Revenues Disaggregated Revenue (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2020

Aug. 31, 2019

Disaggregation of Revenue [Table Text Block]

	Year Ended August 31, 2020
Reportable Segment*	ASC Topic 606		ASC Topic 815		Other Guidance		Total Revenues
	(Dollars in thousands)
Energy	$	4,833,003	$	598,131	$	—	$	5,431,134
Ag	5,963,198		16,901,258		61,643		22,926,099
Corporate and Other	22,903		—		26,229		49,132
Total revenues	$	10,819,104	$	17,499,389	$	87,872	$	28,406,365
	Year Ended August 31, 2019
Reportable Segment*	ASC Topic 606		ASC Topic 815		Other Guidance		Total Revenues
	(Dollars in thousands)
Energy	$	6,393,075	$	726,001	$	—	$	7,119,076
Ag	6,319,304		18,268,977		131,791		24,720,072
Corporate and Other	20,262		—		41,043		61,305
Total revenues	$	12,732,641	$	18,994,978	$	172,834	$	31,900,453

Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax

$ (28,406,365)

$ (31,900,453)

Accounting Standards Update 2014-09

Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax

(10,819,104)

(12,732,641)

Accounting Standards Update 2017-12 [Member]

Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax

(17,499,389)

(18,994,978)

Other Guidance [Member]

Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax

(87,872)

(172,834)

Energy

Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax

(5,431,134)

(7,119,076)

Energy | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09

Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax

(4,833,003)

(6,393,075)

Energy | Accounting Standards Update 2017-12 [Member]

Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax

(598,131)

(726,001)

Energy | Other Guidance [Member]

Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax

0

0

Ag

Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax

(22,926,099)

(24,720,072)

Ag | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09

Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax

(5,963,198)

(6,319,304)

Ag | Accounting Standards Update 2017-12 [Member]

Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax

(16,901,258)

(18,268,977)

Ag | Other Guidance [Member]

Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax

(61,643)

(131,791)

Corporate and Other

Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax

(49,132)

(61,305)

Corporate and Other | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09

Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax

(22,903)

(20,262)

Corporate and Other | Accounting Standards Update 2017-12 [Member]

Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax

0

0

Corporate and Other | Other Guidance [Member]

Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax

$ (26,229)

$ (41,043)