CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 70,282	$ 97,515	$ 68,960
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 Securities	18,461	26,217	19,643
Amortization of debt premiums, discounts and issuance costs	9,689	11,839	14,658
Net change in fair value of trading securities, hedged assets, and financial derivatives	8,213	(44,362)	(1,017)
Losses/(gains) on sale of available-for-sale investment securities	238	(2,113)	(18)
Gains on repurchase of debt	0	1,462	0
Gains on sale of real estate owned	(137)	(1,236)	(878)
Total (release of)/provision for losses	(3,166)	448	1,875
Deferred income taxes	(6,979)	6,670	(1,982)
Stock-based compensation expense	2,859	2,967	2,428
Proceeds from repayment of trading investment securities	685	774	810
Payments to Purchase Loans Held-for-sale	0	0	(171,925)
Proceeds from repayment of loans purchased as held for sale	98,712	168,589	151,473
Net change in:
Interest receivable	2,657	(3,835)	6,938
Guarantee and commitment fees receivable	2,118	(2,115)	(10,405)
Other assets	(39,624)	52,872	(43,200)
Accrued interest payable	(5,417)	1,993	(9,075)
Other liabilities	(3,539)	(771)	5,018
Net cash provided by operating activities	155,052	313,990	33,303
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of loans held for investment	(749,099)	(911,846)	(564,251)
Purchases of defaulted loans	(705)	(6,704)	(17,024)
Proceeds from repayment of loans purchased as held for investment	337,466	265,151	289,318
Proceeds from sale of Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities	175,754	150,417	38,063
Proceeds from sale of real estate owned	1,927	4,042	2,056
Net cash used in investing activities	(83,662)	(995,093)	(1,328,810)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Excess tax benefits related to stock-based awards	51	1,160	2,113
Payments to third parties on debt securities of consolidated trusts	(37,512)	(56,278)	(106,438)
Proceeds from common stock issuance	244	1,913	2,935
Investment in Contour	175	0	0
Purchase of interest - Non-controlling interest - preferred stock	(6,000)	0	0
Dividends paid - Non-controlling interest - preferred stock	(22,192)	(22,187)	(22,187)
Dividends paid on common and preferred stock	(13,996)	(7,979)	(7,084)
Net cash provided by financing activities	542,684	644,852	1,264,025
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	614,074	(36,251)	(31,482)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	749,313	785,564	817,046
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	1,363,387	749,313	785,564
Medium-term Notes [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of discount notes and medium-term notes	3,544,818	2,886,783	3,358,188
Payments to redeem discount notes and medium-term notes	(3,108,000)	(2,066,602)	(1,790,000)
Discount Notes [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of discount notes and medium-term notes	38,388,899	64,859,652	67,404,261
Payments to redeem discount notes and medium-term notes	(38,350,229)	(64,952,365)	(67,577,763)
Investment Securities [Member]
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of available-for-sale investment securities and Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Guaranteed Securities	(1,545,658)	(1,703,082)	(1,888,352)
Proceeds from repayment of available-for-sale investment securities, Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Guaranteed Securities	1,327,044	1,350,491	1,410,427
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale investment securities	770,149	366,562	7,018
Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Securities [Member]
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of available-for-sale investment securities and Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Guaranteed Securities	(1,555,272)	(1,635,394)	(1,469,057)
Proceeds from repayment of available-for-sale investment securities, Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Guaranteed Securities	1,154,732	1,125,270	862,992
Series A Preferred Stock [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from Preferred Stock Issuances	0	58,333	0
Series B Preferred Stock [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from Preferred Stock Issuances	73,044	0	0
Series C Preferred Stock [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from Preferred Stock Issuances	73,382	0	0
Retired Series C Preferred Stock [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Retirement of Series C Preferred stock	$ 0	$ (57,578)	$ 0