Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	9 Months Ended
May 31, 2016
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	Organization, Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies Basis of Presentation The unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheet as of May 31, 2016, the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2016, and 2015, the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2016, and 2015, and the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended May 31, 2016, and 2015, reflect in the opinion of our management, all normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods presented. The results of operations and cash flows for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for a full fiscal year because of, among other things, the seasonal nature of our businesses. Our Consolidated Balance Sheet data as of August 31, 2015, has been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"). The notes to our consolidated financial statements make reference to our Energy, Ag and Nitrogen Production reportable segments, as well as our Corporate and Other category, which represents an aggregation of individually immaterial operating segments. The Nitrogen Production reportable segment resulted from our investment in CF Industries Nitrogen, LLC ("CF Nitrogen") in February 2016. See Note 9, Segment Reporting for more information. Our consolidated financial statements include the accounts of CHS and all of our wholly owned and majority owned subsidiaries. The effects of all significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated. As of August 31, 2015, we owned approximately 88.9% of National Cooperative Refinery Association ("NCRA"), which operated our McPherson, Kansas refinery and was fully consolidated within our financial statements. In September 2015, our ownership increased to 100% when we purchased the remaining noncontrolling interests in the entity upon the final closing pursuant to the November 2011 agreement described in Note 4, Investments. The entity is now known as CHS McPherson Refinery Inc. ("CHS McPherson"). These statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended August 31, 2015, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Revisions In preparing our consolidated financial statements for the year ended August 31, 2015, we identified immaterial errors that impacted our previously issued consolidated financial statements. The primary errors related to: 1) incorrect application of Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 840, Leases to our lease arrangements and 2) inaccurate presentation of non-cash acquisitions of property, plant and equipment and expenditures for major repairs on our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Prior period amounts presented in our consolidated financial statements and the related notes have been revised accordingly, and those revisions are noted where they appear. See Note 13, Correction of Immaterial Errors for a more detailed description of the revisions and for comparisons of amounts previously reported to the revised amounts. Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities Our derivative instruments primarily consist of commodity and freight futures and forward contracts and, to a lesser degree, may include foreign currency and interest rate swap contracts. These contracts are economic hedges of price risk, but are not designated or accounted for as hedging instruments for accounting purposes, with the exception of certain interest rate swap contracts which are accounted for as cash flow hedges or fair value hedges. Derivative instruments are recorded on our Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value. See Note 10, Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities and Note 11, Fair Value Measurements for additional information. Even though we have netting arrangements for our exchange-traded futures and options contracts and certain over-the-counter ("OTC") contracts, we report our derivatives on a gross basis on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Our associated margin deposits are also reported on a gross basis. Major Maintenance Activities In our Energy segment, major maintenance activities ("turnarounds") at our two refineries are accounted for under the deferral method. Turnarounds are the scheduled and required shutdowns of refinery processing units. The costs related to the significant overhaul and refurbishment activities include materials and direct labor costs. The costs of turnarounds are deferred when incurred and amortized on a straight-line basis over the period of time estimated to lapse until the next turnaround occurs, which is generally 2 to 4 years. The amortization expense related to turnaround costs is included in cost of goods sold in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. The selection of the deferral method, as opposed to expensing the turnaround costs when incurred, results in deferring recognition of the turnaround expenditures. The deferral method also results in the classification of the related cash outflows as investing activities in our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, whereas expensing these costs as incurred would result in classifying the cash outflows as operating activities. For the three and nine months ended May 31, 2016, turnaround expenditures were $0.2 million and $19.3 million, respectively. For the three and nine months ended May 31, 2015, turnaround expenditures were $122.8 million and $130.3 million, respectively. Recent Accounting Pronouncements In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which replaces the existing guidance in ASC 840 – Leases. This ASU requires a dual approach for lessee accounting under which a lessee would account for leases as finance leases or operating leases. Both finance leases and operating leases will result in the lessee recognizing a right-of use asset and a corresponding lease liability. For finance leases, the lessee would recognize interest expense and amortization of the right-of-use asset, and for operating leases, the lessee would recognize a straight-line total lease expense. This ASU is effective for us beginning September 1, 2019, for our fiscal year 2020 and for interim periods within that fiscal year. We are currently evaluating the impact the adoption will have on our consolidated financial statements. In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-17, Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes. ASU No. 2015-17 clarifies and simplifies the presentation of deferred income taxes by requiring deferred tax liabilities and assets to be classified as non-current in a classified statement of financial position. This ASU is effective for us beginning September 1, 2017, for our fiscal year 2018 and for interim periods within that fiscal year. Early application is permitted. We are currently evaluating the possibility of early adoption, along with the impact the adoption will have on our consolidated financial statements. In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-02, Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis. ASU No. 2015-02 amended the process that a reporting entity must perform to determine whether it should consolidate certain types of legal entities. This ASU is effective for us beginning September 1, 2016, for our fiscal year 2017 and for interim periods within that fiscal year. Early application is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact the adoption will have on our consolidated financial statements in fiscal 2017. In November 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-16, Determining Whether the Host Contract in a Hybrid Financial Instrument Issued in the Form of a Share Is More Akin to Debt or to Equity. The amendments in this ASU do not change the current criteria in GAAP for determining when separation of certain embedded derivative features in a hybrid financial instrument is required. The amendments clarify that an entity should consider all relevant terms and features, including the embedded derivative feature being evaluated for bifurcation, in evaluating the nature of the host contract. The ASU applies to all entities that are issuers of, or investors in, hybrid financial instruments that are issued in the form of a share and is effective for us beginning September 1, 2016, for our fiscal year 2017 and for interim periods within that fiscal year. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of ASU 2014-16 is not expected to have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements. In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. ASU No. 2014-09 requires an entity to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The guidance also requires an entity to disclose sufficient qualitative and quantitative information surrounding the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts from customers. This ASU supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in Topic 605, Revenue Recognition and most industry-specific guidance throughout the Industry Topics of the Codification. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14 delaying the effective date for adoption. This ASU is now effective for us beginning September 1, 2018, for our fiscal year 2019 and for interim periods within that fiscal year. Subsequently, the FASB issued ASUs in 2016 containing implementation guidance related to ASU 2014-09, including: ASU 2016-08, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net), which is intended to improve the operability and understandability of the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations; ASU 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing, which is intended to clarify two aspects of Topic 606: identifying performance obligations and the licensing implementation guidance; and ASU 2016-12, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients, which contains certain provision and practical expedients in response to identified implementation issues. We are planning to adopt ASU 2014-09 and the related ASUs on September 1, 2018, in the first quarter of fiscal 2019. Early application as of the original date is permitted. ASU 2014-09 permits the use of either the full or modified retrospective method. We are evaluating the effect this guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. We have not yet selected a transition method nor have we determined the effect of the standard on our ongoing financial reporting.

