Segment Reporting - Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2023	Aug. 31, 2022	Aug. 31, 2021
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue From Contract With Customer, Including Intersegment Revenue, Excluding Assessed Tax	$ 45,590,004	$ 47,791,666	$ 38,448,033
Intersegment Revenue	0	0	0
RevenueFromContractWithCustomerNetofIntersegmentRevenueExcludingAssessedTax	45,590,004	47,791,666	38,448,033
Operating earnings (loss)	1,343,500	1,129,086	205,797
Interest expense	137,442	114,156	104,565
Other income	(112,131)	(23,760)	(59,559)
Equity income from investments	(689,590)	(771,327)	(354,529)
Income before income taxes	2,007,779	1,810,017	515,320
Capital expenditures	564,522	354,444	317,794
Depreciation and amortization, including amortization of deferred major maintenance	464,615	461,972	461,730
Total assets	18,957,418	18,824,807
Nitrogen Production
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue From Contract With Customer, Including Intersegment Revenue, Excluding Assessed Tax	0	0	0
Intersegment Revenue	0	0	0
RevenueFromContractWithCustomerNetofIntersegmentRevenueExcludingAssessedTax	0	0	0
Operating earnings (loss)	(73,828)	(55,600)	(35,432)
Interest expense	60,090	48,110	44,461
Other income	0	11,487	(2,489)
Equity income from investments	(394,678)	(593,182)	(198,439)
Income before income taxes	260,760	477,985	121,035
Capital expenditures	0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization, including amortization of deferred major maintenance	0	0	0
Total assets	2,577,391	2,641,604
Ag
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue From Contract With Customer, Including Intersegment Revenue, Excluding Assessed Tax	35,456,969	37,489,203	32,058,064
Intersegment Revenue	(31,765)	(28,992)	(22,722)
RevenueFromContractWithCustomerNetofIntersegmentRevenueExcludingAssessedTax	35,425,204	37,460,211	32,035,342
Operating earnings (loss)	346,137	588,070	265,362
Interest expense	71,115	59,118	65,099
Other income	(88,061)	(46,277)	(47,452)
Equity income from investments	(48,725)	(82,357)	(50,381)
Income before income taxes	411,808	657,586	298,096
Capital expenditures	308,690	203,851	148,770
Depreciation and amortization, including amortization of deferred major maintenance	166,982	173,488	182,210
Total assets	7,095,283	8,159,191
Energy
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue From Contract With Customer, Including Intersegment Revenue, Excluding Assessed Tax	10,761,503	10,964,304	6,812,478
Intersegment Revenue	(664,590)	(669,530)	(437,217)
RevenueFromContractWithCustomerNetofIntersegmentRevenueExcludingAssessedTax	10,096,913	10,294,774	6,375,261
Operating earnings (loss)	1,071,492	633,832	(15,775)
Interest expense	7,672	6,768	1,113
Other income	(19,456)	(3,474)	(2,819)
Equity income from investments	7,833	13,987	(3,473)
Income before income taxes	1,075,443	616,551	(10,596)
Capital expenditures	204,003	116,136	112,160
Depreciation and amortization, including amortization of deferred major maintenance	254,115	250,972	245,273
Total assets	4,313,240	4,325,121
Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue From Contract With Customer, Including Intersegment Revenue, Excluding Assessed Tax	82,107	45,278	46,476
Intersegment Revenue	(14,220)	(8,597)	(9,046)
RevenueFromContractWithCustomerNetofIntersegmentRevenueExcludingAssessedTax	67,887	36,681	37,430
Operating earnings (loss)	(301)	(37,216)	(8,358)
Interest expense	31,487	5,105	1,804
Other income	(37,536)	9,559	(14,711)
Equity income from investments	(254,020)	(109,775)	(102,236)
Income before income taxes	259,768	57,895	106,785
Capital expenditures	51,829	34,457	56,864
Depreciation and amortization, including amortization of deferred major maintenance	43,518	37,512	34,247
Total assets	4,971,504	3,698,891
Other Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue From Contract With Customer, Including Intersegment Revenue, Excluding Assessed Tax	(710,575)	(707,119)	(468,985)
Intersegment Revenue	710,575	707,119	468,985
RevenueFromContractWithCustomerNetofIntersegmentRevenueExcludingAssessedTax	0	0	0
Operating earnings (loss)
Interest expense	(32,922)	(4,945)	(7,912)
Other income	32,922	4,945	7,912
Equity income from investments
Income before income taxes	0	0	0
Capital expenditures	0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization, including amortization of deferred major maintenance	0	0	$ 0
Total assets	$ 0	$ 0