Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net Earnings	$ 262,427	$ 254,733
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	205,422	194,820
Amortization	22,141	19,950
Impairment	0	1,729
Deferred income taxes	9,061	14,163
Gain on sales of plant and equipment	(1,268)	(126)
Gain on sale of business	0	(6,822)
Stock-based compensation expense	24,542	22,744
Loss on the extinguishment of debt	9,150	0
Changes in assets and liabilities, excluding effects of business acquisitions and divestitures:
Trade receivables, net	52,930	15,579
Inventories, net	(9,885)	(49,972)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	8,023	(37,410)
Accounts payable, trade	(26,663)	(19,594)
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	(597)	(6,526)
Other, net	(1,421)	1,790
Net cash provided by operating activities	553,862	405,058
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital expenditures	(257,476)	(244,052)
Proceeds from sales of plant, equipment and businesses	11,427	23,438
Business acquisitions and holdback settlements	(179,581)	(94,630)
Other, net	(957)	(1,668)
Net cash used in investing activities	(426,587)	(316,912)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Net increase (decrease) in short-term debt	442,948	(104,181)
Proceeds from borrowings of long-term debt	132,525	260,372
Repayment of long-term debt	(635,721)	(18,115)
Financing costs	(7,676)	(2,076)
Purchase of treasury stock	(8,127)	(222,163)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	29,771	78,091
Stock issued for the Employee Stock Purchase Plan	12,974	12,781
Excess tax benefit realized from the exercise of stock options	9,426	33,352
Dividends paid to stockholders	(105,936)	(92,655)
Change in cash overdraft and other	(21,620)	(11,609)
Net cash used in financing activities	(151,436)	(66,203)
Change in cash	(24,161)	21,943
Cash - Beginning of period	86,386	44,663
Cash - End of period	$ 62,225	$ 66,606