Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Aug. 31, 2016	Aug. 31, 2015
Current assets [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 279,313	$ 953,813
Receivables	2,880,763	2,818,110
Inventories	2,370,699	2,652,344
Derivative assets	543,821	513,441
Margin deposits	310,276	273,118
Supplier advance payments	347,600	391,504
Other current assets	202,708	406,479
Total current assets	6,935,180	8,008,809
Investments	3,795,976	1,002,092
Property, plant and equipment	5,488,323	5,192,927
Other assets	1,098,230	1,024,484
Total assets	17,317,709	15,228,312
Current liabilities [Abstract]
Notes payable	2,731,479	1,165,378
Current portion of long-term debt	214,329	170,309
Current portion of mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interest	0	152,607
Customer margin deposits and credit balances	208,991	188,149
Customer advance payments	412,823	398,341
Accounts payable	1,819,049	1,813,302
Derivative liabilities	513,599	470,769
Accrued expenses	422,494	513,578
Dividends and equities payable	198,031	384,427
Total current liabilities	6,520,795	5,256,860
Long-term debt	2,088,450	1,260,808
Long-term deferred tax liability	487,762	580,835
Other liabilities	354,452	460,398
Commitments and contingencies
Equities:
Preferred stock	2,244,132	2,167,540
Equity certificates	4,237,174	4,099,882
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(211,726)	(214,207)
Capital reserves	1,582,380	1,604,670
Total CHS Inc. equities	7,851,960	7,657,885
Noncontrolling interests	14,290	11,526
Total equities	7,866,250	7,669,411
Total liabilities and equities	$ 17,317,709	$ 15,228,312