Inventories (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Feb. 28, 2014

Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Inventory, Current

	February 28, 2014		August 31, 2013		February 28, 2013
	(Dollars in thousands)
Grain and oilseed	$	1,405,236	$	1,133,555	$	1,607,972
Energy	752,247		742,194		705,160
Crop nutrients	417,843		293,370		471,487
Feed and farm supplies	698,816		407,023		725,974
Processed grain and oilseed	85,622		79,706		94,667
Other	21,973		8,887		21,413
Total inventories	$	3,381,737	$	2,664,735	$	3,626,673