BUSINESS SEGMENTS (Reconciliations of Earnings from Continuing Operations to Adjusted Operating Profit) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2015	Aug. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013
Earnings from continuing operations	$ 161,322	$ 109,091	$ 104,723
Income taxes	83,206	42,724	57,979
Interest expense	77,760	77,037	68,439
Discounts on sales of accounts receivable	2,400	3,900	3,900
Continuing operations
Discounts on sales of accounts receivable	1,547	3,835	3,007
Adjusted operating profit (loss) from continuing operations	$ 323,835	$ 232,687	$ 234,148