Inventories	6 Months Ended
Feb. 29, 2012
Inventories [Abstract]
Inventories	2. Inventories of refined sugar, in-process sugar, pulp and molasses to be sold on a pooled basis are valued at Net Realizable Value ("NRV"), while third-party purchased refined sugar to be sold on a pooled basis is valued at the lower of cost or market. Third-party refined sugar costs include product, delivery, poll adjustment, and refining fee costs. Inventory of yeast is valued at the lower of average cost or market. Materials and supplies (including conventional seed and chemicals) are valued at most recent purchase price that approximates cost. During the periods when sugarbeets are purchased from shareholder/patrons and/or non-members, but not yet converted into refined sugar or in-process sugar, that sugarbeet inventory is valued at patron and/or non-members payment cost. In valuing inventories at NRV, the Company, in effect sells the remaining inventory to the subsequent period's sugar and co-product pool. Pooled product inventories will normally increase to a peak valuation at the end of the processing campaign and decrease to a low point of valuation at or near fiscal year end.

Inventories

6 Months Ended

Feb. 29, 2012

2. Inventories of refined sugar, in-process sugar, pulp and molasses to be sold on a pooled basis are valued at Net Realizable Value ("NRV"), while third-party purchased refined sugar to be sold on a pooled basis is valued at the lower of cost or market. Third-party refined sugar costs include product, delivery, poll adjustment, and refining fee costs. Inventory of yeast is valued at the lower of average cost or market. Materials and supplies (including conventional seed and chemicals) are valued at most recent purchase price that approximates cost. During the periods when sugarbeets are purchased from shareholder/patrons and/or non-members, but not yet converted into refined sugar or in-process sugar, that sugarbeet inventory is valued at patron and/or non-members payment cost. In valuing inventories at NRV, the Company, in effect sells the remaining inventory to the subsequent period's sugar and co-product pool. Pooled product inventories will normally increase to a peak valuation at the end of the processing campaign and decrease to a low point of valuation at or near fiscal year end.