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Investments - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Feb. 01, 2016
Feb. 28, 2018
Feb. 28, 2017
Feb. 28, 2018
Feb. 28, 2017
Aug. 31, 2017
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]            
Equity (income) loss from investments   $ (39,441) $ (35,800) $ (77,803) $ (76,128)  
Cost Method Investments   134,743   134,743   $ 131,605
Investments   $ 3,752,876   $ 3,752,876   3,750,993
CF Nitrogen LLC [Member]            
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]            
Payments to Acquire Equity Method Investments $ 2,800,000          
Ownership percentage   11.40%   11.40%    
Equity Method Investments   $ 2,751,166   $ 2,751,166   2,756,076
Ventura Foods, LLC            
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]            
Equity Method Investments   353,079   353,079   347,016
TEMCO, LLC            
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]            
Equity Method Investments   37,583   37,583   41,323
Ardent Mills LLC [Member]            
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]            
Equity Method Investments   $ 211,017   $ 211,017   206,529
Cargill, Inc. [Member]            
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]            
Ownership of joint venture partner   50.00%   50.00%    
Nitrogen Production [Member]            
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]            
Equity (income) loss from investments   $ (24,012) (21,557) $ (44,347) (36,253)  
Foods [Member] | Ventura Foods, LLC            
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]            
Ownership percentage   50.00%   50.00%    
Equity value exceeding carrying value   $ 12,900   $ 12,900    
Corporate and Other            
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]            
Equity (income) loss from investments   $ (9,202) (10,302) $ (17,823) (29,355)  
Corporate and Other | Ardent Mills LLC [Member]            
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]            
Ownership percentage   12.00%   12.00%    
Number of parent companies   3   3    
Ag [Member]            
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]            
Equity (income) loss from investments   $ (5,567) $ (3,455) $ (13,821) $ (8,872)  
Ag [Member] | TEMCO, LLC            
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]            
Ownership percentage   50.00%   50.00%    
Miscellaneous Investments [Member]            
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]            
Equity Method Investments   $ 265,288   $ 265,288   $ 268,444