Consolidated Statement of Equities and Comprehensive Income (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Aug. 31, 2012	Aug. 31, 2011	Aug. 31, 2010
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balances	$ 4,265,320	$ 3,604,451	$ 3,333,164
Dividends and equity retirement determination	400,216	210,435	203,056
Patronage distribution	(260,666)	(141,513)	(153,894)
Equities retired	(145,722)	(61,193)	(23,135)
Capital equity certificates exchanged for preferred stock			(142)
Equities issued	(29,155)	6,453	616
Preferred stock dividends	(24,544)	(24,544)	(23,248)
Distribution to noncontrolling interest	(78,602)	(18,184)	(4,870)
Changes in dividends and equities payable	5,544	(2,787)	(1,743)
Purchase of noncontrolling interests	(433,864)
Other, net	2,706	(786)	1,407
Comprehensive income
Net income	1,335,719	1,061,028	535,397
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(43,130)	32,176	(51,722)
Total comprehensive income	1,292,589	1,093,204	483,675
Dividends and equities payable	(578,809)	(400,216)	(210,435)
Balances	4,473,323	4,265,320	3,604,451
Capital Equity Certificates
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balances	2,256,749	2,119,216	1,912,804
Dividends and equity retirement determination	136,000	67,569	50,122
Patronage distribution	415,584	260,858	284,128
Equities retired	(145,500)	(60,956)	(22,732)
Capital equity certificates exchanged for preferred stock			(36,674)
Equities issued	(29,155)	6,453	616
Preferred stock dividends
Distribution to noncontrolling interest
Changes in dividends and equities payable
Purchase of noncontrolling interests
Other, net	(1,262)	(391)	(1,479)
Comprehensive income
Net income
Other comprehensive income (loss)
Total comprehensive income
Dividends and equities payable	(195,999)	(136,000)	(67,569)
Balances	2,494,727	2,256,749	2,119,216
Nonpatronage Equity Certificates
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balances	24,324	24,573	24,795
Dividends and equity retirement determination
Patronage distribution
Equities retired	(222)	237	(403)
Capital equity certificates exchanged for preferred stock
Equities issued
Preferred stock dividends
Distribution to noncontrolling interest
Changes in dividends and equities payable
Purchase of noncontrolling interests
Other, net	(356)	(12)	181
Comprehensive income
Net income
Other comprehensive income (loss)
Total comprehensive income
Dividends and equities payable
Balances	23,746	24,324	24,573
Patronage Refunds
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balances	414,553	257,725	277,225
Dividends and equity retirement determination	260,125	138,775	149,275
Patronage distribution	(674,678)	(396,500)	(426,500)
Equities retired
Capital equity certificates exchanged for preferred stock
Equities issued
Preferred stock dividends
Distribution to noncontrolling interest
Changes in dividends and equities payable
Purchase of noncontrolling interests
Other, net
Comprehensive income
Net income	969,862	674,678	396,500
Other comprehensive income (loss)
Total comprehensive income
Dividends and equities payable	(378,719)	(260,125)	(138,775)
Balances	591,143	414,553	257,725
Preferred Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balances	319,368	319,368	282,694
Dividends and equity retirement determination
Patronage distribution
Equities retired
Capital equity certificates exchanged for preferred stock			36,674
Equities issued
Preferred stock dividends
Distribution to noncontrolling interest
Changes in dividends and equities payable
Purchase of noncontrolling interests
Other, net
Comprehensive income
Net income
Other comprehensive income (loss)
Total comprehensive income
Dividends and equities payable
Balances	319,368	319,368	319,368
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balances	(174,876)	(205,267)	(156,270)
Dividends and equity retirement determination
Patronage distribution
Equities retired
Capital equity certificates exchanged for preferred stock
Equities issued
Preferred stock dividends
Distribution to noncontrolling interest
Changes in dividends and equities payable
Purchase of noncontrolling interests	(14,581)
Other, net
Comprehensive income
Net income
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(43,130)	30,391	(48,997)
Total comprehensive income
Dividends and equities payable
Balances	(232,587)	(174,876)	(205,267)
Capital Reserves
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balances	1,075,474	820,049	749,054
Dividends and equity retirement determination	4,091	4,091	3,659
Patronage distribution	(1,572)	(5,871)	(11,522)
Equities retired
Capital equity certificates exchanged for preferred stock			(142)
Equities issued
Preferred stock dividends	(24,544)	(24,544)	(23,248)
Distribution to noncontrolling interest
Changes in dividends and equities payable
Purchase of noncontrolling interests	(82,138)
Other, net	958	(837)	680
Comprehensive income
Net income	290,766	286,677	105,659
Other comprehensive income (loss)
Total comprehensive income
Dividends and equities payable	(4,091)	(4,091)	(4,091)
Balances	1,258,944	1,075,474	820,049
Noncontrolling Interest
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balances	349,728	268,787	242,862
Dividends and equity retirement determination
Patronage distribution
Equities retired
Capital equity certificates exchanged for preferred stock
Equities issued
Preferred stock dividends
Distribution to noncontrolling interest	(78,602)	(18,184)	(4,870)
Changes in dividends and equities payable	5,544	(2,787)	(1,743)
Purchase of noncontrolling interests	(337,145)
Other, net	3,366	454	2,025
Comprehensive income
Net income	75,091	99,673	33,238
Other comprehensive income (loss)		1,785	(2,725)
Total comprehensive income
Dividends and equities payable
Balances	$ 17,982	$ 349,728	$ 268,787

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Dividends payable on preferred stock, the cash portion of patronage dividends payable to members, and the retirement of equity certificates payable to members.

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The reversal of dividends and equities payable from the prior fiscal year.

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Equity impact of the value of new equity certificates issued during the period.

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Equity impact of the value of equity certificates that has been repurchased and retired during the period.

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The gross value of preferred stock issued during the period upon the conversion of convertible equity certificates.

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The change in equity [net assets] of a business enterprise during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources which are attributable to the economic entity, including both controlling (parent) and noncontrolling interests. It includes all changes in equity during a period except those resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners, including any and all transactions which are directly or indirectly attributable to that ownership interest in subsidiary equity which is not attributable to the parent.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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-Section 55

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Equity impact of preferred stock cash dividends declared by an entity during the period. This element includes paid and unpaid dividends declared during the period.

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Decrease in noncontrolling interest balance from payment of dividends or other distributions by the non-wholly owned subsidiary or partially owned entity, included in the consolidation of the parent entity, to the noncontrolling interest holders.

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Net of tax amount of other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to both parent entity and noncontrolling interest.

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The amount of earnings distributed to patrons of the cooperative.

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The consolidated profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, including the portion attributable to the noncontrolling interest.

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Amount of stockholders' equity (deficit), net of receivables from officers, directors, owners, and affiliates of the entity, attributable to both the parent and noncontrolling interests. Amount excludes temporary equity. Alternate caption for the concept is permanent equity.

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This element represents movements included in the statement of changes in stockholders' equity which are not separately disclosed or provided for elsewhere in the taxonomy.

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