Segment Reporting - Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2023	Nov. 30, 2022	Aug. 31, 2023
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 11,390,658	$ 12,765,839
Revenue From Contract With Customer Net of Intersegment Revenue Excluding Assessed Tax	11,390,658	12,765,839
Operating earnings (loss)	392,894	644,469
Interest Expense	29,628	33,250
Other income	(44,529)	(24,289)
Equity income from investments	(109,051)	(181,962)
Income before income taxes	516,846	817,470
Total assets	$ 20,432,885		$ 18,957,418
CF Nitrogen LLC [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Ownership percentage	9.00%
Ventura Foods, LLC
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Ownership percentage	50.00%
Ardent Mills LLC [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Ownership percentage	12.00%
Energy
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues, including intersegment revenues	$ 2,919,123	3,337,125
Revenues	2,717,940	3,119,306
Intersegment Revenue	(201,183)	(217,819)
Revenue From Contract With Customer Net of Intersegment Revenue Excluding Assessed Tax	2,717,940	3,119,306
Operating earnings (loss)	258,847	398,659
Interest Expense	(8,542)	2,056
Other income	(1,279)	(3,523)
Equity income from investments	1,833	3,532
Income before income taxes	266,835	396,594
Total assets	4,256,026
Ag
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues, including intersegment revenues	8,660,108	9,640,559
Revenues	8,652,165	9,633,244
Intersegment Revenue	(7,943)	(7,315)
Revenue From Contract With Customer Net of Intersegment Revenue Excluding Assessed Tax	8,652,165	9,633,244
Operating earnings (loss)	140,341	263,502
Interest Expense	15,957	18,567
Other income	(26,116)	(19,302)
Equity income from investments	(19,220)	(23,062)
Income before income taxes	169,720	287,299
Total assets	9,088,813
Nitrogen Production [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues, including intersegment revenues	0	0
Intersegment Revenue	0	0
Revenue From Contract With Customer Net of Intersegment Revenue Excluding Assessed Tax	0	0
Operating earnings (loss)	(16,195)	(16,272)
Interest Expense	10,609	14,421
Other income	0	0
Equity income from investments	(63,263)	(127,566)
Income before income taxes	36,459	96,873
Total assets	2,640,655
Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues, including intersegment revenues	25,367	16,099
Revenues	20,553	13,289
Intersegment Revenue	(4,814)	(2,810)
Revenue From Contract With Customer Net of Intersegment Revenue Excluding Assessed Tax	20,553	13,289
Operating earnings (loss)	9,901	(1,420)
Interest Expense	16,989	4,125
Other income	(22,519)	(7,383)
Equity income from investments	(28,401)	(34,866)
Income before income taxes	43,832	36,704
Total assets	4,447,391
Other Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	(213,940)	(227,944)
Intersegment Revenue	213,940	227,944
Revenue From Contract With Customer Net of Intersegment Revenue Excluding Assessed Tax	0	0
Operating earnings (loss)	0	0
Interest Expense	(5,385)	(5,919)
Other income	5,385	5,919
Equity income from investments	0	0
Income before income taxes	0	$ 0
Total assets	$ 0