Segment Reporting (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Feb. 28, 2017

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment

	Energy			Ag			Nitrogen Production			Foods			Corporate and Other			Reconciling Amounts			Total
For the Three Months Ended February 28, 2017:	(Dollars in thousands)
Revenues	$	1,529,034		$	5,855,331		$	—		$	—		$	31,430		$	(95,389	)	$	7,320,406
Operating earnings (loss)	19,506			(14,291		)	(4,385		)	(2,472		)	12,149			—			10,507
(Gain) loss on investments	—			(690		)	—			—			(2,092		)	—			(2,782		)
Interest expense	3,565			16,850			12,182			—			11,411			(4,063		)	39,945
Other income	(187		)	(17,686		)	(464		)	—			(179		)	4,063			(14,453		)
Equity (income) loss from investments	(486		)	(3,455		)	(21,557		)	(5,561		)	(4,741		)	—			(35,800		)
Income (loss) before income taxes	$	16,614		$	(9,310	)	$	5,454		$	3,089		$	7,750		$	—		$	23,597
Intersegment revenues	$	(89,094	)	$	(4,758	)	$	—		$	—		$	(1,537	)	$	95,389		$	—

	Energy			Ag			Nitrogen Production			Foods			Corporate and Other			Reconciling Amounts			Total
For the Three Months Ended February 29, 2016:	(Dollars in thousands)
Revenues	$	1,134,148		$	5,580,450		$	—		$	—		$	23,201		$	(98,469	)	$	6,639,330
Operating earnings (loss)	(69,299		)	(21,818		)	(5,759		)	(2,125		)	7,198			—			(91,803		)
(Gain) loss on investments	—			(42		)	—			—			(3,008		)	—			(3,050		)
Interest expense	(4,854		)	16,485			4,737			779			7,280			609			25,036
Other income	46			(8,493		)	—			—			(267		)	(609		)	(9,323		)
Equity (income) loss from investments	(1,364		)	1,355			(11,855		)	(14,450		)	(1,690		)	—			(28,004		)
Income (loss) before income taxes	$	(63,127	)	$	(31,123	)	$	1,359		$	11,546		$	4,883		$	—		$	(76,462	)
Intersegment revenues	$	(67,208	)	$	(29,963	)	$	—		$	—		$	(1,298	)	$	98,469		$	—
	Energy			Ag			Nitrogen Production			Foods			Corporate and Other			Reconciling Amounts			Total
For the Six Months Ended February 28, 2017:	(Dollars in thousands)
Revenues	$	3,229,214		$	12,291,325		$	—		$	—		$	58,871		$	(210,754	)	$	15,368,656
Operating earnings (loss)	92,286			95,306			(8,414		)	(5,269		)	23,089			—			196,998
(Gain) loss on investments	—			6,695			—			—			(2,076		)	—			4,619
Interest expense	7,833			33,189			24,918			—			19,385			(7,115		)	78,210
Other income	(496		)	(35,609		)	(29,570		)	—			(294		)	7,115			(58,854		)
Equity (income) loss from investments	(1,648		)	(8,872		)	(36,253		)	(18,930		)	(10,425		)	—			(76,128		)
Income (loss) before income taxes	$	86,597		$	99,903		$	32,491		$	13,661		$	16,499		$	—		$	249,151
Intersegment revenues	$	(199,181	)	$	(8,523	)	$	—		$	—		$	(3,050	)	$	210,754		$	—
Total assets at February 28, 2017	$	4,388,668		$	8,093,289		$	2,809,029		$	370,089		$	2,897,090		$	—		$	18,558,165
	Energy			Ag			Nitrogen Production			Foods			Corporate and Other			Reconciling Amounts			Total
For the Six Months Ended February 29, 2016:	(Dollars in thousands)
Revenues	$	2,840,061		$	11,694,706		$	—		$	—		$	43,096		$	(209,741	)	$	14,368,122
Operating earnings (loss)	111,213			53,173			(5,759		)	(4,076		)	13,460			—			168,011
(Gain) loss on investments	—			(5,714		)	—			—			(3,008		)	—			(8,722		)
Interest expense	(16,453		)	33,267			4,737			1,601			10,935			—			34,087
Other income	43			(10,305		)	—			—			(1,119		)	—			(11,381		)
Equity (income) loss from investments	(2,187		)	(2,221		)	(11,855		)	(35,527		)	(7,576		)	—			(59,366		)
Income (loss) before income taxes	$	129,810		$	38,146		$	1,359		$	29,850		$	14,228		$	—		$	213,393
Intersegment revenues	$	(174,311	)	$	(33,016	)	$	—		$	—		$	(2,414	)	$	209,741		$	—