CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Total	Preferred stock:	Common stock:	Additional paid-in capital:	Retained earnings:	Retained earnings: Series B Preferred Stock	Retained earnings: Series C Preferred Stock	Accumulated other comprehensive income:	Total Stockholders' Equity	Non-controlling interest:
Balance, beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2008		$ 9,200	$ 10,132	$ 95,572	$ (52,144)			$ (47,412)		$ 0
Balance, beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2008		9	10,132
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of stock		49	10
Exercise of stock options and SARs			0
Net income attributable to Farmer Mac	99,600				99,600
Stock-based compensation expense				2,694
Change in unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities, net of tax and reclassification adjustments								50,514
Preferred stock - Farmer Mac II LLC										0
Cash dividends:
Common stock ($0.20 per share)					(2,027)
Preferred stock, Series B ($8.33 and $102.67 per share in 2010 and 2009, respectively) and Series C ($50.00 per share in 2011 and 2010 and $33.03 per share in 2009)						(15,400)	(1,902)
Issuance of stock		48,378	10	32
Change in unrealized gain on financial derivatives, net of tax and reclassification adjustments								152
Loss on retirement of preferred stock	0				0
Tax effect of stock-based awards				(1,208)
Exercise of stock options and SARs			0
Cumulative effect of adoption of new accounting standard, net of tax					0
Comprehensive income:
Net income	99,600
Change in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax	50,666
Comprehensive income	150,266
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interest	0
Total comprehensive income	150,266
Balance, end of period at Dec. 31, 2009	196,191	57,578	10,142	97,090	28,127			3,254	196,191	0
Balance, end of period at Dec. 31, 2009		58	10,142
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of stock		0	127
Exercise of stock options and SARs			15
Net income attributable to Farmer Mac	31,993				31,993
Stock-based compensation expense				2,774
Change in unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities, net of tax and reclassification adjustments								14,975
Preferred stock - Farmer Mac II LLC										241,853
Cash dividends:
Common stock ($0.20 per share)					(2,049)
Preferred stock, Series B ($8.33 and $102.67 per share in 2010 and 2009, respectively) and Series C ($50.00 per share in 2011 and 2010 and $33.03 per share in 2009)						(1,250)	(2,879)
Issuance of stock		0	127	40
Change in unrealized gain on financial derivatives, net of tax and reclassification adjustments								46
Loss on retirement of preferred stock	(5,784)				(5,784)
Tax effect of stock-based awards				146
Exercise of stock options and SARs			15
Cumulative effect of adoption of new accounting standard, net of tax					2,679
Comprehensive income:
Net income	52,700
Change in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax	15,021
Comprehensive income	67,721
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interest	20,707
Total comprehensive income	47,014
Balance, end of period at Dec. 31, 2010	478,877	57,578	10,284	100,050	50,837			18,275	237,024	241,853
Balance, end of period at Dec. 31, 2010		58	10,284
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of stock		0	59
Exercise of stock options and SARs			14
Net income attributable to Farmer Mac	16,663				16,663
Stock-based compensation expense				2,929
Change in unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities, net of tax and reclassification adjustments								61,095
Preferred stock - Farmer Mac II LLC										0
Cash dividends:
Common stock ($0.20 per share)					(2,067)
Preferred stock, Series B ($8.33 and $102.67 per share in 2010 and 2009, respectively) and Series C ($50.00 per share in 2011 and 2010 and $33.03 per share in 2009)						0	(2,879)
Issuance of stock		0	59	22
Change in unrealized gain on financial derivatives, net of tax and reclassification adjustments								0
Loss on retirement of preferred stock	0				0
Tax effect of stock-based awards				(180)
Exercise of stock options and SARs			14
Cumulative effect of adoption of new accounting standard, net of tax					0
Comprehensive income:
Net income	38,850
Change in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax	61,095
Comprehensive income	99,945
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interest	22,187
Total comprehensive income	77,758
Balance, end of period at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 554,533	$ 57,578	$ 10,357	$ 102,821	$ 62,554			$ 79,370	$ 312,680	$ 241,853
Balance, end of period at Dec. 31, 2011		58	10,357