Investments - Schedule of Investments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Other Investments	$ 128,816	$ 123,955
Investments	3,669,111	3,630,033
Revenues	38,448,033	28,406,365	$ 31,900,453
Gross Profit	951,399	981,807	1,384,333
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	553,569	423,609	828,057
CF Industries Nitrogen, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investments	2,667,164	2,662,618
Revenues	2,975,983	2,522,827	2,894,795
Gross Profit	866,880	570,901	737,168
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	809,536	529,462	706,291
Ventura Foods, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investments	388,612	381,351
Revenues	2,584,532	2,246,412	2,463,945
Gross Profit	350,708	289,590	299,959
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	151,196	68,055	$ 102,069
Ardent Mills, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investments	220,132	208,927
Other equity method investments
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investments	232,923	233,738
TEMCO
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investments	$ 31,464	$ 19,444