Segment Reporting (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Nov. 30, 2016

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment

	Energy			Ag			Nitrogen Production			Foods			Corporate and Other			Reconciling Amounts			Total
For the Three Months Ended November 30, 2016:	(Dollars in thousands)
Revenues	$	1,700,180		$	6,435,994		$	—		$	—		$	27,441		$	(115,365	)	$	8,048,250
Operating earnings (loss)	72,780			109,597			(4,029		)	(2,797		)	10,940			—			186,491
(Gain) loss on investments	—			7,385			—			—			16			—			7,401
Interest expense	4,268			16,339			12,736			—			7,974			(3,052		)	38,265
Other income	(309		)	(17,923		)	(29,106		)	—			(115		)	3,052			(44,401		)
Equity (income) loss from investments	(1,162		)	(5,417		)	(14,696		)	(13,369		)	(5,684		)	—			(40,328		)
Income (loss) before income taxes	$	69,983		$	109,213		$	27,037		$	10,572		$	8,749		$	—		$	225,554
Intersegment revenues	$	(110,087	)	$	(3,765	)	$	—		$	—		$	(1,513	)	$	115,365		$	—
Capital expenditures	$	80,754		$	29,226		$	—		$	—		$	7,006		$	—		$	116,986
Depreciation and amortization	$	54,954		$	59,406		$	—		$	—		$	7,012		$	—		$	121,372
Total assets at November 30, 2016	$	4,243,151		$	7,748,375		$	2,835,125		$	372,049		$	3,231,761		$	—		$	18,430,461

	Energy			Ag			Nitrogen Production		Foods			Corporate and Other			Reconciling Amounts			Total
For the Three Months Ended November 30, 2015:	(Dollars in thousands)
Revenues	$	1,705,913		$	6,114,256		$	—	$	—		$	19,895		$	(111,272	)	$	7,728,792
Operating earnings (loss)	180,513			74,990			—		(1,951		)	6,262			—			259,814
(Gain) loss on investments	—			(5,672		)	—		—			—			—			(5,672		)
Interest expense	(11,599		)	16,782			—		822			3,655			(609		)	9,051
Other income	(2		)	(1,812		)	—		—			(853		)	609			(2,058		)
Equity (income) loss from investments	(823		)	(3,576		)	—		(21,077		)	(5,886		)	—			(31,362		)
Income (loss) before income taxes	$	192,937		$	69,268		$	—	$	18,304		$	9,346		$	—		$	289,855
Intersegment revenues	$	(107,103	)	$	(3,053	)	$	—	$	—		$	(1,116	)	$	111,272		$	—
Capital expenditures	$	132,367		$	98,138		$	—	$	—		$	21,173		$	—		$	251,678
Depreciation and amortization	$	41,063		$	55,173		$	—	$	—		$	4,114		$	—		$	100,350