Segment Reporting (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2013	Feb. 29, 2012	Feb. 28, 2013 item	Feb. 29, 2012	Aug. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting
Number of reportable segments			2
Inter segment sales			$ 0
Financial information concerning the reportable segments
Net Revenue from External Customers	395,406,000	343,975,000	804,343,000	707,247,000
Gross Proceeds	329,483,000	356,537,000	769,810,000	638,627,000
Depreciation and Amortization	17,141,000	17,045,000	34,228,000	34,560,000
Interest Income	45,000	2,000	47,000	19,000
Interest Expense	2,255,000	2,200,000	4,122,000	3,881,000
Income from Equity Method Investees		44,000		63,000
Other Income/(Expense), Net	(414,000)	8,000	(415,000)	3,000
Consolidated Net Proceeds	227,302,000	213,780,000	518,513,000	402,053,000
Capital Additions	10,125,000	7,920,000	16,182,000	13,815,000
Property and Equipment, Net	392,551,000	382,662,000	392,551,000	382,662,000	405,951,000
Assets Held for Lease, Net	79,382,000	88,193,000	79,382,000	88,193,000	84,095,000
Segment Assets	1,322,647,000	1,259,307,000	1,322,647,000	1,259,307,000	899,480,000
Sugar
Financial information concerning the reportable segments
Net Revenue from External Customers	389,717,000	337,994,000	792,229,000	695,218,000
Gross Proceeds	326,636,000	353,409,000	763,387,000	632,308,000
Depreciation and Amortization	14,299,000	14,192,000	28,537,000	28,850,000
Interest Income	45,000	2,000	47,000	19,000
Interest Expense	2,255,000	2,200,000	4,122,000	3,881,000
Income from Equity Method Investees		44,000		63,000
Other Income/(Expense), Net	(246,000)	8,000	(229,000)	3,000
Consolidated Net Proceeds	224,646,000	210,671,000	512,323,000	395,776,000
Capital Additions	9,911,000	7,414,000	15,018,000	12,736,000
Property and Equipment, Net	392,551,000	382,662,000	392,551,000	382,662,000	405,951,000
Segment Assets	1,240,746,000	1,167,891,000	1,240,746,000	1,167,891,000	812,880,000
Leasing
Financial information concerning the reportable segments
Net Revenue from External Customers	5,689,000	5,981,000	12,114,000	12,029,000
Gross Proceeds	2,847,000	3,128,000	6,423,000	6,319,000
Depreciation and Amortization	2,842,000	2,853,000	5,691,000	5,710,000
Other Income/(Expense), Net	(168,000)		(186,000)
Consolidated Net Proceeds	2,656,000	3,109,000	6,190,000	6,277,000
Capital Additions	214,000	506,000	1,164,000	1,079,000
Assets Held for Lease, Net	79,382,000	88,193,000	79,382,000	88,193,000	84,095,000
Segment Assets	$ 81,901,000	$ 91,416,000	$ 81,901,000	$ 91,416,000	$ 86,600,000