Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net earnings	$ 337,500	$ 368,086	$ 350,784
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	318,552	297,710	275,461
Amortization	34,195	31,348	29,845
Deferred income taxes	27,190	32,841	(6,869)
Gain on sales of plant and equipment	(5,033)	(3,137)	(1,264)
Stock-based compensation expense	27,757	30,027	28,961
Loss on the extinguishment of debt	0	0	9,150
Changes in assets and liabilities, excluding effects of business acquisitions and divestitures:
Trade receivables, net	42,867	(925)	20,030
Inventories, net	18,983	5,091	2,291
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(8,753)	(31,935)	41,408
Accounts payable, trade	(42,852)	4,954	4,732
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	(3,590)	(3,377)	(4,463)
Other, net	(2,881)	(12,646)	(5,206)
Net cash provided by operating activities	743,935	718,037	744,860
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital expenditures	(456,899)	(468,789)	(354,587)
Proceeds from sales of plant and equipment	25,521	23,083	15,483
Business acquisitions and holdback settlements	(101,704)	(51,382)	(203,529)
Other, net	2,556	325	(951)
Net cash used in investing activities	(530,526)	(496,763)	(543,584)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Net increase (decrease) in short-term debt	55,756	(62,776)	387,352
Proceeds from borrowings of long-term debt	472,659	317,423	135,861
Repayment of long-term debt	(266,414)	(415,907)	(636,587)
Financing costs	3,311	5,445	0
Premium paid on redemption of senior subordinated notes	0	0	(7,676)
Purchase of treasury stock	(374,706)	0	(8,127)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	49,521	54,280	38,310
Stock issued for the Employee Stock Purchase Plan	19,615	17,940	17,313
Excess tax benefit realized from the exercise of stock options	13,522	16,045	13,668
Dividends paid to stockholders	(175,384)	(164,517)	(141,461)
Change in cash overdraft and other	418	2,846	(16,754)
Net cash used in financing activities	(208,324)	(240,111)	(218,101)
Change in cash	5,085	(18,837)	(16,825)
Cash - Beginning of period	50,724	69,561	86,386
Cash - End of period	$ 55,809	$ 50,724	$ 69,561