Legal Proceedings	9 Months Ended
May 31, 2012
Legal Proceedings [Abstract]
Legal Proceedings	9. The sugar beet industry and the Company have been or are currently involved in various litigation concerning the approval of Roundup Ready® sugarbeets for planting in 2012 and forward. The legal proceedings to date have resulted in the finding that, for the 2012-crop, it is legal for the Company's shareholder/patrons to plant and harvest sugarbeets produced from Roundup Ready® sugarbeet seed. However, the Company believes that there will continue to be legal challenges to the USDA's partial deregulation of the Roundup Ready® sugarbeet seed. The ability of shareholder/patrons to plant Roundup Ready® sugarbeets in subsequent years will be based upon actions by the USDA, which may be subject to further challenge by certain groups who oppose the partial deregulation. Environmental law restrictions on the use of Roundup Ready® sugarbeet seeds or other restriction relating to sugarbeet seeds or herbicides could have a significant, negative financial impact on the Company and its shareholder/patrons. The Company has incurred $4.1 million in costs related to assuring a supply of conventional sugarbeet seed for its shareholders/patrons. $0.7 million of the $4.1 million in cost was expensed in fiscal year 2012. The remaining $3.4 million in cost is reflected as other assets and the method of allocating these costs to the 2013 or later crop year has yet to be determined. Management believes these assets are not impaired as of May 31, 2012 and August 31, 2011.

9. The sugar beet industry and the Company have been or are currently involved in various litigation concerning the approval of Roundup Ready® sugarbeets for planting in 2012 and forward. The legal proceedings to date have resulted in the finding that, for the 2012-crop, it is legal for the Company's shareholder/patrons to plant and harvest sugarbeets produced from Roundup Ready® sugarbeet seed. However, the Company believes that there will continue to be legal challenges to the USDA's partial deregulation of the Roundup Ready® sugarbeet seed. The ability of shareholder/patrons to plant Roundup Ready® sugarbeets in subsequent years will be based upon actions by the USDA, which may be subject to further challenge by certain groups who oppose the partial deregulation.

Environmental law restrictions on the use of Roundup Ready® sugarbeet seeds or other restriction relating to sugarbeet seeds or herbicides could have a significant, negative financial impact on the Company and its shareholder/patrons.

The Company has incurred $4.1 million in costs related to assuring a supply of conventional sugarbeet seed for its shareholders/patrons. $0.7 million of the $4.1 million in cost was expensed in fiscal year 2012. The remaining $3.4 million in cost is reflected as other assets and the method of allocating these costs to the 2013 or later crop year has yet to be determined. Management believes these assets are not impaired as of May 31, 2012 and August 31, 2011.