Investments - Schedule of Investments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019	Aug. 31, 2018
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Cost method investments	$ 123,955	$ 124,264
Investments	3,630,033	3,683,996
Revenues	28,406,365	31,900,453	$ 32,683,347
Gross Profit	981,807	1,384,333	1,092,120
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	423,609	828,057	775,306
CF Industries Nitrogen, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investments	2,662,618	2,708,942
Revenues	2,522,827	2,894,795	2,449,695
Gross Profit	570,901	737,168	423,612
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	529,462	706,291	$ 401,295
Ventura Foods, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investments	381,351	374,516
Ardent Mills, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investments	208,927	209,027
Other equity method investments
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investments	$ 253,182	$ 267,247