Investments - Schedule of Equity Method Investment Balance Sheet and Statement of Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2016	Aug. 31, 2015	Aug. 31, 2014
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Net income attributable to CHS Inc.	$ 424,192	$ 781,045	$ 1,081,435
Ardent Mills, Ventura, TEMCO [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Revenue	8,776,261	9,054,677	8,796,648
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Current Assets	1,638,780	1,892,563
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Noncurrent Assets	2,495,955	2,388,757
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Current Liabilities	836,544	968,104
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Noncurrent Liabilities	853,549	881,312
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Gross Profit (Loss)	674,181	754,375	562,053
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Net Income (Loss)	238,870	313,664	266,354
Net income attributable to CHS Inc.	$ 75,858	$ 81,101	$ 83,023