is obligated to absorb losses and has the right to receive benefits that could be significant to the partnership. Therefore, the company is considered the primary beneficiary and consolidates the partnership in the company’s financial statements. 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, 2018 , and December 31, 2017, excluding intercompany balances, were $71.5 million and $74.9 million, respectively, and primarily consisted of property and equipment and goodwill. The partnership’s consolidated total liabilities as of September 30, 2018 , and December 31, 2017, excluding intercompany balances, were $152.7 million and $153.0 million, respectively, which primarily consisted of long-term debt as discussed in Note 9 – Debt . The liabilities recognized as a result of consolidating the partnership do not represent additional claims on our general assets. The company also owns a 90.0% interest in BioProcess Algae, a joint venture formed in 2008, and consolidates their results in its consolidated financial statements.  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 notes 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, 2017 .  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 (loss) or stockholders’ equity.  Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Consolidated Financial Statements  The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, 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, carrying value of intangible assets, impairment of long-lived assets and goodwill, derivative financial instruments, accounting for income taxes and assets acquired and liabilities assumed in acquisitions, are impacted significantly by judgments, assumptions and estimates used in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements.  Description of Business  The company operates within four business segments: (1) ethanol production, which includes the production of ethanol and distillers grains, and recovery of corn oil, (2) agribusiness and energy services, which includes grain handling and storage, commodity 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 feeding, vinegar production and food-grade corn oil operations and (4) partnership, which includes fuel storage and transportation services.  Cash and Cash Equivalents  Cash and cash equivalents includes bank deposits as well as short-term, highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less.  Restricted Cash  The company has restricted cash, which can only be used for funding letters of credit or for payment towards a revolving credit agreement. Restricted cash also includes cash margins and securities pledged to commodity exchange clearinghouses. To the degree these segregated balances are cash and cash equivalents, they are considered restricted cash on the consolidated statements of cash flows.  Revenue Recognition  The company recognizes revenue at the point in time when the product or service is transferred to the customer.  Sales of ethanol, distillers grains, corn oil, natural gas and other commodities by the company’s marketing business are recognized when obligations under the terms of a contract with a customer are satisfied. Generally, this occurs with the transfer of control of products or services. Revenues related to marketing for third parties are presented on a gross basis as the company controls the product prior to the sale to the end customer, takes title of the product and has inventory risk. Unearned revenue is recorded for goods in transit when the company has received payment but control 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 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. Energy trading transactions are reported net as a component of revenue. All other transactions are reported net as either a component of revenue or cost of goods sold, depending on their position as a gain or loss. Revenues also include realized gains and losses on related derivative financial instruments and reclassifications of realized gains and losses on cash flow hedges from accumulated other comprehensive income or loss.  Sales of products, including agricultural commodities, cattle and vinegar, are recognized when control of the product is transferred to the customer, which depends on the agreed upon shipment or delivery terms. 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 upon transfer of control of product from its storage tanks and fuel terminals, when railcar volumetric capacity is provided, and as truck transportation services are performed.  Shipping and Handling Costs  We account for shipping and handling activities related to contracts with customers as costs to fulfill our promise to transfer the associated products. Accordingly, we record customer payments associated with shipping and handling costs as a component of revenue, and classify such costs as a component of cost of goods sold.  Cost of Goods Sold  Cost of goods sold includes direct labor, materials, shipping and plant overhead costs. Direct labor includes all compensation and related benefits of non-management personnel involved in ethanol and vinegar production, and cattle feeding 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 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 reclassifications of gains and losses on cash flow hedges from accumulated other comprehensive income or loss. Plant overhead consists primarily of plant and feedlot utilities, repairs and maintenance, feedlot 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 and forward purchase and sales contracts to attempt to minimize the effect of price changes on ethanol, grain, natural gas and cattle inventories. 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 forward purchase 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 include 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 attempt to minimize risk and the effect of commodity price changes including but not limited 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, cash flow 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. Unrealized gains and losses are reflected in accumulated other comprehensive income or loss 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 inventory values and designates qualifying derivatives as fair value hedges. The carrying amount of the hedged inventory is adjusted in the current period for changes in fair value. Ineffectiveness of the hedges is recognized in the current period 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, 2018, the company adopted the amended guidance in ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. Please refer to Note 2 – Revenue for further details.  Effective January 1, 2018, the company adopted 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 was applied retrospectively. As a result, net cash used in operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 , was adjusted to exclude the change in restricted cash and decreased the previously reported balance by $8.0 million. Net cash provided by financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 , was adjusted to exclude the change in restricted cash and decreased the previously reported balance by $25.5 million.  Effective January 1, 2018, the company adopted 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 is required on a modified retrospective basis, with a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the year of adoption. The adoption of the guidance did not have an impact to the financial statements.  Effective January 1, 2018, the company adopted the amended guidance in ASC Topic 805, Business Combinations: Clarifying the Definition of a Business , which clarifies the definition of a business and provides guidance to assist companies and other reporting organizations evaluate whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions or disposals of assets or businesses. The amended guidance will be applied prospectively.  Effective January 1, 2018, the company early adopted 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, and used when the annual impairment test is performed in the current year. The company does not believe the new guidance will have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.  Effective January 1, 2018, the company early adopted the amended guidance in ASC Topic 220, Income Statement – Reporting Comprehensive Income: Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, which allows a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The amendment eliminates the stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and is intended to improve the usefulness of information reported. As a result, the company recorded a $2.8 million reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings during the first quarter of 2018. It is the company’s policy to release income tax effects from accumulated other comprehensive income using the portfolio approach.  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 and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2018. The standard requires a modified retrospective transition approach and allows for early adoption. In July 2018, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update, Leases (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements , which provides an option to apply the transition provisions of the new standard at adoption date instead of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements. The company will elect to use this optional transition method.  The company has established an implementation team which continues to review current accounting policies, internal controls, processes, and disclosures that will change as a result of adopting the new standard. The company has gathered information on existing leases to obtain a complete population of leases upon adoption, and has implemented a lease accounting system, which will assist in delivering the required accounting changes and disclosures. 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. In addition, it will also require expanded disclosures in the company’s consolidated financial statements. The company will complete its assessment of the impact of the new guidance on its consolidated financial statements during the fourth quarter of 2018.

Revenue

Revenue	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Revenue [Abstract]
Revenue	2. REVENUE  Adoption of ASC Topic 606  On January 1, 2018, the company adopted the amended guidance in ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers , and all related amendments (“new revenue standard”) and applied it to all contracts using the modified retrospective transition method. There were no adjustments to the consolidated January 1, 2018 balance sheet for the adoption of the new revenue standard. As such, comparative information has not been restated and continues to be reported under the accounting standards in effect for those periods. In addition, there was no impact of adoption on the consolidated statements of operations or balance sheets for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 .  Revenue Recognition  Revenue is recognized when obligations under the terms of a contract with a customer are satisfied. Generally this occurs with the transfer of control of products or services. Revenue is measured as the amount of consideration expected to be received in exchange for transferring goods or providing services. Sales, value add, and other taxes the company collects concurrent with revenue-producing activities are excluded from revenue.  Revenue by Source  The following table disaggregates revenue by major source for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 (in thousands):   Three Months Ended September 30, 2018  Ethanol Production Agribusiness & Energy Services Food & Ingredients Partnership Eliminations Total  Revenues:  Revenues from contracts with customers under ASC Topic 606:  Ethanol $ 291 $ - $ - $ - $ - $ 291  Distillers grains 54,687 - - - - 54,687  Cattle and vinegar - - 259,224 - - 259,224  Service revenues - - - 983 - 983  Other 238 680 - - - 918  Intersegment revenues 721 23 38 2,597 (3,379) -  Total revenues from contracts with customers 55,937 703 259,262 3,580 (3,379) 316,103  Revenues from contracts accounted for as derivatives under ASC Topic 815 (1):  Ethanol 440,333 93,166 - - - 533,499  Distillers grains 56,802 44,142 - - - 100,944  Corn oil 17,088 10,275 4,411 - - 31,774  Grain 30 21,972 - - - 22,002  Cattle and vinegar - - (12,522) - - (12,522)  Other 3,930 4,055 - - - 7,985  Intersegment revenues 2,392 12,669 - - (15,061) -  Total revenues from contracts accounted for as derivatives 520,575 186,279 (8,111) - (15,061) 683,682  Leasing revenues under ASC Topic 840 (2) - - - 22,190 (21,875) 315  Total Revenues $ 576,512 $ 186,982 $ 251,151 $ 25,770 $ (40,315) $ 1,000,100     Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018  Ethanol Production Agribusiness & Energy Services Food & Ingredients Partnership Eliminations Total  Revenues:  Revenues from contracts with customers under ASC 606:  Ethanol $ 3,391 $ - $ - $ - $ - $ 3,391  Distillers grains 174,589 - - - - 174,589  Cattle and vinegar - - 748,699 - - 748,699  Service revenues - - - 3,430 - 3,430  Other 1,570 2,012 - - - 3,582  Intersegment revenues 2,258 23 118 7,286 (9,685) -  Total revenues from contracts with customers 181,808 2,035 748,817 10,716 (9,685) 933,691  Revenues from contracts accounted for as derivatives under ASC Topic 815 (1):  Ethanol 1,333,989 321,824 - - - 1,655,813  Distillers grains 147,203 98,060 - - - 245,263  Corn oil 52,690 22,433 12,048 - - 87,171  Grain 500 59,101 - - - 59,601  Cattle and vinegar - - (5,638) - - (5,638)  Other 12,486 42,721 - - - 55,207  Intersegment revenues 7,027 38,226 - - (45,253) -  Total revenues from contracts accounted for as derivatives 1,553,895 582,365 6,410 - (45,253) 2,097,417  Leasing revenues under ASC 840 (2) - - - 66,779 (65,663) 1,116  Total Revenues $ 1,735,703 $ 584,400 $ 755,227 $ 77,495 $ (120,601) $ 3,032,224      (1) Revenues from contracts accounted for as derivatives represent physically settled derivative sales that are outside the scope of ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASC Topic 606), where the company recognizes revenue when control of the inventory is transferred within the meaning of ASC Topic 606 as required by ASC Topic 610-20, Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets . (2) Leasing revenues do not represent revenues recognized from contracts with customers under ASC Topic 606, and continue to be accounted for under ASC Topic 840, Leases .  Payment Terms  The company has standard payment terms, which vary depending upon the nature of the services provided, with the majority falling within 10 to 30 days after transfer of control or completion of services. In instances where the timing of revenue recognition differs from the timing of invoicing, the company has determined that contracts generally do not include a significant financing component.  Contract Liabilities  The company records unearned revenue when consideration is received, or such consideration is unconditionally due, from a customer prior to transferring goods or services to the customer under the terms of service and lease agreements. Unearned revenue from service agreements, which represents a contract liability, is recorded for fees that have been charged to the customer prior to the completion of performance obligations, and is generally recognized in the subsequent quarter. The company expects to recognize all of the unearned revenue associated with service agreements as of September 30, 2018 , in the subsequent quarter when the inventory is withdrawn from the partnership’s tank storage.  Practical Expedients  Under the new revenue standard, companies may elect various practical expedients upon adoption. As a result, the company elected to recognize the cost for shipping and handling activities that occur after the customer obtains control of the promised goods as fulfillment activities and not when performance obligations are met. The company also elected to exclude sales taxes from transaction prices.

Acquisitions

Acquisitions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Acquisitions	 3. ACQUISITIONS  Acquisition of Cattle Feeding Operations – Bartlett Cattle Company, L.P.  On August 1, 2018 , the company acquired two cattle-feeding operations from Bartlett Cattle Company, L.P. for $16.2 million, plus working capital of approximately $106.6 million primarily consisting of work-in-process inventory. The transaction included the feed yards located in Sublette, Kansas and Tulia, Texas, which added combined feedlot capacity of 97,000 head of cattle to the company’s operations. The transaction was financed using cash on hand and proceeds from the Green Plains Cattle senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility. There were no material acquisition costs recorded for the acquisition.  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  Accounts receivable $ 1,897  Inventory 104,809  Property and equipment, net 16,190   Current liabilities (118)  Total identifiable net assets $ 122,778  The amounts above reflect a working capital payment by the company of $0.9 million made during the third quarter of 2018.  Acquisition of Cattle Feeding Operations – Cargill Cattle Feeders, LLC  On May 16, 2017 , the company acquired two cattle-feeding operations from Cargill Cattle Feeders, LLC for $ 59.3 million, including certain working capital adjustments. The transaction included the feed yards located in Leoti, Kansas and Eckley, 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 and Eckley feedlots are sold exclusively to Cargill Meat Solutions under an agreed upon pricing arrangement.  The following is a summary of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed (in thousands):     Amounts of Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed  Inventory $ 22,450  Prepaid expenses and other 52  Property and equipment, net 36,960   Current liabilities (180)  Total identifiable net assets $ 59,282   The amounts above reflect the final purchase price allocation, which included working capital true-up payments by the company of $1.6 million made during the first half of 2018.

