Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	May 31, 2016	Aug. 31, 2015
Current assets [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 346,401	$ 953,813
Receivables	2,845,822	2,818,110
Inventories	2,874,009	2,652,344
Derivative assets	587,013	513,441
Margin deposits	297,149	273,118
Supplier advance payments	600,326	391,504
Other current assets	322,195	406,479
Total current assets	7,872,915	8,008,809
Investments	3,857,470	1,002,092
Property, plant and equipment	5,453,346	5,192,927
Other assets	1,074,363	1,024,484
Total assets	18,258,094	15,228,312
Current liabilities [Abstract]
Notes payable	3,336,852	1,165,378
Current portion of long-term debt	214,226	170,309
Current portion of mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interest	0	152,607
Customer margin deposits and credit balances	190,806	188,149
Customer advance payments	353,005	398,341
Checks and Drafts Outstanding	129,432	123,208
Accounts payable	1,619,905	1,690,094
Derivative liabilities	486,631	470,769
Accrued expenses	473,958	513,578
Dividends and equities payable	242,623	384,427
Total current liabilities	7,047,438	5,256,860
Long-term debt	2,411,102	1,260,808
Long-term deferred tax liabilities	573,782	580,835
Other liabilities	359,145	460,398
Commitments and contingencies
Equities:
Preferred stock	2,244,136	2,167,540
Equity certificates	4,024,570	4,099,882
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(213,794)	(214,207)
Capital reserves	1,796,724	1,604,670
Total CHS Inc. equities	7,851,636	7,657,885
Noncontrolling interests	14,991	11,526
Total equities	7,866,627	7,669,411
Total liabilities and equities	$ 18,258,094	$ 15,228,312