Employee and Retiree Benefits (Tables)

9 Months Ended

May 31, 2014

Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheet [Table Text Block]

Postretirement health care and deferred compensation benefits are as follows:

(In thousands)	May 31, 2014			August 31, 2013
Postretirement health care benefit cost	$	33,342		$	36,244
Non-qualified deferred compensation	21,338			22,366
Executive share option plan liability	5,682			6,959
SERP benefit liability	2,760			2,876
Executive deferred compensation	199			105
Officer stock-based compensation	484			543
Total postretirement health care and deferred compensation benefits	63,805			69,093
Less current portion	(4,586		)	(5,019		)
Long-term postretirement health care and deferred compensation benefits	$	59,219		$	64,074

Schedule of Net Benefit Costs [Table Text Block]

Net periodic postretirement benefit income consisted of the following components:

	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
(In thousands)	May 31, 2014			June 1, 2013			May 31, 2014			June 1, 2013
Interest cost	$	380		$	373		$	1,160		$	1,136
Service cost	96			140			296			433
Amortization of prior service benefit	(1,482		)	(1,366		)	(4,168		)	(3,803		)
Amortization of net actuarial loss	274			407			803			1,195
Net periodic postretirement benefit income	$	(732	)	$	(446	)	$	(1,909	)	$	(1,039	)
Payments for postretirement health care	$	247		$	271		$	779		$	836