Property, Plant and Equipment - Schedule of Property, Plant and Equipment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2015	Aug. 31, 2014
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Cost to build, estimate	$ 3,000,000
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed of	116,500
Property, plant and equipment, gross	8,136,081	$ 6,847,844
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	2,943,154	2,667,696
Property, plant and equipment	5,192,927	4,180,148
Land and Land Improvements
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	233,666	212,609
Building
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	838,386	691,273
Machinery and equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	5,563,370	4,792,352
Office and other
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	163,026	133,599
Construction in progress
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed of	94,300
Property, plant and equipment, gross	$ 1,337,633	$ 1,018,011