XML 21 R10.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.7.0.1

Investments | 6 Months Ended
--- | ---
Feb. 28, 2017
Investments [Abstract] |
Investments | Investments
| 2017 |  | 2016
| (Dollars in thousands)
Equity method investments: |  |  |
CF Industries Nitrogen, LLC | $ | 2,784,459 |  |  | $ | 2,796,323 |
Ventura Foods, LLC | 370,089 |  |  | 369,487 |
Ardent Mills, LLC | 202,671 |  |  | 194,986 |
TEMCO, LLC | 41,472 |  |  | 44,578 |
Other equity method investments | 273,540 |  |  | 263,025 |
Cost method investments | 130,148 |  |  | 127,577 |
Total investments | $ | 3,802,379 |  |  | $ | 3,795,976 |
Equity Method Investments Joint ventures and other investments, in which we have significant ownership and influence, but not control, are accounted for in our consolidated financial statements using the equity method of accounting. Our primary equity method investments are described below. None of these investments are individually significant such that disclosure of summarized income statement information would be required under Article 10 of Regulation S-X. On February 1, 2016, we invested $2.8 billion in CF Nitrogen, commencing our strategic venture with CF Industries Holdings, Inc. ("CF Industries"). The investment consists of an 11.4% membership interest (based on product tons) in CF Nitrogen. We also entered into an 80-year supply agreement that entitles us to purchase up to 1.1 million tons of granular urea and 580,000 tons of urea ammonium nitrate ("UAN") annually from CF Nitrogen for ratable delivery. Our purchases under the supply agreement are based on prevailing market prices and we receive semi-annual cash distributions (in January and July of each year) from CF Nitrogen via our membership interest. These distributions are based on actual volumes purchased from CF Nitrogen under the strategic venture and will have the effect of reducing our investment to zero over 80 years on a straight-line basis. We account for this investment using the hypothetical liquidation at book value method, recognizing our share of the earnings and losses of CF Nitrogen based upon our contractual claims on the entity's net assets pursuant to the liquidation provisions of CF Nitrogen's limited liability company agreement, adjusted for the semi-annual cash distributions. For the three months ended February 28, 2017, and February 29, 2016, this amount was $21.6 million and $11.9 million, respectively. For the six months ended February 28, 2017, and February 29, 2016, this amount was $36.3 million and $11.9 million, respectively. These amounts are included as equity income from investments in our Nitrogen Production segment. We have a 50% interest in Ventura Foods, a joint venture which produces and distributes primarily vegetable oil-based products, and which constitutes our Foods segment. We account for Ventura Foods as an equity method investment, and as of February 28, 2017, our carrying value of Ventura Foods exceeded our share of its equity by $12.9 million, which represents equity method goodwill. The earnings are reported as equity income from investments in our Foods segment. We have a 12% interest in Ardent Mills, LLC ("Ardent Mills"), a joint venture with Cargill Incorporated ("Cargill") and ConAgra Foods, Inc., which combines the North American flour milling operations of the three parent companies. We account for Ardent Mills as an equity method investment included in Corporate and Other. TEMCO, LLC ("TEMCO") is owned and governed by Cargill (50%) and CHS (50%). Both owners have committed to sell all of their feedgrains, wheat, oilseeds and by-product origination that are tributary to the Pacific Northwest, United States ("Pacific Northwest") to TEMCO and to use TEMCO as their exclusive export-marketing vehicle for such grains exported through the Pacific Northwest through January 2037. We account for TEMCO as an equity method investment included in our Ag segment.

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_InvestmentsAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The entire disclosure for investments and other noncurrent assets. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_InvestmentsAndOtherNoncurrentAssetsTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration