OPERATING SEGMENTS Disaggregation of Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2019	Jul. 31, 2018
Revenue by Principal Product
Net Sales	$ 277,025	$ 266,000
Business to Business Products
Revenue by Principal Product
Net Sales	105,877	105,043
Retail and Wholesale Products
Revenue by Principal Product
Net Sales	171,148	160,957
Cat Litter | Business to Business Products
Revenue by Principal Product
Net Sales	13,764	13,301
Cat Litter | Retail and Wholesale Products
Revenue by Principal Product
Net Sales	135,489	124,635
Industrial and Sports | Business to Business Products
Revenue by Principal Product
Net Sales	0	0
Industrial and Sports | Retail and Wholesale Products
Revenue by Principal Product
Net Sales	33,341	34,224
Agricultural and Horticultural | Business to Business Products
Revenue by Principal Product
Net Sales	24,311	23,897
Agricultural and Horticultural | Retail and Wholesale Products
Revenue by Principal Product
Net Sales	0	0
Bleaching Clay and Fluids Purification | Business to Business Products
Revenue by Principal Product
Net Sales	51,905	49,783
Bleaching Clay and Fluids Purification | Retail and Wholesale Products
Revenue by Principal Product
Net Sales	2,318	2,098
Animal Health and Nutrition | Business to Business Products
Revenue by Principal Product
Net Sales	15,897	18,062
Animal Health and Nutrition | Retail and Wholesale Products
Revenue by Principal Product
Net Sales	$ 0	$ 0