Inventories (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Nov. 30, 2012

Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Inventory, Current

	November 30, 2012		August 31, 2012		November 30, 2011
	(Dollars in thousands)
Grain and oilseed	$	2,089,348	$	1,625,865	$	1,375,456
Energy	668,990		701,348		799,061
Crop nutrients	331,666		401,655		395,551
Feed and farm supplies	440,050		384,178		384,804
Processed grain and oilseed	100,059		76,892		47,492
Other	11,631		14,034		10,978
	$	3,641,744	$	3,203,972	$	3,013,342