Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 775,306	$ 70,958	$ 383,026
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	478,050	480,223	447,492
Amortization of deferred major repair costs	61,686	67,058	73,483
Equity (income) loss from investments	(153,515)	(137,338)	(175,777)
Distributions from equity investments	190,297	213,352	178,464
Provision for doubtful accounts	2,085	177,969	57,200
(Gain) loss on disposal of business	(131,816)	2,190	0
Unrealized (gain) loss on crack spread contingent liability	0	(15,051)	(60,931)
Long-lived asset impairment, net of recoveries	(10,352)	145,042	27,247
Reserve against supplier advance payments	0	130,705	0
Deferred taxes	(146,961)	(194,467)	28,190
Other, net	6,653	20,173	(15,444)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
Receivables	210,775	146,788	1,570
Inventories	(169,581)	(333,479)	353,572
Derivative assets	(102,368)	114,023	29,822
Margin and related deposits	54,912	97,804	(30,705)
Supplier advance payments	(39,189)	(33,952)	43,415
Other current assets and other assets	(13,450)	(50,729)	128,603
Customer margin deposits and credit balances	(20,518)	(50,920)	20,841
Customer advance payments	(14,682)	(1,329)	(7,079)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(78,388)	227,967	(129,587)
Derivative liabilities	132,495	(132,423)	1,443
Other liabilities	40,629	(25,446)	(94,291)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	1,072,068	919,118	1,260,554
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment	(355,412)	(444,397)	(692,780)
Proceeds from disposition of property, plant and equipment	91,153	19,541	13,417
Proceeds from sale of business	234,914	0	0
Expenditures for major repairs	(80,514)	(2,340)	(19,610)
Investments in joint ventures and other	(21,679)	(16,645)	(2,855,218)
Changes in CHS Capital notes receivable, net	25,335	322	(209,902)
Financing extended to customers	(74,402)	(67,225)	(82,302)
Payments from customer financing	52,453	88,154	35,188
Other investing activities, net	48,628	17,549	64,236
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(79,524)	(405,041)	(3,746,971)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from lines of credit and long-term borrowings	36,040,240	37,295,236	31,586,968
Payments on lines of credit, long-term borrowings and capital lease obligations	(36,525,136)	(37,584,011)	(29,232,842)
Mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interest payments	0	0	(153,022)
Preferred stock dividends paid	(168,668)	(167,642)	(163,324)
Redemptions of equities	(8,847)	(35,268)	(23,911)
Cash patronage dividends paid	0	(103,879)	(251,740)
Other financing activities, net	(69,759)	(22,694)	52,067
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(732,170)	(618,258)	1,814,196
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	8,864	(4,713)	(5,223)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	269,238	(108,894)	(677,444)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	181,379	290,273	967,717
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 450,617	$ 181,379	$ 290,273