CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 77,300	$ 73,839	$ 70,282
Other comprehensive income/(loss) before taxes:
Net unrealized (losses)/gains on available-for sale securities	(6,694)	(30,387)	39,980
Net changes in held-to-maturity securities	71,120	(9,922)	9,190
Net unrealized gains/(losses) on cash flow hedges	4,463	(541)	(347)
Other comprehensive income/(loss) before tax	68,889	(40,850)	48,823
Income tax (expense)/benefit related to other comprehensive income	(24,112)	14,298	(17,088)
Other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax	44,777	(26,552)	31,735
Comprehensive income	122,077	47,287	102,017
Less: comprehensive loss/(income) attributable to non-controlling interest	34	(5,139)	(22,192)
Comprehensive income attributable to Farmer Mac	$ 122,111	$ 42,148	$ 79,825