Correction of Immaterial Error (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2016	Aug. 31, 2015	Aug. 31, 2014
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Cost of goods sold	$ 29,387,910	$ 33,091,676	$ 41,011,487
Gross profit	959,293	1,490,766	1,652,546
Operating earnings	310,196	715,412	1,049,948
Interest expense, net	75,347	60,333	140,253
Income before income taxes	419,878	768,168	1,131,303
Depreciation and amortization	447,492	355,422	306,247
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(129,259)	(558,120)	(189,803)
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,263,498	570,010	1,441,244
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment	(692,780)	(1,186,790)	(919,076)
Expenditures for major repairs	(19,610)	(201,688)	(2,930)
Net cash used in investing activities	(3,746,971)	(1,908,668)	(1,316,395)
Principal payments on capital lease obligations			(39,871)
Other financing activities, net	4,599	6,462	344
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	$ 1,814,196	$ 153,828	201,450
Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Cost of goods sold			41,016,798
Gross profit			1,647,235
Operating earnings			1,044,637
Interest expense, net			134,942
Income before income taxes			1,131,303
Depreciation and amortization			267,167
Accounts payable and accrued expenses			(164,616)
Net cash provided by operating activities			1,427,351
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment			(943,888)
Expenditures for major repairs			(3,305)
Net cash used in investing activities			(1,341,582)
Principal payments on capital lease obligations			0
Other financing activities, net			(447)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities			240,530
Scenario, Adjustment [Member]
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Cost of goods sold			(5,311)
Gross profit			5,311
Operating earnings			5,311
Interest expense, net			5,311
Income before income taxes			0
Depreciation and amortization			39,080
Accounts payable and accrued expenses			(25,187)
Net cash provided by operating activities			13,893
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment			24,812
Expenditures for major repairs			375
Net cash used in investing activities			25,187
Principal payments on capital lease obligations			(39,871)
Other financing activities, net			791
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities			$ (39,080)