Investments Investments (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2017

Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]

Investment Holdings, Schedule of Investments [Table Text Block]

	2017		2016
	(Dollars in thousands)
Equity method investments:
CF Industries Nitrogen, LLC	$	2,756,076	$	2,796,323
Ventura Foods, LLC	347,016		369,487
Ardent Mills, LLC	206,529		194,986
TEMCO, LLC	41,323		44,578
Other equity method investments	268,444		263,025
Cost method investments	131,605		127,577
Total investments	$	3,750,993	$	3,795,976