CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 28,470	$ 24,590
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 Guaranteed Securities	3,672	1,213
Amortization of debt premiums, discounts and issuance costs	3,362	2,790
Net change in fair value of trading securities, financial derivatives and loans held for sale	(16,768)	(15,135)
Gains on the sale of available-for-sale investment securities	(28)	(157)
Gains on the sale of real estate owned	0	(97)
Total provision for/(release of) losses	450	(653)
Deferred income taxes	5,190	5,786
Stock-based compensation expense	956	715
Proceeds from repayment and sale of trading investment securities	288	382
Purchases of loans held for sale	(27,991)	(80,517)
Proceeds from repayment of loans purchased as held for sale	46,873	35,892
Net change in:
Interest receivable	36,717	24,719
Guarantee and commitment fees receivable	129	2,836
Other assets	6,690	15,342
Accrued interest payable	(19,017)	(14,276)
Other liabilities	3,783	(349)
Net cash provided by operating activities	72,776	3,081
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of loans held for investment	(106,845)	(215,867)
Purchases of defaulted loans	(729)	(16,925)
Proceeds from repayment of available-for-sale investment securities	291,065	336,681
Proceeds from repayment of Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Guaranteed Securities	177,551	572,505
Proceeds from repayment of loans purchased as held for investment	88,440	127,693
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale investment securities	5,028	78,573
Proceeds from sale of Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities	3,380	7,363
Proceeds from sale of real estate owned	0	305
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities	(493,480)	(385,554)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Excess tax benefits related to stock-based awards	623	394
Payments to third parties on debt securities of consolidated trusts	(48,162)	(51,839)
Proceeds from common stock issuance	4	(20)
Dividends paid - non-controlling interest - preferred stock	(5,547)	(5,547)
Dividends paid on common and preferred stock	(1,038)	(1,235)
Net cash provided by financing activities	578,621	431,996
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	157,917	49,523
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	817,046	729,920
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	974,963	779,443
Investment Securities
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of securities	(649,645)	(658,512)
Farmer Mac and USDA Guaranteed Securities
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of securities	(301,725)	(617,370)
Discount Notes
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of notes	16,835,683	17,036,947
Payments to redeem notes	(16,436,929)	(17,021,207)
Medium-term Notes
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of notes	565,987	616,503
Payments to redeem notes	$ (332,000)	$ (142,000)