Investments - Narrative (Details)		12 Months Ended
	Feb. 01, 2016	Aug. 31, 2023 USD ($) T	Aug. 31, 2022 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2021 USD ($)	Feb. 01, 2096 USD ($)
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity income from investments, net of distributions received		$ (689,590,000)	$ (771,327,000)	$ (354,529,000)
Capital reserves		2,537,486,000	2,055,682,000
Retained Earnings, Undistributed Earnings from Equity Method Investees		636,100,000
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 from investments, net of distributions received		(394,678,000)	(593,182,000)	(198,439,000)
Ag
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity income from investments, net of distributions received		$ (48,725,000)	(82,357,000)	(50,381,000)
CF Industries Nitrogen, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment, ownership percentage		9.00%
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		$ 2,577,391,000	2,641,604,000
Cash Distribution from Equity Method		$ 458,900,000	618,700,000	$ 193,900,000
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		$ 519,169,000	410,093,000
Ardent Mills
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment, ownership percentage		12.00%
Equity method investments		$ 265,146,000	$ 250,857,000
TEMCO
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment, ownership percentage		50.00%