CREDIT ARRANGEMENTS (Long-term Debt) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Aug. 31, 2016	Aug. 31, 2015
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt including current maturities	$ 1,075,641	$ 1,287,992
Less debt issuance costs	4,224	5,637
Total long-term debt including current maturities	1,071,417	1,282,355
Current maturities of long-term debt	313,469	10,110
Long-term debt	$ 757,948	1,272,245
$400 million notes at 6.50% due July 2017
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted average interest rate	4.875%
Total long-term debt including current maturities	$ 330,000	330,000
$500 million notes at 7.35% due August 2018
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted average interest rate	6.40%
Total long-term debt including current maturities	$ 408,874	513,680
$330 million notes at 4.875% due May 2023
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted average interest rate	5.74%
Total long-term debt including current maturities	$ 302,601	405,573
Other, including equipment notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt including current maturities	$ 34,166	$ 38,739