PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS Components of net periodic benefit cost (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2020	Jul. 31, 2019
Pension Benefits
Defined Benefit Plans and Postretirement Health Benefits
Service cost	$ 1,096,000	$ 1,626,000
Interest cost	1,900,000	2,114,000
Expected return on plan assets	(2,790,000)	(2,809,000)
Amortization of: Prior service costs (income)	0	2,000
Amortization of: Other actuarial loss	1,005,000	771,000
Settlement cost	2,012,000	0
Net periodic benefit cost	3,223,000	1,704,000
Postretirement Health Benefits
Defined Benefit Plans and Postretirement Health Benefits
Service cost	116,000	105,000
Interest cost	82,000	97,000
Expected return on plan assets	0	0
Amortization of: Prior service costs (income)	(6,000)	(6,000)
Amortization of: Other actuarial loss	0	0
Settlement cost	0	0
Net periodic benefit cost	$ 192,000	$ 196,000