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Investments - Narrative (Details)
$ in Thousands
3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Feb. 01, 2016
USD ($)
May 31, 2019
USD ($)
May 31, 2018
USD ($)
May 31, 2019
USD ($)
May 31, 2018
USD ($)
Aug. 31, 2018
USD ($)
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]            
Equity (income) loss from investments   $ (65,170) $ (59,308) $ (173,394) $ (137,111)  
Cost Method Investments   123,590   123,590   $ 122,788
Investments   $ 3,738,140   $ 3,738,140   3,711,925
CF Nitrogen LLC [Member]            
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]            
Payments to Acquire Equity Method Investments $ 2,800,000          
Ownership percentage   10.00%   10.00%    
Equity Method Investments   $ 2,767,053   $ 2,767,053   2,735,073
Ventura Foods, LLC            
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]            
Equity Method Investments   368,774   368,774   360,150
Ardent Mills LLC [Member]            
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]            
Equity Method Investments   209,624   209,624   205,898
Nitrogen Production [Member]            
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]            
Equity (income) loss from investments   $ (41,959) (35,639) $ (118,416) (79,986)  
Foods [Member] | Ventura Foods, LLC            
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]            
Ownership percentage   50.00%   50.00%    
Corporate and Other            
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]            
Equity (income) loss from investments   $ (18,439) (11,343) $ (50,475) (29,166)  
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            
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]            
Equity (income) loss from investments   $ (4,012) $ (11,359) $ (2,675) $ (25,180)  
Miscellaneous Investments [Member]            
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]            
Equity Method Investments   $ 269,099   $ 269,099   $ 288,016