CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 38,850	$ 52,700	$ 99,600
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities:
Net amortization of premiums and discounts on loans, investments, Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Guaranteed Securities	19,506	11,845	3,926
Amortization of debt premiums, discounts and issuance costs	12,800	7,982	12,876
Net change in fair value of trading securities, financial derivatives and loans held for sale	44,124	(16,653)	(105,060)
Amortization of deferred gains on certain Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Guaranteed Securities	(5,180)	0	0
Other-than-temporary impairment losses	0	0	3,994
Gains on sale of loans	0	0	(1,581)
Gains on the sale of available-for-sale investment securities	(269)	(266)	(3,353)
Gains on the sale of real estate owned	(974)	(10)	0
Total (release of)/provision for losses	(2,347)	4,310	5,242
Deferred income taxes	(18,939)	(524)	35,615
Stock-based compensation expense	2,929	2,774	2,694
Proceeds from repayment and sale of trading investment securities	83,858	747	787
Purchases of loans held for sale	(214,116)	(661,310)	(164,335)
Proceeds from repayment of loans purchased as held for sale	95,991	43,820	30,664
Proceeds from sale of loans purchased as held for sale	0	0	73,641
Net change in:
Interest receivable	(19,982)	(23,117)	5,880
Guarantee and commitment fees receivable	3,368	20,264	6,093
Other assets	(9,623)	19,299	76,534
Accrued interest payable	3,723	17,569	(908)
Other liabilities	(6,899)	(18,243)	(9,019)
Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities	26,820	(538,813)	73,290
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of loans held for investment	(489,483)	(34,387)	(59,627)
Purchases of defaulted loans	(21,663)	(6,082)	(21,269)
Proceeds from repayment of available-for-sale investment securities	891,108	350,197	195,589
Proceeds from repayment of Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Guaranteed Securities	749,399	711,462	725,761
Proceeds from repayment of loans purchased as held for investment	292,484	291,778	72,759
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale investment securities	447,864	100,833	306,506
Proceeds from sale of trading securities - fair value option	0	5,013	0
Proceeds from sale of Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities	25,674	30,725	188,204
Proceeds from sale of real estate owned	4,201	1,055	40,955
Proceeds from sale of loans purchased as held for investment	0	0	285,312
Net cash used in investing activities	(2,004,814)	(1,636,249)	(639,635)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Excess tax benefits related to stock-based awards	243	763	0
Payments to third parties on debt securities of consolidated trusts	(148,234)	(176,260)	0
Proceeds from common stock issuance	22	172	42
Issuance costs on retirement of preferred stock	0	(5,784)	0
Proceeds from preferred stock issuance - Farmer Mac II LLC	0	241,853	0
Proceeds from preferred stock issuance	0	0	48,378
Retirement of Series B preferred stock	0	(144,216)	0
Dividends paid - non-controlling interest - preferred stock	(22,187)	(20,644)	0
Dividends paid on common and preferred stock	(4,946)	(6,178)	(19,329)
Net cash provided by financing activities	2,065,120	2,250,188	942,727
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	87,126	75,126	376,382
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	729,920	654,794	278,412
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	817,046	729,920	654,794
Investment Securities
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of securities	(1,694,794)	(1,075,852)	(325,871)
Farmer Mac and USDA Guaranteed Securities
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of securities	(2,209,604)	(2,010,991)	(2,047,954)
Discount Notes
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of notes	68,770,286	66,804,224	54,840,697
Payments to redeem notes	(67,459,368)	(65,300,682)	(54,675,917)
Medium-term Notes
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of notes	2,295,579	2,729,530	3,475,856
Payments to redeem notes	$ (1,366,275)	$ (1,872,590)	$ (2,727,000)