CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 13,584	$ 18,614
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	501	1,024
Amortization of debt premiums, discounts and issuance costs	7,643	2,832
Net change in fair value of trading securities, hedged assets, and financial derivatives	2,631	532
Losses/(gains) on sale of available-for-sale investment securities	9	(6)
Loss on sale of real estate owned	0	1
Total (release of)/provision for losses	63	(696)
Deferred income taxes	(1,483)	(1,061)
Stock-based compensation expense	1,027	839
Proceeds from repayment of trading investment securities	205	247
Proceeds from repayment of loans purchased as held for sale	28,794	32,140
Net change in:
Interest receivable	37,633	40,562
Guarantee and commitment fees receivable	800	1,120
Other assets	(31,021)	2,066
Accrued interest payable	(9,469)	(11,972)
Other liabilities	996	2,793
Net cash provided by operating activities	51,913	89,035
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of loans held for investment	(208,215)	(138,929)
Purchases of defaulted loans	(1,415)	(657)
Proceeds from repayment of loans purchased as held for investment	132,652	95,570
Proceeds from sale of Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities	139,561	49,487
Payments from sale of real estate owned	0	(1)
Net cash provided/(used) in investing activities	14,239	(403,922)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Excess tax benefits related to stock-based awards	234	26
Payments to third parties on debt securities of consolidated trusts	(33,010)	(15,793)
Proceeds from common stock issuance	101	4
Investment in Contour	52	0
Redemption of Farmer Mac II LLC Preferred Stock	0	(244,000)
Dividends paid - Non-controlling interest - preferred stock	0	(5,415)
Dividends paid on common and preferred stock	(5,997)	(5,045)
Net cash provided by financing activities	453,327	507,746
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	519,479	192,859
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	1,210,084	1,363,387
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	1,729,563	1,556,246
Medium-term Notes [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of discount notes and medium-term notes	1,207,092	1,344,848
Payments to redeem discount notes and medium-term notes	(921,000)	(912,000)
Discount Notes [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of discount notes and medium-term notes	23,089,113	14,784,601
Payments to redeem discount notes and medium-term notes	(22,873,972)	(14,439,480)
Investment Securities [Member]
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of available-for-sale investment securities and Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Guaranteed Securities	(341,099)	(715,628)
Proceeds from repayment of available-for-sale investment securities, Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Guaranteed Securities	455,315	427,507
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale investment securities	186,769	74,998
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	(1,026,187)	(349,364)
Proceeds from repayment of available-for-sale investment securities, Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Guaranteed Securities	676,858	153,095
Common Class C, Non-Voting [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Common stock repurchased	$ (9,286)	$ 0