Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2014	Feb. 28, 2013
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 503,649	$ 621,399
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	127,199	116,912
Amortization of deferred major repair costs	25,033	14,779
Income from equity investments	(63,727)	(44,832)
Distributions from equity investments	48,357	39,492
Noncash patronage dividends received	(4,779)	(4,277)
Gain on sale of property, plant and equipment	(1,520)	(2,725)
Gain on investments	(2,609)	(45)
Unrealized loss on crack spread contingent liability	6,497	13,471
Deferred taxes	2,372	(315)
Other, net	11,520	293
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
Receivables	460,197	256,510
Inventories	(693,903)	(404,607)
Derivative assets	145,339	(584,600)
Margin deposits	(32,527)	786,409
Supplier advance payments	(637,003)	(387,140)
Other current assets and other assets	(40,070)	(5,035)
Customer margin deposits and credit balances	(48,675)	(529,860)
Customer advance payments	871,878	600,341
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(558,254)	(280,425)
Derivative liabilities	88,628	(311,564)
Other liabilities	51,862	(33,321)
Net cash provided by operating activities	(31,214)	1,030,060
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment	(389,537)	(264,332)
Proceeds from disposition of property, plant and equipment	3,081	3,900
Expenditures for major repairs		(9,248)
Investments in joint ventures and other	(19,849)	(9,718)
Investments redeemed	4,164	3,132
Proceeds from sale of investments	2,725
Changes in notes receivable	(243,247)	46,963
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(97,858)	(8,074)
Other investing activities, net	(3,577)	(397)
Net cash used in investing activities	(744,098)	(237,774)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Changes in notes payable	184,948	55,994
Long-term debt borrowings	1,426
Principal payments on long-term debt	(136,389)	(50,871)
Mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interest payments	(65,981)	(65,981)
Payments on crack spread contingent liability	(8,670)
Changes in checks and drafts outstanding	16,253	2,755
Preferred stock issued	282,979
Preferred stock issuance costs	(9,655)
Preferred stock dividends paid	(18,153)	(12,272)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(575)	(740)
Retirements of equities	(79,656)	(179,369)
Cash Patronage Dividends Paid	(287,736)	(380,892)
Other financing activities, net	1,172	1,112
Net cash used in financing activities	(120,037)	(630,264)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(4,014)	2,290
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	(899,363)	164,312
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	1,808,532	314,029
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	909,169	478,341
Energy [Member]
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	66,192	57,256
Income from equity investments	(2,157)	271
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment	(221,918)	(173,669)
National Cooperative Refinery Association [Member] | Energy [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interest payments	$ (66,000)	$ 66,000