CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified					6 Months Ended												6 Months Ended				6 Months Ended				6 Months Ended														6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014 Preferred Stock [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Preferred Stock [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Preferred Stock [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Preferred Stock [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Preferred Stock [Member] Series A Preferred Stock [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Preferred Stock [Member] Series A Preferred Stock [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Preferred Stock [Member] Series B Preferred Stock [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Preferred Stock [Member] Series B Preferred Stock [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Preferred Stock [Member] Series C Preferred Stock [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Preferred Stock [Member] Series C Preferred Stock [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Preferred Stock [Member] Retired Series C Preferred Stock [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Preferred Stock [Member] Retired Series C Preferred Stock [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Common Stock [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Common Stock [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Common Stock [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Common Stock [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Retaine Earnings [Member}	Jun. 30, 2013 Retaine Earnings [Member}	Dec. 31, 2013 Retaine Earnings [Member}	Dec. 31, 2012 Retaine Earnings [Member}	Jun. 30, 2014 Retaine Earnings [Member} Series A Preferred Stock [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Retaine Earnings [Member} Series A Preferred Stock [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Retaine Earnings [Member} Series B Preferred Stock [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Retaine Earnings [Member} Series B Preferred Stock [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Retaine Earnings [Member} Series C Preferred Stock [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Retaine Earnings [Member} Series C Preferred Stock [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Retaine Earnings [Member} Retired Series C Preferred Stock [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Retaine Earnings [Member} Retired Series C Preferred Stock [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Total Stockholders Equity [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Total Stockholders Equity [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Non-controlling Interest - Preferred Stock [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Non-controlling Interest - Preferred Stock [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Non-controlling Interest - Preferred Stock [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Non-controlling Interest - Preferred Stock [Member]
Treasury Stock, Value, Acquired, Par Value Method																																							$ (6,000)	$ 0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period (Shares)	8,400	2,400	2,400	58									10,924	10,824	10,886	10,702
Balance, beginning of period	204,774	58,333	58,333	57,578									10,924	10,824	10,886	10,702	111,958	109,001	110,722	106,617	186,842	143,589	168,877	102,243									21,923	38,721	(16,202)	73,969	536,421	360,468	235,853	241,853	241,853	241,853
Issuance of Series preferred stock (Shares)					0	2,400	3,000	0	3,000	0			38	122
Issuance of Series preferred stock					0	58,333	73,061	0	73,380	0			38	122			12	3
Redemption of Series C preferred stock (Shares)											0	(58)
Redemption of Series C preferred stock											0	(57,578)
Issuance of Class C common stock (Shares)					0	2,400	3,000	0	3,000	0			38	122
Issuance of Class C common stock					0	58,333	73,061	0	73,380	0			38	122			12	3
Stock-based compensation expense																	1,426	1,540
Tax effect of stock-based awards																	(202)	841
Net income attributable to Farmer Mac																					24,278	45,667
Cash dividends:
Preferred Stock Series A ($0.7344 per share) Preferred stock, Series B ($0.5347 per share), Preferred stock Series B ($0.0458 per share), Preferred stock, retired Series C ($2.36 per share)																									(1,762)	(1,596)	(1,360)	0	(138)	0	0	(136)
Common stock ($0.28 per share in 2014 and $0.24 per share in 2013)																					(3,053)	(2,589)
Other comprehensive income/(loss)																																	38,125	(35,248)
Balance, end of period (Shares)	8,400	2,400	2,400	58									10,924	10,824	10,886	10,702
Balance, end of period	$ 204,774	$ 58,333	$ 58,333	$ 57,578									$ 10,924	$ 10,824	$ 10,886	$ 10,702	$ 111,958	$ 109,001	$ 110,722	$ 106,617	$ 186,842	$ 143,589	$ 168,877	$ 102,243									$ 21,923	$ 38,721	$ (16,202)	$ 73,969	$ 536,421	$ 360,468	$ 235,853	$ 241,853	$ 241,853	$ 241,853