Segment Reporting

3 Months Ended

Nov. 30, 2015

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Segment Reporting

        Segment Reporting

We have aligned our segments in accordance with ASC Topic 280, Segment Reporting, and have identified our operating segments to reflect the manner in which our chief operating decision maker, our Chief Executive officer, evaluates performance and manages the business. We have aggregated those operating segments into our reportable Energy and Ag segments.

Our Energy segment produces and provides primarily for the wholesale distribution of petroleum products and transportation of those products. Our Ag segment purchases and further processes or resells grains and oilseeds originated by our country operations business, by our member cooperatives and by third parties, serves as a wholesaler and retailer of crop inputs and produces and markets ethanol. Corporate and Other primarily represents our non-consolidated wheat milling and packaged food joint ventures, as well as our business solutions operations, which consist of commodities hedging, insurance and financial services.

Corporate administrative expenses and interest are allocated to each business segment, and Corporate and Other, based on direct usage for services that can be tracked, such as information technology and legal, and other factors or considerations relevant to the costs incurred.

Many of our business activities are highly seasonal and operating results will vary throughout the year. Historically, our income is generally lowest during the second fiscal quarter and highest during the third fiscal quarter. For example, in our Ag segment, agronomy and country operations businesses experience higher volumes and income during the spring planting season and in the fall, which corresponds to harvest. Also in our Ag segment, our grain marketing operations are subject to fluctuations in volumes and earnings based on producer harvests, world grain prices and demand. Our Energy segment generally experiences higher volumes and profitability in certain operating areas, such as refined products, in the summer and early fall when gasoline and diesel fuel usage is highest and is subject to global supply and demand forces. Other energy products, such as propane, may experience higher volumes and profitability during the winter heating and crop drying seasons.

Our revenues, assets and cash flows can be significantly affected by global market prices for commodities such as petroleum products, natural gas, ethanol, grains, oilseeds, crop nutrients and flour. Changes in market prices for commodities that we purchase without a corresponding change in the selling prices of those products can affect revenues and operating earnings. Commodity prices are affected by a wide range of factors beyond our control, including the weather, crop damage due to disease or insects, drought, the availability and adequacy of supply, government regulations and policies, world events, and general political and economic conditions.

While our revenues and operating results are derived from businesses and operations which are wholly-owned and majority-owned, a portion of our business operations are conducted through companies in which we hold ownership interests of 50% or less and do not control the operations. See Note 4, Investments for more information on these entities.

Reconciling Amounts represent the elimination of revenues between segments. Such transactions are executed at market prices to more accurately evaluate the profitability of the individual business segments.

Segment information for the three months endedNovember 30, 2015 and 2014 is presented in the tables below. We have revised prior period amounts in these tables to include activity and amounts related to capital leases that were previously accounted for as operating leases. See Note 13, Correction of Immaterial Errors for more information on the nature and amounts of these revisions.

	Energy			Ag			Corporate and Other			Reconciling Amounts			Total
For the Three Months Ended November 30, 2015:	(Dollars in thousands)
Revenues	$	1,705,913		$	6,114,256		$	19,895		$	(111,272	)	$	7,728,792
Operating earnings (losses)	180,513			74,990			4,311			—			259,814
(Gain) loss on investments	—			(5,672		)	—			—			(5,672		)
Interest expense, net	(11,601		)	14,970			3,624			—			6,993
Equity (income) loss from investments	(823		)	(3,576		)	(26,963		)	—			(31,362		)
Income before income taxes	$	192,937		$	69,268		$	27,650		$	—		$	289,855
Intersegment revenues	$	(107,103	)	$	(3,053	)	$	(1,116	)	$	111,272		$	—
Capital expenditures	$	132,367		$	98,138		$	21,173		$	—		$	251,678
Depreciation and amortization	$	41,063		$	55,173		$	4,114		$	—		$	100,350
Total assets at November 30, 2015	$	4,458,849		$	8,415,496		$	3,604,415		$	—		$	16,478,760
	Energy			Ag			Corporate and Other			Reconciling Amounts			Total
For the Three Months Ended November 30, 2014:	(Dollars in thousands)
Revenues	$	3,018,453		$	6,639,971		$	19,983		$	(178,939	)	$	9,499,468
Operating earnings (losses)	282,903			151,889			(4,733		)	—			430,059
(Gain) loss on investments	—			(2,875		)	—			—			(2,875		)
Interest expense, net	4,007			15,520			2,378			—			21,905
Equity (income) loss from investments	(340		)	(20		)	(24,269		)	—			(24,629		)
Income before income taxes	$	279,236		$	139,264		$	17,158		$	—		$	435,658
Intersegment revenues	$	(174,953	)	$	(2,998	)	$	(988	)	$	178,939		$	—
Capital expenditures	$	165,867		$	124,017		$	12,817		$	—		$	302,701
Depreciation and amortization	$	35,238		$	44,992		$	2,950		$	—		$	83,180
Total assets at November 30, 2014	$	4,446,385		$	8,205,480		$	4,089,658		$	—		$	16,741,523