Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 48,572	$ (75,171)	$ (190,107)
Loss from discontinued operations	0	0	(2,735)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	48,572	(75,171)	(187,372)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash used by operating activities:
Depreciation	40,950	47,065	54,822
Amortization of intangibles	(63,666)	(57,695)	(45,920)
Amortization of unearned restricted stock compensation	29,164	30,389	16,676
Amortization of debt issuance costs	9,922	13,198	9,030
Intangible asset impairment	0	32,450	0
Administrative related reorganization items	0	0	3,646
Payments for administrative related reorganization items	0	0	(47,173)
Non-cash increase to cost of goods sold due to fresh-start reporting inventory valuation	0	0	34,865
Non-cash interest expense on 12% Notes	0	0	24,555
Write off of unamortized (premium) / discount on retired debt	(466)	8,950	59,162
Write off of debt issuance costs	2,946	15,420	6,551
Non-cash restructuring and related charges	5,195	15,143	16,359
Non-cash debt accretion	722	4,773	18,302
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	22,892	12,969	12,702
Inventories	(11,642)	96,406	(66,127)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	561	815	2,025
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	1,424	(60,505)	86,497
Other assets and liabilities	40,909	27,792	(21,881)
Net cash (used) provided by operating activities of continuing operations	254,815	227,389	68,559
Net cash used by operating activities of discontinued operations	0	0	(11,221)
Net cash used by operating activities	254,815	227,389	57,338
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	46,809	36,160	40,316
Proceeds from sale of assets previously held for sale	0	6,997	0
Other investing activities	1,545	5,480	2,189
Net cash used by investing activities	(231,494)	(45,696)	(42,505)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of 6.75% Notes	300,000	0	0
Payment of 12% Notes, including tender and call premium	270,431	0	0
Proceeds from issuance of 9.5% Notes, including premium	217,000	0	0
Proceeds from senior credit facilities, excluding ABL revolving credit facility, net of discount	0	0	1,474,755
Payment of senior credit facilities, excluding ABL revolving credit facility	155,061	224,763	1,278,760
Prepayment penalty of term loan facility	0	5,653	0
Reduction of other debt	4,112	0	8,456
Other debt financing, net	392	5,788	13,688
Debt issuance costs	11,231	12,616	55,024
ABL revolving credit facility, net	0	0	(33,225)
Payments of supplemental loan	0	0	(45,000)
Cash dividends paid	(51,450)	0	0
Treasury stock purchases	30,996	3,409	2,207
Net proceeds from equity offering	0	29,851	0
Other financing activities	(953)	0	0
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities	(6,842)	(210,802)	65,771
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents due to Venezuela hyperinflation	0	0	(8,048)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(932)	909	258
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	15,547	(28,200)	72,814
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	142,414	170,614	97,800
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	157,961	142,414	170,614
Cash paid for interest	185,384	171,577	136,429
Cash paid for income taxes, net	39,173	37,171	36,951
Black Flag [Member]
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisition, net of cash acquired	43,750	0	0
Furminator [Member]
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisition, net of cash acquired	139,390	0	0
Seed Resources [Member]
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisition, net of cash acquired	$ 0	$ 11,053	$ 0