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Investments - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Feb. 01, 2016
May 31, 2018
May 31, 2017
May 31, 2018
May 31, 2017
Aug. 31, 2017
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]            
Equity (income) loss from investments   $ (59,308) $ (48,393) $ (137,111) $ (124,521)  
Cost Method Investments   130,966   130,966   $ 131,605
Investments   $ 3,787,163   $ 3,787,163   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   $ 2,786,806   $ 2,786,806   2,756,076
Ventura Foods, LLC            
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]            
Equity Method Investments   354,588   354,588   347,016
TEMCO, LLC            
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]            
Equity Method Investments   37,769   37,769   41,323
Ardent Mills LLC [Member]            
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]            
Equity Method Investments   $ 205,805   $ 205,805   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   $ (35,639) (24,534) $ (79,986) (60,787)  
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   $ (11,343) (14,269) $ (29,166) (43,624)  
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   $ (11,359) $ (9,199) $ (25,180) $ (18,071)  
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   $ 271,229   $ 271,229   $ 268,444