XML 61 R19.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.0.6
Accounting Policies (Policies)
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2012
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Principles of Consolidation
Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Farmer Mac and its two subsidiaries: (1) Farmer Mac Mortgage Securities Corporation ("FMMSC"), whose principal activities are to facilitate the purchase and issuance of Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and to act as a registrant under registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and (2) Farmer Mac II LLC, whose principal activity is the operation of substantially all of the business related to the Farmer Mac II program – primarily the acquisition of USDA-guaranteed portions.  The consolidated financial statements also include the accounts of variable interest entities ("VIEs") in which Farmer Mac determined itself to be the primary beneficiary.  See Note 1(f) for more information on consolidated VIEs.

A Farmer Mac guarantee of timely payment of principal and interest is an explicit element of the terms of all Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities.  When Farmer Mac retains such securities in its portfolio, that guarantee is not extinguished.  For Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities in the Corporation's portfolio, Farmer Mac has entered into guarantee arrangements with FMMSC.  The guarantee fee rate established between Farmer Mac and FMMSC is an element in determining the fair value of these Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities, and guarantee fees related to these securities are reflected in guarantee and commitment fees in the consolidated statements of operations.
Cash and Cash Equivalents and Statements of Cash Flows
Cash and Cash Equivalents and Statements of Cash Flows

Farmer Mac considers highly liquid investment securities with maturities at the time of purchase of three months or less to be cash equivalents.  The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents is a reasonable estimate of their approximate fair value.  Changes in the balance of cash and cash equivalents are reported in the consolidated statements of cash flows.  
Allowance for Losses
Specific Allowance for Impaired Loans

Farmer Mac also analyzes certain loans in its portfolio for impairment in accordance with accounting guidance on measuring individual impairment of a loan.  Farmer Mac's impaired loans generally include loans 90 days or more past due, in foreclosure, restructured, in bankruptcy and certain performing loans that have previously been delinquent or are secured by real estate that produces agricultural commodities or products currently under stress.

For loans with an updated appraised value, other updated collateral valuation or management's estimate of discounted collateral value, this analysis includes the measurement of the fair value of the underlying collateral for individual loans relative to the total recorded investment, including principal, interest and advances and net of any charge-offs.  In the event that the collateral value does not support the total recorded investment, Farmer Mac specifically provides an allowance for the loan for the difference between the recorded investment and its fair value, less estimated costs to liquidate the collateral. Estimated selling costs are based on historical selling costs incurred by Farmer Mac or management's best estimate of selling costs for a particular property.  For the remaining impaired assets without updated valuations, this analysis is performed in the aggregate in consideration of the similar risk characteristics of the assets and historical statistics.

A modification to the contractual terms of a loan that results in granting a concession to a borrower experiencing financial difficulties is considered a troubled debt restructuring ("TDR"). Farmer Mac has granted a concession when, as a result of the restructuring, it does not expect to collect all amounts due, including interest accrued at the original contract rate. In making its determination of whether a borrower is experiencing financial difficulties, Farmer Mac considers several factors, including whether (1) the borrower has declared or is in the process of declaring bankruptcy, (2) there is substantial doubt as to whether the borrower will continue to be a going concern, and (3) the borrower can obtain funds from other sources at an effective interest rate at or near a current market interest rate for debt with similar risk characteristics. Farmer Mac evaluates TDRs similarly to other impaired loans for purposes of the allowance for losses.
Allowance for Losses

Farmer Mac maintains an allowance for losses to cover estimated probable losses incurred as of the balance sheet date on loans held ("allowance for loan losses") and loans underlying LTSPCs and Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities ("reserve for losses") based on available information.  Farmer Mac's methodology for determining the allowance for losses separately considers its portfolio segments – Farmer Mac I, Farmer Mac II, and Rural Utilities, and disaggregates its analysis, where relevant, into classes of financing receivables, which currently include loans and AgVantage securities.  Further disaggregation by commodity type is performed, where appropriate, in analyzing the need for an allowance for losses.
The allowance for losses is increased through periodic provisions for loan losses that are charged against net interest income and provisions for losses that are charged to non-interest expense, and is reduced by charge-offs for actual losses, net of recoveries.  Negative provisions, or a release of allowance for losses, generally are recorded in the event that the estimate of probable losses as of the end of a period is lower than the estimate at the beginning of the period.

The total allowance for losses consists of a general allowance for losses and a specific allowance for impaired loans.

General Allowance for Losses

Farmer Mac I
 
Farmer Mac's methodology for determining its allowance for losses incorporates the Corporation's automated loan classification system.  That system scores loans based on criteria such as historical repayment performance, indicators of current financial condition, loan seasoning, loan size and loan-to-value ratio.  For purposes of the loss allowance methodology, the loans in Farmer Mac's portfolio of loans and loans underlying Farmer Mac I Guaranteed Securities and LTSPCs have been scored and classified for each calendar quarter since first quarter 2000.  The allowance methodology captures the migration of loan scores across concurrent and overlapping three-year time horizons and calculates loss rates separately within each loan classification for (1) loans underlying LTSPCs and (2) loans held and loans underlying Farmer Mac I Guaranteed Securities.  The calculated loss rates are applied to the current classification distribution of unimpaired loans in Farmer Mac's portfolio to estimate inherent losses, on the assumption that the historical credit losses and trends used to calculate loss rates will continue in the future. Management evaluates this assumption by taking into consideration several factors, including:

economic conditions;
geographic and agricultural commodity/product concentrations in the portfolio;
the credit profile of the portfolio;
delinquency trends of the portfolio;
historical charge-off and recovery activities of the portfolio; and
other factors to capture current portfolio trends and characteristics that differ from historical experience.