Fair Value Disclosures

Fair Value Disclosures	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair Value Disclosures	4 . FAIR VALUE DISCLOSURES  The following methods, assumptions and valuation techniques were used in estimating the fair value of the company’s financial instruments:  Level 1 – unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities the company can access at the measurement date.  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 and energy services 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.  Derivative contracts include exchange-traded commodity futures and options contracts and forward commodity purchase and sale contracts. Exchange-traded futures and options contracts are valued based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets and are classified in Level 1. The majority of the company’s exchange-traded futures and options contracts are cash-settled on a daily basis.  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, 2018  Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets Significant Other Observable Inputs  (Level 1) (Level 2) Total  Assets:  Cash and cash equivalents $ 171,674 $ - $ 171,674  Restricted cash 62,797 - 62,797  Inventories carried at market - 81,141 81,141  Unrealized gains on derivatives - 12,878 12,878  Other assets 114 1 115  Total assets measured at fair value $ 234,585 $ 94,020 $ 328,605   Liabilities:  Accounts payable (1) $ - $ 15,602 $ 15,602  Unrealized losses on derivatives - 18,472 18,472  Other - 25 25  Total liabilities measured at fair value $ - $ 34,099 $ 34,099      Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2017  Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets Significant Other Observable Inputs  (Level 1) (Level 2) Total  Assets:  Cash and cash equivalents $ 266,651 $ - $ 266,651  Restricted cash 45,709 - 45,709  Inventories carried at market - 26,834 26,834  Unrealized gains on derivatives - 12,045 12,045  Other assets 115 - 115  Total assets measured at fair value $ 312,475 $ 38,879 $ 351,354   Liabilities:  Accounts payable (1) $ - $ 37,401 $ 37,401  Unrealized losses on derivatives - 12,884 12,884  Other liabilities - 92 92  Total liabilities measured at fair value $ - $ 50,377 $ 50,377  (1) Accounts payable is generally stated at historical amounts with the exception of $15.6 million and $ 37.4 million at September 30, 2018 , and December 31, 2017, respectively, related to certain delivered inventory for which the payable fluctuates based on changes in commodity prices. These payables are hybrid financial instruments for which the company has elected the fair value option.  The company believes the fair value of its debt approximated book value, which was $1.4 billion at September 30, 2018. The company estimated the fair value of its outstanding debt using Level 2 inputs. The company believes the fair value of its accounts receivable approximated book value, which was $ 135.0 million and $ 1 51.1 million at September 30, 2018 , and December 31, 2017 , 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 represent Level 3 measurements which 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, 2018
Segment Information [Abstract]
Segment Information	5. SEGMENT INFORMATION  The company reports the financial and operating performance for the following four operating segments: (1) ethanol production, which includes the production of ethanol and distillers grains, and recovery of corn oil, (2) agribusiness and energy services, which includes grain handling and storage, commodity 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 feeding, vinegar production and food-grade corn oil operations and (4) partnership, which includes fuel storage and transportation services.  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 ethanol production 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,  2018 2017 2018 2017  Revenues:  Ethanol production:  Revenues from external customers $ 573,399 $ 620,180 $ 1,726,418 $ 1,857,356  Intersegment revenues 3,113 3,579 9,285 6,624  Total segment revenues 576,512 623,759 1,735,703 1,863,980  Agribusiness and energy services:  Revenues from external customers 174,290 164,604 546,151 483,670  Intersegment revenues 12,692 14,406 38,249 33,679  Total segment revenues 186,982 179,010 584,400 517,349  Food and ingredients:  Revenues from external customers 251,113 114,750 755,109 329,432  Intersegment revenues 38 38 118 113  Total segment revenues 251,151 114,788 755,227 329,545  Partnership:  Revenues from external customers 1,298 1,701 4,546 4,724  Intersegment revenues 24,472 24,748 72,949 74,019  Total segment revenues 25,770 26,449 77,495 78,743  Revenues including intersegment activity 1,040,415 944,006 3,152,825 2,789,617  Intersegment eliminations (40,315) (42,771) (120,601) (114,435)  Revenues as reported $ 1,000,100 $ 901,235 $ 3,032,224 $ 2,675,182  Refer to Note 2 - Revenue , for further disaggregation of revenue by operating segment.     Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,  2018 2017 2018 2017  Cost of goods sold:  Ethanol production $ 560,719 $ 590,904 $ 1,706,891 $ 1,802,688  Agribusiness and energy services 179,432 168,735 546,318 487,239  Food and ingredients 236,150 98,854 702,355 281,898  Partnership - - - -  Intersegment eliminations (39,917) (42,706) (120,220) (114,123)  $ 936,384 $ 815,787 $ 2,835,344 $ 2,457,702     Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,  2018 2017 2018 2017  Operating income (loss):  Ethanol production $ (15,961) $ 3,107 $ (60,704) $ (25,950)  Agribusiness and energy services 2,851 3,686 22,081 13,138  Food and ingredients 8,324 10,132 33,890 30,472  Partnership 16,725 16,290 48,214 47,707  Intersegment eliminations (325) 8 (113) (147)  Corporate activities (10,965) (12,507) (34,879) (30,898)  $ 649 $ 20,716 $ 8,489 $ 34,322     Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,  2018 2017 2018 2017  EBITDA:  Ethanol production $ 8,475 $ 25,570 $ 4,742 $ 38,521  Agribusiness and energy services 3,537 5,150 24,035 15,910  Food and ingredients 12,151 13,272 47,192 39,741  Partnership 17,913 17,589 51,674 51,549  Intersegment eliminations (325) 8 (113) (147)  Corporate activities (9,716) (11,212) (30,533) (27,275)  $ 32,035 $ 50,377 $ 96,997 $ 118,299    Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,  2018 2017 2018 2017  Depreciation and amortization:  Ethanol production $ 24,289 $ 20,959 $ 65,284 $ 61,443  Agribusiness and energy services 675 1,457 1,923 2,776  Food and ingredients 3,780 3,139 10,628 9,259  Partnership 1,120 1,280 3,406 3,781  Corporate activities 849 999 2,769 2,846  $ 30,713 $ 27,834 $ 84,010 $ 80,105  The following table reconciles net income (loss) to EBITDA (in thousands):     Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,  2018 2017 2018 2017  Net income (loss) $ (7,419) $ 39,429 $ (23,123) $ 29,284  Interest expense 23,399 31,889 67,548 69,815  Income tax benefit (14,658) (48,775) (31,438) (60,905)  Depreciation and amortization 30,713 27,834 84,010 80,105  EBITDA $ 32,035 $ 50,377 $ 96,997 $ 118,299  The following table sets forth total assets by operating segment (in thousands):    September 30, 2018 December 31, 2017  Total assets (1) :  Ethanol production $ 1,075,469 $ 1,144,459  Agribusiness and energy services 404,903 554,981  Food and ingredients 884,205 725,232  Partnership 71,511 74,935  Corporate assets 252,554 295,217  Intersegment eliminations (3,808) (10,174)  $ 2,684,834 $ 2,784,650  (1) Asset balances by segment exclude intercompany balances.

Inventories

Inventories	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Inventories [Abstract]
Inventories	6. INVENTORIES  Inventories are carried at the lower of cost or net realizable value, except grain 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, 2018 December 31, 2017  Finished goods $ 133,116 $ 146,269  Commodities held for sale 43,328 65,693  Raw materials 126,231 144,520  Work-in-process 426,321 320,664  Supplies and parts 36,202 34,732  $ 765,198 $ 711,878 

Goodwill And Intangible Assets

Goodwill And Intangible Assets	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Goodwill And Intangible Assets [Abstract]
Goodwill And Intangible Assets	7. GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS  Goodwill  The company did no t have any changes in the carrying amount of goodwill, which was $182.9 million at September 30, 2018 , and December 31, 2017 . Goodwill of $ 30.3 million, $142.0 million and $ 10.6 million are attributable to the ethanol production segment, food and ingredients segment and the partnership segment, respectively.  Intangible Assets  As of September 30, 2018 , the company’s customer relationship intangible asset recognized in connection with the Fleischmann Vinegar’s acquisition is $69.3 million, net of $10.7 million of accumulated amortization, and has a remaining 13.0 -year weighted-average amortization period. As of September 30, 2018 , the company also has an indefinite-lived trade name intangible asset of $10.5 million. The company recognized $1.3 million and $4.0 million of amortization expense associated with the amortizing customer relationship intangible asset during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 , respectively, and $1.1 million and $3.9 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 , respectively, and expects estimated amortization expense for the next five years of $5.3 million per annum. The company’s intangible assets are recorded within other assets on the consolidated balance sheets.

Derivative Financial Instrument

Derivative Financial Instruments	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Derivative Financial Instruments [Abstract]
Derivative Financial Instruments	 8. DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS  At September 30, 2018 , the company’s consolidated balance sheet reflected unrealized losses of $17.2 million, net of tax, in accumulated other comprehensive income. The company expects these losses will be reclassified to 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, 2018 December 31, 2017 September 30, 2018 December 31, 2017  Derivative financial instruments (1) $ 12,878 $ 12,045 $ 18,472 $ 12,884  Other assets 1 - - -  Other liabilities - - 25 92  Total $ 12,879 $ 12,045 $ 18,497 $ 12,976  (1) At September 30, 2018 , derivative financial instruments, as reflected on the balance sheet, include net unrealized gains on exchange traded futures and options contracts of $11.4 million, which included $1.2 million of net unrealized gains on derivative financial instruments designated as cash flow hedging instruments. At September 30, 2018, derivative financial instruments, as reflected on the balance sheet, include net unrealized losses on exchange traded futures and options contracts of $23.3 million, which included $22.5 million of net unrealized losses on derivative financial instruments designated as cash flow hedging instruments. At December 31, 2017 , derivative financial instruments, as reflected on the balance sheet, includes net unrealized gains on exchange traded futures and options contracts of $8.5 million, which included $0.3 million of net unrealized gains on derivative financial instruments designated as cash flow hedging instruments.  Refer to Note 4 - Fair Value Disclosures, which contains fair value information related to derivative financial instruments.  Effect of Derivative Instruments on Consolidated Balance Sheets, Consolidated Statements of Operations and Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income  The gains or losses recognized in income and other comprehensive income 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) :     Amount of Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income into Income  Location of Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,  Comprehensive Income into Income 2018 2017 2018 2017  Revenues $ (3,197) $ (5,242) $ (1,749) $ 1,734  Cost of goods sold 1,350 (1,861) 1,451 (1,679)  Net gain (loss) recognized in earnings before tax $ (1,847) $ (7,103) $ (298) $ 55     Loss Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income on Derivatives  Loss Recognized in Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,  Other Comprehensive Income on Derivatives 2018 2017 2018 2017  Commodity contracts $ (18,709) $ (12,235) $ (1,865) $ (15,069)     Amount of Gain or (Loss)  Recognized in Income on Derivatives  Derivatives Not Designated Location of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,  as Hedging Instruments Income on Derivatives 2018 2017 2018 2017  Commodity contracts Revenues $ (2,069) $ 2,863 $ 5,894 $ (7,400)  Commodity contracts Costs of goods sold 10,952 2,036 11,075 17,256  Net gain recognized in loss before tax $ 8,883 $ 4,899 $ 16,969 $ 9,856  As of September 30, 2018 , the following amounts were recorded on the consolidated balance sheets related to cumulative basis adjustments for the fair value hedged items (in thousands):    Line Item in the Consolidated Balance Sheet in Which the Hedged Item is Included Carrying Amount of the Hedged Assets Cumulative Amount of Fair Value Hedging Adjustment Included in the Carrying Amount of the Hedged Assets  Inventories $ 76,099 $ 6,826  As of December 31, 2017, no amounts were recorded on the consolidated balance sheets related to cumulative basis adjustments for the fair value hedged items.  Effect of Cash Flow and Fair Value Hedge Accounting on the Statement of Operations  The effect of cash flow and fair value hedges and the line items on the consolidated statements of operations where they are reported are as follows (in thousands):    Location and Amount of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in  Income on Cash Flow and Fair Value Hedging Relationships  for the Three Months Ended September 30,  2018 2017  Revenue Cost of Goods Sold Revenue Cost of Goods Sold  Gain (loss) on cash flow hedging relationships:   Commodity contracts:  Amount of gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into income $ (3,197) $ 1,350 $ (5,242) $ (1,861)   Gain (loss) on fair value hedging relationships:   Commodity contracts:  Hedged item - (346) 61 (1,775)  Derivatives designated as hedging instruments - (186) (61) 3,085   Total amounts of income and expense line items presented in the statement of operations in which the effects of cash flow or fair value hedges are recorded $ (3,197) $ 818 $ (5,242) $ (551)                    Location and Amount of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in  Income on Cash Flow and Fair Value Hedging Relationships  for the Nine Months Ended September 30,  2018 2017  Revenue Cost of Goods Sold Revenue Cost of Goods Sold  Gain on cash flow hedging relationships:   Commodity contracts:  Amount of gain reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into income $ (1,749) $ 1,451 $ 1,734 $ (1,679)   Gain (loss) on fair value hedging relationships:   Commodity contracts:  Hedged item - 10,150 1,451 (6,229)  Derivatives designated as hedging instruments - (9,064) (1,734) 8,530   Total amounts of income and expense line items presented in the statement of operations in which the effects of cash flow or fair value hedges are recorded $ (1,749) $ 2,537 $ 1,451 $ 622  There were no gains or losses from discontinuing cash flow or fair value hedge treatment during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 , and 2017 .  The open commodity derivative positions as of September 30, 2018, are as follows (in thousands):     September 30, 2018  Exchange Traded Non-Exchange Traded  Derivative Instruments Net Long & (Short) (1) Long (2) (Short) (2) Unit of Measure Commodity   Futures (52,335) Bushels Corn, Soybeans and Wheat  Futures (11,450) (4) Bushels Corn  Futures 5,135 Gallons Ethanol  Futures (25,620) Gallons Ethanol  Futures (18,798) MmBTU Natural Gas  Futures (13,413) (4) MmBTU Natural Gas  Futures (57,250) Pounds Cattle  Futures (413,720) (3) Pounds Cattle  Futures 21 Barrels Crude Oil  Futures (600) Tons Soybean Meal  Futures 3,570 Gallons Natural Gasoline  Options 14,409 Bushels Corn, Soybeans and Wheat  Options 3,266 Gallons Ethanol  Options (74) MmBTU Natural Gas  Options 862 Pounds Livestock  Options 78 Barrels Crude Oil  Forwards 41,789 (138) Bushels Corn and Soybeans  Forwards 19,132 (426,529) Gallons Ethanol  Forwards 212 (421) Tons DDG  Forwards 12,222 (70,173) Pounds Corn Oil  Forwards 22,501 (1,858) MmBTU Natural Gas  Forwards 61 (31) 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 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 $1.6 million and $12.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 , respectively, and net gains of $3.1 million and $18.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 , respectively.

