Investments - Schedule of Equity Method Investment Balance Sheet and Statement of Operations (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2013	Nov. 30, 2012	Aug. 31, 2013
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Earnings attributable to CHS Inc.	$ 32,678	$ 28,072
Ventura Foods, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Current assets	564,283	575,137	532,995
Non-current assets	500,670	464,028	503,369
Current liabilities	236,815	200,357	216,704
Non-current liabilities	227,599	277,943	226,515
Net sales	644,990	651,487
Gross profit	71,819	62,123
Net earnings	29,514	20,728
Earnings attributable to CHS Inc.	$ 14,757	$ 10,364