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Investments | 3 Months Ended
--- | ---
Nov. 30, 2018
Investments [Abstract] |
Investments | Investments
| November 30, 2018 |  | August 31, 2018
| (Dollars in thousands)
Equity method investments: |  |  |
CF Industries Nitrogen, LLC | $ | 2,775,989 |  |  | $ | 2,735,073 |
Ventura Foods, LLC | 367,429 |  |  | 360,150 |
Ardent Mills, LLC | 212,887 |  |  | 205,898 |
Other equity method investments | 294,130 |  |  | 288,016 |
Cost method investments | 124,101 |  |  | 122,788 |
Total investments | $ | 3,774,536 |  |  | $ | 3,711,925 |
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. CF Nitrogen On February 1, 2016, we invested $2.8 billion in CF Industries Nitrogen, LLC ("CF Nitrogen"), commencing our strategic venture with CF Industries Holdings, Inc. ("CF Industries"). The investment consists of an approximate 10% membership interest (based on product tons) in CF Nitrogen. 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 we receive as a result of our membership interest in CF Nitrogen. For the three months ended November 30, 2018, and 2017, this amount was $40.9 million and $20.3 million, respectively. These amounts are included as equity income from investments in our Nitrogen Production segment. Ventura Foods and Ardent Mills We have a 50% interest in Ventura Foods, LLC ("Ventura Foods"), which is a joint venture that produces and distributes primarily vegetable oil-based products, and we have a 12% interest in Ardent Mills, LLC ("Ardent Mills"), which is a joint venture with Cargill Incorporated and ConAgra Foods, Inc. that combines the North American flour milling operations of the three parent companies. We account for Ventura Foods and Ardent Mills as equity method investments included in Corporate and Other. The following table provides aggregate summarized unaudited financial information for our equity method investments in CF Nitrogen, Ventura Foods and Ardent Mills for the three months ended November 30, 2018, and 2017:
| For the Three Months Ended November 30,
| 2018 |  | 2017
| (Dollars in thousands)
Net sales | $ | 2,241,539 |  |  | $ | 2,081,514 |
Gross profit | 339,937 |  |  | 211,432 |
Net earnings | 272,736 |  |  | 112,071 |
Earnings attributable to CHS Inc. | 67,668 |  |  | 28,766 |
Our investments in other equity method investees are not significant in relation to our consolidated financial statements, either individually or in the aggregate.

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