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

3 Months Ended

Nov. 30, 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]

	November 30, 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	$	324,867	$	—	$	36,052	$	288,815
Foreign exchange derivatives	4,297		—		2,741		1,556
Interest rate derivatives - hedge	3,596		—		—		3,596
Embedded derivative asset	22,271		—		—		22,271
Total	$	355,031	$	—	$	38,793	$	316,238
Derivative Liabilities:
Commodity and freight derivatives	$	224,656	$	10,358	$	36,052	$	178,246
Foreign exchange derivatives	7,556		—		2,741		4,815
Interest rate derivatives - hedge	2,641		—		—		2,641
Total	$	234,853	$	10,358	$	38,793	$	185,702

	August 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	$	384,648	$	—	$	35,080	$	349,568
Foreign exchange derivatives	8,771		—		3,636		5,135
Interest rate derivatives - hedge	9,978		—		—		9,978
Embedded derivative asset	25,533		—		—		25,533
Total	$	428,930	$	—	$	38,716	$	390,214
Derivative Liabilities:
Commodity and freight derivatives	$	309,762	$	3,898	$	35,080	$	270,784
Foreign exchange derivatives	19,931		—		3,636		16,295
Interest rate derivatives - hedge	707		—		—		707
Total	$	330,400	$	3,898	$	38,716	$	287,786

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 months endedNovember 30, 2017, and 2016.

		For the Three Months Ended November 30,
	Location of Gain (Loss)	2017			2016
		(Dollars in thousands)
Commodity and freight derivatives	Cost of goods sold	$	27,752		$	18,410
Foreign exchange derivatives	Cost of goods sold	6,766			6,024
Foreign exchange derivatives	Marketing, general and administrative	(495		)	145
Interest rate derivatives	Interest expense	(1		)	2
Embedded derivative	Other income	1,738			29,106
Total		$	35,760		$	53,687

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

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

	November 30, 2017		August 31, 2017
	Long	Short	Long	Short
	(Units in thousands)
Grain and oilseed - bushels	588,263	805,041	570,673	768,540
Energy products - barrels	16,254	19,300	15,072	18,252
Processed grain and oilseed - tons	196	1,700	299	2,347
Crop nutrients - tons	25	4	9	15
Ocean and barge freight - metric tons	4,785	3,144	2,777	1,766
Rail freight - rail cars	151	68	176	75
Natural gas - MMBtu	1,500	—	500	—