CREDIT ARRANGEMENTS (Long-term Debt, Including the Deferred Gain from the Termination of the Interest Rate Swaps) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Feb. 28, 2019	Aug. 31, 2018	Jul. 31, 2017	May 31, 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total debt	$ 1,410,164	$ 1,170,129
Less debt issuance costs	11,112	11,764
Total amounts outstanding	1,399,052	1,158,365
Less current maturities	29,429	19,746
Less short-term borrowings	59,473	0
Current maturities of long-term debt and short-term borrowings	88,902	19,746
Long-term debt	$ 1,310,150	1,138,619
2027 Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted average interest rate	5.375%		5.375%
Total debt	$ 300,000	300,000
2026 Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted average interest rate	5.75%
Total debt	$ 350,000	350,000
2023 Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted average interest rate	4.875%			4.875%
Total debt	$ 330,000	330,000
Short-term borrowings
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total debt	59,473	0
Other, including equipment notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total debt	$ 56,441	47,629
Revolving credit facility | Term Loans
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted average interest rate	4.236%
Total debt	$ 314,250	$ 142,500
U.S. Program
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted average interest rate	3.497%
Poland Program
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted average interest rate	2.41%