Organization, Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2021

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Organization, Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies

Organization, Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies

Organization

    CHS Inc. (referred to herein as "CHS," "we," "us" or "our") is the nation’s leading integrated agricultural cooperative. As a cooperative, CHS is owned by farmers and ranchers and member cooperatives ("members") across the United States. We also have preferred shareholders that own shares of our five series of preferred stock, all of which are listed and traded on the Global Select Market of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC ("The Nasdaq"). See Note 12, Equities, for more detailed information.

    We buy commodities from and provide products and services to individual agricultural producers, local cooperatives and other companies (including member and other nonmember customers), both domestically and internationally. Those products and services include initial agricultural inputs such as fuels, farm supplies, crop nutrients and crop protection products, as well as agricultural outputs that include grains and oilseeds, processed grains and oilseeds, renewable fuels and food products. A portion of our operations are conducted through equity investments and joint ventures whose operating results are not fully consolidated with our results; rather, a proportionate share of the income or loss from those entities is included as a component in our net income under the equity method of accounting.

Basis of Presentation

    The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of CHS and all our subsidiaries and limited liability companies in which we have a controlling interest. The effects of all significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated.

The notes to our consolidated financial statements refer to our Energy, Ag, Nitrogen Production and Foods reportable segments, as well as our Corporate and Other category, which represents an aggregation of individually immaterial operating segments. The Nitrogen Production reportable segment consists of our investment in CF Industries Nitrogen, LLC ("CF Nitrogen"), and allocated expenses. The Foods reportable segment met quantitative criteria to become a reportable segment during fiscal 2021 and consists of our investment in Ventura Foods, LLC. ("Ventura Foods"), and allocated expenses. See Note 14, Segment Reporting, for more information.

Use of Estimates

    The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. We base our estimates on assumptions that are believed to be reasonable, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities. Due to the inherent uncertainty involved in making estimates, actual results could differ from those estimates. We evaluate our estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis.

Significant Accounting Policies

Significant accounting policies are summarized below or within the related notes to our consolidated financial statements.

Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash

    Cash equivalents include short-term, highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less at the date of acquisition. The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents approximates the fair value due to the short-term nature of the instruments.

    Restricted cash is included in our Consolidated Balance Sheets within other current assets and primarily relates to customer deposits for futures and option contracts associated with regulated commodities held in separate accounts as required under federal and other regulations. Pursuant to the requirements of the Commodity Exchange Act, such funds must be carried in separate accounts that are designated as segregated customer accounts, as applicable. Restricted cash also includes funds held in escrow pursuant to applicable regulations limiting their usage.

    The following table provides a reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash as reported within our Consolidated Balance Sheets that aggregates to the amount presented in our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

	August 31,
	2021		2020		2019
	(Dollars in thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents	$	413,159	$	140,874	$	211,179
Restricted cash included in other current assets	129,325		76,119		88,496
Total cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash	$	542,484	$	216,993	$	299,675

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Except for the recent accounting pronouncements described below, other recent accounting pronouncements are not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Adopted

    In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses ("ASC Topic 326"): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. The amendments in this ASU introduce a new approach, based on expected losses, to estimate credit losses on certain types of financial instruments. This ASU is intended to provide financial statement users with more decision-useful information about the expected credit losses associated with most financial assets measured at amortized cost and certain other instruments, including trade and other receivables, loans, held-to-maturity debt securities, net investments in leases and off-balance sheet credit exposures. Entities are required to apply the provisions of this ASU as a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of capital reserves as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is adopted. As part of our adoption efforts, we performed various data-gathering activities, developed credit loss models, performed data analyses and made accounting policy election determinations. The impact of adoption on September 1, 2020, did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles

Not Yet Adopted

    There are not any recent accounting pronouncements yet to be adopted that we expect to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.