CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 77,300	$ 73,839	$ 70,282
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	1,828	2,889	18,461
Amortization of debt premiums, discounts and issuance costs	31,757	15,060	9,689
Net change in fair value of trading securities, hedged assets, and financial derivatives	(15,086)	(12,144)	8,213
Losses/(gains) on sale of available-for-sale investment securities	9	(9)	238
(Gains)/losses on sale of real estate owned	(15)	1	(137)
Total (release of)/provision for losses	1,002	208	(3,166)
Deferred income taxes	4,103	3,992	(6,979)
Stock-based compensation expense	3,343	3,269	2,859
Proceeds from repayment of trading investment securities	2,212	657	685
Proceeds from repayment of loans purchased as held for sale	70,087	95,592	98,712
Net change in:
Interest receivable	(9,922)	(5,826)	3,007
Guarantee and commitment fees receivable	1,318	(727)	1,768
Other assets	43,560	8,454	(39,624)
Accrued interest payable	2,079	(734)	(5,417)
Other liabilities	(4,987)	(166)	(3,539)
Net cash provided by operating activities	208,588	184,355	155,052
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of loans held for investment	(1,016,515)	(837,176)	(749,099)
Purchases of defaulted loans	(2,516)	(16,907)	(705)
Proceeds from repayment of loans purchased as held for investment	402,897	311,136	337,466
Proceeds from sale of Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities	609,347	336,913	175,754
Payments from sale of real estate owned	295	(1)	1,927
Net cash used in investing activities	(593,409)	(1,250,533)	(83,662)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Excess tax benefits related to stock-based awards	1,428	154	51
Payments to third parties on debt securities of consolidated trusts	(82,209)	(47,574)	(37,512)
Proceeds from common stock issuance	553	1,689	244
Investment in subsidiary - non-controlling interest	53	242	175
Redemption of Farmer Mac II LLC Preferred Stock	0	(244,000)	(6,000)
Dividends paid - Non-controlling interest - preferred stock	0	(5,415)	(22,192)
Dividends paid on common and preferred stock	(24,067)	(20,182)	(13,996)
Net cash (used)/provided by financing activities	(560,034)	912,875	542,684
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents	(944,855)	(153,303)	614,074
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	1,210,084	1,363,387	749,313
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	265,229	1,210,084	1,363,387
Medium-term Notes [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of discount notes and medium-term notes	6,519,115	4,375,368	3,544,818
Payments to redeem discount notes and medium-term notes	(4,083,450)	(4,842,281)	(3,108,000)
Discount Notes [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of discount notes and medium-term notes	95,036,368	97,129,959	38,388,899
Payments to redeem discount notes and medium-term notes	(97,918,539)	(95,424,765)	(38,350,229)
Investment Securities [Member]
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of available-for-sale investment securities and Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Guaranteed Securities	(1,753,423)	(2,403,910)	(1,545,658)
Proceeds from repayment of available-for-sale investment securities, Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Guaranteed Securities	1,725,045	1,489,074	1,327,044
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale investment securities	186,769	83,735	770,149
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	(2,579,980)	(1,180,570)	(1,555,272)
Proceeds from repayment of available-for-sale investment securities, Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Guaranteed Securities	1,834,672	967,173	1,154,732
Series B Preferred Stock [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from Issuance of Preferred Stock and Preference Stock	0	0	73,044
Series C Preferred Stock [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from Issuance of Preferred Stock and Preference Stock	0	0	73,382
Common Class C, Non-Voting [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Common stock repurchased	$ (9,286)	$ (10,320)	$ 0