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Commitments and Contingencies - Narrative (Details) (USD $)
12 Months Ended
Aug. 31, 2012
Aug. 31, 2011
Aug. 31, 2010
Grain Storage [Abstract]      
Inventory, held for third parties $ 441,300,000 $ 408,800,000  
Guarantees [Abstract]      
Guarantor obligations, maximum exposure, undiscounted 500,000,000    
Guarantor obligations, current carrying value 16,300,000    
Lease Commitments      
Number of rail cars under operating lease commitments 2,000    
Operating leases, rent expense, net 74,600,000 66,200,000 64,300,000
Operating leases, rent expense, sublease rentals 1,600,000 2,000,000 1,400,000
Unrecorded unconditional purchase obligation 6,270,259,000 5,000,000,000  
CHS
     
Credit Commitments [Abstract]      
CHS Capital long-term notes receivable additional available credit of counterparty $ 841,300,000    
Minimum
     
Lease Commitments      
Operating lease terms 1 year    
Maximum
     
Lease Commitments      
Operating lease terms 10 years