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Investments - Narrative (Details)
$ in Thousands
3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Feb. 01, 2016
USD ($)
Feb. 28, 2019
USD ($)
Feb. 28, 2018
USD ($)
Feb. 28, 2019
USD ($)
Feb. 28, 2018
USD ($)
Aug. 31, 2018
USD ($)
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]            
Equity (income) loss from investments   $ (41,716) $ (39,441) $ (108,224) $ (77,803)  
Cost Method Investments   123,280   123,280   $ 122,788
Investments   $ 3,718,097   $ 3,718,097   3,711,925
CF Nitrogen LLC [Member]            
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]            
Payments to Acquire Equity Method Investments $ 2,800,000          
Ownership percentage   10.00%   10.00%    
Equity Method Investments   $ 2,725,095   $ 2,725,095   2,735,073
Ventura Foods, LLC            
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]            
Equity Method Investments   372,220   372,220   360,150
Ardent Mills LLC [Member]            
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]            
Equity Method Investments   208,989   208,989   205,898
Nitrogen Production [Member]            
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]            
Equity (income) loss from investments   $ (35,542) (24,012) $ (76,457) (44,347)  
Foods [Member] | Ventura Foods, LLC            
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]            
Ownership percentage   50.00%   50.00%    
Corporate and Other            
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]            
Equity (income) loss from investments   $ (5,307) (9,202) $ (32,036) (17,823)  
Corporate and Other | Ardent Mills LLC [Member]            
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]            
Ownership percentage   12.00%   12.00%    
Number of parent companies   3   3    
Ag            
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]            
Equity (income) loss from investments   $ 128 $ (5,567) $ 1,337 $ (13,821)  
Miscellaneous Investments [Member]            
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]            
Equity Method Investments   $ 288,513   $ 288,513   $ 288,016