Goodwill and Intangibles Goodwill by Segment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
May 31, 2016	Aug. 31, 2015
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 159,572	$ 150,115
Goodwill, Acquired During Period	9,884
Goodwill, Translation Adjustments	268
Goodwill, Other Changes	(695)
Energy [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	552	552
Goodwill, Acquired During Period	0
Goodwill, Translation Adjustments	0
Goodwill, Other Changes	0
Ag [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	147,964	142,665
Goodwill, Acquired During Period	5,726
Goodwill, Translation Adjustments	268
Goodwill, Other Changes	(695)
Nitrogen Production [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	0
Corporate and Other
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	11,056	$ 6,898
Goodwill, Acquired During Period	4,158
Goodwill, Translation Adjustments	0
Goodwill, Other Changes	$ 0

Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13770-109266

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Amount of increase in asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized resulting from a business combination.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267

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Amount of other (increase) decrease of an asset representing the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (g)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267

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Amount of increase (decrease) from foreign currency translation adjustments of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
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