Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2012	Nov. 30, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 345,881	$ 488,882
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	57,461	51,645
Amortization of deferred major repair costs	7,390	7,878
Income from equity investments	(28,072)	(24,129)
Distributions from equity investments	29,647	40,961
Noncash patronage dividends received	(968)	(108)
Gain on sale of property, plant and equipment	(700)	(915)
Loss (gain) on investments		(38)
Loss on crack spread contingent liability	43,105
Deferred taxes	902	972
Other, net	1,230	179
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
Receivables	115,002	238,487
Inventories	(422,653)	(227,824)
Derivative assets	469,507	233,885
Margin deposits	608,169	810,149
Other current assets and other assets	(287,837)	(53,858)
Customer margin deposits and credit balances	(413,003)	(447,450)
Customer advance payments	73,550	(45,000)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	705,760	249,411
Derivative liabilities	(238,789)	(181,216)
Other liabilities	20,820	15,561
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,086,402	1,157,472
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment	(138,083)	(98,901)
Proceeds from disposition of property, plant and equipment	1,190	1,497
Expenditures for major repairs	(3,852)	(16,570)
Investments in joint ventures and other	(7,718)	(3,220)
Investments redeemed	19	49
Changes in notes receivable	(74,220)	31,506
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(8,074)	(32,346)
Other investing activities, net	(87)	1,404
Net cash used in investing activities	(230,825)	(116,581)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Changes in notes payable	73,224	(70,753)
Principal payments	(46,481)	(39,157)
Mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interest payments	(65,981)
Payments for bank fees		(12,390)
Changes in checks and drafts outstanding	36,518	(41,626)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests		(5,779)
Preferred stock dividends paid	(6,136)	(6,136)
Retirements Of Equities	(2,378)	(2,447)
Other financing activities, net	1,114	(2)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(10,120)	(178,290)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	115	(4,725)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	845,572	857,876
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	314,029	937,685
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 1,159,601	$ 1,795,561