CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	May 31, 2023	May 31, 2022	May 31, 2021	May 31, 2023	May 31, 2022	Aug. 31, 2022	Aug. 31, 2021
Cash flows from (used by) operating activities:
Net earnings	$ 233,971	$ 312,429		$ 675,594	$ 928,632
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization				157,528	125,943
Stock-based compensation	10,376		$ 11,986	44,000	37,856
Deferred income taxes and other long-term taxes				34,815	64,241
Write-down of inventory	3,400			8,931	266
Loss (gain) on sales of assets	(788)	2,024		(1,175)	276,106
Loss on debt extinguishment				178	16,052
Asset impairments				46	4,473
Other				4,780	1,183
Settlement of New Markets Tax Credit transaction				(17,659)	0
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions				25,291	(660,793)
Net cash flows from operating activities				934,679	241,747
Cash flows from (used by) investing activities:
Capital expenditures				(439,742)	(294,346)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired				(167,069)	(552,449)
Proceeds from insurance				2,456	3,081
Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment and other				776	314,971
Other				(1,583)	0
Net cash flows used by investing activities				(605,162)	(528,743)
Cash flows from (used by) financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt, net				0	740,403
Repayments of long-term debt				(380,700)	(319,706)
Debt issuance costs				(1,800)	(3,064)
Debt extinguishment costs				(96)	(13,642)
Repayments under accounts receivable facilities				(244,105)	(290,666)
Proceeds from accounts receivable facilities				242,408	327,665
Treasury stock acquired				(82,839)	(55,597)
Tax withholdings related to share settlements, net of purchase plans				(13,665)	(10,132)
Dividends				(56,257)	(51,003)
Contribution from non-controlling interest				9	0
Net cash flows from (used by) financing activities				(537,045)	324,258
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash				6,970	(1,862)
Increase (decrease) in cash, restricted cash and cash equivalents				(200,558)	35,400
Cash, restricted cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	478,685	536,529		478,685	536,529	$ 679,243	$ 501,129
Cash, restricted cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 478,685	$ 536,529		$ 478,685	$ 536,529