Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Nov. 30, 2013

Aug. 31, 2013

Nov. 30, 2012

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Purchase and Sales Contracts

As of November 30, 2013, August 31, 2013 and November 30, 2012, we had the following outstanding purchase and sales contracts:

	November 30, 2013		August 31, 2013		November 30, 2012
	Purchase Contracts	Sales Contracts	Purchase Contracts	Sales Contracts	Purchase Contracts	Sales Contracts
	(Units in thousands)
Grain and oilseed - bushels	671,414	944,517	521,979	806,295	674,866	1,018,510
Energy products - barrels	27,352	33,110	12,626	21,312	7,483	19,817
Soy products - tons	12	885	24	847	21	360
Crop nutrients - tons	986	1,204	968	1,050	1,270	1,428
Ocean and barge freight - metric tons	2,054	295	1,225	151	1,288	210
Rail freight - rail cars	201	48	220	43	164	30
Livestock - pounds		12,480		17,280	2,680	3,280

Reconciliation of gross and net fair values of assets and liabilities subject to offsetting arrangements [Table Text Block]

	November 30, 2013
			Amounts Not Offset on the Consolidated Balance Sheet but Eligible for Offsetting
	Gross Amounts Recognized		Cash Collateral		Derivative Instruments		Net Amounts
	(Dollars in thousands)
Derivative Assets:
Commodity and freight derivatives	$	364,454	$	268	$	41,126	$	323,060
Foreign exchange derivatives	6,776				1,060		5,716
Interest rate derivatives - hedge	18,854						18,854
	$	390,084	$	268	$	42,186	$	347,630
Derivative Liabilities:
Commodity and freight derivatives	$	405,346	$	7,374	$	41,126	$	356,846
Foreign exchange derivatives	1,647				1,060		587
Interest rate derivatives - non-hedge	245						245
	$	407,238	$	7,374	$	42,186	$	357,678

	August 31, 2013
			Amounts Not Offset on the Consolidated Balance Sheet but Eligible for Offsetting
	Gross Amounts Recognized		Cash Collateral		Derivative Instruments		Net Amounts
	(Dollars in thousands)
Derivative Assets:
Commodity and freight derivatives	$	468,673			$	53,107	$	415,566
Foreign exchange derivatives	7,079				957		6,122
Interest rate derivatives - hedge	24,135						24,135
Interest rate derivatives - non-hedge	3				3
	$	499,890			$	54,067	$	445,823
Derivative Liabilities:
Commodity and freight derivatives	$	458,893	$	1,591	$	53,107	$	404,195
Foreign exchange derivatives	5,925				957		4,968
Interest rate derivatives - non-hedge	248				3		245
	$	465,066	$	1,591	$	54,067	$	409,408

	November 30, 2012
			Amounts Not Offset on the Consolidated Balance Sheet but Eligible for Offsetting
	Gross Amounts Recognized		Cash Collateral		Derivative Instruments		Net Amounts
	(Dollars in thousands)
Derivative Assets:
Commodity and freight derivatives	$	632,544			$	46,578	$	585,966
Foreign exchange derivatives	3,140				1		3,139
	$	635,684			$	46,579	$	589,105
Derivative Liabilities:
Commodity and freight derivatives	$	518,377	$	10,087	$	46,578	$	461,712
Foreign exchange derivatives	6,234				1		6,233
Interest rate derivatives - non-hedge	483						483
	$	525,094	$	10,087	$	46,579	$	468,428

Derivatives, Offsetting Fair Value Amounts, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Even though we have netting arrangements for our exchange-traded futures and options contracts and certain over-the-counter (OTC) contracts, we report our derivatives on a gross basis on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Our associated margin deposits are also reported on a gross basis. Many of our derivative contracts with futures and options brokers require us to make both initial margin deposits of cash or other assets and subsequent deposits, depending on changes in commodity prices, in order to comply with applicable regulations. Our margin deposit assets are held by external brokers in segregated accounts and will be used to settle the associated derivative contracts on their specified settlement dates.

Schedule of Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) in Consolidated Statements of Operations

The following table sets forth the pretax gains (losses) on derivatives not accounted for as hedging instruments that have been included in our Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended November 30, 2013 and 2012.

	Location of Gain (Loss)	2013			2012
		(Dollars in thousands)
Commodity and freight derivatives	Cost of goods sold	$	(19,789	)	$	(328,284	)
Foreign exchange derivatives	Cost of goods sold	(422		)	(1,685		)
Interest rate derivatives	Interest, net	(1		)	(9		)
		$	(20,212	)	$	(329,978	)

Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Future Amortization Expense

The estimated annual amortization expense related to intangible assets subject to amortization for the next five years is as follows:

	(Dollars in thousands)
Year 1	$	7,511
Year 2	6,516
Year 3	6,066
Year 4	4,376
Year 5	2,043
Thereafter	9,398
	$	35,910