Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2015	Aug. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 780,333	$ 1,083,007	$ 996,328
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	355,422	306,247	276,580
Amortization of deferred major repair costs	45,953	45,070	34,847
Equity (income) loss from investments	(107,850)	(107,446)	(97,350)
Distributions from equity investments	80,917	79,685	62,761
Noncash patronage dividends received	(13,035)	(16,452)	(16,644)
(Gain) loss on sale of property, plant and equipment	(7,350)	3,316	(6,234)
Loss (gain) on investments	(5,239)	(114,162)	(182)
Unrealized (gain) loss on crack spread contingent liability	(36,310)	(19,217)	23,109
Long-lived asset impairment	103,723	74,452	0
Deferred taxes	30,304	(24,397)	92,717
Other, net	3,681	7,777	5,714
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
Receivables	317,119	110,133	(105,899)
Inventories	71,073	(37,792)	557,331
Derivative assets	100,715	(123,132)	610,023
Margin deposits	(8,534)	39,861	812,616
Supplier advance payments	3,127	67,688	286,379
Other current assets and other assets	(87,426)	(19,694)	(36,749)
Customer margin deposits and credit balances	(106,788)	(34,051)	(509,548)
Customer advance payments	(223,463)	164,021	(260,449)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(558,120)	(189,803)	13,258
Derivative liabilities	(134,033)	134,925	(276,473)
Other liabilities	(34,209)	11,208	10,815
Net cash provided by operating activities	570,010	1,441,244	2,472,950
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment	(1,186,790)	(919,076)	(619,883)
Proceeds from disposition of property, plant and equipment	11,347	11,724	7,727
Expenditures for major repairs	(201,688)	(2,930)	(73,552)
Investments in joint ventures and other	(64,259)	(80,140)	(21,364)
Investments redeemed	19,927	138,485	13,021
Changes in notes receivable	(184,067)	(184,060)	211,935
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(305,213)	(281,490)	(12,711)
Other investing activities, net	2,075	1,092	(492)
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,908,668)	(1,316,395)	(495,319)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Changes in notes payable	19,265	247,639	85,910
Long-term debt borrowings	3,546	1,426	280,000
Principal payments on long-term debt	(170,729)	(157,770)	(113,583)
Principal payments on capital lease obligations	(38,902)	(39,871)	(35,387)
Manditorily redeemable noncontrolling interest payments	(65,981)	(65,981)	(65,981)
Payments for bank fees	0	0	(9,593)
Payments on crack spread contingent liability	0	(8,670)	0
Changes in checks and drafts outstanding	(43,353)	(17,815)	(20,392)
Preferred stock issued	1,010,000	702,979	0
Preferred Stock Issuance Costs	(32,637)	(23,672)	(295)
Preferred stock dividends paid	(133,710)	(50,761)	(24,544)
Retirements of equities	(128,907)	(99,609)	(193,413)
Cash patronage dividends paid	(271,226)	(286,789)	(380,947)
Other financing activities, net	6,462	344	262
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	153,828	201,450	(477,963)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	5,436	(1,624)	(5,165)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(1,179,394)	324,675	1,494,503
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	2,133,207	1,808,532	314,029
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 953,813	$ 2,133,207	$ 1,808,532