Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities Derivative Financial Insturments and Hedging Activities (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Nov. 30, 2016

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Reconciliation of gross and net fair values of assets and liabilities subject to offsetting arrangements [Table Text Block]

	November 30, 2016
			Amounts Not Offset on the Consolidated Balance Sheet but Eligible for Offsetting
	Gross Amounts Recognized		Cash Collateral		Derivative Instruments		Net Amounts
	(Dollars in thousands)
Derivative Assets:
Commodity and freight derivatives	$	364,218	$	—	$	24,504	$	339,714
Foreign exchange derivatives	20,335		—		5,270		15,065
Interest rate derivatives - hedge	10,444		—		—		10,444
Embedded derivative asset	24,106		—		—		24,106
Total	$	419,103	$	—	$	29,774	$	389,329
Derivative Liabilities:
Commodity and freight derivatives	$	300,167	$	237	$	24,504	$	275,426
Foreign exchange derivatives	15,690		—		5,270		10,420
Interest rate derivatives - hedge	1,642		—		—		1,642
Interest rate derivatives - non-hedge	6		—		—		6
Total	$	317,505	$	237	$	29,774	$	287,494

	August 31, 2016
			Amounts Not Offset on the Consolidated Balance Sheet but Eligible for Offsetting
	Gross Amounts Recognized		Cash Collateral		Derivative Instruments		Net Amounts
	(Dollars in thousands)
Derivative Assets:
Commodity and freight derivatives	$	500,192	$	—	$	23,689	$	476,503
Foreign exchange derivatives	21,551		—		9,187		12,364
Interest rate derivatives - hedge	22,078		—		—		22,078
Total	$	543,821	$	—	$	32,876	$	510,945
Derivative Liabilities:
Commodity and freight derivatives	$	491,302	$	811	$	23,689	$	466,802
Foreign exchange derivatives	22,289		—		9,187		13,102
Interest rate derivatives - non-hedge	8		—		—		8
Total	$	513,599	$	811	$	32,876	$	479,912

Schedule of Other Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments, Statements of Financial Performance and Financial Position, Location [Table Text Block]

Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments

The majority of our derivative instruments have not been designated as hedging instruments for accounting purposes. The following table sets forth the pretax gains (losses) on derivatives not accounted for as hedging instruments that have been included in our Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months endedNovember 30, 2016, and 2015.

		For the Three Months Ended November 30
	Location of Gain (Loss)	2016		2015
		(Dollars in thousands)
Commodity and freight derivatives	Cost of goods sold	$	18,410	$	35,046
Foreign exchange derivatives	Cost of goods sold	6,024		683
Foreign exchange derivatives	Marketing, general and administrative	145		7,523
Interest rate derivatives	Interest expense	2		(704		)
Embedded derivative	Other Income	29,106		—
Total		$	53,687	$	42,548

Schedule of Derivative Instruments, Purchase and Sales Contracts [Table Text Block]

all outstanding commodity and freight contracts accounted for as derivative instruments.

	November 30, 2016		August 31, 2016
	Long	Short	Long	Short
	(Units in thousands)
Grain and oilseed - bushels	698,853	992,878	774,279	995,396
Energy products - barrels	12,666	5,767	14,740	6,470
Processed grain and oilseed - tons	502	1,958	541	2,060
Crop nutrients - tons	65	209	108	135
Ocean and barge freight - metric tons	6,571	1,422	4,406	877
Rail freight - rail cars	195	77	205	79
Natural gas - MMBtu	3,706	50	3,550	300

Schedule of Derivative Instruments, Effect on Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Table Text Block]

The following table presents the pretax gains (losses) recorded in other comprehensive income relating to cash flow hedges for the three months endedNovember 30, 2016, and 2015.

	For the Three Months Ended November 30
	2016		2015
	(Dollars in thousands)
Interest rate derivatives	$	—	$	(6,818	)

The following table presents the pretax gains (losses) relating to cash flow hedges that were reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss into income for the three months endedNovember 30, 2016, and 2015.

		For the Three Months Ended November 30
	Location of Gain (Loss)	2016			2015
		(Dollars in thousands)
Interest rate derivatives	Interest expense	$	(440	)	$	(191	)