CREDIT ARRANGEMENTS (Long-term Debt) (Details) (USD $)				12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013	May 31, 2013 $200 million notes at 5.625% due November 2013	Aug. 31, 2014 $400 million notes at 6.50% due July 2017		Aug. 31, 2013 $400 million notes at 6.50% due July 2017	Aug. 31, 2014 $500 million notes at 7.35% due August 2018		Aug. 31, 2013 $500 million notes at 7.35% due August 2018	Aug. 31, 2014 $330 million notes at 4.875% due May 2023		Aug. 31, 2013 $330 million notes at 4.875% due May 2023	Aug. 31, 2014 Other, including equipment notes	Aug. 31, 2013 Other, including equipment notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount			$ 200,000,000	$ 400,000,000		$ 400,000,000	$ 500,000,000		$ 500,000,000	$ 330,000,000
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage			5.625%	6.50%		6.50%	7.35%		7.35%	4.875%
Debt instrument, maturity date				July 2017		July 2017	August 2018		August 2018	May 15, 2023
Weighted average interest rate				5.74%			6.40%			4.875%
Total long-term debt including current maturities	1,289,047,000	1,284,042,000		408,546,000	[1]	411,518,000	518,305,000	[1]	522,930,000	330,000,000	[1]	330,000,000	32,196,000	19,594,000
Current maturities of long-term debt	8,005,000	5,228,000
Long-term debt	$ 1,281,042,000	$ 1,278,814,000

[1] (1) The fair value of the notes is determined based on indicated market values.