Organization, Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheet as of May 31, 2016, the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2016, and 2015, the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2016, and 2015, and the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended May 31, 2016, and 2015, reflect in the opinion of our management, all normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods presented. The results of operations and cash flows for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for a full fiscal year because of, among other things, the seasonal nature of our businesses. Our Consolidated Balance Sheet data as of August 31, 2015, has been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP").

The notes to our consolidated financial statements make reference to our Energy, Ag and Nitrogen Production reportable segments, as well as our Corporate and Other category, which represents an aggregation of individually immaterial operating segments. The Nitrogen Production reportable segment resulted from our investment in CF Industries Nitrogen, LLC ("CF Nitrogen") in February 2016. See Note 9, Segment Reporting for more information.

Our consolidated financial statements include the accounts of CHS and all of our wholly owned and majority owned subsidiaries. The effects of all significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated. As of August 31, 2015, we owned approximately 88.9% of National Cooperative Refinery Association ("NCRA"), which operated our McPherson, Kansas refinery and was fully consolidated within our financial statements. In September 2015, our ownership increased to 100% when we purchased the remaining noncontrolling interests in the entity upon the final closing pursuant to the November 2011 agreement described in Note 4, Investments. The entity is now known as CHS McPherson Refinery Inc. ("CHS McPherson").

These statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended August 31, 2015, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Revisions

In preparing our consolidated financial statements for the year ended August 31, 2015, we identified immaterial errors that impacted our previously issued consolidated financial statements. The primary errors related to: 1) incorrect application of Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 840, Leases to our lease arrangements and 2) inaccurate presentation of non-cash acquisitions of property, plant and equipment and expenditures for major repairs on our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Prior period amounts presented in our consolidated financial statements and the related notes have been revised accordingly, and those revisions are noted where they appear. See Note 13, Correction of Immaterial Errors for a more detailed description of the revisions and for comparisons of amounts previously reported to the revised amounts.

Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities

Our derivative instruments primarily consist of commodity and freight futures and forward contracts and, to a lesser degree, may include foreign currency and interest rate swap contracts. These contracts are economic hedges of price risk, but are not designated or accounted for as hedging instruments for accounting purposes, with the exception of certain interest rate swap contracts which are accounted for as cash flow hedges or fair value hedges. Derivative instruments are recorded on our Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value. See Note 10, Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities and Note 11, Fair Value Measurements for additional information.

