Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	May 31, 2013	May 31, 2012
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 873,728	$ 974,835
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	176,839	161,620
Amortization of deferred major repair costs	22,298	26,251
Income from equity investments	(72,406)	(68,885)
Distributions from equity investments	50,886	66,048
Noncash patronage dividends received	(4,552)	(2,737)
Gain on sale of property, plant and equipment	(3,899)	(4,096)
Loss (gain) on investments	(199)	446
Loss on crack spread contingent liability	18,729	(6,741)
Deferred taxes	157	19,794
Other, net	1,786	585
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
Receivables	(296,330)	(300,361)
Inventories	284,424	305,567
Derivative assets	585,401	278,438
Margin deposits	782,153	756,189
Other current assets and other assets	(35,941)	61,213
Customer margin deposits and credit balances	(597,660)	(468,924)
Customer advance payments	(109,606)	(106,737)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	91,129	(468,593)
Derivative liabilities	(299,987)	(186,477)
Other liabilities	(20,685)	(42,097)
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,446,265	995,338
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment	(427,070)	(315,615)
Proceeds from disposition of property, plant and equipment	5,794	3,744
Expenditures for major repairs	(53,843)	(20,869)
Investments in joint ventures and other	(13,882)	(29,574)
Investments redeemed	5,780	5,684
Proceeds from Sale of Long-term Investments	1,250
Changes in notes receivable	27,676	65,904
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(12,358)	(159,418)
Other investing activities, net	(1,339)	(202)
Net cash used in investing activities	(467,992)	(450,346)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Changes in notes payable	69,636	(185,664)
Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt	100,000
Principal payments	(56,384)	(55,679)
Mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interest payments	(65,981)
Payments for bank fees		(12,390)
Changes in checks and drafts outstanding	(18,908)	(35,125)
Preferred stock dividends paid	(18,408)	(18,408)
Retirements Of Equities	(184,955)	(138,421)
Cash Patronage Dividends Paid	(380,975)	(260,629)
Other financing activities, net	1,110	(118)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(556,100)	(783,953)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(2,242)	(9,443)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	419,931	(248,404)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	314,029	937,685
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 733,960	$ 689,281