Inventories (Tables)

9 Months Ended

May 31, 2014

Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Inventory, Current

	May 31, 2014		August 31, 2013		May 31, 2013
	(Dollars in thousands)
Grain and oilseed	$	1,227,913	$	1,133,555	$	1,344,265
Energy	719,261		742,194		682,528
Crop nutrients	207,946		293,370		237,487
Feed and farm supplies	561,975		407,023		564,424
Processed grain and oilseed	107,331		79,706		97,212
Other	13,447		8,887		11,726
Total inventories	$	2,837,873	$	2,664,735	$	2,937,642