CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014
Interest income:
Investments and cash equivalents	$ 27,042		$ 13,338		$ 17,269
Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Securities	150,281		134,443		128,923
Loans	134,577		117,042		94,875
Total interest income	311,900		264,823		241,067
Total interest expense	171,626		139,016		170,720
Net interest income	140,274		125,807		70,347
(Provision for)/release of loan losses	(1,065)		(2,388)		961
Net interest income after (provision for)/release of loan losses	139,209		123,419		71,308
Non-interest income:
Guarantee and commitment fees	14,868	[1]	14,077	[2]	14,694	[3]
Gains/(losses) on financial derivatives and hedging activities	2,311		2,531		(21,646)
Gains on trading securities	1,460		1,220		38,629
(Losses)/gains on sale of available-for-sale investment securities	(9)		9		(238)
Gains/(losses) on sale of real estate owned	15		(1)		137
Other income	1,823		2,305		1,714
Non-interest income	20,468		20,141		33,290
Non-interest expense:
Compensation and employee benefits	22,772		22,047		19,009
General and administrative	15,109		13,111		12,197
Regulatory fees	2,463		2,413		2,381
Real estate owned operating costs, net	39		91		110
Release of reserve for losses	(63)		(2,180)		(2,205)
Non-interest expense	40,320	[4]	35,482	[5]	31,492	[6]
Income before income taxes	119,357		108,078		73,106
Income tax expense	42,057		34,239		2,824
Net income	77,300		73,839		70,282
Less: Net loss/(income) attributable to non-controlling interest	34		(5,139)		(22,192)
Net income attributable to Farmer Mac	77,334		68,700		48,090
Preferred stock dividends	(13,182)		(13,182)		(9,839)
Loss on retirement of preferred stock	0		(8,147)		0
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$ 64,152		$ 47,371		$ 38,251
Earnings per common share and dividends:
Basic earnings per common share	$ 6.12		$ 4.33		$ 3.50
Diluted earnings per common share	$ 5.97000		$ 4.19000		$ 3.37000

[1] Includes the reclassification of interest income and interest expense from consolidated trusts owned by third parties to guarantee and commitment fees, to reflect management's view that the net interest income Farmer Mac earns is effectively a guarantee fee.

[2] Includes the reclassification of interest income and interest expense from consolidated trusts owned by third parties to guarantee and commitment fees, to reflect management's view that the net interest income Farmer Mac earns is effectively a guarantee fee.

[3] Includes the reclassification of interest income and interest expense from consolidated trusts owned by third parties to guarantee and commitment fees, to reflect management's view that the net interest income Farmer Mac earns is effectively a guarantee fee.

[4] Includes directly attributable costs and an allocation of indirectly attributable costs based on headcount.

[5] Includes directly attributable costs and an allocation of indirectly attributable costs based on headcount.

[6] Net adjustments to reconcile to the corresponding income measures: core earnings before income taxes reconciled to income before income taxes; core earnings before preferred stock dividends and attribution of income to non-controlling interest reconciled to net income; and segment core earnings reconciled to net income attributable to common stockholders.