Consolidated Statement of Equities and Comprehensive Income (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Aug. 31, 2013	Aug. 31, 2012	Aug. 31, 2011
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balances	$ 4,473,323	$ 4,265,320	$ 3,604,451
Dividends and equity retirement determination	578,809	400,216	210,435
Patronage distribution	(380,947)	(260,666)	(141,513)
Equities retired	(193,413)	(145,722)	(61,193)
Equities issued	(18,211)	29,155	6,453
Preferred stock dividends	(24,544)	(24,544)	(24,544)
Distribution to noncontrolling interest	(1,442)	(78,602)	(18,184)
Changes in dividends and equities payable		5,544	(2,787)
Purchase of noncontrolling interests	(433,864)
Other, net	855	2,706	(786)
Comprehensive income
Net income	996,328	1,335,719	1,061,028
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	75,720	(43,130)	32,176
Total comprehensive income	1,072,048	1,292,589	1,093,204
Dividends and equities payable	(390,153)	(578,809)	(400,216)
Balances	5,152,747	4,473,323	4,265,320
Capital Equity Certificates
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balances	2,494,727	2,256,749	2,119,216
Dividends and equity retirement determination	195,999	136,000	67,569
Patronage distribution	595,022	415,584	260,858
Equities retired	(193,181)	(145,500)	(60,956)
Equities issued	(18,211)	29,155	6,453
Preferred stock dividends
Distribution to noncontrolling interest
Changes in dividends and equities payable
Other, net	(1,241)	(1,262)	(391)
Comprehensive income
Net income
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax
Total comprehensive income
Dividends and equities payable	(101,293)	(195,999)	(136,000)
Balances	3,008,244	2,494,727	2,256,749
Nonpatronage Equity Certificates
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balances	23,746	24,324	24,573
Dividends and equity retirement determination
Patronage distribution
Equities retired	(232)	222	(237)
Equities issued
Preferred stock dividends
Distribution to noncontrolling interest
Changes in dividends and equities payable
Other, net	(29)	(356)	(12)
Comprehensive income
Net income
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax
Total comprehensive income
Dividends and equities payable
Balances	23,485	23,746	24,324
Patronage Refunds
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balances	591,143	414,553	257,725
Dividends and equity retirement determination	378,719	260,125	138,775
Patronage distribution	(969,862)	(674,678)	(396,500)
Equities retired
Equities issued
Preferred stock dividends
Distribution to noncontrolling interest
Changes in dividends and equities payable
Other, net
Comprehensive income
Net income	841,386	969,862	674,678
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax
Total comprehensive income
Dividends and equities payable	(284,769)	(378,719)	(260,125)
Balances	556,617	591,143	414,553
Preferred Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balances	319,368	319,368	319,368
Dividends and equity retirement determination
Patronage distribution
Equities retired
Equities issued
Preferred stock dividends
Distribution to noncontrolling interest
Changes in dividends and equities payable
Other, net
Comprehensive income
Net income
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax
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	(232,587)	(174,876)	(205,267)
Dividends and equity retirement determination
Patronage distribution
Equities retired
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), Net of Tax	75,720	(43,130)	30,391
Total comprehensive income
Dividends and equities payable
Balances	(156,867)	(232,587)	(174,876)
Capital Reserves
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balances	1,258,944	1,075,474	820,049
Dividends and equity retirement determination	4,091	4,091	4,091
Patronage distribution	(6,107)	(1,572)	(5,871)
Equities retired
Equities issued
Preferred stock dividends	(24,544)	(24,544)	(24,544)
Distribution to noncontrolling interest
Changes in dividends and equities payable
Purchase of noncontrolling interests	(82,138)
Other, net	1,068	958	(837)
Comprehensive income
Net income	151,000	290,766	286,677
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax
Total comprehensive income
Dividends and equities payable	(4,091)	(4,091)	(4,091)
Balances	1,380,361	1,258,944	1,075,474
Noncontrolling Interest
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balances	17,982	349,728	268,787
Dividends and equity retirement determination
Patronage distribution
Equities retired
Equities issued
Preferred stock dividends
Distribution to noncontrolling interest	(1,442)	(78,602)	(18,184)
Changes in dividends and equities payable		5,544	(2,787)
Purchase of noncontrolling interests	(337,145)
Other, net	1,057	3,366	454
Comprehensive income
Net income	3,942	75,091	99,673
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax			1,785
Total comprehensive income
Dividends and equities payable
Balances	$ 21,539	$ 17,982	$ 349,728

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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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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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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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