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Organization, Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies | 12 Months Ended
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Aug. 31, 2020
Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Organization, Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies | Organization, Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies Organization CHS Inc. (referred to herein as "CHS," "we," "us" or "our") is the nation’s leading integrated agricultural cooperative. As a cooperative, CHS is owned by farmers and ranchers and their member cooperatives ("members") across the United States. We also have preferred shareholders that own shares of our various series of preferred stock, which are each listed and traded on the Global Select Market of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC ("The Nasdaq"). See Note 12, Equities, for more detailed information. We buy commodities from and provide products and services to individual agricultural producers, local cooperatives and other companies (including member and other nonmember customers), both domestic and international. Those products and services include initial agricultural inputs such as fuels, farm supplies, crop nutrients and crop protection products; as well as agricultural outputs that include grains and oilseeds, grain and oilseed processing and food products, and ethanol production and marketing. A portion of our operations are conducted through equity investments and joint ventures whose operating results are not fully consolidated with our results; rather, a proportionate share of the income or loss from those entities is included as a component in our net income under the equity method of accounting. Basis of Presentation The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of CHS and all our subsidiaries and limited liability companies in which we have a controlling interest. The effects of all significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated. The notes to our consolidated financial statements refer to our Energy, Ag and Nitrogen Production reportable segments, as well as our Corporate and Other category, which represents an aggregation of individually immaterial operating segments. The Nitrogen Production reportable segment results from our investment in CF Industries Nitrogen, LLC ("CF Nitrogen"). See Note 14, Segment Reporting, for more information. Certain captions within the Consolidated Balance Sheets, Consolidated Statements of Operations and Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows have been combined within other captions as allowed by Securities and Exchange Commission financial statement reporting requirements under Regulation S-X. Prior year information has been updated to conform with the current presentation. Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. We base our estimates on assumptions that are believed to be reasonable, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities. Due to the inherent uncertainty involved in making estimates, actual results could differ from those estimates. We evaluate our estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis. Significant Accounting Policies Significant accounting policies are summarized below or within the related notes to our consolidated financial statements. Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash Cash equivalents include short-term, highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less at the date of acquisition. The fair value of cash and cash equivalents approximates the carrying value due to the short-term nature of the instruments. Restricted cash is included in our Consolidated Balance Sheets within other current assets (current portion) and other assets (noncurrent portion), as appropriate, and primarily relates to customer deposits for futures and option contracts associated with regulated commodities held in separate accounts as required under federal and other regulations. Pursuant to the requirements of the Commodity Exchange Act, such funds must be carried in separate accounts that are designated as segregated customer accounts, as applicable. Restricted cash also includes funds held in escrow pursuant to applicable regulations limiting their usage. The following table provides a reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash as reported within our Consolidated Balance Sheets that aggregates to the amount presented in our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
| August 31,
| 2020 |  | 2019 |  | 2018
| (Dollars in thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 140,874 |  |  | $ | 211,179 |  |  | $ | 450,617 |
Restricted cash included in other current assets | 76,119 |  |  | 88,496 |  |  | 90,193 |
Restricted cash included in other assets | — |  |  | — |  |  | 3,130 |
Total cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash | $ | 216,993 |  |  | $ | 299,675 |  |  | $ | 543,940 |
Recent Accounting Pronouncements Except for the recent accounting pronouncements described below, other recent accounting pronouncements are not expected to have a material impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements. Adopted We adopted Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 842, Leases ("ASC Topic 842"), as of September 1, 2019, using the modified retrospective approach. In addition, we used the additional optional transition method and package of practical expedients in the period of adoption without retrospective adjustment to previous periods presented, although we elected not to apply the hindsight practical expedient available under the standard. As a result of using the modified retrospective method, prior periods have not been restated, and a $25.3 million cumulative-effect adjustment, including the deferred income tax impact, was recorded to increase the opening balance of capital reserves as of the adoption date related to recognition of previously deferred gains associated with the sale-leaseback of our primary corporate office building located in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota. Additionally, adoption of ASC Topic 842 resulted in the recognition of operating lease right-of-use assets and associated lease liabilities of $268.4 million and $267.0 million, respectively, as of September 1, 2019. Adoption of ASC Topic 842 did not have a material impact on our Consolidated Statements of Operations or Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Additional information and further disclosures related to our leases and lease-related financial statement amounts are included within Note 19, Leases.
Description of New Accounting Pronouncements Not yet Adopted | Not Yet Adopted In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses ("ASC Topic 326"): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. The amendments in this ASU introduce a new approach, based on expected losses, to estimate credit losses on certain types of financial instruments. This ASU is intended to provide financial statement users with more decision-useful information about the expected credit losses associated with most financial assets measured at amortized cost and certain other instruments, including trade and other receivables, loans, held-to-maturity debt securities, net investments in leases and off-balance-sheet credit exposures. Entities are required to apply the provisions of this ASU as a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of capital reserves as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is adopted. This ASU is effective for us beginning September 1, 2020, for our fiscal year 2021 and for interim periods within that fiscal year. Based on various data-gathering activities, development of a credit losses model, data analyses and accounting policy election determinations, the impact of adoption is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

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