Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows - USD ($)
6 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2016
Jan. 31, 2015
Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities:    
Net earnings (loss) $ (22,811,000) $ 53,202,000
Reconciliation of net earnings to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:    
Depreciation and amortization expense 74,346,000 47,252,000
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge 8,397,000 8,162,000
Non-cash stock-based compensation charge 5,666,000 16,430,000
Goodwill impairment 29,316,000 0
Loss on Disposal of Assets and Asset Impairment Charges 17,441,000 2,375,000
Change in fair value of contingent consideration (100,000) (6,300,000)
Provision for doubtful accounts 952,000 1,859,000
Deferred tax expense 88,000 157,000
Other 2,531,000 1,698,000
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from business acquisitions:    
Accounts and notes receivable, net of securitization (77,498,000) (96,797,000)
Inventories 4,280,000 13,696,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 9,066,000 (38,477,000)
Accounts payable 29,266,000 32,126,000
Accrued interest expense (420,000) 47,000
Other current liabilities (29,145,000) (9,905,000)
Other assets and liabilities 2,652,000 (11,817,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities 54,027,000 13,708,000
Cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities:    
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired (12,718,000) (68,655,000)
Capital expenditures (39,461,000) (29,413,000)
Proceeds from sale of assets 6,441,000 2,729,000
Other (28,000) 0
Net cash used in investing activities (45,766,000) (95,339,000)
Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities:    
Distributions (102,693,000) (83,551,000)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt 92,959,000 90,643,000
Payments on long-term debt (6,149,000) (45,063,000)
Net additions to (reductions in) short-term borrowings 10,881,000 (2,088,000)
Net additions to collateralized short-term borrowings   84,000,000
Repayments of Other Long-term Debt 49,000,000  
Cash paid for financing costs (398,000) (204,000)
Proceeds from (Payments to) Noncontrolling Interests (1,575,000) (501,000)
Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock (46,398,000) 0
Proceeds from Stock Options Exercised 182,000 91,000
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Limited Partners Units 0 41,948,000
Contributions from partners 32,000 425,000
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities (4,159,000) 85,700,000
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash 0 (2,000)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents 4,102,000 4,067,000
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period 7,652,000 8,289,000
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period 11,754,000 12,356,000
Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. [Member]    
Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities:    
Net earnings (loss) (50) (150)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from business acquisitions:    
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities (50) (150)
Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities:    
Capital contribution 50 90
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 50 90
Net change in cash 0 (60)
Cash - beginning of period 1,000 969
Cash - end of period 1,000 909
Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]    
Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities:    
Net earnings (loss) (14,349,000) 61,272,000
Reconciliation of net earnings to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:    
Depreciation and amortization expense 74,346,000 47,252,000
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge 8,397,000 8,162,000
Non-cash stock-based compensation charge 5,666,000 16,430,000
Goodwill impairment 29,316,000 0
Loss on Disposal of Assets and Asset Impairment Charges 17,441,000 2,375,000
Change in fair value of contingent consideration (100,000) (6,300,000)
Provision for doubtful accounts 952,000 1,859,000
Deferred tax expense 88,000 157,000
Other 2,321,000 1,479,000
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from business acquisitions:    
Accounts and notes receivable, net of securitization (77,782,000) (96,797,000)
Inventories 4,280,000 13,696,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 9,073,000 (38,426,000)
Accounts payable 29,266,000 32,126,000
Accrued interest expense (420,000) 47,000
Other current liabilities (26,685,000) (9,904,000)
Other assets and liabilities 2,651,000 (11,817,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities 64,461,000 21,611,000
Cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities:    
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired (12,718,000) (68,655,000)
Capital expenditures (39,461,000) (29,413,000)
Proceeds from sale of assets 6,441,000 2,729,000
Other (28,000) 0
Net cash used in investing activities (45,766,000) (95,339,000)
Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities:    
Distributions (158,907,000) (92,332,000)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt 92,959,000 90,643,000
Payments on long-term debt (6,149,000) (45,063,000)
Net additions to (reductions in) short-term borrowings 10,881,000 (2,088,000)
Net additions to collateralized short-term borrowings   84,000,000
Repayments of Other Short-term Debt 49,000,000  
Cash paid for financing costs (398,000) (204,000)
Contributions from partners 30,000 42,655,000
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities (12,584,000) 77,611,000
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash 0 (2,000)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents 6,111,000 3,881,000
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period 5,600,000 8,283,000
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period 11,711,000 12,164,000
Ferrellgas Finance Corp. [Member]    
Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities:    
Net earnings (loss) (3,091) (3,560)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from business acquisitions:    
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities (3,091) (3,560)
Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities:    
Capital contribution 3,091 3,450
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 3,091 3,450
Net change in cash 0 (110)
Cash - beginning of period 1,100 1,100
Cash - end of period $ 1,100 $ 990