Equities (Tables)
 3 Months Ended
Nov. 30, 2021
Class of Stock [Line Items]  
Schedule of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Pension and Other Postretirement BenefitsCash Flow HedgesForeign Currency Translation AdjustmentTotal
(Dollars in thousands)
Balance as of August 31, 2021, net of tax$(141,385)$4,824 $(79,830)$(216,391)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Amounts before reclassifications
(83)870 (9,983)(9,196)
Amounts reclassified
5,064 (12,954)— (7,890)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), before tax4,981 (12,084)(9,983)(17,086)
Tax effect
(1,213)2,943 (62)1,668 
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax3,768 (9,141)(10,045)(15,418)
Balance as of November 30, 2021, net of tax$(137,617)$(4,317)$(89,875)$(231,809)
Pension and Other Postretirement BenefitsCash Flow HedgesForeign Currency Translation AdjustmentTotal
(Dollars in thousands)
Balance as of August 31, 2020, net of tax$(159,680)$10,886 $(85,130)$(233,924)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Amounts before reclassifications
(125)14,506 3,629 18,010 
Amounts reclassified
4,977 (12,284)— (7,307)
Total other comprehensive income, before tax4,852 2,222 3,629 10,703 
Tax effect
(1,207)(553)(26)(1,786)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax3,645 1,669 3,603 8,917 
Balance as of November 30, 2020, net of tax$(156,035)$12,555 $(81,527)$(225,007)
Schedule of Stockholders Equity Changes in equities for the three months ended November 30, 2021 and 2020, are as follows:
 Equity Certificates Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss		   
Capital
Equity
Certificates		Nonpatronage
Equity
Certificates		Nonqualified Equity CertificatesPreferred
Stock		Capital
Reserves		Noncontrolling
Interests		Total
Equities
 (Dollars in thousands)
Balances, August 31, 2021$3,583,911 $28,431 $1,634,896 $2,264,038 $(216,391)$1,713,976 $8,465 $9,017,326 
Reversal of prior year redemption estimates
12,221 — — — — — — 12,221 
Redemptions of equities
(9,824)(318)(2,079)— — — — (12,221)
Preferred stock dividends
— — — — — (84,334)— (84,334)
Other, net
(1,023)17 (64)— — 1,393 (841)(518)
Net income (loss)— — — — — 451,961 (18)451,943 
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax— — — — (15,418)— — (15,418)
Estimated 2022 cash patronage refunds— — — — — (39,691)— (39,691)
Estimated 2022 equity redemptions(79,382)— — — — — — (79,382)
Balances, November 30, 2021$3,505,903 $28,130 $1,632,753 $2,264,038 $(231,809)$2,043,305 $7,606 $9,249,926 
 Equity Certificates Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss		   
Capital
Equity
Certificates		Nonpatronage
Equity
Certificates		Nonqualified Equity CertificatesPreferred
Stock		Capital
Reserves		Noncontrolling
Interests		Total
Equities
 (Dollars in thousands)
Balances, August 31, 2020$3,724,187 $28,727 $1,408,696 $2,264,038 $(233,924)$1,618,147 $9,302 $8,819,173 
Reversal of prior year redemption estimates
7,726 — — — — — — 7,726 
Redemptions of equities
(6,539)(31)(1,156)— — — — (7,726)
Preferred stock dividends
— — — — — (84,334)— (84,334)
Other, net
(654)(47)(197)— — (7,798)35 (8,661)
Net income (loss)— — — — — 69,671 (302)69,369 
Other comprehensive income, net of tax— — — — 8,917 — — 8,917 
Estimated 2021 cash patronage refunds— — — — — (9,304)— (9,304)
Estimated 2021 equity redemptions(9,304)— — — — — — (9,304)
Balances, November 30, 2020$3,715,416 $28,649 $1,407,343 $2,264,038 $(225,007)$1,586,382 $9,035 $8,785,856 
Preferred Stock [Text Block]
Preferred Stock Dividends

    The following is a summary of dividends per share by series of preferred stock for the three months ended November 30, 2021 and 2020:
Three Months Ended November 30,
Nasdaq symbol20212020
Series of preferred stock:(Dollars per share)
8% Cumulative Redeemable
CHSCP$1.00 $1.00 
Class B Cumulative Redeemable, Series 1
CHSCO$0.98 $0.98 
Class B Reset Rate Cumulative Redeemable, Series 2
CHSCN$0.88 $0.88 
Class B Reset Rate Cumulative Redeemable, Series 3
CHSCM$0.84 $0.84 
Class B Cumulative Redeemable, Series 4
CHSCL$0.94 $0.94