Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Feb. 29, 2016	Aug. 31, 2015
Current assets [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 339,537	$ 953,813
Receivables	2,470,006	2,818,110
Inventories	2,999,703	2,652,344
Derivative assets	431,851	513,441
Margin deposits	196,763	273,118
Supplier advance payments	849,079	391,504
Other current assets	365,476	406,479
Total current assets	7,652,415	8,008,809
Investments	3,799,381	1,002,092
Property, plant and equipment	5,402,079	5,192,927
Other assets	971,133	1,024,484
Total assets	17,825,008	15,228,312
Current liabilities [Abstract]
Notes payable	2,797,758	1,165,378
Current portion of long-term debt	201,763	170,309
Current portion of mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interest	0	152,607
Customer margin deposits and credit balances	145,339	188,149
Customer advance payments	767,174	398,341
Checks and Drafts Outstanding	134,554	123,208
Accounts payable	1,718,001	1,690,094
Derivative liabilities	287,488	470,769
Accrued expenses	467,607	513,578
Dividends and equities payable	241,934	384,427
Total current liabilities	6,761,618	5,256,860
Long-term debt	2,435,191	1,260,808
Long-term deferred tax liabilities	551,179	580,835
Other liabilities	$ 374,591	$ 460,398
Commitments and contingencies
Equities:
Preferred stock	$ 2,167,467	$ 2,167,540
Equity certificates	4,052,162	4,099,882
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(228,707)	(214,207)
Capital reserves	1,696,199	1,604,670
Total CHS Inc. equities	7,687,121	7,657,885
Noncontrolling interests	15,308	11,526
Total equities	7,702,429	7,669,411
Total liabilities and equities	$ 17,825,008	$ 15,228,312