Fair Value (Details) (Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member], USD $) In Thousands	Aug. 31, 2011	Aug. 31, 2010
Fair Value Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Money market investments	$ 153,839	$ 352,881
Derivative assets	52,858	35,052
Nonqualified benefit plan assets	49,357	43,681
Derivative liabilities	5,688	5,758
Nonqualified benefit plan liabilities	81,167	86,043
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Money market investments	153,839	352,881
Derivative assets	2,329	911
Nonqualified benefit plan assets	49,357	43,681
Derivative liabilities	2,625	2,817
Nonqualified benefit plan liabilities	0	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Money market investments	0	0
Derivative assets	50,529	34,141
Nonqualified benefit plan assets	0	0
Derivative liabilities	3,063	2,941
Nonqualified benefit plan liabilities	81,167	86,043
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Money market investments	0	0
Derivative assets	0	0
Nonqualified benefit plan assets	0	0
Derivative liabilities	0	0
Nonqualified benefit plan liabilities	$ 0	$ 0

This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item includes currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. It also includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits in that the Company may deposit additional funds at any time and also effectively may withdraw funds at any time without prior notice or penalty. Cash equivalents, excluding items classified as marketable securities, include short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash, and so near their maturity that they present minimal risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Generally, only investments with original maturities of three months or less qualify under that definition. Original maturity means original maturity to the entity holding the investment. For example, both a three-month US Treasury bill and a three-year Treasury note purchased three months from maturity qualify as cash equivalents. However, a Treasury note purchased three years ago does not become a cash equivalent when its remaining maturity is three months.

Fair values as of the balance sheet date of all assets resulting from contracts that meet the criteria of being accounted for as derivative instruments, net of the effects of master netting arrangements.

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