Investments Investments (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2016

Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]

Investment Holdings, Schedule of Investments [Table Text Block]

	2016		2015
	(Dollars in thousands)
Equity method investments:
CF Industries Nitrogen, LLC	$	2,796,323	$	—
Ventura Foods, LLC	369,487		347,749
Ardent Mills, LLC	194,986		196,808
TEMCO, LLC	44,578		57,656
Other equity method investments	263,025		269,423
Cost method investments	127,577		130,456
Total investments	$	3,795,976	$	1,002,092