| 
           Income Taxes (Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities) (Details) (USD $) 
        In Thousands, unless otherwise specified  | 
        
           Sep. 30, 2013 
         | 
        
           Sep. 30, 2012 
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|---|---|---|
| Deferred tax assets: | ||
| Deferred retirement benefits | $ 1,686 | $ 1,581 | 
| Inventories | 144 | 144 | 
| Restricted stock compensation | 31 | |
| Alico-Agri, Ltd. outside basis differences | 3,196 | 20,857 | 
| Capital loss carry forward | 10,502 | 1,037 | 
| Other | 159 | 357 | 
| Total deferred tax assets | 15,718 | 23,976 | 
| Deferred tax liabilities: | ||
| Revenue recognized from citrus and sugarcane | 302 | 286 | 
| Property and Equipment | 21,550 | 20,826 | 
| Investment in Magnolia | 450 | 385 | 
| Total deferred tax liabilities | 22,302 | 21,497 | 
| Net deferred income tax asset | 2,479 | |
| Net deferred income tax (liability) | $ (6,584) | 
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- Definition 
          Amount of deferred tax liability attributable to taxable temporary differences. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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- Definition 
          Amount before allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible capital loss carryforwards. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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- Definition 
          Amount before allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible temporary differences from inventory. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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- Definition 
          Amount before allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible temporary differences from the entity's investment in its wholly-owned subsidiaries. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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- Definition 
          Amount after allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible temporary differences and carryforwards, net of deferred tax liability attributable to taxable temporary differences. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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- Definition 
          Amount after allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible temporary differences and carryforwards. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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- Details 
          
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- Definition 
          Amount before allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible temporary differences not separately disclosed. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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- Definition 
          Amount before allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible temporary differences from postretirement benefits. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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- Definition 
          Amount before allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible temporary differences from share-based compensation. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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- Definition 
          Amount of deferred tax liability attributable to taxable temporary differences net of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible temporary differences and carryforwards after valuation allowances. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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- Details 
          
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- Definition 
          Amount of deferred tax liability attributable to taxable temporary differences from investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and investments in other affiliates which are not controlled nor consolidated. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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- Definition 
          Amount of deferred tax liability attributable to taxable temporary differences from property, plant, and equipment. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition 
          Amount of deferred tax liability attributable to taxable temporary differences from tax deferred revenue or other income not separately disclosed. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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