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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                             --------------------

                                    FORM 8-A

          FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES PURSUANT
                         TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


                   Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

     Federally chartered instrumentality
      of the United States                                       52-1578738
   State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation                (IRS Employer
                                                             Identification No.)

919 18th Street, N.W., Suite 200, Washington,    D.C.              20006
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                         (Zip Code)

    Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

            Title of each class                   Name of each exchang eon which
            to be so registered                   each class is to be registered

      Class A Voting Common Stock,                    New York Stock Exchange
            $1.00 Par Value

      Class C Non-Voting Common Stock,                New York Stock Exchange
            $1.00 Par Value

      If this Form relates to the registration of a class of securities
pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to
General Instruction A. (c) please check the following box.  [  X  ]

      If this Form relates to the registration of a class of securities
pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to
General Instruction A. (d) please check the following box.  [       ]

      Securities  Act  registration  statement  file  number to which  this form
relates:
Not Applicable.

Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

                                      NONE





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Item 1.  Description of Registrant's Securities to be Registered

      The  Registrant  has three  classes of common stock  outstanding - Class A
Voting  Common  Stock (the "Class A Stock"),  Class B Voting  Common  Stock (the
"Class B Stock," and,  collectively  with the Class A Stock,  the "Voting Common
Stock")  and  Class C  Non-Voting  Common  Stock  (the  "Class  C  Stock,"  and,
collectively with the Voting Common Stock, the "Common Stock"),  $1.00 par value
per share.  The  Registrant  also is  authorized to issue  non-voting  preferred
stock. Only the Class A and Class C Stock are being registered hereby.

      The  Farm  Credit  Act of  1971,  as  amended  (the  "Act"),  which is the
Registrant's governing instrument or charter, may only be amended by the U.S.
Congress and not by the stockholders.

      Dividend Rights.  The ratio of any dividends paid on each share of Class C
Stock  to  each  share  of  Voting  Common  Stock  would  be  three-to-one.  The
three-to-one  dividend ratio may be reduced only by the affirmative  vote of the
holders of two-thirds of the outstanding Class C Stock.

      Conversion, Sinking Fund and Redemption.  The Common Stock is not
convertible.  There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions.

      Voting Rights and Classification of the Board of Directors. The holders of
Voting  Common Stock are each  entitled to one vote per share at all meetings of
stockholders,  and also are entitled to  cumulative  voting at all  elections of
directors.  Under  cumulative  voting,  each stockholder is entitled to cast the
number of votes  equal to the number of shares of Voting  Common  Stock owned by
that stockholder,  multiplied by the number of directors to be elected. All of a
stockholder's  votes may be cast for a single candidate for director,  or may be
distributed  among  any  number of  candidates.  Notwithstanding  the  source of
appointment or election to the  Registrant's  Board of Directors,  each director
owes fiduciary duties to all stockholders.

      The Registrant's Board of Directors  consists of 15 members:  five of whom
are appointed by the President of the United States; five of whom are elected by
the holders of the Class A Stock; and five of whom are elected by the holders of
the Class B Stock.

      Liquidation Rights. The ratio of any liquidation  proceeds  distributed on
each  share of  Class C Stock to each  share of  Voting  Common  Stock  shall be
three-to-one.  The  three-to-one  liquidation  ratio may only be  reduced by the
affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds of the outstanding Class C Stock.

      Pursuant  to the Act,  in the  event of any  liquidation,  dissolution  or
winding  up of  the  Registrant's  business,  the  holders  of  any  outstanding
preferred stock would be paid in full at the par value thereof, plus all accrued
dividends,  before the  holders of Common  Stock  would  receive  any  payments.
However,  pursuant  to  the  terms  of the  Common  Stock,  in any  liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the  Registrant,  holders of the Common Stock would
be  entitled  to  receive  all of the  assets of the  Registrant  available  for
distribution to its shareholders  remaining after payment in full of all amounts
due on any  preferred  stock,  subject  to the  preference  for  Class  C  Stock
discussed above.




      Preemption Rights.  No preemption rights are conferred upon the holders
of the Common Stock.

      Liability to Assessments. There is no liability to further calls or to
assessments by the Registrant.

      Restrictions on Alienability.  By statute,  Class A Stock may be held only
by banks,  insurance  companies  and other  financial  institutions  or  similar
entities that are not institutions of the Farm Credit System.

      Class B Stock may be held only by institutions of the Farm Credit System.

      Transfer Agent.  American Stock Transfer & Trust Company is the
transfer agent and registrar for the Common Stock.

Item 2.   Exhibits

      All exhibits required by the Instructions to Item 2 have been, or will be,
supplied to the New York Stock Exchange.


                                   SIGNATURES

      Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                                     FEDERAL AGRICULTURAL MORTGAGE CORPORATION
                                                  (Registrant)



                                     By:
                                        Henry D. Edelman
                                        President and Chief Executive Officer


Date: April 22, 1999