CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Net income	$ 22,588	$ 28,470
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Net amortization of deferred gains, premiums and discounts on loans, investments, Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Guaranteed Securities	2,712	3,672
Amortization of debt premiums, discounts and issuance costs	3,286	3,362
Net change in fair value of trading securities, hedged assets, financial derivatives and loans held for sale	(8,997)	(16,768)
Gains on the sale of available-for-sale investment securities	(2)	(28)
Gains on sale of real estate owned	(47)	0
Total provision for/(release of) losses	1,176	450
Deferred income taxes	1,992	5,190
Stock-based compensation expense	865	956
Proceeds from repayment and sale of trading investment securities	315	288
Purchases of loans held for sale	0	(27,991)
Proceeds from repayment of loans purchased as held for sale	66,095	46,873
Net change in:
Interest receivable	36,879	36,717
Guarantee and commitment fees receivable	(570)	129
Other assets	27,003	6,690
Accrued interest payable	(16,305)	(19,017)
Other liabilities	5,069	3,783
Net cash provided by operating activities	142,059	72,776
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of loans held for investment	(190,149)	(106,845)
Purchases of defaulted loans	(140)	(729)
Proceeds from repayment of loans purchased as held for investment	93,587	88,440
Proceeds from sale of real estate owned	203	0
Net cash provided by/(used in) investing activities	79,194	(493,480)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Excess tax benefits related to stock-based awards	613	623
Payments to third parties on debt securities of consolidated trusts	(25,413)	(48,162)
Proceeds from common stock issuance	888	4
Proceeds from Issuance of Preferred Stock and Preference Stock	58,333	0
Retirement of Series C Preferred stock	(57,578)	0
Dividends paid - Non-controlling interest - preferred stock	(5,547)	(5,547)
Dividends paid on common and preferred stock	(1,426)	(1,038)
Net cash (used in)/provided by financing activities	(113,430)	578,621
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	107,823	157,917
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	785,564	817,046
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	893,387	974,963
Discount Notes [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of notes	15,653,949	16,835,683
Payments to redeem notes	(16,021,517)	(16,436,929)
Medium-term Notes
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of notes	703,268	565,987
Payments to redeem notes	(419,000)	(332,000)
Investment Securities [Member]
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of securities	(244,819)	(649,645)
Proceeds from repayment of available-for-sale investment securities	439,135	291,065
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale investment securities	15,014	5,028
Farmer Mac and USDA Guaranteed Securities
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of securities	(222,187)	(301,725)
Proceeds from repayment of available-for-sale investment securities	163,508	177,551
Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities [Member]
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from sale of Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities	$ 25,042	$ 3,380