Segment Reporting - Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2023	Feb. 28, 2022	Feb. 28, 2023	Feb. 28, 2022	Aug. 31, 2022
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 11,306,848	$ 10,332,588	$ 24,072,687	$ 21,213,345
Revenue From Contract With Customer Net of Intersegment Revenue Excluding Assessed Tax	11,306,848	10,332,588	24,072,687	21,213,345
Operating earnings (loss)	142,342	24,673	786,811	339,647
Interest Expense	35,967	25,174	69,217	48,606
Other income	(28,313)	(1,405)	(52,602)	(25,181)
Equity income from investments	(178,334)	(229,923)	(360,296)	(381,268)
Income before income taxes	313,022	230,827	1,130,492	697,490
Total assets	$ 20,171,014		$ 20,171,014		$ 18,824,807
CF Nitrogen LLC [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Ownership percentage	8.00%		8.00%
TEMCO, LLC
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Ownership percentage	50.00%		50.00%
Ventura Foods, LLC
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Ownership percentage	50.00%		50.00%
Ardent Mills LLC [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Ownership percentage	12.00%		12.00%
Energy
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues, including intersegment revenues	$ 2,314,601	2,163,233	$ 5,651,726	4,631,576
Revenues	2,168,901	2,027,999	5,288,207	4,331,986
Intersegment Revenue	(145,700)	(135,234)	(363,519)	(299,590)
Revenue From Contract With Customer Net of Intersegment Revenue Excluding Assessed Tax	2,168,901	2,027,999	5,288,207	4,331,986
Operating earnings (loss)	260,344	11,145	659,003	78,994
Interest Income, Operating	2,485		4,541	2,386
Interest Expense		1,898
Other income	(5,489)	(3)	(9,012)	(731)
Equity income from investments	(1,474)	(1,582)	2,058	(2,682)
Income before income taxes	264,822	10,832	661,416	80,021
Total assets	4,172,499		4,172,499
Ag
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues, including intersegment revenues	9,127,526	8,302,502	18,768,085	16,879,905
Revenues	9,120,470	8,295,931	18,753,714	16,865,190
Intersegment Revenue	(7,056)	(6,571)	(14,371)	(14,715)
Revenue From Contract With Customer Net of Intersegment Revenue Excluding Assessed Tax	9,120,470	8,295,931	18,753,714	16,865,190
Operating earnings (loss)	(98,889)	43,610	164,613	303,383
Interest Expense	18,434	13,224	37,001	26,885
Other income	(20,285)	(6,520)	(39,587)	(27,099)
Equity income from investments	(15,472)	(18,275)	(38,534)	(38,009)
Income before income taxes	(81,566)	55,181	205,733	341,606
Total assets	9,648,401		9,648,401
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 earnings (loss)	(18,097)	(10,862)	(34,369)	(21,045)
Interest Expense	15,184	11,253	29,605	22,507
Other income	0	(253)	0	(1,800)
Equity income from investments	(115,014)	(176,119)	(242,580)	(292,592)
Income before income taxes	81,733	154,257	178,606	250,840
Total assets	2,629,429		2,629,429
Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues, including intersegment revenues	20,479	10,641	36,578	20,845
Revenues	17,477	8,658	30,766	16,169
Intersegment Revenue	(3,002)	(1,983)	(5,812)	(4,676)
Revenue From Contract With Customer Net of Intersegment Revenue Excluding Assessed Tax	17,477	8,658	30,766	16,169
Operating earnings (loss)	(1,016)	(19,220)	(2,436)	(21,685)
Interest Expense	7,205	(996)	11,330	(2,816)
Other income	(9,880)	5,166	(17,263)	4,093
Equity income from investments	(46,374)	(33,947)	(81,240)	(47,985)
Income before income taxes	48,033	10,557	84,737	25,023
Total assets	3,720,685		3,720,685
Other Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	(155,758)	(143,788)	(383,702)	(318,981)
Intersegment Revenue	155,758	143,788	383,702	318,981
Revenue From Contract With Customer Net of Intersegment Revenue Excluding Assessed Tax	0	0	0	0
Operating earnings (loss)	0	0	0	0
Interest Expense	(7,341)	(205)	(13,260)	(356)
Other income	7,341	205	13,260	356
Equity income from investments	0	0	0	0
Income before income taxes	0	$ 0	0	$ 0
Total assets	$ 0		$ 0