Equity - (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Equity [Abstract]

Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Stock Options, Activity [Table Text Block]

The following tables summarize stock options, SARs, and non-vested restricted stock activity for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012:

Table 9.1

	For the Year Ended December 31,
	2014				2013				2012
	Stock Options and SARs		Weighted- Average Exercise Price		Stock Options and SARs		Weighted- Average Exercise Price		Stock Options and SARs		Weighted- Average Exercise Price
Outstanding, beginning of year	664,245		$	23.78	788,748		$	20.89	1,327,066		$	18.72
Granted	87,600		34.92		94,017		31.24		157,983		22.32
Exercised	(23,035	)	20.83		(208,877	)	16.24		(427,348	)	13.18
Canceled	(10,667	)	31.16		(9,643	)	23.02		(268,953	)	23.29
Outstanding, end of year	718,143		25.12		664,245		23.78		788,748		20.89
Exercisable at end of year	548,180		23.12		483,216		22.83		574,439		21.76
	For the Year Ended December 31,
	2014				2013				2012
	Non-vested Restricted Stock		Weighted- Average Grant Date Fair Value		Non-vested Restricted Stock		Weighted- Average Grant Date Fair Value		Non-vested Restricted Stock		Weighted- Average Grant Date Fair Value
Outstanding, beginning of year	98,285		$	27.66	91,311		$	18.75	196,076		$	12.15
Granted	57,590		33.88		73,985		30.27		72,637		21.92
Canceled	(8,360	)	21.72		(1,000	)	31.42		(59,624	)	16.98
Vested and issued	(43,743	)	28.48		(66,011	)	18.21		(117,778	)	10.62
Outstanding, end of year	103,772		31.24		98,285		27.66		91,311		18.75

Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, by Exercise Price Range [Table Text Block]

The following tables summarize information regarding stock options, SARs, and non-vested restricted stock outstanding as of December 31, 2014:

Table 9.2

	Outstanding		Exercisable		Vested or Expected to Vest
Range of Exercise Prices	Stock Options and SARs	Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Life	Stock Options and SARs	Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Life	Stock Options and SARs	Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Life
$5.00 - $ 9.99	32,000	4.4 years	32,000	4.4 years	32,000	4.4 years
10.00 - 14.99	66,665	5.4 years	66,665	5.4 years	66,665	5.4 years
15.00 - 19.99	67,000	6.4 years	67,000	6.4 years	67,000	6.4 years
20.00 - 24.99	127,703	4.9 years	101,036	4.3 years	125,295	4.9 years
25.00 - 29.99	230,152	2.6 years	228,152	2.5 years	230,072	2.6 years
30.00 - 34.99	136,623	7.6 years	53,327	6.2 years	132,349	7.6 years
35.00 - 39.99	58,000	9.2 years	—	—	55,560	9.2 years
	718,143		548,180		708,941
	Outstanding		Expected to Vest
Weighted- Average Grant-Date Fair Value	Non-vested Restricted Stock	Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	Non-vested Restricted Stock	Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life
20.00 - 24.99	12,000	0.2 years	11,160	0.2 years
25.00 - 29.99	—	—	—	—
30.00 - 34.99	90,223	1.7 years	85,012	1.7 years
35.00 - 39.99	1,549	2.8 years	1,487	2.8 years
	103,772		97,659

Schedule of Share-based Payment Award, Stock Options, Valuation Assumptions [Table Text Block]

The fair values of stock options and SARs were estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model based on the following assumptions:

Table 9.3

	For the Year Ended December 31,
	2014	2013	2012
Risk-free interest rate	1.5%	0.6%	1.1%
Expected years until exercise	4 years	4 years	5 years
Expected stock volatility	49.7%	83.4%	94.6%
Dividend yield	1.6%	1.5%	1.8%

The risk-free interest rates used in the model were based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the grant date.  Farmer Mac used historical data to estimate the timing of option exercises and stock option cancellation rates used in the model.  Expected volatilities were based on historical volatility of Farmer Mac's Class C common stock.  The dividend yields were based on the expected dividends as a percentage of the value of Farmer Mac's Class C common stock on the grant date.