Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net earnings	$ 254,733	$ 225,406
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	194,820	182,224
Amortization	19,950	18,841
Impairment	1,729	2,500
Deferred income taxes	14,163	38,088
Gain on sales of plant and equipment	(126)	(65)
Gain on sale of business	(6,822)	0
Stock-based compensation expense	22,744	21,352
Changes in assets and liabilities, excluding effects of business acquisitions and divestitures:
Trade receivables, net	15,579	(37,360)
Inventories, net	(49,972)	(27,954)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(37,410)	(10,908)
Accounts payable, trade	(19,594)	(9,801)
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	(6,526)	(62,329)
Other non-current assets	2,626	2,059
Other non-current liabilities	(836)	(1,002)
Net cash provided by operating activities	405,058	341,051
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital expenditures	(244,052)	(263,398)
Proceeds from sales of plant, equipment and businesses	23,438	12,199
Business acquisitions and holdback settlements	(94,630)	(96,970)
Other, net	(1,668)	(1,473)
Net cash used in investing activities	(316,912)	(349,642)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Net (decrease) increase in short-term debt	(104,181)	406,701
Proceeds from borrowings of long-term debt	260,372	1,065,560
Repayment of long-term debt	(18,115)	(1,147,735)
Financing costs	(2,076)	(4,567)
Purchase of treasury stock	(222,163)	(300,000)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	78,091	22,890
Stock issued for the Employee Stock Purchase Plan	12,781	11,361
Tax benefit realized from the exercise of stock options	33,352	10,914
Dividends paid to stockholders	(92,655)	(70,819)
Change in cash overdraft	11,609	(2,858)
Net cash used in financing activities	(66,203)	(2,837)
Change in cash	21,943	(11,428)
Cash - Beginning of period	44,663	57,218
Cash - End of period	$ 66,606	$ 45,790