CHANGES IN BUSINESS (Financial Information for Discontinued Operations) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	$ 3,235	$ (9,840)	$ (8,736)
International Marketing and Distribution
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Net sales	304,650	1,155,046	1,055,872
Cost of goods sold	276,184	1,089,837	991,076
Net loss on sale of discontinued businesses	25,317	75,153	74,274
Interest expense	(86)	(104)	(742)
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	3,235	(9,840)	(8,736)
Income taxes (benefit)	(34)	(5,997)	(1,497)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	$ 3,269	$ (3,843)	$ (7,239)

Amount before tax of income (loss) from a discontinued operation. Includes, but is not limited to, the income (loss) from operations during the phase-out period, gain (loss) on disposal, gain (loss) for reversal of write-down (write-down) to fair value, less cost to sell, and adjustments to a prior period gain (loss) on disposal.

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