CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Interest income:
Loans	$ 119,176	$ 124,472	$ 37,987
Total interest income	274,687	238,711	176,493
Total interest expense	153,382	142,668	90,585
Net interest income	121,305	96,043	85,908
Provision for loan losses	(610)	(1,893)	(2,853)
Net interest income after provision for loan losses	120,695	94,150	83,055
Non-interest (loss)/income:
Guarantee and commitment fees	24,821	24,091	31,805
(Losses)/gains on financial derivatives	(92,645)	(17,159)	21,297
Gains on trading assets	3,455	5,270	43,273
Other-than-temporary impairment losses	0	0	(3,994)
Gains on sale of available-for-sale investment securities	269	266	3,353
Gains on sale of loans	0	0	1,581
Gains on sale of real estate owned	974	10	0
Lower of cost or fair value adjustment on loans held for sale	8,887	(8,748)	(139)
Other income	6,850	1,244	1,578
Non-interest (loss)/income	(47,389)	4,974	98,754
Non-interest expense:
Compensation and employee benefits	17,884	17,232	13,683
General and administrative	9,732	8,564	11,167
Regulatory fees	2,277	2,243	2,100
Real estate owned operating costs, net	823	2,171	353
(Release of)/provision for losses	(2,957)	2,417	2,389
Other expense	900	0	0
Non-interest expense	28,659	32,627	29,692
Income before income taxes	44,647	66,497	152,117
Income tax expense	5,797	13,797	52,517
Net income	38,850	52,700	99,600
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interest - preferred stock dividends	(22,187)	(20,707)	0
Net income attributable to Farmer Mac	16,663	31,993	99,600
Preferred stock dividends	(2,879)	(4,129)	(17,302)
Loss on retirement of preferred stock	0	(5,784)	0
Net income attributable to common stockholders	13,784	22,080	82,298
Earnings per common share and dividends:
Basic earnings per common share	$ 1.33	$ 2.16	$ 8.12
Diluted earnings per common share	$ 1.28	$ 2.08	$ 8.04
Common stock dividends per common share	$ 0.20	$ 0.20	$ 0.20
Investments and Cash Equivalents
Interest income:
Interest and dividend income, securities	28,117	27,497	28,727
Farmer Mac and USDA Guaranteed Securities
Interest income:
Interest and dividend income, securities	$ 127,394	$ 86,742	$ 109,779