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Investments - Narrative (Details)
Feb. 01, 2016
USD ($)
Feb. 01, 2096
USD ($)
Aug. 31, 2017
USD ($)
T
Aug. 31, 2016
USD ($)
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]        
Number of parent companies     3  
CF Nitrogen LLC [Member]        
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]        
Payments to Acquire Equity Method Investments $ 2,800,000,000      
Supply agreement, term 80 years      
Maximum annual granular urea eligible for purchases | T     1,100,000  
Maximum annual UAN eligible for purchases | T     580,000  
Equity Method Investments     $ 2,756,076,000 $ 2,796,323,000
TEMCO, LLC [Member]        
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]        
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage     50.00%  
Equity Method Investments     $ 41,323,000 44,578,000
TEMCO, LLC [Member] | Ag [Member]        
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]        
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage     50.00%  
Ventura Foods, LLC        
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]        
Equity value exceeding carrying value     $ 12,900,000  
Equity Method Investments     $ 347,016,000 $ 369,487,000
Ventura Foods, LLC | Ag [Member]        
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]        
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage     50.00%  
Scenario, Forecast [Member] | CF Nitrogen LLC [Member]        
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]        
Equity Method Investments   $ 0