PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS Fair value level of pension plan assets (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2011
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure
Pension Plan Assets, Fair Value	$ 20,108	$ 19,878
Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure
Pension Plan Assets, Fair Value	10,687	10,382
Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure
Pension Plan Assets, Fair Value	9,421	9,496
Level 3
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure
Pension Plan Assets, Fair Value	0	0
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure
Pension Plan Assets, Fair Value	1,536	1,210
Cash and Cash Equivalents | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure
Pension Plan Assets, Fair Value	1,536	1,210
Cash and Cash Equivalents | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure
Pension Plan Assets, Fair Value	0	0
Cash and Cash Equivalents | Level 3
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure
Pension Plan Assets, Fair Value	0	0
Equity securities U.S. companies
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure
Pension Plan Assets, Fair Value	7,856	7,511
Equity securities U.S. companies | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure
Pension Plan Assets, Fair Value	7,797	7,383
Equity securities U.S. companies | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure
Pension Plan Assets, Fair Value	59	128
Equity securities U.S. companies | Level 3
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure
Pension Plan Assets, Fair Value	0	0
Equity securities International companies
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure
Pension Plan Assets, Fair Value	1,349	1,781
Equity securities International companies | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure
Pension Plan Assets, Fair Value	1,349	1,781
Equity securities International companies | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure
Pension Plan Assets, Fair Value	0	0
Equity securities International companies | Level 3
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure
Pension Plan Assets, Fair Value	0	0
Equity securities - international mutual funds: Developed market
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure
Pension Plan Assets, Fair Value	1,298	1,542
Minimum % of Fund Assets Invested in Non-US Stocks Developed Market	80.00%	80.00%
Maximum % of Fund Assets Invested in Non-US Stocks Emerging Markets	20.00%	35.00%
Equity securities - international mutual funds: Developed market | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure
Pension Plan Assets, Fair Value	0	0
Equity securities - international mutual funds: Developed market | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure
Pension Plan Assets, Fair Value	1,298	1,542
Equity securities - international mutual funds: Developed market | Level 3
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure
Pension Plan Assets, Fair Value	0	0
International Equity Mutual Funds Emerging Markets
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure
Pension Plan Assets, Fair Value	501	540
Minimum % of Fund Assets Invested Primarily in Asian Stocks excluding Japan	80.00%	80.00%
International Equity Mutual Funds Emerging Markets | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure
Pension Plan Assets, Fair Value	0	0
International Equity Mutual Funds Emerging Markets | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure
Pension Plan Assets, Fair Value	501	540
International Equity Mutual Funds Emerging Markets | Level 3
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure
Pension Plan Assets, Fair Value	0	0
Commodities
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure
Pension Plan Assets, Fair Value	648	680
Commodities | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure
Pension Plan Assets, Fair Value	5	8
Commodities | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure
Pension Plan Assets, Fair Value	643	672
Commodities | Level 3
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure
Pension Plan Assets, Fair Value	0	0
Fixed Income: U.S. Treasuries
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure
Pension Plan Assets, Fair Value	3,038	2,841
Fixed Income: U.S. Treasuries | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure
Pension Plan Assets, Fair Value	0	0
Fixed Income: U.S. Treasuries | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure
Pension Plan Assets, Fair Value	3,038	2,841
Fixed Income: U.S. Treasuries | Level 3
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure
Pension Plan Assets, Fair Value	0	0
Fixed Income: Corporate bonds
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure
Pension Plan Assets, Fair Value	2,413	2,179
Fixed Income: Corporate bonds | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure
Pension Plan Assets, Fair Value	0	0
Fixed Income: Corporate bonds | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure
Pension Plan Assets, Fair Value	2,413	2,179
Fixed Income: Corporate bonds | Level 3
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure
Pension Plan Assets, Fair Value	0	0
Fixed Income: Emerging markets
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure
Pension Plan Assets, Fair Value	664	650
Minimum % of Fund Assets Invested in Derivative, Emerging Markets or Other Debt Instruments	80.00%	80.00%
Fixed Income: Emerging markets | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure
Pension Plan Assets, Fair Value	0	0
Fixed Income: Emerging markets | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure
Pension Plan Assets, Fair Value	664	650
Fixed Income: Emerging markets | Level 3
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure
Pension Plan Assets, Fair Value	0	0
Fixed Income: Government sponsored entities
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure
Pension Plan Assets, Fair Value	256	422
Fixed Income: Government sponsored entities | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure
Pension Plan Assets, Fair Value	0	0
Fixed Income: Government sponsored entities | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure
Pension Plan Assets, Fair Value	256	422
Fixed Income: Government sponsored entities | Level 3
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure
Pension Plan Assets, Fair Value	0	0
Other
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure
Pension Plan Assets, Fair Value	549	522
Other | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure
Pension Plan Assets, Fair Value	0	0
Other | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure
Pension Plan Assets, Fair Value	549	522
Other | Level 3
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure
Pension Plan Assets, Fair Value	$ 0	$ 0