Investments - Narrative (Details)		12 Months Ended
	Feb. 01, 2016	Aug. 31, 2022 USD ($) T	Aug. 31, 2021 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Feb. 01, 2096 USD ($)
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity (income) loss from investments, net of distributions received		$ (771,327,000)	$ (354,529,000)	$ (186,715,000)
Investment Company, Distributable Earnings		522,400,000
CF Industries Nitrogen, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investments		2,600,000,000
Nitrogen Production
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity (income) loss from investments, net of distributions received		(593,182,000)	(198,439,000)	(127,954,000)
Ag
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity (income) loss from investments, net of distributions received		$ (82,357,000)	(50,381,000)	(7,303,000)
CF Industries Nitrogen, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment, ownership percentage		8.00%
Supply agreement, term	80 years
Maximum annual granular urea eligible for purchases | T		1,100,000
Maximum annual UAN eligible for purchases | T		580,000
Equity method investments		$ 2,641,604,000	2,667,164,000
Cash Distribution from Equity Method		$ 618,700,000	193,900,000	$ 174,300,000
CF Industries Nitrogen, LLC | Forecast
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investments					$ 0
Ventura Foods
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment, ownership percentage		50.00%
Equity method investments		$ 410,093,000	388,612,000
Ardent Mills
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment, ownership percentage		12.00%
Equity method investments		$ 250,857,000	220,132,000
TEMCO
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment, ownership percentage		50.00%
Equity method investments		$ 32,809,000	$ 31,464,000