Property, Plant and Equipment - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 01, 2014	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016	Aug. 31, 2015
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Buyout of capital lease obligations, percent		58.00%	58.00%
Capital Leased Assets, Gross		$ 58,200	$ 58,200	$ 206,300
Capital Leased Assets, Accumulated Amortization		27,400	27,400	103,300
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment			444,397	692,780	$ 1,186,790
Cost to build, estimate	$ 3,000,000
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed of				116,500
Depreciation expense			475,900	437,600	344,400
Capital leases [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment			39,600
Ag [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment			$ 146,139	$ 260,865	$ 417,950
Reserve and impairment charges [Member] | Ag [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed of		$ 30,400