Debt

Debt	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Debt [Abstract]
Debt	9. DEBT  The components of long-term debt are as follows (in thousands):      September 30, 2018 December 31, 2017  Corporate:  $500.0 million term loan $ 495,000 $ 498,750  3.25% convertible notes due 2018 6,897 61,442  3.25% convertible notes due 2019 52,157 -  4.125% convertible notes due 2022 141,163 136,739  Green Plains Partners:  $235.0 million revolving credit facility 128,000 126,900  Other 26,489 27,744  Total face value of long-term debt 849,706 851,575  Unamortized debt issuance costs (16,915) (16,256)  Less: current portion of long-term debt (65,614) (67,923)  Total long-term debt $ 767,177 $ 767,396  The components of short-term notes payable and other borrowings are as follows (in thousands):     September 30, 2018 December 31, 2017  Green Plains Cattle:  $500.0 million revolver $ 376,684 $ 270,860  Green Plains Grain:  $125.0 million revolver 30,000 75,000  $50.0 million inventory financing 4,032 -  Green Plains Trade:  $300.0 million revolver 133,737 180,320  Green Plains Commodity Management:  $20.0 million hedge line 12,113 -  $ 556,566 $ 526,180 Corporate Activities  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, pay associated fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes. The term loan is guaranteed by the company and substantially all of its subsidiaries, except for 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, pay 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 55% and a minimum interest coverage ratio of 1.25 to 1.00, as defined in the credit agreement. Beginning in 2018, the credit facility also has a provision requiring the company to make special annual payments 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. Scheduled principal payments are $1.25 million each quarter 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% .  In September 2013, the company issued $120.0 million of 3.25% convertible senior notes due 2018, or the 3.25% notes. The 3.25% notes are senior, unsecured obligations of the company, with interest payable on April 1 and October 1 of each year. Prior to close of the exchange agreements on October 1, 2018, the company could 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 were 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 $0.04 per share. The conversion rate was recently adjusted as of September 30, 2018 , to 50.8753 shares of common stock per $1,000 of principal, which is equal to a conversion price of approximately $19.66 per share. For all conversions of notes which occur on or after April 1, 2018, the company has elected to convert for whole shares of common stock with any fractional share being settled with cash in lieu.  Prior to the close of the exchange agreements on October 1, 2018, the company could redeem all of the 3.25% notes at any time on or after October 1, 2016, 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 fiscal year 2017, approximately $56.3 million in aggregate principal of the 3.25% notes were exchanged for cash and 2,783,725 shares of the company’s common stock. During the three months ended June 30, 2018, an additional 50 shares of the company’s common stock were exchanged for approximately $1 thousand in aggregate principal amount of the 3.25% notes.  During the three months ended September 30, 2018, the company entered into exchange agreements with certain beneficial owners of the company’s outstanding 3.25% convertible senior notes due 2018 (the “Old Notes”), pursuant to which such Investors exchanged (the “Exchange”) $56.8 million in aggregate principal amount of the Old Notes for $56.8 million in aggregate principal amount of notes due 2019 (the “New Notes”). The company evaluated the Exchange in accordance with ASC 470-50 and concluded that the Exchange qualified as a debt modification as the cash flows and fair value of the embedded conversion option of the New Notes were not substantially different from the Old Notes. As a result, the New Notes were recorded at fair value at the time of the exchange, and the company recorded a non-cash adjustment to additional paid-in capital of $4.7 million related to the difference in fair value of the embedded conversion option of the Old Notes and the New Notes. Following the closing of these agreements, $6.9 million aggregate principal of the Old Notes remain outstanding. On October 1, 2018, the maturity date of the Old Notes, the remaining aggregate principal of $6.9 million was paid.  The New Notes are the senior, unsecured obligations of the company and bear interest at a rate of 3.25% per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears on April 1 and October 1 of each year, beginning on October 1, 2018. Interest on the New Notes will accrue from, and including, April 1, 2018. The New Notes will mature on October 1, 2019, unless earlier converted. Holders of New Notes may convert their New Notes, at their option, in integral multiples of $1,000 principal amount, at any time prior to the close of business on the scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date of the New Notes. The conversion rate for the New Notes was initially 50.6481 shares of the company’s common stock per $1,000 principal amount of New Notes, which corresponded to an initial conversion price of approximately $19.74 per share of the company’s common stock. The conversion rate will be subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events. Upon conversion of the convertible notes, the company will settle its conversion obligation by delivering shares of its common stock at the applicable conversion rate, together with cash in lieu of any fractional share.  The company does not have the right to redeem the New Notes at its election before their maturity. The New Notes are subject to customary provisions providing for the acceleration of their principal and interest upon the occurrence of events that constitute an “event of default.” Events of default include, among other events, certain payment defaults, defaults in settling conversions, certain defaults under the company’s other indebtedness and certain insolvency-related events. Upon maturity, the company will settle the New Notes in cash.  In August 2016, the company issued $170.0 million of 4.125% convertible senior notes due in 2022, or the 4.125% notes. 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.  Ethanol Production Segment  We have small equipment financing loans, capital leases on equipment or facilities, and other forms of debt financing.  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. The total unused portion of the $125.0 million revolving credit facility is also subject to a commitment fee ranging from 0.375% to 0.50% per annum depending on utilization.  Lenders receive a first priority lien on certain cash, inventory, accounts receivable and other assets owned by Green Plains Grain and a second priority lien on substantially all of the assets of the company, including 17 ethanol production facilities and vinegar production facilities as security on the credit facility. The terms impose affirmative and negative covenants for Green Plains Grain, including maintaining minimum working capital of $22.0 million and tangible net worth of $27.0 million . 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 the company has long-term indebtedness on the date of calculation. As of September 30, 2018 , 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 $300.0 million senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility to finance 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 credit facility consists of a $285 million credit facility and a $15 million first-in-last-out (FILO) credit facility, and 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 revolving credit facility is also subject to a commitment fee of 0.375% per annum.  The terms impose affirmative and negative covenants for Green Plains Trade, including maintaining a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.15 to 1.00. 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.  Green Plains Grain has entered into short-term inventory financing agreements with a financial institution. At September 30, 2018 , 1.0 million bushels of corn had been designated as collateral under these agreements at initial values totaling $4.2 million. The company has accounted for the agreements as short-term notes, rather than sales, and has elected the fair value option to offset fluctuations in market prices of the inventory. At September 30, 2018 , the short-term notes payable were valued at $4.0 million and were measured using Level 2 inputs.  Green Plains Commodity Management has an uncommitted $20.0 million revolving credit facility which matures April 30, 2023 to finance margins related to its hedging programs. Advances are subject to variable interest rates equal to LIBOR plus 1.75% .  Food and Ingredients Segment  Green Plains Cattle has a senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility, which was amended on July 31, 2018, to increase the maximum commitment from $425.0 million to $500.0 million and can be increased by an additional $100.0 million with agent approval. The credit facility, which matures on April 30, 2020, finances working capital for the cattle feeding 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 $75.0 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 and a second priority lien on substantially all of the assets of the company, including 17 ethanol production facilities and vinegar production facilities as security on the credit facility . The amended terms impose affirmative and negative covenants, including maintaining a minimum working capital of 15% of the commitment amount, minimum tangible net worth of 20% of the commitment amount, plus 50% of net profit from the previous year, and a maximum total debt to tangible net worth ratio of 3.50 to 1.00 . 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.  Partnership Segment  Green Plains Partners, through a wholly owned subsidiary, has a $235.0 million revolving credit facility, which matures on July 1, 2020, to fund working capital, acquisitions, distributions, capital expenditures and other general partnership purposes. On February 20, 2018, the partnership accessed an additional $40.0 million to increase the revolving credit facility from $195.0 million to $235.0 million. The credit facility can be increased by an additional $20.0 million without the consent of the lenders. Advances under the credit facility are subject to a floating interest rate based on the preceding fiscal quarter’s consolidated lev erage ratio at a base rate plus 1.25% to 2.00% or LIBOR plus 2.25% to 3.00% . 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 3.50 to 1.00, and a minimum consolidated interest coverage ratio of 2.75 to 1.00, 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, 2018 .  Restricted Net Assets  At September 30, 2018 , there were approximately $ 171.2 million of net assets 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, 2018
Stock-Based Compensation [Abstract]
Stock-Based Compensation	10. 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, performance shares, 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, with no adjustments for estimated forfeitures. The company records noncash compensation expense related to equity awards in its consolidated financial statements over the requisite period on a straight-line basis.  Stock Options  The activity related to the exercisable stock options for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , is as follows:     Shares Weighted-Average Exercise Price Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years) Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in thousands)  Outstanding at December 31, 2017 143,750 $ 12.44 1.8 $ 635  Granted - - - -  Exercised (15,000) 10.00 - 120  Forfeited - - - -  Expired - - - -  Outstanding at September 30, 2018 128,750 $ 12.72 1.2 $ 577  Exercisable at September 30, 2018 (1) 128,750 $ 12.72 1.2 $ 577   (1) Represents in-the-money options .  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 shares in the open market. The company uses newly issued shares of common stock to satisfy its stock-based payment obligations.  Restricted Stock  The non-vested stock award and deferred stock unit activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , 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, 2017 1,068,947 $ 20.41  Granted 664,642 18.20  Forfeited (14,272) 20.64  Vested (541,586) 20.58  Non-Vested at September 30, 2018 1,177,731 $ 19.08 1.9  Performance Shares  On March 19, 2018, the board of directors granted 153,030 performance shares to be awarded in the form of common stock to certain participants of the plan. Performance shares vest based on the company's average return on net assets (RONA) and the company’s total shareholder return (TSR), as further described herein. The performance shares vest on March 19, 2021, if the RONA and TSR criteria are achieved and the participant is then employed by the company. Fifty percent of the performance shares vest based upon the company’s ability to achieve a predetermined RONA during the three year performance period. The remaining fifty percent of the performance shares vest based upon the company’s total TSR during the three year performance period relative to that of the company’s performance peer group.  The performance shares were granted at a target of 100% , but each performance share will increase or decrease depending on results for the performance period for the company's RONA, and the company’s TSR relative to that of the performance peer group. If the company’s RONA and TSR achieve the maximum goals, the maximum amount of shares available to be issued pursuant to this award is 229,545 performance shares or 150% of the 153,030 performance shares granted on March 19, 2018. The actual number of performance shares that will ultimately vest is based on the actual percentile ranking of the company’s RONA, and the company’s TSR compared to the peer performance at the end of the performance period.  The company used the Monte Carlo valuation model to estimate the fair value of the performance shares on the date of the grant. The weighted average assumptions used by the company in applying the Monte Carlo valuation model for performance share grants during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , are illustrated in the following table:      Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018  Risk-free interest rate 2.44 %  Dividend yield 2.64 %  Expected volatility 45.11 %  The Monte Carlo valuation also estimated the number of performance shares that would be awarded which is reflected in the fair value on the grant date. The Monte Carlo valuation assumed 97.39% of the performance shares granted on March 19, 2018, would be awarded on March 19, 2021, based upon the estimated company’s total shareholder return relative to peer performance. The company’s closing stock price was $18.15 on the date of the grant.  At September 30, 2018 , unrecognized stock compensation expense of $2.3 million, excluding any potential forfeitures, will be recognized over the vesting period of these performance share awards on a straight-line basis.  Green Plains Partners  Green Plains Partners 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, 2018 , 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, 2017 11,549 $ 19.06  Granted 18,582 16.96  Forfeited - -  Vested (11,549) 19.06  Non-Vested at September 30, 2018 18,582 $ 16.96 0.8  Stock-Based and Unit-Based Compensation Expense  Compensation costs for stock-based and unit-based payment plans during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 , were approximately $ 3.3 million and $ 8.7 million, respectively, and $3.3 million and $8.8 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 , respectively. At September 30, 2018 , there was $ 14.2 million of unrecognized compensation costs from stock-based and unit-based compensation related to non-vested awards, excluding performance shares noted above. This compensation is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately 1.8 years. The pote ntial tax benefit related to stock-based payment is approximately 24.5 % of these expe nses . 

Earnings Per Share

Earnings Per Share	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Earnings Per Share	11. 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.  The basic and diluted EPS are calculated as follows (in thousands):    Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,  2018 2017 2018 2017  Basic EPS:  Net income (loss) attributable to Green Plains $ (12,469) $ 34,394 $ (37,580) $ 14,431  Weighted average shares outstanding - basic 40,229 41,348 40,189 40,008  EPS - basic $ (0.31) $ 0.83 $ (0.94) $ 0.36   Diluted EPS:  Net income (loss) attributable to Green Plains $ (12,469) $ 34,394 $ (37,580) $ 14,431  Interest and amortization on convertible debt, net of tax effect:  3.25% notes due 2018 - 840 - 3,582  4.125% notes due 2022 - 2,050 - 6,089  Net income (loss) attributable to Green Plains - diluted $ (12,469) $ 37,284 $ (37,580) $ 24,102   Weighted average shares outstanding - basic 40,229 41,348 40,189 40,008  Effect of dilutive convertible debt:  3.25% notes due 2018 - 3,178 - 4,551  4.125% notes due 2022 - 6,071 - 6,071  Effect of dilutive stock-based compensation awards - 50 - 63  Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted 40,229 50,647 40,189 50,693  EPS - diluted $ (0.31) $ 0.74 $ (0.94) $ 0.48  Excluded from the computation of diluted EPS were 10.3 million and 10.2 million shares related to the effect of the convertible debt and stock-based compensation awards for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 , as the inclusion of these shares would have been antidilutive.

Stockholders Equity

Stockholders Equity	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Stockholders Equity [Abstract]
Stockholders Equity	 12. 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 Income Shares Amount Equity Interests Equity   Balance, December 31, 2017 46,410 $ 46 $ 685,019 $ 325,411 $ (13,110) 5,326 $ (55,184) $ 942,182 $ 116,954 $ 1,059,136  Reclassification of certain tax effects from other comprehensive loss (Note 1) - - - 2,787 (2,787) - - - - -  Balance, January 1, 2018 46,410 46 685,019 328,198 (15,897) 5,326 (55,184) 942,182 116,954 1,059,136  Net income (loss) - - - (37,580) - - - (37,580) 14,457 (23,123)  Cash dividends and distributions declared - - - (14,536) - - - (14,536) (16,385) (30,921)  Other comprehensive loss before reclassification - - - - (1,522) - - (1,522) - (1,522)  Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss - - - - 243 - - 243 - 243  Other comprehensive loss, net of tax - - - - (1,279) - - (1,279) - (1,279)  Modification of 3.25% convertible notes due 2019 - - 4,660 - - - - 4,660 - 4,660  Exchange of 3.25% convertible notes due 2018 - - - - - - 1 1 - 1  Stock-based compensation 321 1 5,314 - - - - 5,315 196 5,511  Stock options exercised 15 - 150 - - - - 150 - 150  Balance, September 30, 2018 46,746 $ 47 $ 695,143 $ 276,082 $ (17,176) 5,326 $ (55,183) $ 898,913 $ 115,222 $ 1,014,135  Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income are as follows (in thousands):     Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30, Statements of Operations  2018 2017 2018 2017 Classification  Gains (losses) on cash flow hedges:  Commodity derivatives $ (3,197) $ (5,242) $ (1,749) $ 1,734 Revenues  Commodity derivatives 1,350 (1,861) 1,451 (1,679) Cost of goods sold  Total (1,847) (7,103) (298) 55 Loss before income taxes  Income tax expense (benefit) (420) (2,650) (55) 21 Income tax benefit  Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) $ (1,427) $ (4,453) $ (243) $ 34  

Income Taxes

Income Taxes	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Income Taxes [Abstract]
Income Taxes	13. 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 income taxes on pre-tax income or loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest in the partnership.  The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was enacted on December 22, 2017 and is effective January 1, 2018. The Act reduced the federal tax rate to 21% . Due to the significance of the legislation, the SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin 118 (SAB 118), which provides a measurement period to complete the accounting for certain elements of the tax reform. The company is still analyzing certain other provisions of the legislation and its impact to future income taxes, including interest expense limitation to 30% of adjusted taxable income, use of AMT credit carryforwards, limitation of net operating loss carryforwards to 80% of taxable income, and deducibility of officer compensation. Any subsequent adjustments, if needed, will be recorded as tax expense during the fourth quarter of 2018.  The company recorded income tax benefit of $14.7 million and $31.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively, compared with $48.8 million and $60.9 million for the same periods in 2017. The decrease in income tax benefit was due primarily to the company’s recognition of tax benefits of $18.4 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , compared to $49.5 million for the same period in 2017 , for federal and state R&D Credits relating to current and prior periods.  The amount of unrecognized tax benefits for uncertain tax positions was $50.4 million as of September 30, 2018 , and $26.0 million as of December 31, 2017 . Recognition of these benefits would have a favorable impact on the company’ s effective tax rate.  The 2018 effective tax rate can be affected by variances in 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.

Commitments And Contingencies

Commitments And Contingencies	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Commitments And Contingencies [Abstract]
Commitments And Contingencies	14. 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 $ 9.0 million and $29.7 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 , respectively, and $11.2 million and $33.4 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 , respectively.  Aggregate minimum lease payments under these agreements for the remainder of 2018 and in future years are as follows (in thousands):     Year Ending December 31, Amount  2018 $ 9,989  2019 24,808  2020 18,052  2021 10,574  2022 8,252  Thereafter 32,245  Total $ 103,920  Commodities  As of September 30, 2018 , the company had contracted future purchases of grain, corn oil, natural gas, crude oil, ethanol, distillers grains and cattle, valu ed at approximately $ 411.9 million.  Legal  In November 2013, 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. Per the court’s direction, the company and the seller retained an independent accounting firm to determine if a shortfall exists and the precise shortfall due to Green Plains. The accounting firm has concluded that a shortfall does exist consistent with the company’s calculations, and the matter is now back in the hands of the Court to review and enter its order. On October 30, 2018, the ongoing litigation was settled and will be recorded in the fourth quarter.  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, 2018
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
Related Party Transactions	15. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS  Commercial Contracts  In March 2014, a subsidiary of the company entered into $1.4 million of new equipment financing agreements with Amur Equipment Finance, whom Gordon Glade, a member of the company’s board of directors, was formerly a shareholder. Amur Equipment Finance is no longer considered a related party as of the third quarter of 2018. Balances of $ 0.4 million and $0.6 million related to these financing arrangements were included in debt at September 30, 2018 , and December 31, 2017 , respectively. Payments, including principal and interest, totaled $69 thousand and $207 thousand during each of the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 , and 2017 , respectively. The weighted average interest rate for the financing agreements with Amur Equipment Finance was 6.8 %.  Aircraft Leases  Effective January 1, 2015, the company entered into two agreements with an entity controlled by Wayne Hoovestol for the lease of two aircrafts. Mr. Hoovestol is chairman of the company’s board of directors. The company agreed to pay $ 9,766 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 $126 thousand during the three months ended September 30, 2018 , respectively, and $39 thousand and $141 thousand during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 , respectively. The company had no outstanding payables related to these agreements as of September 30, 2018 , and $2 thousand in outstanding payables related to these agreements as of December 31, 2017. 

