CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2023 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2022 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2021 USD ($)
Cash flows from (used by) operating activities:
Net earnings	$ 859,760	$ 1,217,262	$ 412,865
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	218,830	175,024	167,613
Stock-based compensation	60,529	46,978	43,677
Deferred income taxes and other long-term taxes	51,919	86,175	(39,873)
Write-down of inventory	11,286	464	384
Asset impairments	3,780	4,926	6,784
Net loss (gain) on sales of assets	2,327	(275,422)	(8,807)
Loss on debt extinguishment	179	16,052	16,841
Other	4,471	2,089	157
Amortization of acquired unfavorable contract backlog	0	0	(6,035)
Settlement of New Markets Tax Credit transaction	(17,659)	0	0
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
Accounts receivable	175,102	(257,607)	(228,026)
Inventories	177,024	(255,175)	(316,316)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other payables	(174,120)	3,899	194,801
Other operating assets and liabilities	(29,325)	(64,356)	(15,591)
Net cash flows from operating activities	1,344,103	700,309	228,474
Cash flows from (used by) investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(606,665)	(449,988)	(184,165)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(234,717)	(552,449)	(1,888)
Proceeds from insurance	2,456	3,081	0
Proceeds from government grants related to property, plant and equipment	5,000	0	0
Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment and other	1,006	315,148	26,424
Other	(2,307)	(507)	(2,500)
Net cash flows used by investing activities	(835,227)	(684,715)	(162,129)
Cash flows from (used by) financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt, net	0	743,391	309,279
Repayments of long-term debt	(389,756)	(328,594)	(368,527)
Debt issuance costs	(1,800)	(3,064)	(2,830)
Debt extinguishment costs	(97)	(13,642)	(13,128)
Proceeds from accounts receivable facilities	330,061	440,236	296,586
Repayments under accounts receivable facilities	(349,015)	(433,936)	(269,858)
Treasury stock acquired	(101,406)	(161,880)	0
Tax withholdings related to share settlements, net of purchase plans	(12,539)	(9,457)	(3,166)
Dividends	(74,936)	(67,749)	(57,766)
Proceeds from Noncontrolling Interests	9	0	20
Net cash flows from (used by) financing activities	(599,479)	165,305	(109,390)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	7,077	(2,785)	(790)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(83,526)	178,114	(43,835)
Cash, restricted cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	679,243	501,129	544,964
Cash, restricted cash and cash equivalents at end of period	595,717	679,243	501,129
Supplemental information:
Cash paid for income taxes	199,883	229,316	140,950
Cash paid for interest	64,431	47,329	58,325
Noncash activities:
Liabilities related to additions of property, plant and equipment	31,379	55,648	39,899
Cash and cash equivalents	592,332	672,596	497,745
Restricted cash	$ 3,385	$ 6,647	$ 3,384