Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Feb. 29, 2016	Feb. 28, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 235,992	$ 471,228
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	207,302	168,306
Amortization of deferred major repair costs	36,302	20,442
Equity (income) loss from investments	(59,366)	(48,798)
Distributions from equity investments	54,682	34,761
Noncash patronage dividends received	(4,773)	(3,999)
Gain on sale of property, plant and equipment	(2,462)	(1,520)
Gain on investments	(8,722)	(5,074)
Unrealized (gain) loss on crack spread contingent liability	(51,827)	6,153
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed of	8,893	0
Deferred taxes	(32,979)	49,723
Other, net	25,191	20,483
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
Receivables	358,689	438,607
Inventories	(338,016)	(913,037)
Derivative assets	93,329	(1,479)
Margin deposits	76,397	11,565
Supplier advance payments	(457,432)	(509,994)
Other current assets and other assets	68,811	33,814
Customer margin deposits and credit balances	(42,809)	(74,746)
Customer advance payments	368,834	595,106
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	24,729	(629,850)
Derivative liabilities	(193,545)	(121,696)
Other liabilities	(48,137)	(42,171)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	319,083	(502,176)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment	(428,290)	(549,930)
Proceeds from disposition of property, plant and equipment	5,107	4,142
Expenditures for Major Repairs	(19,090)	(7,505)
Payments to Acquire Other Investments	0	(315,000)
Investments in joint ventures and other	(2,814,031)	(57,418)
Proceeds from sale of investments	21,016	8,284
Changes in notes receivable	4,428	14,363
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(10,154)	(2,371)
Other investing activities, net	(4,068)	(1,365)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(3,245,082)	(906,800)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from lines of credit and long-term borrowings	11,138,485	4,124,817
Payments on lines of credit, long term-debt and capital lease obligations	(8,339,531)	(4,090,546)
Mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interest payments	(153,022)	(65,981)
Payments on crack spread contingent liability	(2,625)	0
Changes in checks and drafts outstanding	6,802	28,715
Preferred stock issued	0	1,010,000
Preferred stock issuance costs	0	(32,602)
Preferred stock dividends paid	(80,999)	(54,759)
Retirements of equities	(10,443)	(108,723)
Cash Patronage Dividends Paid	(251,535)	(275,553)
Other financing activities, net	3,148	20
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	2,310,280	535,388
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	1,443	2,741
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(614,276)	(870,847)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	953,813	2,133,207
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 339,537	$ 1,262,360