Investments - Narrative (Details) T in Millions		3 Months Ended
	Feb. 01, 2016 USD ($)	Nov. 30, 2016 USD ($) T Tons	Nov. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Feb. 01, 2096 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity (income) loss from investments		$ (40,328,000)	$ (31,362,000)
Short-term Investments		0
Cost Method Investments		129,049,000			$ 127,577,000
Investments		$ 3,828,899,000			3,795,976,000
CF Nitrogen LLC [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Payments to Acquire Equity Method Investments	$ 2,800,000,000
Ownership percentage	11.40%
Supply agreement, term	80 years
Maximum annual granular urea eligible for purchase | T		1.1
Maximum annual UAN eligible for purchase | Tons		580,000
Equity Method Investments		$ 2,811,020,000			2,796,323,000
Ventura Foods, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity Method Investments		372,049,000			369,487,000
TEMCO, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity Method Investments		42,686,000			44,578,000
Ardent Mills LLC [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity Method Investments		$ 200,980,000			194,986,000
Cargill, Inc. [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership of joint venture partner		50.00%
Nitrogen Production [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity (income) loss from investments		$ (14,696,000)	0
Nitrogen Production [Member] | CF Nitrogen LLC [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity (income) loss from investments			0
Corporate and Other
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity (income) loss from investments		$ (5,684,000)	(5,886,000)
Corporate and Other | Ardent Mills [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage		12.00%
Number of parent companies		3
Corporate and Other | Ventura Foods, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage		50.00%
Equity value exceeding carrying value		$ 12,900,000
Ag [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity (income) loss from investments		$ (5,417,000)	$ (3,576,000)
Ag [Member] | TEMCO, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage		50.00%
Scenario, Forecast [Member] | Nitrogen Production [Member] | CF Nitrogen LLC [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity Method Investments				$ 0
Miscellaneous Investments [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity Method Investments		$ 273,115,000			$ 263,025,000