Segment Reporting - Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2022	Feb. 28, 2021	Feb. 28, 2022	Feb. 28, 2021	Aug. 31, 2021
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 10,332,588	$ 8,320,159	$ 21,213,345	$ 17,035,802
Revenue From Contract With Customer Net of Intersegment Revenue Excluding Assessed Tax	10,332,588	8,320,159	21,213,345	17,035,802
Operating (loss) earnings	24,673	(59,790)	339,647	(52,347)
Interest Expense	25,174	28,855	48,606	53,905
Other income	(1,405)	(17,846)	(25,181)	(30,470)
Equity income from investments	(229,923)	(64,109)	(381,268)	(114,132)
(Loss) income before income taxes	230,827	(6,690)	697,490	38,350
Total assets	20,747,301		20,747,301		$ 17,576,275
Energy
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues, including intersegment revenues	2,163,233	1,470,465	4,631,576	2,828,310
Revenues	2,027,999	1,372,158	4,331,986	2,630,005
Intersegment Revenue	(135,234)	(98,307)	(299,590)	(198,305)
Revenue From Contract With Customer Net of Intersegment Revenue Excluding Assessed Tax	2,027,999	1,372,158	4,331,986	2,630,005
Operating (loss) earnings	11,145	(55,449)	78,994	(123,834)
Interest Income, Operating	1,898		2,386	826
Interest Expense		1,063
Other income	(3)	(990)	(731)	(1,472)
Equity income from investments	(1,582)	(832)	(2,682)	(1,321)
(Loss) income before income taxes	10,832	(54,690)	80,021	(121,867)
Total assets	4,378,601		4,378,601
Ag
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues, including intersegment revenues	8,302,502	6,942,185	16,879,905	14,392,490
Revenues	8,295,931	6,938,212	16,865,190	14,383,614
Intersegment Revenue	(6,571)	(3,973)	(14,715)	(8,876)
Revenue From Contract With Customer Net of Intersegment Revenue Excluding Assessed Tax	8,295,931	6,938,212	16,865,190	14,383,614
Operating (loss) earnings	43,610	2,093	303,383	77,617
Interest Expense	13,224	16,630	26,885	31,135
Other income	(6,520)	(11,636)	(27,099)	(23,453)
Equity income from investments	(18,275)	(16,945)	(38,009)	(27,118)
(Loss) income before income taxes	55,181	14,044	341,606	97,053
Total assets	10,338,907		10,338,907
Nitrogen Production [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues, including intersegment revenues	0	0	0	0
Intersegment Revenue	0	0	0	0
Revenue From Contract With Customer Net of Intersegment Revenue Excluding Assessed Tax	0	0	0	0
Operating (loss) earnings	(10,862)	(8,240)	(21,045)	(15,862)
Interest Expense	11,253	12,241	22,507	23,403
Other income	(253)	(302)	(1,800)	(1,867)
Equity income from investments	(176,119)	(31,344)	(292,592)	(53,033)
(Loss) income before income taxes	154,257	11,165	250,840	15,635
Total assets	2,725,582		2,725,582
Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues, including intersegment revenues	10,641	12,046	20,845	27,528
Revenues	8,658	9,789	16,169	22,183
Intersegment Revenue	(1,983)	(2,257)	(4,676)	(5,345)
Revenue From Contract With Customer Net of Intersegment Revenue Excluding Assessed Tax	8,658	9,789	16,169	22,183
Operating (loss) earnings	(19,220)	1,806	(21,685)	9,732
Interest Expense	(996)	7	(2,816)	1,145
Other income	5,166	(6,004)	4,093	(6,282)
Equity income from investments	(33,947)	(14,988)	(47,985)	(32,660)
(Loss) income before income taxes	10,557	22,791	25,023	47,529
Total assets	3,304,211		3,304,211
Other Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	(143,788)	(104,537)	(318,981)	(212,526)
Intersegment Revenue	143,788	104,537	318,981	212,526
Revenue From Contract With Customer Net of Intersegment Revenue Excluding Assessed Tax	0	0	0	0
Operating (loss) earnings	0	0	0	0
Interest Expense	(205)	(1,086)	(356)	(2,604)
Other income	205	1,086	356	2,604
Equity income from investments	0	0	0	0
(Loss) income before income taxes	0	$ 0	0	$ 0
Total assets	$ 0		$ 0