CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 21,895	$ 13,584
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	181	501
Amortization of debt premiums, discounts and issuance costs	5,656	7,643
Net change in fair value of trading securities, hedged assets, and financial derivatives	525	2,631
Losses on sale of available-for-sale investment securities	0	9
Losses on sale of real estate owned	5	0
Total provision for losses	444	63
Excess Tax Benefits from Share-Based Compensation	679	0
Deferred income taxes	1,419	(1,483)
Stock-based compensation expense	981	1,027
Proceeds from repayment of trading investment securities	0	205
Proceeds from repayment of loans purchased as held for sale	25,928	28,794
Net change in:
Interest receivable	37,292	37,633
Guarantee and commitment fees receivable	(357)	800
Other assets	2,236	(31,021)
Accrued interest payable	(2,855)	(9,469)
Other liabilities	8,605	2,495
Net cash provided by operating activities	102,634	53,412
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of loans held for investment	(341,702)	(208,215)
Purchases of defaulted loans	(311)	(1,415)
Proceeds from repayment of loans purchased as held for investment	182,790	132,652
Proceeds from sale of Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities	149,607	139,561
Payments from sale of real estate owned	697	0
Net cash (used)/provided by investing activities	(245,913)	14,239
Cash flows from financing activities:
Excess tax benefits related to stock-based awards	0	234
Payments to third parties on debt securities of consolidated trusts	(46,926)	(33,010)
Proceeds from common stock issuance	148	101
Tax payments related to share-based awards	(1,341)	(1,499)
Investment in subsidiary - non-controlling interest	0	52
Dividends paid on common and preferred stock	(7,094)	(5,997)
Net cash provided by financing activities	191,691	451,828
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	48,412	519,479
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	265,229	1,210,084
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	313,641	1,729,563
Medium-term Notes [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of discount notes and medium-term notes	2,251,535	1,207,092
Payments to redeem discount notes and medium-term notes	(856,300)	(921,000)
Discount Notes [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of discount notes and medium-term notes	13,618,574	23,089,113
Payments to redeem discount notes and medium-term notes	(14,766,905)	(22,873,972)
Investment Securities [Member]
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of available-for-sale investment securities and Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Guaranteed Securities	(66,561)	(341,099)
Proceeds from repayment of available-for-sale investment securities, Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Guaranteed Securities	183,749	455,315
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale investment securities	0	186,769
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	(692,245)	(1,026,187)
Proceeds from repayment of available-for-sale investment securities, Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Guaranteed Securities	338,063	676,858
Common Class C, Non-Voting [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Common stock repurchased	$ 0	$ (9,286)