Segment Reporting - Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2021	Nov. 30, 2020	Aug. 31, 2021
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 10,880,757	$ 8,715,643
Revenue From Contract With Customer Net of Intersegment Revenue Excluding Assessed Tax	10,880,757	8,715,643
Operating earnings (loss)	314,974	7,443
Interest Expense	23,432	25,050
Other income	23,776	12,624
Equity income from investments	151,345	50,023
Income (loss) before income taxes	466,663	45,040
Total assets	19,614,978		$ 17,576,275
Energy
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues, including intersegment revenues	2,468,343	1,357,845
Revenues	2,303,987	1,257,847
Intersegment Revenue	(164,356)	(99,998)
Revenue From Contract With Customer Net of Intersegment Revenue Excluding Assessed Tax	2,303,987	1,257,847
Operating earnings (loss)	67,850	(68,385)
Interest Income, Operating	488
Interest Expense		(238)
Other income	728	482
Equity income from investments	1,100	489
Income (loss) before income taxes	69,190	(67,176)
Total assets	4,315,331
Ag
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues, including intersegment revenues	8,577,403	7,450,305
Revenues	8,569,259	7,445,402
Intersegment Revenue	(8,144)	(4,903)
Revenue From Contract With Customer Net of Intersegment Revenue Excluding Assessed Tax	8,569,259	7,445,402
Operating earnings (loss)	259,773	75,524
Interest Expense	13,661	14,505
Other income	20,579	11,817
Equity income from investments	19,734	10,174
Income (loss) before income taxes	286,425	83,010
Total assets	9,335,801
Nitrogen Production [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues, including intersegment revenues	0	0
Intersegment Revenue	0	0
Revenue From Contract With Customer Net of Intersegment Revenue Excluding Assessed Tax	0	0
Operating earnings (loss)	(10,183)	(7,623)
Interest Expense	11,254	11,163
Other income	1,547	1,566
Equity income from investments	116,473	21,688
Income (loss) before income taxes	96,583	4,468
Total assets	2,796,671
Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues, including intersegment revenues	10,204	15,481
Revenues	7,511	12,394
Intersegment Revenue	(2,693)	(3,087)
Revenue From Contract With Customer Net of Intersegment Revenue Excluding Assessed Tax	7,511	12,394
Operating earnings (loss)	(2,466)	7,927
Interest Expense	1,820	1,138
Other income	1,073	277
Equity income from investments	14,038	17,672
Income (loss) before income taxes	14,465	24,738
Total assets	3,167,175
Other Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	(175,193)	(107,988)
Intersegment Revenue	175,193	107,988
Revenue From Contract With Customer Net of Intersegment Revenue Excluding Assessed Tax	0	0
Operating earnings (loss)	0	0
Interest Expense	151	(1,518)
Other income	151	(1,518)
Equity income from investments	0	0
Income (loss) before income taxes	0	$ 0
Total assets	$ 0