Subsequent Events

Subsequent Events	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Events	16. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS  Seventh Amendment to Credit Agreement – Green Plains Cattle Company LLC  On October 5, 2018, the company amended its revolving credit facility to provide the Joint Administrator, at its sole discretion, irrevocable authorization to (1) release any term loan priority collateral; (2) release any guarantor related to any release of any term loan priority collateral and/or (3) release the guaranty upon termination of the term loan agreement and repayment of all obligations owed by the company under the term loan agreement.  Asset Purchase Agreement – Valero Renewable Fuels Company , LLC and Green Plains Partners LP  On October 8, 2018, the company entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement to sell three of its ethanol plants located in Bluffton, Indiana, Lakota, Iowa, and Riga, Michigan to Valero Renewable Fuels Company, LLC (“Valero”). The estimated sales price for the facilities is $300 million plus approximately $22 million of related working capital. Correspondingly, the company entered into a separate Asset Purchase Agreement (the “Asset Purchase Agreement”) with the partnership for $120.9 million (the “Transaction”), subject to certain other post-closing adjustments, to acquire the related storage assets to be disposed of in the sale to Valero. In addition, approximately 525 of the 3,500 railcars leased by the partnership are anticipated to be conveyed to the company as part of the Transaction. Upon closing of the Transaction, the company anticipates recording an estimated pre-tax gain of approximately $100 m illion. The company anticipates using proceeds from the Transaction to repay its term debt.  The partnership will receive approximately 8.9 million units owned by the company as payment. The Asset Purchase Agreement provides for the closing of the Transaction to occur immediately prior to the company’s sale to Valero.  The company and the partnership agreed, upon closing, to extend the storage and throughput services agreement with Green Plains Trade an additional three years to June 30, 2028. Upon closing, the quarterly minimum volume commitment associated with the storage and throughput services agreement will be 235.7 million gallons or, approximately 80% of the new Green Plains annual production capacity of 1.183 billion gallons.  The aforementioned transactions are anticipated to close during the fourth quarter of 2018, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.  Third Amendment to Credit Agreement – Green Plains Operating Company LLC  On October 12, 2018, the partnership amended its revolving credit facility to allow the sale of the ethanol storage assets associated with up to six ethanol plants owned by Green Plains with no more than 600 million gallons of production capacity. Upon close of such sale, the revolving credit facility available will be decreased from $235 million to $200 million. In addition, the lenders permitted the exchange of units as consideration for the transaction and also permitted modifications of various key operating agreements. There were no other significant changes in other covenants.  Stock Purchase Agreement – Kerry Holding Co.  On October 23, 2018, the company entered into a stock purchase agreement (the “Stock Purchase Agreement”) with Kerry Holding Co. to sell all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Fleischmann’s Vinegar Company, Inc. for $350 million in cash, subject to certain post-closing working capital adjustments. Upon closing of the transaction, the company anticipates recording an estimated pre-tax gain of approximately $62 million. The company anticipates using proceeds from the transaction to repay its term debt.  The closing of the transaction, which is expected to occur during the fourth quarter of 2018, is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. The Stock Purchase Agreement contains normal and customary representations and warranties, and indemnification obligations.

Basis Of Presentation And Descr

Basis Of Presentation And Description Of Business And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Policy)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
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. As of September 30, 2018 , the company owns a 62.4% limited partner interest and a 2.0% general partner interest in Green Plains Partners LP. Public investors own the remaining 35.6% 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 variable interest entity. 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 is obligated to absorb losses and has the right to receive benefits that could be significant to the partnership. Therefore, the company is considered the primary beneficiary and consolidates the partnership in the company’s financial statements. 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, 2018 , and December 31, 2017, excluding intercompany balances, were $71.5 million and $74.9 million, respectively, and primarily consisted of property and equipment and goodwill. The partnership’s consolidated total liabilities as of September 30, 2018 , and December 31, 2017, excluding intercompany balances, were $152.7 million and $153.0 million, respectively, which primarily consisted of long-term debt as discussed in Note 9 – Debt . The liabilities recognized as a result of consolidating the partnership do not represent additional claims on our general assets. The company also owns a 90.0% interest in BioProcess Algae, a joint venture formed in 2008, and consolidates their results in its consolidated financial statements.  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 notes 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, 2017 .  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 (loss) or stockholders’ equity.
Use Of Estimates In The Preparation Of Consolidated Financial Statements	Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Consolidated Financial Statements  The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, 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, carrying value of intangible assets, impairment of long-lived assets and goodwill, derivative financial instruments, accounting for income taxes and assets acquired and liabilities assumed in acquisitions, are impacted significantly by judgments, assumptions and estimates used in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements.
Description Of Business	Description of Business  The company operates within four business segments: (1) ethanol production, which includes the production of ethanol and distillers grains, and recovery of corn oil, (2) agribusiness and energy services, which includes grain handling and storage, commodity 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 feeding, vinegar production and food-grade corn oil operations and (4) partnership, which includes fuel storage and transportation services.
Cash and Cash Equivalents	Cash and Cash Equivalents  Cash and cash equivalents includes bank deposits as well as short-term, highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less.
Restricted Cash	Restricted Cash  The company has restricted cash, which can only be used for funding letters of credit or for payment towards a revolving credit agreement. Restricted cash also includes cash margins and securities pledged to commodity exchange clearinghouses. To the degree these segregated balances are cash and cash equivalents, they are considered restricted cash on the consolidated statements of cash flows.
Revenue Recognition	Revenue Recognition  The company recognizes revenue at the point in time when the product or service is transferred to the customer.  Sales of ethanol, distillers grains, corn oil, natural gas and other commodities by the company’s marketing business are recognized when obligations under the terms of a contract with a customer are satisfied. Generally, this occurs with the transfer of control of products or services. Revenues related to marketing for third parties are presented on a gross basis as the company controls the product prior to the sale to the end customer, takes title of the product and has inventory risk. Unearned revenue is recorded for goods in transit when the company has received payment but control 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 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. Energy trading transactions are reported net as a component of revenue. All other transactions are reported net as either a component of revenue or cost of goods sold, depending on their position as a gain or loss. Revenues also include realized gains and losses on related derivative financial instruments and reclassifications of realized gains and losses on cash flow hedges from accumulated other comprehensive income or loss.  Sales of products, including agricultural commodities, cattle and vinegar, are recognized when control of the product is transferred to the customer, which depends on the agreed upon shipment or delivery terms. 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 upon transfer of control of product from its storage tanks and fuel terminals, when railcar volumetric capacity is provided, and as truck transportation services are performed.
Shipping and Handling Costs	Shipping and Handling Costs  We account for shipping and handling activities related to contracts with customers as costs to fulfill our promise to transfer the associated products. Accordingly, we record customer payments associated with shipping and handling costs as a component of revenue, and classify such costs as a component of cost of goods sold.
Cost of Goods Sold	Cost of Goods Sold  Cost of goods sold includes direct labor, materials, shipping and plant overhead costs. Direct labor includes all compensation and related benefits of non-management personnel involved in ethanol and vinegar production, and cattle feeding 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 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 reclassifications of gains and losses on cash flow hedges from accumulated other comprehensive income or loss. Plant overhead consists primarily of plant and feedlot utilities, repairs and maintenance, feedlot 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 and forward purchase and sales contracts to attempt to minimize the effect of price changes on ethanol, grain, natural gas and cattle inventories. 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 forward purchase 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 include 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 attempt to minimize risk and the effect of commodity price changes including but not limited 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, cash flow 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. Unrealized gains and losses are reflected in accumulated other comprehensive income or loss 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 inventory values and designates qualifying derivatives as fair value hedges. The carrying amount of the hedged inventory is adjusted in the current period for changes in fair value. Ineffectiveness of the hedges is recognized in the current period 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, 2018, the company adopted the amended guidance in ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. Please refer to Note 2 – Revenue for further details.  Effective January 1, 2018, the company adopted 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 was applied retrospectively. As a result, net cash used in operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 , was adjusted to exclude the change in restricted cash and decreased the previously reported balance by $8.0 million. Net cash provided by financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 , was adjusted to exclude the change in restricted cash and decreased the previously reported balance by $25.5 million.  Effective January 1, 2018, the company adopted 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 is required on a modified retrospective basis, with a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the year of adoption. The adoption of the guidance did not have an impact to the financial statements.  Effective January 1, 2018, the company adopted the amended guidance in ASC Topic 805, Business Combinations: Clarifying the Definition of a Business , which clarifies the definition of a business and provides guidance to assist companies and other reporting organizations evaluate whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions or disposals of assets or businesses. The amended guidance will be applied prospectively.  Effective January 1, 2018, the company early adopted 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, and used when the annual impairment test is performed in the current year. The company does not believe the new guidance will have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.  Effective January 1, 2018, the company early adopted the amended guidance in ASC Topic 220, Income Statement – Reporting Comprehensive Income: Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, which allows a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The amendment eliminates the stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and is intended to improve the usefulness of information reported. As a result, the company recorded a $2.8 million reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings during the first quarter of 2018. It is the company’s policy to release income tax effects from accumulated other comprehensive income using the portfolio approach.  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 and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2018. The standard requires a modified retrospective transition approach and allows for early adoption. In July 2018, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update, Leases (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements , which provides an option to apply the transition provisions of the new standard at adoption date instead of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements. The company will elect to use this optional transition method.  The company has established an implementation team which continues to review current accounting policies, internal controls, processes, and disclosures that will change as a result of adopting the new standard. The company has gathered information on existing leases to obtain a complete population of leases upon adoption, and has implemented a lease accounting system, which will assist in delivering the required accounting changes and disclosures. 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. In addition, it will also require expanded disclosures in the company’s consolidated financial statements. The company will complete its assessment of the impact of the new guidance on its consolidated financial statements during the fourth quarter of 2018.

Revenue (Tables)

Revenue (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Revenue [Abstract]
Disaggregatation Of Revenue By Major Source	The following table disaggregates revenue by major source for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 (in thousands):   Three Months Ended September 30, 2018  Ethanol Production Agribusiness & Energy Services Food & Ingredients Partnership Eliminations Total  Revenues:  Revenues from contracts with customers under ASC Topic 606:  Ethanol $ 291 $ - $ - $ - $ - $ 291  Distillers grains 54,687 - - - - 54,687  Cattle and vinegar - - 259,224 - - 259,224  Service revenues - - - 983 - 983  Other 238 680 - - - 918  Intersegment revenues 721 23 38 2,597 (3,379) -  Total revenues from contracts with customers 55,937 703 259,262 3,580 (3,379) 316,103  Revenues from contracts accounted for as derivatives under ASC Topic 815 (1):  Ethanol 440,333 93,166 - - - 533,499  Distillers grains 56,802 44,142 - - - 100,944  Corn oil 17,088 10,275 4,411 - - 31,774  Grain 30 21,972 - - - 22,002  Cattle and vinegar - - (12,522) - - (12,522)  Other 3,930 4,055 - - - 7,985  Intersegment revenues 2,392 12,669 - - (15,061) -  Total revenues from contracts accounted for as derivatives 520,575 186,279 (8,111) - (15,061) 683,682  Leasing revenues under ASC Topic 840 (2) - - - 22,190 (21,875) 315  Total Revenues $ 576,512 $ 186,982 $ 251,151 $ 25,770 $ (40,315) $ 1,000,100     Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018  Ethanol Production Agribusiness & Energy Services Food & Ingredients Partnership Eliminations Total  Revenues:  Revenues from contracts with customers under ASC 606:  Ethanol $ 3,391 $ - $ - $ - $ - $ 3,391  Distillers grains 174,589 - - - - 174,589  Cattle and vinegar - - 748,699 - - 748,699  Service revenues - - - 3,430 - 3,430  Other 1,570 2,012 - - - 3,582  Intersegment revenues 2,258 23 118 7,286 (9,685) -  Total revenues from contracts with customers 181,808 2,035 748,817 10,716 (9,685) 933,691  Revenues from contracts accounted for as derivatives under ASC Topic 815 (1):  Ethanol 1,333,989 321,824 - - - 1,655,813  Distillers grains 147,203 98,060 - - - 245,263  Corn oil 52,690 22,433 12,048 - - 87,171  Grain 500 59,101 - - - 59,601  Cattle and vinegar - - (5,638) - - (5,638)  Other 12,486 42,721 - - - 55,207  Intersegment revenues 7,027 38,226 - - (45,253) -  Total revenues from contracts accounted for as derivatives 1,553,895 582,365 6,410 - (45,253) 2,097,417  Leasing revenues under ASC 840 (2) - - - 66,779 (65,663) 1,116  Total Revenues $ 1,735,703 $ 584,400 $ 755,227 $ 77,495 $ (120,601) $ 3,032,224      (1) Revenues from contracts accounted for as derivatives represent physically settled derivative sales that are outside the scope of ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASC Topic 606), where the company recognizes revenue when control of the inventory is transferred within the meaning of ASC Topic 606 as required by ASC Topic 610-20, Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets . (2) Leasing revenues do not represent revenues recognized from contracts with customers under ASC Topic 606, and continue to be accounted for under ASC Topic 840, Leases .

Acquisitions (Tables)

Acquisitions (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Asset Purchase Agreement With Bartlett Cattle Company, L.P. [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Schedule Of Identifiable Assets Acquired And Liabilities Assumed	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  Accounts receivable $ 1,897  Inventory 104,809  Property and equipment, net 16,190   Current liabilities (118)  Total identifiable net assets $ 122,778 
Asset Purchase Agreement With Cargill Cattle Feeders, LLC [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Schedule Of Identifiable Assets Acquired And Liabilities Assumed	  The following is a summary of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed (in thousands):     Amounts of Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed  Inventory $ 22,450  Prepaid expenses and other 52  Property and equipment, net 36,960   Current liabilities (180)  Total identifiable net assets $ 59,282 

Fair Value Disclosures (Tables)

Fair Value Disclosures (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
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, 2018  Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets Significant Other Observable Inputs  (Level 1) (Level 2) Total  Assets:  Cash and cash equivalents $ 171,674 $ - $ 171,674  Restricted cash 62,797 - 62,797  Inventories carried at market - 81,141 81,141  Unrealized gains on derivatives - 12,878 12,878  Other assets 114 1 115  Total assets measured at fair value $ 234,585 $ 94,020 $ 328,605   Liabilities:  Accounts payable (1) $ - $ 15,602 $ 15,602  Unrealized losses on derivatives - 18,472 18,472  Other - 25 25  Total liabilities measured at fair value $ - $ 34,099 $ 34,099      Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2017  Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets Significant Other Observable Inputs  (Level 1) (Level 2) Total  Assets:  Cash and cash equivalents $ 266,651 $ - $ 266,651  Restricted cash 45,709 - 45,709  Inventories carried at market - 26,834 26,834  Unrealized gains on derivatives - 12,045 12,045  Other assets 115 - 115  Total assets measured at fair value $ 312,475 $ 38,879 $ 351,354   Liabilities:  Accounts payable (1) $ - $ 37,401 $ 37,401  Unrealized losses on derivatives - 12,884 12,884  Other liabilities - 92 92  Total liabilities measured at fair value $ - $ 50,377 $ 50,377  (1) Accounts payable is generally stated at historical amounts with the exception of $15.6 million and $ 37.4 million at September 30, 2018 , and December 31, 2017, respectively, related to certain delivered inventory for which the payable fluctuates based on changes in commodity prices. These payables are hybrid financial instruments for which the company has elected the fair value option.

