Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016	Aug. 31, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 127,223	$ 423,969	$ 780,333
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	480,223	447,492	355,422
Amortization of deferred major repair costs	67,058	73,483	45,953
Equity (income) loss from investments	(137,338)	(175,777)	(107,850)
Distributions from equity investments	213,352	178,464	80,917
Unrealized (gain) loss on crack spread contingent liability	(15,051)	(60,931)	(36,310)
Provision for doubtful accounts	177,969	57,200	2,806
Long-lived asset impairment	145,042	27,247	103,723
Reserve for Supplier Advance Payments	130,705	0	0
Deferred taxes	(175,914)	(24,178)	30,304
Other, net	24,044	(15,444)	(21,943)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
Receivables	121,630	46,405	314,313
Inventories	(293,549)	338,662	71,073
Derivative assets	126,824	(20,257)	100,715
Margin deposits	104,214	(37,115)	(8,534)
Supplier advance payments	(34,583)	44,047	3,127
Other current assets and other assets	(66,119)	120,993	(87,426)
Customer margin deposits and credit balances	(50,920)	20,841	(106,788)
Customer advance payments	(528)	5,664	(223,463)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	197,445	(129,259)	(558,120)
Derivative liabilities	(183,287)	36,283	(134,033)
Other liabilities	(25,446)	(94,291)	(34,209)
Net cash provided by operating activities	932,994	1,263,498	570,010
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment	(444,397)	(692,780)	(1,186,790)
Expenditures for major repairs	(2,340)	(19,610)	(201,688)
Investments in joint ventures and other	(16,645)	(2,855,218)	(64,259)
Changes in notes receivable	322	(209,902)	(188,183)
Financing extended to customers	(67,225)	(82,302)	(39,995)
Proceeds from Collection of Loans Receivable	88,154	35,188	42,776
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(3,674)	(11,890)	(305,213)
Other investing activities, net	40,764	89,543	34,684
Net cash used in investing activities	(405,041)	(3,746,971)	(1,908,668)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from lines of credit and long term debt borrowings	37,295,236	31,586,968	8,954,420
Payments on lines of credit, long term debt and capital lease obligations	(37,580,959)	(29,232,842)	(9,141,240)
Manditorily redeemable noncontrolling interest payments	0	(153,022)	(65,981)
Preferred stock issued	0	0	1,010,000
Preferred stock dividends paid	(167,642)	(163,324)	(133,710)
Retirements of equities	(35,268)	(23,911)	(128,907)
Cash patronage dividends paid	(103,879)	(251,740)	(271,226)
Other financing activities, net	(28,681)	52,067	(69,528)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(621,193)	1,814,196	153,828
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(4,694)	(5,223)	5,436
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(97,934)	(674,500)	(1,179,394)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	279,313	953,813	2,133,207
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 181,379	$ 279,313	$ 953,813