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Investments - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
3 Months Ended
Feb. 01, 2016
Nov. 30, 2017
Nov. 30, 2016
Aug. 31, 2017
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]        
Equity (income) loss from investments   $ (38,362) $ (40,328)  
Cost Method Investments   135,204   $ 131,605
Investments   $ 3,777,000   3,750,993
CF Nitrogen LLC [Member]        
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]        
Payments to Acquire Equity Method Investments $ 2,800,000      
Ownership percentage   11.40%    
Equity Method Investments   $ 2,776,412   2,756,076
Ventura Foods, LLC        
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]        
Equity Method Investments   350,602   347,016
TEMCO, LLC        
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]        
Equity Method Investments   39,235   41,323
Ardent Mills LLC [Member]        
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]        
Equity Method Investments   $ 209,926   206,529
Cargill, Inc. [Member]        
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]        
Ownership of joint venture partner   50.00%    
Nitrogen Production [Member]        
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]        
Equity (income) loss from investments   $ (20,335) (14,696)  
Foods [Member]        
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]        
Equity (income) loss from investments   $ (3,440) (13,369)  
Foods [Member] | Ventura Foods, LLC        
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]        
Ownership percentage   50.00%    
Equity value exceeding carrying value   $ 12,900    
Corporate and Other        
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]        
Equity (income) loss from investments   $ (5,181) (5,684)  
Corporate and Other | Ardent Mills LLC [Member]        
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]        
Ownership percentage   12.00%    
Number of parent companies   3    
Ag [Member]        
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]        
Equity (income) loss from investments   $ (8,254) $ (5,417)  
Ag [Member] | TEMCO, LLC        
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]        
Ownership percentage   50.00%    
Miscellaneous Investments [Member]        
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]        
Equity Method Investments   $ 265,621   $ 268,444