Segment Information (Tables)

Segment Information (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
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,  2018 2017 2018 2017  Revenues:  Ethanol production:  Revenues from external customers $ 573,399 $ 620,180 $ 1,726,418 $ 1,857,356  Intersegment revenues 3,113 3,579 9,285 6,624  Total segment revenues 576,512 623,759 1,735,703 1,863,980  Agribusiness and energy services:  Revenues from external customers 174,290 164,604 546,151 483,670  Intersegment revenues 12,692 14,406 38,249 33,679  Total segment revenues 186,982 179,010 584,400 517,349  Food and ingredients:  Revenues from external customers 251,113 114,750 755,109 329,432  Intersegment revenues 38 38 118 113  Total segment revenues 251,151 114,788 755,227 329,545  Partnership:  Revenues from external customers 1,298 1,701 4,546 4,724  Intersegment revenues 24,472 24,748 72,949 74,019  Total segment revenues 25,770 26,449 77,495 78,743  Revenues including intersegment activity 1,040,415 944,006 3,152,825 2,789,617  Intersegment eliminations (40,315) (42,771) (120,601) (114,435)  Revenues as reported $ 1,000,100 $ 901,235 $ 3,032,224 $ 2,675,182  Refer to Note 2 - Revenue , for further disaggregation of revenue by operating segment.     Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,  2018 2017 2018 2017  Cost of goods sold:  Ethanol production $ 560,719 $ 590,904 $ 1,706,891 $ 1,802,688  Agribusiness and energy services 179,432 168,735 546,318 487,239  Food and ingredients 236,150 98,854 702,355 281,898  Partnership - - - -  Intersegment eliminations (39,917) (42,706) (120,220) (114,123)  $ 936,384 $ 815,787 $ 2,835,344 $ 2,457,702     Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,  2018 2017 2018 2017  Operating income (loss):  Ethanol production $ (15,961) $ 3,107 $ (60,704) $ (25,950)  Agribusiness and energy services 2,851 3,686 22,081 13,138  Food and ingredients 8,324 10,132 33,890 30,472  Partnership 16,725 16,290 48,214 47,707  Intersegment eliminations (325) 8 (113) (147)  Corporate activities (10,965) (12,507) (34,879) (30,898)  $ 649 $ 20,716 $ 8,489 $ 34,322     Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,  2018 2017 2018 2017  EBITDA:  Ethanol production $ 8,475 $ 25,570 $ 4,742 $ 38,521  Agribusiness and energy services 3,537 5,150 24,035 15,910  Food and ingredients 12,151 13,272 47,192 39,741  Partnership 17,913 17,589 51,674 51,549  Intersegment eliminations (325) 8 (113) (147)  Corporate activities (9,716) (11,212) (30,533) (27,275)  $ 32,035 $ 50,377 $ 96,997 $ 118,299    Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,  2018 2017 2018 2017  Depreciation and amortization:  Ethanol production $ 24,289 $ 20,959 $ 65,284 $ 61,443  Agribusiness and energy services 675 1,457 1,923 2,776  Food and ingredients 3,780 3,139 10,628 9,259  Partnership 1,120 1,280 3,406 3,781  Corporate activities 849 999 2,769 2,846  $ 30,713 $ 27,834 $ 84,010 $ 80,105 
Schedule Of Reconciliation Of Net Income (Loss) To EBITDA	The following table reconciles net income (loss) to EBITDA (in thousands):     Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,  2018 2017 2018 2017  Net income (loss) $ (7,419) $ 39,429 $ (23,123) $ 29,284  Interest expense 23,399 31,889 67,548 69,815  Income tax benefit (14,658) (48,775) (31,438) (60,905)  Depreciation and amortization 30,713 27,834 84,010 80,105  EBITDA $ 32,035 $ 50,377 $ 96,997 $ 118,299 
Summary Of Total Assets For Operating Segments	The following table reconciles net income (loss) to EBITDA (in thousands):     Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,  2018 2017 2018 2017  Net income (loss) $ (7,419) $ 39,429 $ (23,123) $ 29,284  Interest expense 23,399 31,889 67,548 69,815  Income tax benefit (14,658) (48,775) (31,438) (60,905)  Depreciation and amortization 30,713 27,834 84,010 80,105  EBITDA $ 32,035 $ 50,377 $ 96,997 $ 118,299  The following table sets forth total assets by operating segment (in thousands):    September 30, 2018 December 31, 2017  Total assets (1) :  Ethanol production $ 1,075,469 $ 1,144,459  Agribusiness and energy services 404,903 554,981  Food and ingredients 884,205 725,232  Partnership 71,511 74,935  Corporate assets 252,554 295,217  Intersegment eliminations (3,808) (10,174)  $ 2,684,834 $ 2,784,650  Asset balances by segment exclude intercompany balances.

Inventories (Tables)

Inventories (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Inventories [Abstract]
Schedule of Inventories	  September 30, 2018 December 31, 2017  Finished goods $ 133,116 $ 146,269  Commodities held for sale 43,328 65,693  Raw materials 126,231 144,520  Work-in-process 426,321 320,664  Supplies and parts 36,202 34,732  $ 765,198 $ 711,878 

Derivative Financial Instrume_2

Derivative Financial Instruments (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Derivative Financial Instruments [Abstract]
Schedule Of Fair Values Of Derivative Financial 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, 2018 December 31, 2017 September 30, 2018 December 31, 2017  Derivative financial instruments (1) $ 12,878 $ 12,045 $ 18,472 $ 12,884  Other assets 1 - - -  Other liabilities - - 25 92  Total $ 12,879 $ 12,045 $ 18,497 $ 12,976  (1) At September 30, 2018 , derivative financial instruments, as reflected on the balance sheet, include net unrealized gains on exchange traded futures and options contracts of $11.4 million, which included $1.2 million of net unrealized gains on derivative financial instruments designated as cash flow hedging instruments. At September 30, 2018, derivative financial instruments, as reflected on the balance sheet, include net unrealized losses on exchange traded futures and options contracts of $23.3 million, which included $22.5 million of net unrealized losses on derivative financial instruments designated as cash flow hedging instruments. At December 31, 2017 , derivative financial instruments, as reflected on the balance sheet, includes net unrealized gains on exchange traded futures and options contracts of $8.5 million, which included $0.3 million of net unrealized gains on derivative financial instruments designated as cash flow hedging instruments.
Schedule of Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) in Statement of Financial Performance	The gains or losses recognized in income and other comprehensive income 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) :     Amount of Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income into Income  Location of Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,  Comprehensive Income into Income 2018 2017 2018 2017  Revenues $ (3,197) $ (5,242) $ (1,749) $ 1,734  Cost of goods sold 1,350 (1,861) 1,451 (1,679)  Net gain (loss) recognized in earnings before tax $ (1,847) $ (7,103) $ (298) $ 55     Loss Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income on Derivatives  Loss Recognized in Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,  Other Comprehensive Income on Derivatives 2018 2017 2018 2017  Commodity contracts $ (18,709) $ (12,235) $ (1,865) $ (15,069)     Amount of Gain or (Loss)  Recognized in Income on Derivatives  Derivatives Not Designated Location of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,  as Hedging Instruments Income on Derivatives 2018 2017 2018 2017  Commodity contracts Revenues $ (2,069) $ 2,863 $ 5,894 $ (7,400)  Commodity contracts Costs of goods sold 10,952 2,036 11,075 17,256  Net gain recognized in loss before tax $ 8,883 $ 4,899 $ 16,969 $ 9,856  As of September 30, 2018 , the following amounts were recorded on the consolidated balance sheets related to cumulative basis adjustments for the fair value hedged items (in thousands):    Line Item in the Consolidated Balance Sheet in Which the Hedged Item is Included Carrying Amount of the Hedged Assets Cumulative Amount of Fair Value Hedging Adjustment Included in the Carrying Amount of the Hedged Assets  Inventories $ 76,099 $ 6,826  As of December 31, 2017, no amounts were recorded on the consolidated balance sheets related to cumulative basis adjustments for the fair value hedged items.  Effect of Cash Flow and Fair Value Hedge Accounting on the Statement of Operations  The effect of cash flow and fair value hedges and the line items on the consolidated statements of operations where they are reported are as follows (in thousands):    Location and Amount of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in  Income on Cash Flow and Fair Value Hedging Relationships  for the Three Months Ended September 30,  2018 2017  Revenue Cost of Goods Sold Revenue Cost of Goods Sold  Gain (loss) on cash flow hedging relationships:   Commodity contracts:  Amount of gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into income $ (3,197) $ 1,350 $ (5,242) $ (1,861)   Gain (loss) on fair value hedging relationships:   Commodity contracts:  Hedged item - (346) 61 (1,775)  Derivatives designated as hedging instruments - (186) (61) 3,085   Total amounts of income and expense line items presented in the statement of operations in which the effects of cash flow or fair value hedges are recorded $ (3,197) $ 818 $ (5,242) $ (551)                    Location and Amount of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in  Income on Cash Flow and Fair Value Hedging Relationships  for the Nine Months Ended September 30,  2018 2017  Revenue Cost of Goods Sold Revenue Cost of Goods Sold  Gain on cash flow hedging relationships:   Commodity contracts:  Amount of gain reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into income $ (1,749) $ 1,451 $ 1,734 $ (1,679)   Gain (loss) on fair value hedging relationships:   Commodity contracts:  Hedged item - 10,150 1,451 (6,229)  Derivatives designated as hedging instruments - (9,064) (1,734) 8,530   Total amounts of income and expense line items presented in the statement of operations in which the effects of cash flow or fair value hedges are recorded $ (1,749) $ 2,537 $ 1,451 $ 622 
Schedule Of Open Position Derivative Financial Instruments	The open commodity derivative positions as of September 30, 2018, are as follows (in thousands):     September 30, 2018  Exchange Traded Non-Exchange Traded  Derivative Instruments Net Long & (Short) (1) Long (2) (Short) (2) Unit of Measure Commodity   Futures (52,335) Bushels Corn, Soybeans and Wheat  Futures (11,450) (4) Bushels Corn  Futures 5,135 Gallons Ethanol  Futures (25,620) Gallons Ethanol  Futures (18,798) MmBTU Natural Gas  Futures (13,413) (4) MmBTU Natural Gas  Futures (57,250) Pounds Cattle  Futures (413,720) (3) Pounds Cattle  Futures 21 Barrels Crude Oil  Futures (600) Tons Soybean Meal  Futures 3,570 Gallons Natural Gasoline  Options 14,409 Bushels Corn, Soybeans and Wheat  Options 3,266 Gallons Ethanol  Options (74) MmBTU Natural Gas  Options 862 Pounds Livestock  Options 78 Barrels Crude Oil  Forwards 41,789 (138) Bushels Corn and Soybeans  Forwards 19,132 (426,529) Gallons Ethanol  Forwards 212 (421) Tons DDG  Forwards 12,222 (70,173) Pounds Corn Oil  Forwards 22,501 (1,858) MmBTU Natural Gas  Forwards 61 (31) 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 used for fair value hedges.

Debt (Tables)

Debt (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Debt [Abstract]
Schedule Of The Components Of Long-Term Debt	The components of long-term debt are as follows (in thousands):      September 30, 2018 December 31, 2017  Corporate:  $500.0 million term loan $ 495,000 $ 498,750  3.25% convertible notes due 2018 6,897 61,442  3.25% convertible notes due 2019 52,157 -  4.125% convertible notes due 2022 141,163 136,739  Green Plains Partners:  $235.0 million revolving credit facility 128,000 126,900  Other 26,489 27,744  Total face value of long-term debt 849,706 851,575  Unamortized debt issuance costs (16,915) (16,256)  Less: current portion of long-term debt (65,614) (67,923)  Total long-term debt $ 767,177 $ 767,396 
Schedule Of Short-term Notes Payable And Other Borrowings	The components of short-term notes payable and other borrowings are as follows (in thousands):     September 30, 2018 December 31, 2017  Green Plains Cattle:  $500.0 million revolver $ 376,684 $ 270,860  Green Plains Grain:  $125.0 million revolver 30,000 75,000  $50.0 million inventory financing 4,032 -  Green Plains Trade:  $300.0 million revolver 133,737 180,320  Green Plains Commodity Management:  $20.0 million hedge line 12,113 -  $ 556,566 $ 526,180 

Stock-Based Compensation (Table

Stock-Based Compensation (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Stock-Based Compensation [Abstract]
Schedule Of Stock Option Activity	The activity related to the exercisable stock options for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , is as follows:     Shares Weighted-Average Exercise Price Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years) Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in thousands)  Outstanding at December 31, 2017 143,750 $ 12.44 1.8 $ 635  Granted - - - -  Exercised (15,000) 10.00 - 120  Forfeited - - - -  Expired - - - -  Outstanding at September 30, 2018 128,750 $ 12.72 1.2 $ 577  Exercisable at September 30, 2018 (1) 128,750 $ 12.72 1.2 $ 577   Represents in-the-money options
Schedule of Non-Vest Stock Award and Deferred Stock Unit Activity	The non-vested stock award and deferred stock unit activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , 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, 2017 1,068,947 $ 20.41  Granted 664,642 18.20  Forfeited (14,272) 20.64  Vested (541,586) 20.58  Non-Vested at September 30, 2018 1,177,731 $ 19.08 1.9  
The Weighted Average Assumptions Used by the Company in Applying the Monte Carlo Valuation Model for Performance Share Grants	The weighted average assumptions used by the company in applying the Monte Carlo valuation model for performance share grants during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , are illustrated in the following table:      Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018  Risk-free interest rate 2.44 %  Dividend yield 2.64 %  Expected volatility 45.11 % 
Schedule of Non-vested Unit-based Awards Activity	The non-vested unit-based awards activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , 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, 2017 11,549 $ 19.06  Granted 18,582 16.96  Forfeited - -  Vested (11,549) 19.06  Non-Vested at September 30, 2018 18,582 $ 16.96 0.8  

Earnings Per Share (Tables)

Earnings Per Share (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Schedule Of Basic And Diluted Earnings Per Share	  Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,  2018 2017 2018 2017  Basic EPS:  Net income (loss) attributable to Green Plains $ (12,469) $ 34,394 $ (37,580) $ 14,431  Weighted average shares outstanding - basic 40,229 41,348 40,189 40,008  EPS - basic $ (0.31) $ 0.83 $ (0.94) $ 0.36   Diluted EPS:  Net income (loss) attributable to Green Plains $ (12,469) $ 34,394 $ (37,580) $ 14,431  Interest and amortization on convertible debt, net of tax effect:  3.25% notes due 2018 - 840 - 3,582  4.125% notes due 2022 - 2,050 - 6,089  Net income (loss) attributable to Green Plains - diluted $ (12,469) $ 37,284 $ (37,580) $ 24,102   Weighted average shares outstanding - basic 40,229 41,348 40,189 40,008  Effect of dilutive convertible debt:  3.25% notes due 2018 - 3,178 - 4,551  4.125% notes due 2022 - 6,071 - 6,071  Effect of dilutive stock-based compensation awards - 50 - 63  Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted 40,229 50,647 40,189 50,693  EPS - diluted $ (0.31) $ 0.74 $ (0.94) $ 0.48 

Stockholders Equity (Tables)

Stockholders Equity (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Stockholders Equity [Abstract]
Schedule Of 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 Income Shares Amount Equity Interests Equity   Balance, December 31, 2017 46,410 $ 46 $ 685,019 $ 325,411 $ (13,110) 5,326 $ (55,184) $ 942,182 $ 116,954 $ 1,059,136  Reclassification of certain tax effects from other comprehensive loss (Note 1) - - - 2,787 (2,787) - - - - -  Balance, January 1, 2018 46,410 46 685,019 328,198 (15,897) 5,326 (55,184) 942,182 116,954 1,059,136  Net income (loss) - - - (37,580) - - - (37,580) 14,457 (23,123)  Cash dividends and distributions declared - - - (14,536) - - - (14,536) (16,385) (30,921)  Other comprehensive loss before reclassification - - - - (1,522) - - (1,522) - (1,522)  Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss - - - - 243 - - 243 - 243  Other comprehensive loss, net of tax - - - - (1,279) - - (1,279) - (1,279)  Modification of 3.25% convertible notes due 2019 - - 4,660 - - - - 4,660 - 4,660  Exchange of 3.25% convertible notes due 2018 - - - - - - 1 1 - 1  Stock-based compensation 321 1 5,314 - - - - 5,315 196 5,511  Stock options exercised 15 - 150 - - - - 150 - 150  Balance, September 30, 2018 46,746 $ 47 $ 695,143 $ 276,082 $ (17,176) 5,326 $ (55,183) $ 898,913 $ 115,222 $ 1,014,135 
Reclassification Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	  Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30, Statements of Operations  2018 2017 2018 2017 Classification  Gains (losses) on cash flow hedges:  Commodity derivatives $ (3,197) $ (5,242) $ (1,749) $ 1,734 Revenues  Commodity derivatives 1,350 (1,861) 1,451 (1,679) Cost of goods sold  Total (1,847) (7,103) (298) 55 Loss before income taxes  Income tax expense (benefit) (420) (2,650) (55) 21 Income tax benefit  Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) $ (1,427) $ (4,453) $ (243) $ 34 

Commitments And Contingencies (

Commitments And Contingencies (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Commitments And Contingencies [Abstract]
Schedule of Aggregate Minimum Lease Payments	  Year Ending December 31, Amount  2018 $ 9,989  2019 24,808  2020 18,052  2021 10,574  2022 8,252  Thereafter 32,245  Total $ 103,920 

Basis Of Presentation And Des_2

Basis Of Presentation And Description Of Business And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands	Jul. 01, 2015	Mar. 31, 2018USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)segment	Sep. 30, 2017USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017USD ($)
Asset			$ 2,684,834		$ 2,784,650
Total liabilities			$ 1,670,699		1,725,514
Reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings		$ 2,800
Number of operating segments | segment			4
Increase in cash flows from operating activities, Share-based compensation			$ 8,726	$ 8,761
Green Plains Partners L.P. [Member]
Asset			71,500		74,900
Total liabilities			$ 152,700		$ 153,000
Accounting Standards Update 2016-18 [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash for Operating Activities				8,000
Proceeds from (Repayments of) Restricted Cash, Financing Activities				$ 25,500
BioProcess Algae [Member]
Less than wholy owned subsidiary, parent ownership perecentage			90.00%
IPO [Member] | Limited Partner [Member]
Ownership interest, public, percentage	35.60%
IPO [Member] | Limited Partner [Member] | Green Plains Inc. [Member]
Ownership interest, percentage	62.40%
IPO [Member] | General Partner [Member] | Green Plains Inc. [Member]
Ownership interest, percentage	2.00%

Revenue (Narrative) (Details)

Revenue (Narrative) (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Minimum [Member]
Revenue, Performance Obligation, Payment Terms	10 days
Maximum [Member]
Revenue, Performance Obligation, Payment Terms	30 days

Revenue (Disaggregatation Of Re

Revenue (Disaggregatation Of Revenue By Major Source) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Total revenues from contracts with customers	$ 316,103		$ 933,691
Revenues from contracts accounted for as derivatives under ASC Topic 815	683,682		2,097,417
Leasing revenues under ASC Topic 840	315		1,116
Total revenues	1,000,100	$ 901,235	3,032,224	$ 2,675,182
Ethanol [Member]
Total revenues from contracts with customers	291		3,391
Revenues from contracts accounted for as derivatives under ASC Topic 815	533,499		1,655,813
Distiller Grains [Member]
Total revenues from contracts with customers	54,687		174,589
Revenues from contracts accounted for as derivatives under ASC Topic 815	100,944		245,263
Corn Oil [Member]
Revenues from contracts accounted for as derivatives under ASC Topic 815	31,774		87,171
Grain [Member]
Revenues from contracts accounted for as derivatives under ASC Topic 815	22,002		59,601
Cattle And Vinegar [Member]
Total revenues from contracts with customers	259,224		748,699
Revenues from contracts accounted for as derivatives under ASC Topic 815	(12,522)		(5,638)
Service Revenues [Member]
Total revenues from contracts with customers	983		3,430
Other [Member]
Total revenues from contracts with customers	918		3,582
Revenues from contracts accounted for as derivatives under ASC Topic 815	7,985		55,207
Ethanol Production [Member]
Total revenues from contracts with customers	55,937		181,808
Revenues from contracts accounted for as derivatives under ASC Topic 815	520,575		1,553,895
Total revenues	576,512	623,759	1,735,703	1,863,980
Ethanol Production [Member] | Ethanol [Member]
Total revenues from contracts with customers	291		3,391
Revenues from contracts accounted for as derivatives under ASC Topic 815	440,333		1,333,989
Ethanol Production [Member] | Distiller Grains [Member]
Total revenues from contracts with customers	54,687		174,589
Revenues from contracts accounted for as derivatives under ASC Topic 815	56,802		147,203
Ethanol Production [Member] | Corn Oil [Member]
Revenues from contracts accounted for as derivatives under ASC Topic 815	17,088		52,690
Ethanol Production [Member] | Grain [Member]
Revenues from contracts accounted for as derivatives under ASC Topic 815	30		500
Ethanol Production [Member] | Other [Member]
Total revenues from contracts with customers	238		1,570
Revenues from contracts accounted for as derivatives under ASC Topic 815	3,930		12,486
Ethanol Production [Member] | Intersegment Revenues [Member]
Total revenues from contracts with customers	721		2,258
Revenues from contracts accounted for as derivatives under ASC Topic 815	2,392		7,027
Total revenues	3,113	3,579	9,285	6,624
Agribusiness And Energy Services [Member]
Total revenues from contracts with customers	703		2,035
Revenues from contracts accounted for as derivatives under ASC Topic 815	186,279		582,365
Total revenues	186,982	179,010	584,400	517,349
Agribusiness And Energy Services [Member] | Ethanol [Member]
Revenues from contracts accounted for as derivatives under ASC Topic 815	93,166		321,824
Agribusiness And Energy Services [Member] | Distiller Grains [Member]
Revenues from contracts accounted for as derivatives under ASC Topic 815	44,142		98,060
Agribusiness And Energy Services [Member] | Corn Oil [Member]
Revenues from contracts accounted for as derivatives under ASC Topic 815	10,275		22,433
Agribusiness And Energy Services [Member] | Grain [Member]
Revenues from contracts accounted for as derivatives under ASC Topic 815	21,972		59,101
Agribusiness And Energy Services [Member] | Other [Member]
Total revenues from contracts with customers	680		2,012
Revenues from contracts accounted for as derivatives under ASC Topic 815	4,055		42,721
Agribusiness And Energy Services [Member] | Intersegment Revenues [Member]
Total revenues from contracts with customers	23		23
Revenues from contracts accounted for as derivatives under ASC Topic 815	12,669		38,226
Total revenues	12,692	14,406	38,249	33,679
Food And Ingredients [Member]
Total revenues from contracts with customers	259,262		748,817
Revenues from contracts accounted for as derivatives under ASC Topic 815	(8,111)		6,410
Total revenues	251,151	114,788	755,227	329,545
Food And Ingredients [Member] | Corn Oil [Member]
Revenues from contracts accounted for as derivatives under ASC Topic 815	4,411		12,048
Food And Ingredients [Member] | Cattle And Vinegar [Member]
Total revenues from contracts with customers	259,224		748,699
Revenues from contracts accounted for as derivatives under ASC Topic 815	(12,522)		(5,638)
Food And Ingredients [Member] | Intersegment Revenues [Member]
Total revenues from contracts with customers	38		118
Total revenues	38	38	118	113
Partnership [Member]
Total revenues from contracts with customers	3,580		10,716
Leasing revenues under ASC Topic 840	22,190		66,779
Total revenues	25,770	26,449	77,495	78,743
Partnership [Member] | Service Revenues [Member]
Total revenues from contracts with customers	983		3,430
Partnership [Member] | Intersegment Revenues [Member]
Total revenues from contracts with customers	2,597		7,286
Total revenues	24,472	24,748	72,949	74,019
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Total revenues from contracts with customers	(3,379)		(9,685)
Revenues from contracts accounted for as derivatives under ASC Topic 815	(15,061)		(45,253)
Leasing revenues under ASC Topic 840	(21,875)		(65,663)
Total revenues	(40,315)	$ (42,771)	(120,601)	$ (114,435)
Intersegment Eliminations [Member] | Intersegment Revenues [Member]
Total revenues from contracts with customers	(3,379)		(9,685)
Revenues from contracts accounted for as derivatives under ASC Topic 815	$ (15,061)		$ (45,253)

Acquisitions (Narrative) (Detai

Acquisitions (Narrative) (Details) $ in Millions	Aug. 01, 2018USD ($)item	May 16, 2017USD ($)item	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)
Asset Purchase Agreement With Bartlett Cattle Company, L.P. [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquisition date	Aug. 1, 2018
Number of cattle-feeding operations | item	2
Purchase price	$ 16.2
Working capital	$ 106.6
Feedlot capacity, head of cattle | item	97,000
Working capital payment			$ 0.9
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
Purchase price		$ 59.3
Feedlot capacity, head of cattle | item		155,000
Working capital payment			$ 1.6

Acquisitions (Schedule Of Ident

Acquisitions (Schedule Of Identifiable Assets Acquired And Liabilities Assumed) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Aug. 01, 2018	May 16, 2017
Asset Purchase Agreement With Bartlett Cattle Company, L.P. [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Accounts receivable	$ 1,897
Inventory	104,809
Property and equipment, net	16,190
Current liabilities	(118)
Total identifiable net assets	$ 122,778
Asset Purchase Agreement With Cargill Cattle Feeders, LLC [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Inventory		$ 22,450
Prepaid expenses and other		52
Property and equipment, net		36,960
Current liabilities		(180)
Total identifiable net assets		$ 59,282

Fair Value Disclosures (Narrati

Fair Value Disclosures (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair value of debt	$ 1,400,000
Accounts receivable, book value	$ 134,950	$ 151,122

Fair Value Disclosures (Schedul

Fair Value Disclosures (Schedule Of Assets And Liabilities Fair Value) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 171,674	$ 266,651
Restricted cash	62,797	45,709
Inventories carried at market	81,141	26,834
Unrealized gains on derivatives	12,878	12,045
Other assets	115	115
Total assets measured at fair value	328,605	351,354
Liabilities:
Accounts payable	15,602	37,401
Unrealized losses on derivatives	18,472	12,884
Other	25	92
Total liabilities measured at fair value	34,099	50,377
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	171,674	266,651
Restricted cash	62,797	45,709
Other assets	114	115
Total assets measured at fair value	234,585	312,475
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
Assets:
Inventories carried at market	81,141	26,834
Unrealized gains on derivatives	12,878	12,045
Other assets	1
Total assets measured at fair value	94,020	38,879
Liabilities:
Accounts payable	15,602	37,401
Unrealized losses on derivatives	18,472	12,884
Other	25	92
Total liabilities measured at fair value	$ 34,099	$ 50,377

Segment Information (Narrative)

Segment Information (Narrative) (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018segment
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, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 1,000,100	$ 901,235	$ 3,032,224	$ 2,675,182
Cost of goods sold	936,384	815,787	2,835,344	2,457,702
Operating income (loss)	649	20,716	8,489	34,322
EBITDA	32,035	50,377	96,997	118,299
Depreciation and amortization	30,713	27,834	84,010	80,105
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	1,040,415	944,006	3,152,825	2,789,617
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	(40,315)	(42,771)	(120,601)	(114,435)
Cost of goods sold	(39,917)	(42,706)	(120,220)	(114,123)
Operating income (loss)	(325)	8	(113)	(147)
EBITDA	(325)	8	(113)	(147)
Ethanol Production [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	576,512	623,759	1,735,703	1,863,980
Cost of goods sold	560,719	590,904	1,706,891	1,802,688
Operating income (loss)	(15,961)	3,107	(60,704)	(25,950)
EBITDA	8,475	25,570	4,742	38,521
Depreciation and amortization	24,289	20,959	65,284	61,443
Ethanol Production [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	573,399	620,180	1,726,418	1,857,356
Agribusiness And Energy Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	186,982	179,010	584,400	517,349
Cost of goods sold	179,432	168,735	546,318	487,239
Operating income (loss)	2,851	3,686	22,081	13,138
EBITDA	3,537	5,150	24,035	15,910
Depreciation and amortization	675	1,457	1,923	2,776
Agribusiness And Energy Services [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	174,290	164,604	546,151	483,670
Food And Ingredients [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	251,151	114,788	755,227	329,545
Cost of goods sold	236,150	98,854	702,355	281,898
Operating income (loss)	8,324	10,132	33,890	30,472
EBITDA	12,151	13,272	47,192	39,741
Depreciation and amortization	3,780	3,139	10,628	9,259
Food And Ingredients [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	251,113	114,750	755,109	329,432
Partnership [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	25,770	26,449	77,495	78,743
Operating income (loss)	16,725	16,290	48,214	47,707
EBITDA	17,913	17,589	51,674	51,549
Depreciation and amortization	1,120	1,280	3,406	3,781
Partnership [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	1,298	1,701	4,546	4,724
Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)	(10,965)	(12,507)	(34,879)	(30,898)
EBITDA	(9,716)	(11,212)	(30,533)	(27,275)
Depreciation and amortization	849	999	2,769	2,846
Intersegment Revenues [Member] | Ethanol Production [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	3,113	3,579	9,285	6,624
Intersegment Revenues [Member] | Agribusiness And Energy Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	12,692	14,406	38,249	33,679
Intersegment Revenues [Member] | Food And Ingredients [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	38	38	118	113
Intersegment Revenues [Member] | Partnership [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 24,472	$ 24,748	$ 72,949	$ 74,019

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, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Segment Information [Abstract]
Net income (loss)	$ (7,419)	$ 39,429	$ (23,123)	$ 29,284
Interest expense	23,399	31,889	67,548	69,815
Income tax benefit	(14,658)	(48,775)	(31,438)	(60,905)
Depreciation and amortization	30,713	27,834	84,010	80,105
EBITDA	$ 32,035	$ 50,377	$ 96,997	$ 118,299

Segment Information (Summary _2

Segment Information (Summary Of Total Assets For Operating Segments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	$ 2,684,834	$ 2,784,650
Ethanol Production [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	1,075,469	1,144,459
Agribusiness And Energy Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	404,903	554,981
Food And Ingredients [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	884,205	725,232
Partnership [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	71,511	74,935
Corporate Assets [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	252,554	295,217
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	$ (3,808)	$ (10,174)

Inventories (Schedule Of Invent

Inventories (Schedule Of Inventories) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Inventories [Abstract]
Finished goods	$ 133,116	$ 146,269
Commodities held for sale	43,328	65,693
Raw materials	126,231	144,520
Work-in-process	426,321	320,664
Supplies and parts	36,202	34,732
Inventories	$ 765,198	$ 711,878

Goodwill And Intangible Assets

Goodwill And Intangible Assets (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Goodwill	$ 182,879,000		$ 182,879,000		$ 182,879,000
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill			0		0
Trade Names [Member]
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets	10,500,000		10,500,000
Acquisition of Fleischmann’s Vinegar Company, Inc. [Member} | Customer Relationships [Member]
Finite-lived Intangible Assets Acquired			69,300,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	10,700,000		$ 10,700,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Remaining Amortization Period			13 years
Amortization of Intangible Assets	1,300,000	$ 1,100,000	$ 4,000,000	$ 3,900,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Next Twelve Months	5,300,000		5,300,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Two	5,300,000		5,300,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Three	5,300,000		5,300,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Four	5,300,000		5,300,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Five	5,300,000		5,300,000
Ethanol Production [Member]
Goodwill	30,300,000		30,300,000		30,300,000
Food And Ingredients [Member]
Goodwill	142,000,000		142,000,000		142,000,000
Partnership [Member]
Goodwill	$ 10,600,000		$ 10,600,000		$ 10,600,000

