Investments - Schedule of Equity Method Investment Balance Sheet and Statement of Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2019	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Earnings attributable to CHS Inc.	$ 829,880	$ 775,907	$ 71,592
CF Industries Nitrogen
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Current assets	590,057	576,076
Non-current assets	7,028,766	7,447,594
Current liabilities	228,324	215,104
Non-current liabilities	2,455	71
Net sales	2,894,795	2,449,695	2,051,159
Gross profit	737,168	423,612	195,142
Net earnings	706,291	401,295	123,965
Earnings attributable to CHS Inc.	160,373	106,895	66,530
Ventura Foods and Ardent Mills
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Current assets	1,469,003	1,462,590
Non-current assets	2,327,217	2,331,295
Current liabilities	535,579	671,928
Non-current liabilities	790,401	693,360
Net sales	5,752,368	5,882,035	5,762,849
Gross profit	565,784	601,927	673,329
Net earnings	248,303	226,776	265,126
Earnings attributable to CHS Inc.	$ 69,157	$ 46,069	$ 60,716