Even though we have netting arrangements for our exchange-traded futures and options contracts and certain over-the-counter ("OTC") contracts, we report our derivatives on a gross basis on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Our associated margin deposits are also reported on a gross basis.

Major Maintenance Activities

In our Energy segment, major maintenance activities ("turnarounds") at our two refineries are accounted for under the deferral method. Turnarounds are the scheduled and required shutdowns of refinery processing units. The costs related to the significant overhaul and refurbishment activities include materials and direct labor costs. The costs of turnarounds are deferred when incurred and amortized on a straight-line basis over the period of time estimated to lapse until the next turnaround occurs, which is generally 2 to 4 years. The amortization expense related to turnaround costs is included in cost of goods sold in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. The selection of the deferral method, as opposed to expensing the turnaround costs when incurred, results in deferring recognition of the turnaround expenditures. The deferral method also results in the classification of the related cash outflows as investing activities in our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, whereas expensing these costs as incurred would result in classifying the cash outflows as operating activities.

For the three and nine months ended May 31, 2016, turnaround expenditures were $0.2 million and $19.3 million, respectively. For the three and nine months ended May 31, 2015, turnaround expenditures were $122.8 million and $130.3 million, respectively.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which replaces the existing guidance in ASC 840 – Leases. This ASU requires a dual approach for lessee accounting under which a lessee would account for leases as finance leases or operating leases. Both finance leases and operating leases will result in the lessee recognizing a right-of use asset and a corresponding lease liability. For finance leases, the lessee would recognize interest expense and amortization of the right-of-use asset, and for operating leases, the lessee would recognize a straight-line total lease expense. This ASU is effective for us beginning September 1, 2019, for our fiscal year 2020 and for interim periods within that fiscal year. We are currently evaluating the impact the adoption will have on our consolidated financial statements.

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-17, Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes. ASU No. 2015-17 clarifies and simplifies the presentation of deferred income taxes by requiring deferred tax liabilities and assets to be classified as non-current in a classified statement of financial position. This ASU is effective for us beginning September 1, 2017, for our fiscal year 2018 and for interim periods within that fiscal year. Early application is permitted. We are currently evaluating the possibility of early adoption, along with the impact the adoption will have on our consolidated financial statements.

In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-02, Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis. ASU No. 2015-02 amended the process that a reporting entity must perform to determine whether it should consolidate certain types of legal entities. This ASU is effective for us beginning September 1, 2016, for our fiscal year 2017 and for interim periods within that fiscal year. Early application is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact the adoption will have on our consolidated financial statements in fiscal 2017.

In November 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-16, Determining Whether the Host Contract in a Hybrid Financial Instrument Issued in the Form of a Share Is More Akin to Debt or to Equity. The amendments in this ASU do not change the current criteria in GAAP for determining when separation of certain embedded derivative features in a hybrid financial instrument is required. The amendments clarify that an entity should consider all relevant terms and features, including the embedded derivative feature being evaluated for bifurcation, in evaluating the nature of the host contract. The ASU applies to all entities that are issuers of, or investors in, hybrid financial instruments that are issued in the form of a share and is effective for us beginning September 1, 2016, for our fiscal year 2017 and for interim periods within that fiscal year. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of ASU 2014-16 is not expected to have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. ASU No. 2014-09 requires an entity to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The guidance also requires an entity to disclose sufficient qualitative and quantitative information surrounding the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts from customers. This ASU supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in Topic 605, Revenue Recognition and most industry-specific guidance throughout the Industry Topics of the Codification. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14 delaying the effective date for adoption. This ASU is now effective for us beginning September 1, 2018, for our fiscal year 2019 and for interim periods within that fiscal year. Subsequently, the FASB issued ASUs in 2016 containing implementation guidance related to ASU 2014-09, including: ASU 2016-08, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net), which is intended to improve the operability and understandability of the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations; ASU 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing, which is intended to clarify two aspects of Topic 606: identifying performance obligations and the licensing implementation guidance; and ASU 2016-12, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients, which contains certain provision and practical expedients in response to identified implementation issues. We are planning to adopt ASU 2014-09 and the related ASUs on September 1, 2018, in the first quarter of fiscal 2019. Early application as of the original date is permitted. ASU 2014-09 permits the use of either the full or modified retrospective method. We are evaluating the effect this guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. We have not yet selected a transition method nor have we determined the effect of the standard on our ongoing financial reporting.