Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Feb. 29, 2012	Aug. 31, 2011	Feb. 28, 2011
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 508,062	$ 937,685	$ 184,126
Receivables	2,669,618	2,980,105	2,648,669
Inventories	3,306,227	2,768,424	3,232,315
Derivative assets	208,270	635,646	728,722
Margin deposits	392,407	1,081,243	1,018,105
Other current assets	534,539	334,232	632,622
Total current assets	7,619,123	8,737,335	8,444,559
Investments	612,062	595,979	720,929
Property, plant and equipment	2,636,847	2,420,214	2,354,693
Other assets	498,963	463,482	442,335
Total assets	11,366,995	12,217,010	11,962,516
Current liabilities:
Notes payable	636,071	716,268	1,909,995
Current portion of long-term debt	92,793	90,804	108,973
Current portion of mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests	65,265
Customer margin deposits and credit balances	254,448	751,393	742,655
Customer advance payments	905,781	601,685	1,164,915
Checks and drafts outstanding	190,333	197,283	142,311
Accounts payable	1,838,650	2,315,311	1,597,719
Derivative liabilities	296,242	482,613	452,703
Accrued expenses	439,766	405,270	432,644
Dividends and equities payable	203,724	400,216	182,879
Total current liabilities	4,923,073	5,960,843	6,734,794
Long-term debt	1,396,731	1,411,193	930,990
Mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests	265,424
Other liabilities	644,478	579,654	450,183
Commitments and contingencies
Equities:
Equity certificates	2,652,236	2,695,626	2,344,229
Preferred stock	319,368	319,368	319,368
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(192,081)	(174,876)	(200,621)
Capital reserves	1,343,916	1,075,474	1,093,970
Total CHS Inc. equities	4,123,439	3,915,592	3,556,946
Noncontrolling interests	13,850	349,728	289,603
Total equities	4,137,289	4,265,320	3,846,549
Total liabilities and equities	$ 11,366,995	$ 12,217,010	$ 11,962,516