Impairment and Facility Closure Costs Impairment and Facility Closure Costs (Pretax Charges)(Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2012	Aug. 31, 2011	Aug. 31, 2010
Pre-tax charges relating to impairment and closure
Write-down of inventory	$ 13,917	$ 25,503	$ 53,203
Severance costs	25,600	8,200	21,500
Pretax charges relating to asset impairment and facility closure [Member]
Pre-tax charges relating to impairment and closure
Impairment of property, plant and equipment and other assets		106,655
Impairment of customer list intangible asset		12,140
Write-down of inventory		8,500
Severance costs		5,051
Lease termination costs		2,196
Other closure costs		$ 7,700