Segment Reporting - Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	May 31, 2024	May 31, 2023	May 31, 2024	May 31, 2023	Aug. 31, 2023
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 9,608,983	$ 12,026,051	$ 30,087,121	$ 36,098,738
Revenue From Contract With Customer Net of Intersegment Revenue Excluding Assessed Tax	9,608,983	12,026,051	30,087,121	36,098,738
Operating earnings (loss)	151,360	401,102	611,916	1,187,913
Interest Expense	23,425	36,949	78,513	106,166
Other income	(29,934)	(31,027)	(105,802)	(83,629)
Equity income from investments	(151,999)	(162,940)	(373,167)	(523,236)
Income before income taxes	309,868	558,120	1,012,372	1,688,612
Total assets	$ 18,457,915		$ 18,457,915		$ 18,957,418
CF Nitrogen LLC [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Ownership percentage	9.00%		9.00%
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	$ 2,189,301	2,433,108	$ 6,982,501	8,084,834
Revenues	2,067,178	2,264,087	6,541,840	7,552,294
Intersegment Revenue	(122,123)	(169,021)	(440,661)	(532,540)
Revenue From Contract With Customer Net of Intersegment Revenue Excluding Assessed Tax	2,067,178	2,264,087	6,541,840	7,552,294
Operating earnings (loss)	92,718	198,015	396,997	857,018
Interest Expense	(1,527)	2,662	(11,439)	7,203
Other income	(4,013)	(4,922)	(9,921)	(13,934)
Equity income from investments	408	1,280	2,093	3,338
Income before income taxes	97,850	198,995	416,264	860,411
Total assets	4,342,937		4,342,937
Ag
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues, including intersegment revenues	7,526,468	9,752,861	23,500,643	28,520,946
Revenues	7,523,656	9,743,976	23,486,932	28,497,690
Intersegment Revenue	(2,812)	(8,885)	(13,711)	(23,256)
Revenue From Contract With Customer Net of Intersegment Revenue Excluding Assessed Tax	7,523,656	9,743,976	23,486,932	28,497,690
Operating earnings (loss)	80,889	219,333	257,461	383,946
Interest Expense	16,248	20,677	47,109	57,678
Other income	(25,446)	(25,001)	(74,258)	(64,588)
Equity income from investments	(18,448)	(9,858)	(50,496)	(48,392)
Income before income taxes	108,535	233,515	335,106	439,248
Total assets	7,674,976		7,674,976
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)	(22,087)	(17,393)	(56,757)	(51,762)
Interest Expense	15,321	14,619	41,744	44,224
Other income	(2,461)	0	(5,430)	0
Equity income from investments	(87,313)	(88,275)	(218,905)	(330,855)
Income before income taxes	52,366	56,263	125,834	234,869
Total assets	2,652,631		2,652,631
Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues, including intersegment revenues	22,088	21,996	69,688	58,574
Revenues	18,149	17,988	58,349	48,754
Intersegment Revenue	(3,939)	(4,008)	(11,339)	(9,820)
Revenue From Contract With Customer Net of Intersegment Revenue Excluding Assessed Tax	18,149	17,988	58,349	48,754
Operating earnings (loss)	(160)	1,147	14,215	(1,289)
Interest Expense	94	8,410	17,741	19,740
Other income	(4,725)	(10,523)	(32,835)	(27,786)
Equity income from investments	(46,646)	(66,087)	(105,859)	(147,327)
Income before income taxes	51,117	69,347	135,168	154,084
Total assets	3,787,371		3,787,371
Other Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	(128,874)	(181,914)	(465,711)	(565,616)
Intersegment Revenue	128,874	181,914	465,711	565,616
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	(6,711)	(9,419)	(16,642)	(22,679)
Other income	6,711	9,419	16,642	22,679
Equity income from investments	0	0	0	0
Income before income taxes	0	$ 0	0	$ 0
Total assets	$ 0		$ 0