Income Taxes (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Feb. 29, 2012	Feb. 28, 2011
Deferred tax assets:
Employee benefit and incentive plans	$ 62,205	$ 54,186
Goodwill and other intangible assets	56,720	50,371
Net operating loss carryforwards	26,260	29,850
Foreign tax credit carryforward	25,957	26,638
Reserves not currently deductible	27,631	31,923
Accrued expense deductible as paid	9,778	10,082
Deferred revenue	6,501	13,327
Deferred capital loss	8,215	8,490
Charitable contributions carryforward	367	1,271
Inventory costing	2,194	0
Other (each less than 5 percent of total assets)	12,514	7,812
Deferred tax assets, Gross	238,342	233,950
Valuation allowance	(20,670)	(24,042)
Total deferred tax assets	217,672	209,908
Deferred tax liabilities:
Property, plant and equipment	37,640	21,654
Inventory costing		2,453
Other	2,440	3,404
Total deferred tax liabilities	40,080	27,511
Net deferred tax assets	$ 177,592	$ 182,397