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Commitments and Contingencies
 3 Months Ended
Nov. 30, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]
Commitments and Contingencies

Unconditional Purchase Obligations

Long-term unconditional purchase obligations primarily relate to pipeline and grain handling take-or-pay and through-put agreements, and are not recorded on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Minimum future payments required under long-term unconditional purchase obligations as of November 30, 2014 are as follows:
 
Payments Due by Period
 
Total
 
Less than
1 Year
 
1 - 3
Years
 
3 - 5
Years
 
More than
5 Years
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Long-term unconditional purchase obligations
$
875,927

 
$
79,076

 
$
168,935

 
$
117,642

 
$
510,274



The discounted, aggregate amount of the minimum required payments under long-term unconditional purchase obligations, based on current exchange rates at November 30, 2014 is $710.2 million.

Guarantees

We are a guarantor for lines of credit and performance obligations of related companies. As of November 30, 2014, our bank covenants allowed maximum guarantees of $1.0 billion, of which $147.2 million was outstanding. We have collateral for a portion of these contingent obligations. We have not recorded a liability related to the contingent obligations as we do not expect to pay out any cash related to them, and the fair values are considered immaterial. The underlying loans to the counterparties for which we provide guarantees are current as of November 30, 2014.