Segment Reporting Segment Reporting (Reconciliation of Consolidated EBITDA to Consolidated Net Earnings) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2016	Oct. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	$ (43,073)	$ (79,793)
Income tax benefit	(590)	(844)
Interest Expense	35,428	33,788
Depreciation and amortization expense	26,202	36,979
EBITDA	17,967	(9,870)
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), Compensation Expense	3,754	5,256
Non-cash stock-based compensation charge	1,881	8,122
Goodwill impairment	0	29,316
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Property Plant Equipment, Excluding Oil and Gas Property and Timber Property	6,423	14,917
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)	(508)	122
Change in fair value of contingent consideration	0	(100)
Severance Costs	1,469	856
Acquisition Costs, Period Cost	0	15
Net earnings (loss)	(43,471)	(80,566)
Adjusted EBITDA	29,019	48,899
Midstream - Crude Oil Logistics [Member]
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions, Expenses and Losses Recognized	(1,569)	1,038
Adjusted EBITDA	4,771	24,803
Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	(398)	(773)
Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	(39,440)	(76,536)
Income tax benefit	(591)	(844)
Interest Expense	31,398	29,758
Depreciation and amortization expense	26,202	36,979
EBITDA	17,569	(10,643)
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), Compensation Expense	3,754	5,256
Non-cash stock-based compensation charge	1,881	8,122
Goodwill impairment	0	29,316
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Property Plant Equipment, Excluding Oil and Gas Property and Timber Property	6,423	14,917
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)	(508)	122
Change in fair value of contingent consideration	0	(100)
Severance Costs	1,469	856
Acquisition Costs, Period Cost	0	15
Net earnings (loss)	(39,440)	(76,536)
Adjusted EBITDA	29,019	48,899
Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member] | Midstream - Crude Oil Logistics [Member]
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions, Expenses and Losses Recognized	(1,569)	1,038
Adjusted EBITDA	4,771	$ 24,803
General Partner [Member]
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	(431)
General Partner [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	$ (398)