Derivative Financial Instrume_3

Derivative Financial Instruments (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Derivative Financial Instruments [Abstract]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	$ (17,176,000)		$ (17,176,000)		$ (13,110,000)
Gain or loss from discontinuing cash flow hedge treatment	0	$ 0	0	$ 0
Energy trading contracts, gain (loss)	1,600,000	$ 3,100,000	12,400,000	$ 18,300,000
Carrying Amount of the Hedged Assets, Inventories	$ 76,099,000		$ 76,099,000		$ 0

Derivative Financial Instrume_4

Derivative Financial Instruments (Schedule Of Fair Values Of Derivative Financial Instruments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	$ 12,879	$ 12,045
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	18,497	12,976
Net unrealized gains on exchange traded futures and options contracts	11,400	8,500
Net unrealized losses on exchange traded futures and options contracts	23,300
Net unrealized gains on cash flow hedges	1,200	300
Net unrealized losses on cash flow hedges	22,500
Derivative Financial Instruments [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	12,878	12,045
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	18,472	12,884
Other Assets [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	1
Other Liabilities [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	$ 25	$ 92

Derivative Financial Instrume_5

Derivative Financial Instruments (Schedule Of The Effect Of Derivative Instruments On Consolidated Statements Of Income And Consolidated Statements Of Stockholders' Equity And Comprehensive Income) (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Amount of Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income into Income	$ (1,847,000)	$ (7,103,000)	$ (298,000)	$ 55,000
Carrying Amount of the Hedged Assets, Inventories	76,099,000		76,099,000		$ 0
Cumulative Amount of Fair Value Hedging Adjustment Included in the Carrying Amount of the Hedged Assets	6,826,000		6,826,000
Nondesignated [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Amount of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives	8,883,000	4,899,000	16,969,000	9,856,000
Revenue [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Amount of Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income into Income	(3,197,000)	(5,242,000)	(1,749,000)	1,734,000
Gains (Losses) Due to Ineffectiveness of Cash Flow Hedges	(3,197,000)	(5,242,000)	(1,749,000)	1,451,000
Cost of Goods Sold [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Amount of Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income into Income	1,350,000	(1,861,000)	1,451,000	(1,679,000)
Gains (Losses) Due to Ineffectiveness of Cash Flow Hedges	818,000	(551,000)	2,537,000	622,000
Commodity Contracts [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Loss Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income on Derivatives	(18,709,000)	(12,235,000)	(1,865,000)	(15,069,000)
Commodity Contracts [Member] | Revenue [Member] | Nondesignated [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Amount of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives	(2,069,000)	2,863,000	5,894,000	(7,400,000)
Commodity Contracts [Member] | Cost of Goods Sold [Member] | Nondesignated [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Amount of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives	10,952,000	2,036,000	11,075,000	17,256,000
Commodity Contracts [Member] | Cash Flow Hedges [Member] | Revenue [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Amount of Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income into Income	(3,197,000)	(5,242,000)	(1,749,000)	1,734,000
Commodity Contracts [Member] | Cash Flow Hedges [Member] | Cost of Goods Sold [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Amount of Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income into Income	1,350,000	(1,861,000)	1,451,000	(1,679,000)
Commodity Contracts [Member] | Fair Value Hedging [Member] | Revenue [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Gains (Losses) Due to Ineffectiveness of Cash Flow Hedges		61,000		1,451,000
Commodity Contracts [Member] | Fair Value Hedging [Member] | Revenue [Member] | Designated As Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Gains (Losses) Due to Ineffectiveness of Cash Flow Hedges		(61,000)		(1,734,000)
Commodity Contracts [Member] | Fair Value Hedging [Member] | Cost of Goods Sold [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Gains (Losses) Due to Ineffectiveness of Cash Flow Hedges	(346,000)	(1,775,000)	10,150,000	(6,229,000)
Commodity Contracts [Member] | Fair Value Hedging [Member] | Cost of Goods Sold [Member] | Designated As Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Gains (Losses) Due to Ineffectiveness of Cash Flow Hedges	$ (186,000)	$ 3,085,000	$ (9,064,000)	$ 8,530,000

Derivative Financial Instrume_6

Derivative Financial Instruments (Schedule Of Volumes Of Open Commodity Derivative Positions) (Details) contract in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018contract
Corn, Soybeans And Wheat In Bushels [Member] | Exchange Traded [Member] | Long [Member] | Options [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	14,409
Corn, Soybeans And Wheat In Bushels [Member] | Exchange Traded [Member] | Short [Member] | Futures [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	52,335
Corn In Bushels [Member] | Exchange Traded [Member] | Short [Member] | Fair Value Hedging [Member] | Futures [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	11,450
Ethanol In Gallons [Member] | Exchange Traded [Member] | Long [Member] | Futures [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	5,135
Ethanol In Gallons [Member] | Exchange Traded [Member] | Long [Member] | Options [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	3,266
Ethanol In Gallons [Member] | Exchange Traded [Member] | Short [Member] | Futures [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	25,620
Ethanol In Gallons [Member] | Non-Exchange Traded [Member] | Long [Member] | Forwards [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	19,132
Ethanol In Gallons [Member] | Non-Exchange Traded [Member] | Short [Member] | Forwards [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	426,529
Natural Gas In mmBTU [Member] | Exchange Traded [Member] | Short [Member] | Futures [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	18,798
Natural Gas In mmBTU [Member] | Exchange Traded [Member] | Short [Member] | Options [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	74
Natural Gas In mmBTU [Member] | Exchange Traded [Member] | Short [Member] | Fair Value Hedging [Member] | Futures [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	13,413
Natural Gas In mmBTU [Member] | Non-Exchange Traded [Member] | Long [Member] | Forwards [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	22,501
Natural Gas In mmBTU [Member] | Non-Exchange Traded [Member] | Short [Member] | Forwards [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	1,858
Livestock in Pounds [Member] | Exchange Traded [Member] | Long [Member] | Options [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	862
Cattle In Pounds [Member] | Exchange Traded [Member] | Short [Member] | Futures [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	57,250
Cattle In Pounds [Member] | Exchange Traded [Member] | Short [Member] | Cash Flow Hedges [Member] | Futures [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	413,720
Crude Oil In Barrels [Member] | Exchange Traded [Member] | Long [Member] | Futures [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	21
Crude Oil In Barrels [Member] | Exchange Traded [Member] | Long [Member] | Options [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	78
Crude Oil In Barrels [Member] | Non-Exchange Traded [Member] | Long [Member] | Forwards [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	61
Crude Oil In Barrels [Member] | Non-Exchange Traded [Member] | Short [Member] | Forwards [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	31
Soybean Meal In Tons [Member] | Exchange Traded [Member] | Short [Member] | Futures [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	600
Natural Gasoline In Gallons [Member] | Exchange Traded [Member] | Long [Member] | Futures [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	3,570
Corn And Soybeans In Bushels [Member] | Non-Exchange Traded [Member] | Long [Member] | Forwards [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	41,789
Corn And Soybeans In Bushels [Member] | Non-Exchange Traded [Member] | Short [Member] | Forwards [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	138
DDG In Tons [Member] | Non-Exchange Traded [Member] | Long [Member] | Forwards [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	212
DDG In Tons [Member] | Non-Exchange Traded [Member] | Short [Member] | Forwards [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	421
Corn Oil in Pounds [Member] | Non-Exchange Traded [Member] | Long [Member] | Forwards [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	12,222
Corn Oil in Pounds [Member] | Non-Exchange Traded [Member] | Short [Member] | Forwards [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volumes of open commodity derivatives	70,173

Debt (Narrative - Corporate Act

Debt (Narrative - Corporate Activities) (Details)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)$ / sharespropertyshares	Sep. 30, 2017USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)$ / sharespropertyshares	Sep. 30, 2017USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017USD ($)shares	Aug. 29, 2017USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Cash payment for conversion of 3.25% convertible notes due 2018				$ 8,523,000
Non-cash adjustment to additional paid-in capital			$ 4,660,000
Long-term debt, net	$ 849,706,000		849,706,000		$ 851,575,000
Interest expense	23,399,000	$ 31,889,000	67,548,000	69,815,000
Restricted cash	62,797,000	$ 85,066,000	62,797,000	$ 85,066,000	$ 45,709,000
3.25% Convertible Notes Due 2018 [Member] | Corporate [Member] | Convertible Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount	$ 120,000,000		$ 120,000,000
Interest rate, stated percentage	3.25%		3.25%		3.25%
Common stock, dividends per share, cash paid per share | $ / shares			$ 0.04
Common stock for conversion, shares | shares			50.8753
Debt conversion amount			$ 1,000
Debt conversion price | $ / shares	$ 19.66		$ 19.66
Conversion price percentage			140.00%
Principal amount of notes, percentage			100.00%
Debt instrument, exchange amount	$ 56,800,000
Long-term debt, net	6,897,000		$ 6,897,000		$ 61,442,000
3.25% Convertible Notes Due 2019 [Member] | Corporate [Member] | Convertible Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding note payable	$ 56,800,000		$ 56,800,000
Interest rate, stated percentage	3.25%		3.25%		3.25%
Common stock for conversion, shares | shares			50.6481
Debt conversion amount			$ 1,000
Debt conversion price | $ / shares	$ 19.74		$ 19.74
Long-term debt, net	$ 52,157,000		$ 52,157,000
4.125% Convertible Notes Due 2022 [Member] | Corporate [Member] | Convertible 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%
Long-term debt, net	$ 141,163,000		$ 141,163,000		$ 136,739,000
$500.0 Million Term Loan [Member] | Corporate [Member] | Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount	500,000,000		500,000,000		500,000,000
Long-term debt, net	$ 495,000,000		$ 495,000,000		$ 498,750,000
Prepayment fees			1.00%
Prepayment fee required in paid within term			18 months
Debt Instrument, Periodic Payment, Principal			$ 1,250,000
$500.0 Million Term Loan [Member] | Corporate [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%.
$500.0 Million Term Loan [Member] | Corporate [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%
$500.0 Million Term Loan [Member] | Corporate [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%
$500.0 Million Term Loan [Member] | Corporate [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%
$500.0 Million Term Loan [Member] | Corporate [Member] | Green Plains Processing & Fleischmanns Vinegar Company [Member] | Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount	$ 500,000,000		$ 500,000,000
Long-term Debt, Gross						$ 405,000,000
$500.0 Million Term Loan [Member] | Corporate [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
Convertible Senior Notes 3.25% [Member] | Corporate [Member] | Convertible Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Common stock for conversion, shares | shares	50				2,783,725
Debt conversion amount	$ 1,000
Debt instrument, exchange amount					$ 56,300,000

Debt (Narrative - Agribusiness

Debt (Narrative - Agribusiness And Energy Services Segment) (Details) item in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)propertyitem	Dec. 31, 2017USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Short-term notes payable and other borrowings	$ 556,566,000	$ 526,180,000
Agribusiness And Energy Services [Member] | Green Plains Grain [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date	Jul. 26, 2019
Additional amounts available under facility, accordion feature	$ 75,000,000
Line of credit, maximum borrowing capacity	125,000,000
Minimum working capital required for compliance	22,000,000
Minimum net worth required for compliance	27,000,000
Annual capital expenditures, maximum	8,000,000
Line of credit, initial borrowings	$ 0
Allowable dividends as percentage of net profit before taxes	50.00%
Agribusiness And Energy Services [Member] | 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%
Agribusiness And Energy Services [Member] | 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%
Agribusiness And Energy Services [Member] | Green Plains Grain [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fixed charge coverage ratio	1.25
Unused capacity fee, percentage	0.375%
Agribusiness And Energy Services [Member] | Green Plains Grain [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit, maximum borrowing capacity	$ 250,000,000
Annual leverage ratio	6
Unused capacity fee, percentage	0.50%
Agribusiness And Energy Services [Member] | Green Plains Grain [Member] | Seasonal Borrowings [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit, maximum borrowing capacity	$ 50,000,000
Agribusiness And Energy Services [Member] | 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
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
Unused capacity fee, percentage	0.375%
Agribusiness And Energy Services [Member] | Green Plains Trade [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Minimum [Member] | LIBOR [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, basis spread on variable rate, percentage	2.25%
Agribusiness And Energy Services [Member] | Green Plains Trade [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Maximum [Member] | LIBOR [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, basis spread on variable rate, percentage	3.25%
Agribusiness And Energy Services [Member] | Green Plains Trade [Member] | Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit, maximum borrowing capacity	$ 285,000,000
Agribusiness And Energy Services [Member] | 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
Collateral Pledged [Member] | Agribusiness And Energy Services [Member] | Green Plains Grain [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Number of ethanol plants | property	17
$50.0 Million Inventory Financing [Member] | Green Plains Grain [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount	$ 50,000,000	50,000,000
Short-term notes payable and other borrowings	4,032,000
$50.0 Million Inventory Financing [Member] | Agribusiness And Energy Services [Member] | Green Plains Grain [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Collateral Amount	4,200,000
Short-term notes payable and other borrowings	$ 4,000,000
$50.0 Million Inventory Financing [Member] | Collateral Pledged [Member] | Agribusiness And Energy Services [Member] | Green Plains Grain [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Number of bushels of corn | item	1
$20.0 Million Hedge Line [Member] | Green Plains Commodity Management [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount	$ 20,000,000	$ 20,000,000
Short-term notes payable and other borrowings	12,113,000
$20.0 Million Hedge Line [Member] | Agribusiness And Energy Services [Member] | Green Plains Commodity Management [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount	$ 20,000,000
$20.0 Million Hedge Line [Member] | Agribusiness And Energy Services [Member] | Green Plains Commodity Management [Member] | LIBOR [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, basis for effective rate	LIBOR plus 1.75%
Interest rate, basis spread on variable rate, percentage	1.75%

Debt (Narrative - Food And Ingr

Debt (Narrative - Food And Ingredients Segment, Partnership Segment, Capitalized Interest, And Restricted Net Assets) (Details)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)property	Sep. 30, 2017USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)property	Sep. 30, 2017USD ($)	Jul. 30, 2018USD ($)	Feb. 19, 2018USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest expense	$ 23,399,000	$ 31,889,000	$ 67,548,000	$ 69,815,000
Restricted assets	171,200,000		171,200,000
Food And Ingredients Segment [Member] | Green Plains Cattle [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit, maximum borrowing capacity	500,000,000		500,000,000		$ 425,000,000
Additional amounts available under facility, accordion feature			100,000,000
Food And Food Ingredients [Member] | Green Plains Cattle [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Additional amounts available under facility, accordion feature			$ 75,000,000
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%
Annual leverage ratio			3.50
Annual capital expenditures, maximum			$ 10,000,000
Annual capital expenditures, maximum, funded by parent			$ 10,000,000
Food And Food Ingredients [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 Food Ingredients [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 Food Ingredients [Member] | Green Plains Cattle [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unused capacity fee, percentage			0.20%
Food And Food Ingredients [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 Food Ingredients [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 Food Ingredients [Member] | Green Plains Cattle [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unused capacity fee, percentage			0.30%
Food And Food Ingredients [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 Food Ingredients [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%
Partnership [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit, maximum borrowing capacity	235,000,000		$ 235,000,000
Partnership [Member] | Green Plains Operating Company LLC [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit, maximum borrowing capacity	235,000,000		235,000,000			$ 195,000,000
Additional amounts available under facility, accordion feature			20,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility, Increase	$ 40,000,000		$ 40,000,000
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			erage ratio at a 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]
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate, basis points			2.25
Partnership [Member] | Green Plains Operating Company LLC [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Base Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate, basis points			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]
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate, basis points			3
Partnership [Member] | Green Plains Operating Company LLC [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Base Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate, basis points			2
Collateral Pledged [Member] | Food And Food Ingredients [Member] | Green Plains Cattle [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Number of ethanol plants | property	17		17

