Segment Reporting - Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Nov. 30, 2014	Nov. 30, 2013	Aug. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 9,499,468us-gaap_Revenues	$ 11,026,121us-gaap_Revenues
Cost of goods sold	8,908,745us-gaap_CostOfGoodsSold	10,625,205us-gaap_CostOfGoodsSold
Gross profit	590,723us-gaap_GrossProfit	400,916us-gaap_GrossProfit
Marketing, general and administrative	161,968	133,141
Operating earnings	428,755us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	267,775us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Loss (gain) on investments	(2,875)us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments	0us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments
Interest, net	20,601us-gaap_InterestIncomeExpenseNet	30,785us-gaap_InterestIncomeExpenseNet
Equity (income) loss from investments	(24,629)	(32,678)
Income before income taxes	435,658	269,668
Intersegment revenues	0us-gaap_RevenueFromRelatedParties	0us-gaap_RevenueFromRelatedParties
Capital expenditures	267,279	168,024
Depreciation and amortization	73,322	63,104
Total assets	16,596,079us-gaap_Assets	14,615,896us-gaap_Assets	15,146,979us-gaap_Assets
Energy [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	3,018,453	3,241,316
Cost of goods sold	2,699,370	3,071,694
Gross profit	319,083	169,622
Marketing, general and administrative	33,368	32,055
Operating earnings	285,715	137,567
Loss (gain) on investments	0	0
Interest, net	3,821	12,444
Equity (income) loss from investments	(340)	(1,308)
Income before income taxes	282,234	126,431
Intersegment revenues	(174,953)	(163,292)
Capital expenditures	135,977	92,695
Depreciation and amortization	34,268	32,902
Total assets	4,423,792	4,104,610
Ag
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	6,636,975	7,931,334
Cost of goods sold	6,384,332	7,716,803
Gross profit	252,643	214,531
Marketing, general and administrative	103,877	86,783
Operating earnings	148,766	127,748
Loss (gain) on investments	(2,875)	0
Interest, net	14,407	15,097
Equity (income) loss from investments	(21)	(6,477)
Income before income taxes	137,255	119,128
Intersegment revenues	0	0
Capital expenditures	118,381	71,987
Depreciation and amortization	36,206	27,565
Total assets	8,083,205	6,917,015
Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	18,993	16,763
Cost of goods sold	(4)	0
Gross profit	18,997	16,763
Marketing, general and administrative	24,723	14,303
Operating earnings	(5,726)	2,460
Loss (gain) on investments	0	0
Interest, net	2,373	3,244
Equity (income) loss from investments	(24,268)	(24,893)
Income before income taxes	16,169	24,109
Intersegment revenues	0	0
Capital expenditures	12,921	3,342
Depreciation and amortization	2,848	2,637
Total assets	4,089,082	3,594,271
Reconciling Amounts
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	(174,953)	(163,292)
Cost of goods sold	(174,953)	(163,292)
Gross profit	0	0
Marketing, general and administrative	0	0
Operating earnings	0	0
Loss (gain) on investments	0	0
Interest, net	0	0
Equity (income) loss from investments	0	0
Income before income taxes	0	0
Intersegment revenues	174,953	163,292
Capital expenditures	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	0	0
Total assets	$ 0	$ 0

Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all assets that are recognized. Assets are probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events.

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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-Section S99

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-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.18)

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- Definition

Total costs related to goods produced and sold during the reporting period.

+ References

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-Publisher SEC

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-Number 210

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-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.2(a))

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- Definition

The aggregate expense recognized in the current period that allocates the cost of tangible assets, intangible assets, or depleting assets to periods that benefit from use of the assets.

+ References

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- Definition

This item represents the net total realized and unrealized gain (loss) included in earnings for the period as a result of selling or holding marketable securities categorized as trading, available-for-sale, or held-to-maturity, including the unrealized holding gain (loss) of held-to-maturity securities transferred to the trading security category and the cumulative unrealized gain (loss) which was included in other comprehensive income (a separate component of shareholders' equity) for available-for-sale securities transferred to trading securities during the period. Additionally, this item would include any gains (losses) realized during the period from the sale of investments accounted for under the cost method of accounting and losses recognized for other than temporary impairments (OTTI) of the subject investments.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

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-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

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-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.7(c),9(a))

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- Definition

Aggregate revenue less cost of goods and services sold or operating expenses directly attributable to the revenue generation activity.

+ References

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- Definition

This element represents the income or loss from continuing operations attributable to the economic entity which may also be defined as revenue less expenses from ongoing operations, after income or loss from equity method investments, but before income taxes, extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

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-Topic 940

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-Number 210

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- Definition

This item represents the entity's proportionate share for the period of the net income (loss) of its investee (such as unconsolidated subsidiaries and joint ventures) to which the equity method of accounting is applied. This item includes income or expense related to stock-based compensation based on the investor's grant of stock to employees of an equity method investee.

+ References

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- Definition

The net amount of operating interest income (expense).

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 225

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.10)

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- Definition

The net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of long-lived, physical assets that are used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale; includes cash outflows to pay for construction of self-constructed assets.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Investing Activities

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Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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- Definition

Amount of revenue, fees and commissions earned from transactions between (a) a parent company and its subsidiaries; (b) subsidiaries of a common parent; (c) an entity and trusts for the benefit of employees, for example, but not limited to, pension and profit-sharing trusts that are managed by or under the trusteeship of the entity's management; (d) an entity and its principal, owners, management, or members of their immediate families; and (e) affiliates.

+ References

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-Glossary Related Parties

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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-Subparagraph (SX 210.6-07.1(c))

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- Definition

Amount of revenue recognized from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an earning process. Includes, but is not limited to, investment and interest income before deduction of interest expense when recognized as a component of revenue, and sales and trading gain (loss).

+ References

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- Definition

The aggregate total costs related to selling a firm's product and services, as well as all other general and administrative expenses. Direct selling expenses (for example, credit, warranty, and advertising) are expenses that can be directly linked to the sale of specific products. Indirect selling expenses are expenses that cannot be directly linked to the sale of specific products, for example telephone expenses, Internet, and postal charges. General and administrative expenses include salaries of non-sales personnel, rent, utilities, communication, etc.

+ References

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