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

9 Months Ended

May 31, 2017

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]



	May 31, 2017
			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	$	363,627	$	—	$	27,711	$	335,916
Foreign exchange derivatives	10,558		—		3,895		6,663
Interest rate derivatives - hedge	9,496		—		—		9,496
Embedded derivative asset - current	4,507		—		—		4,507
Total current derivatives	$	388,188	$	—	$	31,606	$	356,582
Embedded derivative asset - long term	20,540		—		—		20,540
Total	$	408,728	$	—	$	31,606	$	377,122
Derivative Liabilities:
Commodity and freight derivatives	$	271,337	$	3,136	$	27,711	$	240,490
Foreign exchange derivatives	11,689		—		3,895		7,794
Interest rate derivatives - hedge	1,182		—		—		1,182
Interest rate derivatives - non-hedge	4		—		—		4
Total	$	284,212	$	3,136	$	31,606	$	249,470



	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 and nine months ended May 31, 2017, and 2016.



		For the Three Months Ended May 31,						For the Nine Months Ended May 31,
	Location of Gain (Loss)	2017			2016			2017			2016
		(Dollars in thousands)
Commodity and freight derivatives	Cost of goods sold	$	102,327		$	(193,548	)	$	177,633		$	(103,532	)
Foreign exchange derivatives	Cost of goods sold	(7,168		)	2,249			(4,573		)	(7,550		)
Foreign exchange derivatives	Marketing, general and administrative	22			(12,820		)	(784		)	2,308
Interest rate derivatives	Interest expense	—			(5,096		)	4			(6,299		)
Embedded derivative	Other Income	477			—			30,051			—
Total		$	95,658		$	(209,215	)	$	202,331		$	(115,073	)

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

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



	May 31, 2017		August 31, 2016
	Long	Short	Long	Short
	(Units in thousands)
Grain and oilseed - bushels	663,358	860,178	774,279	995,396
Energy products - barrels	13,694	8,151	14,740	6,470
Processed grain and oilseed - tons	327	2,188	541	2,060
Crop nutrients - tons	70	241	108	135
Ocean and barge freight - metric tons	4,110	876	4,406	877
Rail freight - rail cars	210	97	205	79
Natural gas - MMBtu	3,275	—	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 and nine months ended May 31, 2017, and 2016.



	For the Three Months Ended May 31,				For the Nine Months Ended May 31,
	2017		2016		2017		2016
	(Dollars in thousands)
Interest rate derivatives	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	(10,070	)

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 and nine months ended May 31, 2017, and 2016.



		For the Three Months Ended May 31,						For the Nine Months Ended May 31,
	Location of Gain (Loss)	2017			2016			2017			2016
		(Dollars in thousands)
Interest rate derivatives	Interest expense	$	(435	)	$	(4,166	)	$	(1,311	)	$	(4,631	)