Debt (Schedule Of The Component

Debt (Schedule Of The Components Of Long-Term Debt) (Details) - USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total face value of long-term debt	$ 849,706,000		$ 851,575,000
Unamortized debt issuance costs	(16,915,000)		(16,256,000)
Less: current portion of long-term debt	(65,614,000)		(67,923,000)
Total long-term debt	767,177,000		767,396,000
Term Loan [Member] | $500.0 Million Term Loan [Member] | Corporate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total face value of long-term debt	495,000,000		498,750,000
Debt instrument, face amount	500,000,000		500,000,000
Convertible Notes [Member] | 3.25% Convertible Notes Due 2018 [Member] | Corporate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total face value of long-term debt	$ 6,897,000		$ 61,442,000
Interest rate, stated percentage	3.25%		3.25%
Debt instrument, face amount	$ 120,000,000
Convertible Notes [Member] | 3.25% Convertible Notes Due 2019 [Member] | Corporate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total face value of long-term debt	$ 52,157,000
Interest rate, stated percentage	3.25%		3.25%
Convertible Notes [Member] | 4.125% Convertible Notes Due 2022 [Member] | Corporate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total face value of long-term debt	$ 141,163,000		$ 136,739,000
Interest rate, stated percentage	4.125%
Debt instrument, face amount	$ 170,000,000
Other Debt Obligations [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total face value of long-term debt	26,489,000		27,744,000
Partnership [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | $235.0 Million Revoling Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total face value of long-term debt	$ 128,000,000		126,900,000
Line of credit, maximum borrowing capacity		$ 235,000,000	$ 235,000,000

Debt (Schedule Of Short-term No

Debt (Schedule Of Short-term Notes Payable And Other Borrowings) (Details) - USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Short-term notes payable and other borrowings	$ 556,566,000	$ 526,180,000
Green Plains Cattle [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | $500.0 Million Revolver [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Short-term notes payable and other borrowings	376,684,000	270,860,000
Debt instrument, face amount	500,000,000	500,000,000
Green Plains Grain [Member] | $50.0 Million Inventory Financing [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Short-term notes payable and other borrowings	4,032,000
Debt instrument, face amount	50,000,000	50,000,000
Green Plains Grain [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | $125.0 Million Revolver [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Short-term notes payable and other borrowings	30,000,000	75,000,000
Debt instrument, face amount	125,000,000	125,000,000
Green Plains Trade [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | $300.0 Million Revolver [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Short-term notes payable and other borrowings	133,737,000	180,320,000
Debt instrument, face amount	300,000,000	300,000,000
Green Plains Commodity Management [Member] | $20.0 Million Hedge Line [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Short-term notes payable and other borrowings	12,113,000
Debt instrument, face amount	$ 20,000,000	$ 20,000,000

Stock-Based Compensation (Narra

Stock-Based Compensation (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Mar. 19, 2018
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of shares or units authorized	4,110,000		4,110,000
Compensation costs expensed	$ 3.3	$ 3.3	$ 8.7	$ 8.8
Unrecognized compensation costs	$ 14.2		$ 14.2
Compensation expected to be recognized, weighted-average period in years			1 year 9 months 18 days
Potential tax benefit, percentage			24.50%
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
Performance Shares [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of shares or units authorized	153,030		153,030
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Target Percentage			100.00%
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Authorized, Achievement of Maximum Goals			229,545
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Achievement of Maximum Goals Percentage			150.00%
Monte Carlo valuation assumed pecercentage of the performance shares awarded at end of performance period based upon the estimated company’s total shareholder return relative to peer performance			97.39%
Share Price					$ 18.15
Unrecognized compensation costs	$ 2.3		$ 2.3
Performance Shares [Member] | Share-based Compensation Award, Tranche One [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period			3 years
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Rights, Percentage			50.00%
Performance Shares [Member] | Share-based Compensation Award, Tranche Two [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period			3 years
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Rights, Percentage			50.00%

Stock-Based Compensation (Sched

Stock-Based Compensation (Schedule Of Stock Option Activity) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Stock-Based Compensation [Abstract]
Outstanding, Shares	143,750
Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 12.44
Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	1 year 2 months 12 days	1 year 9 months 18 days
Outstanding, Aggregate Intrinsic Value	$ 635
Exercised, Shares	(15,000)
Exercised, Weighted Average Exercise price	$ 10
Exercised, Aggregate Intrinsic Value	$ 120
Outstanding, Shares	128,750	143,750
Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 12.72	$ 12.44
Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	1 year 2 months 12 days	1 year 9 months 18 days
Outstanding, Aggregate Intrinsic Value	$ 577	$ 635
Exercisable, Shares	128,750
Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 12.72
Exercisable, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual	1 year 2 months 12 days
Exercisable, Aggregate Intrinsic Value	$ 577

Stock-Based Compensation (Sch_2

Stock-Based Compensation (Schedule Of Non-Vested Stock Award And DSU Activity) (Details) - Restricted Stock [Member]	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018$ / sharesshares
Non-vested, shares or units | shares	1,068,947
Non-vested, Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value | $ / shares	$ 20.41
Granted, shares or units | shares	664,642
Granted, Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value | $ / shares	$ 18.20
Forfeited, shares or units | shares	(14,272)
Forfeited, Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value | $ / shares	$ 20.64
Vested, shares or units | shares	(541,586)
Vested, Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value | $ / shares	$ 20.58
Non-vested, shares or units | shares	1,177,731
Non-vested, Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value | $ / shares	$ 19.08
Non-vested, Weighted-Average Remaining Vesting Term (in years)	1 year 10 months 24 days

Stock-Based Compensation (The W

Stock-Based Compensation (The Weighted Average Assumptions Used by the Company in Applying the Monte Carlo Valuation Model for Performance Share Grants) (Details) - Restricted Stock [Member]	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Risk-free interest rate	2.44%
Dividend yield	2.64%
Expected volatility	45.11%

Stock-Based Compensation (Sch_3

Stock-Based Compensation (Schedule Of Non-Vested Unit-Based Award Activity) (Details) - Green Plains Partners LP 2015 Long-Term Incentive Plan [Member]	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018$ / sharesshares
Non-vested, shares or units | shares	11,549
Non-vested, Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value | $ / shares	$ 19.06
Granted, shares or units | shares	18,582
Granted, Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value | $ / shares	$ 16.96
Vested, shares or units | shares	(11,549)
Vested, Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value | $ / shares	$ 19.06
Non-vested, shares or units | shares	18,582
Non-vested, Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value | $ / shares	$ 16.96
Non-vested, Weighted-Average Remaining Vesting Term (in years)	9 months 18 days

Earnings Per Share (Narrative)

Earnings Per Share (Narrative) (Details) - shares shares in Millions	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018
Stock Compensation Plan And Convertible Debt Member
Stock-based compensation awards excluded from computations of diluted EPS	10.3	10.2

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, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Net income (loss) attributable to Green Plains	$ (12,469)	$ 34,394	$ (37,580)	$ 14,431
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic	40,229	41,348	40,189	40,008
EPS - basic	$ (0.31)	$ 0.83	$ (0.94)	$ 0.36
Net income (loss) attributable to Green Plains - diluted	$ (12,469)	$ 37,284	$ (37,580)	$ 24,102
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted	40,229	50,647	40,189	50,693
EPS - diluted	$ (0.31)	$ 0.74	$ (0.94)	$ 0.48
Stock Compensation Plan [Member]
Effect of dilutive convertible debt and stock-based compensation awards		50		63
3.25% Convertible Notes Due 2018 [Member]
Interest and amortization on convertible debt, net of tax effect		$ 840		$ 3,582
Effect of dilutive convertible debt and stock-based compensation awards		3,178		4,551
4.125% Convertible Notes Due 2022 [Member]
Interest and amortization on convertible debt, net of tax effect		$ 2,050		$ 6,089
Effect of dilutive convertible debt and stock-based compensation awards		6,071		6,071

Stockholders' Equity (Schedule

Stockholders' Equity (Schedule Of Stockholders' Equity) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jan. 01, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Stockholders' Equity [Line Items]
Beginning balance	$ 1,059,136		$ 1,059,136		$ 1,059,136
Reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings			$ 2,800
Net income (loss)		$ (7,419)		$ 39,429	(23,123)	$ 29,284
Cash dividends and distributions declared					(30,921)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications					(1,522)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss					243
Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax		(12,968)		$ (3,207)	(1,279)	$ (9,470)
Modification of 3.25% convertible notes due 2019					4,660
Exchange of 3.25% convertible notes due 2018					1
Stock-based compensation					$ 5,511
Stock options exercised, Shares					15,000
Stock options exercised					$ 150
Ending balance	$ 1,059,136	$ 1,014,135			$ 1,014,135
Common Units [Member]
Stockholders' Equity [Line Items]
Beginning balance, Shares	46,410,000		46,410,000		46,410,000
Beginning balance	$ 46		$ 46		$ 46
Stock-based compensation, Shares					(321,000)
Stock-based compensation					$ 1
Stock options exercised, Shares					15,000
Ending balance, Shares	46,410,000	46,746,000			46,746,000
Ending balance	$ 46	$ 47			$ 47
Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]
Stockholders' Equity [Line Items]
Beginning balance	685,019		685,019		685,019
Modification of 3.25% convertible notes due 2019					4,660
Stock-based compensation					5,314
Stock options exercised					150
Ending balance	685,019	695,143			695,143
Retained Earnings [Member]
Stockholders' Equity [Line Items]
Beginning balance	325,411		325,411		325,411
Reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings	2,787
Net income (loss)					(37,580)
Cash dividends and distributions declared					(14,536)
Ending balance	328,198	276,082			276,082
Accum. Other Comp. Income [Member]
Stockholders' Equity [Line Items]
Beginning balance	(13,110)		$ (13,110)		(13,110)
Reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings	(2,787)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications					(1,522)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss					243
Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax					(1,279)
Ending balance	$ (15,897)	$ (17,176)			$ (17,176)
Treasury Stock [Member]
Stockholders' Equity [Line Items]
Beginning balance, Shares	5,326,000		5,326,000		5,326,000
Beginning balance	$ (55,184)		$ (55,184)		$ (55,184)
Exchange of 3.25% convertible notes due 2018					$ 1
Ending balance, Shares	5,326,000	5,326,000			5,326,000
Ending balance	$ (55,184)	$ (55,183)			$ (55,183)
Total Green Plains Stockholders' Equity [Member]
Stockholders' Equity [Line Items]
Beginning balance	942,182		942,182		942,182
Net income (loss)					(37,580)
Cash dividends and distributions declared					(14,536)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications					(1,522)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss					243
Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax					(1,279)
Modification of 3.25% convertible notes due 2019					4,660
Exchange of 3.25% convertible notes due 2018					1
Stock-based compensation					5,315
Stock options exercised					150
Ending balance	942,182	898,913			898,913
Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
Stockholders' Equity [Line Items]
Beginning balance	116,954		$ 116,954		116,954
Net income (loss)					14,457
Cash dividends and distributions declared					(16,385)
Stock-based compensation					196
Ending balance	$ 116,954	$ 115,222			$ 115,222

Stockholders Equity (Reclassifi

Stockholders Equity (Reclassification From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 1,000,100	$ 901,235	$ 3,032,224	$ 2,675,182
Loss before income taxes	(22,077)	(9,346)	(54,561)	(31,621)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	(14,658)	(48,775)	(31,438)	(60,905)
Net income (loss)	(7,419)	39,429	(23,123)	29,284
Amounts Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Loss before income taxes	(1,847)	(7,103)	(298)	55
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	(420)	(2,650)	(55)	21
Net income (loss)	(1,427)	(4,453)	(243)	34
Ethanol Commodity Derivatives [Member] | Amounts Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Revenues	(3,197)	(5,242)	(1,749)	1,734
Corn Commodity Derivatives [Member] | Amounts Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	$ 1,350	$ (1,861)	$ 1,451	$ (1,679)

Income Taxes (Details)

Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Income Taxes [Abstract]
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, at Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate, Percent			21.00%
Income tax benefit	$ 14,658	$ 48,775	$ 31,438	$ 60,905
Tax benefit for federal and state R&D credits			18,400		$ 49,500
Unrecognized tax benefits	$ 50,400		$ 50,400		$ 26,000

Commitments And Contingencies_2

Commitments And Contingencies (Narrative) (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)property	Sep. 30, 2017USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)property	Sep. 30, 2017USD ($)
Trading Activity, Gains and Losses, Net [Line Items]
Lease expenses	$ 9	$ 11.2	$ 29.7	$ 33.4
Contracted future purchases	$ 411.9		$ 411.9
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

Commitments And Contingencies_3

Commitments And Contingencies (Schedule of Aggregate Minimum Lease Payments) (Details) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)
Commitments And Contingencies [Abstract]
2,018	$ 9,989
2,019	24,808
2,020	18,052
2,021	10,574
2,022	8,252
Thereafter	32,245
Total	$ 103,920

Related Party Transactions (Nar

Related Party Transactions (Narrative) (Details)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)item	Sep. 30, 2017USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014USD ($)
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Outstanding accounts payable	$ 155,663,000		$ 155,663,000		$ 205,479,000
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			$ 9,766
Aircraft hours available each year under lease			125 hours
Cash payments	39,000	$ 39,000	$ 126,000	$ 141,000
Outstanding accounts payable	0		0		2,000
Director [Member] | Amur Equipment Finance [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
New equipment financing agreement						$ 1,400,000
Due to related parties, current	400,000		400,000		$ 600,000
Principal payments (including interest)	$ 69,000	$ 69,000	$ 207,000	$ 207,000
Weighted average interest rate	6.80%		6.80%

Subsequent Events (Details)

Subsequent Events (Details) shares in Millions, gal in Millions	Oct. 23, 2018USD ($)	Oct. 12, 2018USD ($)propertygal	Oct. 08, 2018USD ($)itempropertysharesgal	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)	Feb. 19, 2018USD ($)
Subsequent Event [Member] | Issued And Outstanding Capital Stock Of Fleischmann’s Vinegar Company, Inc. [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Assets to be disposed of in the sale	$ 350,000,000
Gain on disposal of stoarge assets	$ 62,000,000
Asset Purchase Agreement – Valero Renewable Fuels Company LLC and Green Plains Partners LP [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number of ethanol plants | property			3
Purchase price			$ 300,000,000
Working capital			$ 22,000,000
Partnership [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number of railcars | item			3,500
Partnership [Member] | Asset Purchase Agreement – Valero Renewable Fuels Company LLC and Green Plains Partners LP [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Gain on disposal of stoarge assets			$ 100,000,000
Partnership [Member] | Asset Purchase Agreement – Valero Renewable Fuels Company LLC and Green Plains Partners LP [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member] | Partnership Storage Assets [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Assets to be disposed of in the sale			$ 120,900,000
Number of railcars | item			525
Partners' capital account, units | shares			8.9
Service agreement term extension			3 years
Quarterly minimum volume commitment, throughput capacity (in gallons) | gal			235.7
Percent of ethanol production capacity			80.00%
Ethanol production capacity (in gallons) | gal			1,183
Partnership [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity				$ 235,000,000
Partnership [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number of ethanol plants | property		6
Ethanol production capacity (in gallons) | gal		600
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity		$ 200,000,000
Partnership [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Green Plains Operating Company LLC [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity				$ 235,000,000	$ 195,000,000