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Property, Plant and Equipment
 12 Months Ended
Aug. 31, 2025
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]  
Property, Plant and Equipment Property, Plant and Equipment
Major classes of property, plant and equipment, including finance lease assets, are summarized in the table below as of August 31, 2025 and 2024.
20252024
 (Dollars in thousands)
Land and land improvements$490,418 $404,465 
Buildings1,505,368 1,394,911 
Machinery and equipment8,750,348 8,223,650 
Computer software, office equipment and other570,834 548,368 
Construction in progress853,263 859,039 
Gross property, plant and equipment12,170,231 11,430,433 
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization6,668,937 6,253,078 
Total property, plant and equipment $5,501,294 $5,177,355 

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization are provided on the straight-line method by charges to operations at rates based on the expected useful lives of individual or groups of assets (generally 15 to 20 years for land improvements; 20 to 40 years for buildings; five to 20 years for machinery and equipment; and three to 10 years for computer software, office equipment and other). Expenditures for maintenance and minor repairs and renewals are expensed. We also capitalize and amortize eligible costs to acquire or develop internal-use software that are incurred during the application development stage. When assets are sold or otherwise disposed of, the cost and related accumulated depreciation and amortization are removed from the related accounts and resulting gains or losses are reflected in operations.
    Depreciation expense, including amortization of finance lease assets, for the years ended August 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, was $546.6 million, $474.8 million and $457.9 million, respectively. Included in the depreciation amount for the year ended August 31, 2025 is $21.4 million due to closure of our Superior, Wisconsin, grain facility and the shortening of its useful life.

Property, plant and equipment and other long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts may not be recoverable in accordance with U.S. GAAP. This evaluation of recoverability is based on various indicators, including the nature, future economic benefits and geographic locations of the assets, historical or future profitability measures and other external market conditions. If these indicators suggest the carrying amounts of an asset or asset group may not be recoverable, potential impairment is evaluated using undiscounted, estimated future cash flows. Should the sum of the expected future net cash flows be less than the carrying value, an impairment loss would be recognized. An impairment loss would be measured as the amount by which the carrying value of the asset or asset group exceeds its fair value. No significant impairments were identified during fiscal years 2025, 2024 or 2023.
    We have other assets we may be obligated to dismantle at the end of the corresponding lease terms subject to the lessor's discretion for which we have recorded an asset retirement obligation. Based on our estimates of the timing, cost and probability of removal, this obligation is not material.