Management believes that its use of this methodology produces a reasonable estimate of probable losses, as of the balance sheet date, for all loans held in the Farmer Mac I portfolio and loans underlying Farmer Mac I Guaranteed Securities and LTSPCs. There were no purchases or sales during the first half of 2012 that materially affected the credit profile of the Farmer Mac I portfolio.

Farmer Mac has not provided an allowance for losses for loans underlying Farmer Mac I AgVantage securities.  Each AgVantage security is a general obligation of an issuing institution approved by Farmer Mac and is secured by eligible loans in an amount at least equal to the outstanding principal amount of the security, with some level of overcollateralization required for Farmer Mac I AgVantage securities. Farmer Mac excludes the loans that secure AgVantage securities from the credit risk metrics it discloses because of the credit quality of the issuing institutions, the collateralization level for the securities, and because delinquent loans are required to be removed from the pool of pledged loans and replaced with current eligible loans. AgVantage® is a registered trademark of Farmer Mac.

Farmer Mac II

No allowance for losses has been provided for USDA Guaranteed Securities or Farmer Mac II Guaranteed Securities.  The USDA-guaranteed portions presented as "USDA Guaranteed Securities" on the consolidated balance sheets, as well as those that collateralize Farmer Mac II Guaranteed Securities, are guaranteed by the USDA.  Each USDA guarantee is an obligation backed by the full faith and credit of the United States.  Farmer Mac excludes these guaranteed portions from the credit risk metrics it discloses because of the USDA guarantee.

Rural Utilities

Farmer Mac separately evaluates the rural utilities loans it owns, as well as the lender obligations and loans underlying or securing its Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities – Rural Utilities, including AgVantage securities, to determine if there are any probable losses inherent in those assets.  Each AgVantage security is a general obligation of an issuing institution approved by Farmer Mac and is secured by eligible loans in an amount at least equal to the outstanding principal amount of the security.  No allowance for losses has been provided for this portfolio segment based on the credit quality of the collateral supporting rural utilities assets and Farmer Mac's counterparty risk analysis. As of June 30, 2012, there were no delinquencies and no probable losses inherent in Farmer Mac's rural utilities loans held or in any Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities – Rural Utilities.
Financial Derivatives
Financial Derivatives

Farmer Mac enters into financial derivative transactions principally to protect against risk from the effects
of market price or interest rate movements on the value of certain assets, future cash flows or debt
issuance, not for trading or speculative purposes. Farmer Mac enters into interest rate swap contracts
principally to adjust the characteristics of its short-term debt to match more closely the cash flow and
duration characteristics of its longer-term loans and other assets, and also to adjust the characteristics of its
long-term debt to match more closely the cash flow and duration characteristics of its short-term assets,
thereby reducing interest rate risk and often times deriving an overall lower effective cost of borrowing
than would otherwise be available to Farmer Mac in the conventional debt market. Farmer Mac is
required to recognize certain contracts and commitments as derivatives when the characteristics of those
contracts and commitments meet the definition of a derivative.

Financial derivatives are recorded on the consolidated balance sheets at fair value as a freestanding asset or liability. Through second quarter 2012, Farmer Mac did not designate its financial derivatives as fair value hedges or cash flow hedges; therefore, the changes in the fair values of financial derivatives were reported as gains or losses on financial derivatives in the consolidated statements of operations. Effective July 1, 2012, Farmer Mac designated $950.0 million notional amount of interest rate swaps in fair value hedge relationships. These interest rate swaps are used to hedge against the risk of changes in fair values of certain fixed rate AgVantage securities due to changes in the benchmark interest rate (i.e., LIBOR). Beginning in third quarter 2012, Farmer Mac will record in earnings offsetting fair value adjustments on the hedged items attributable to the risk being hedged. Any differences arising from fair value changes that are not offset will result in hedge ineffectiveness and affect GAAP earnings.

In accordance with applicable fair value measurement guidance, Farmer Mac made an accounting policy election to measure the credit risk of its derivative financial instruments that are subject to master netting agreements on a net basis by counterparty portfolio, consistent with how the Corporation previously has been measuring credit risk for these instruments. See Notes 4 and 8 for more information on financial derivatives.
Fair Value Measurement
Fair Value Measurement

Farmer Mac follows accounting guidance for fair value measurements that defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date and establishes a fair value hierarchy that ranks the quality and reliability of the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value.  The hierarchy gives highest rank to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (level 1 measurements) and the lowest rank to unobservable inputs (level 3 measurements).

Farmer Mac's assessment of the significance of the input to the fair value measurement requires judgment and considers factors specific to the financial instrument.  Both observable and unobservable inputs may be used to determine the fair value of financial instruments that Farmer Mac has classified within the level 3 category.  As a result, the unrealized gains and losses for assets and liabilities within the level 3 category may include changes in fair value that were attributable to both observable (e.g., changes in market interest rates) and unobservable (e.g., changes in projected prepayment rates) inputs.
Recurring Fair Value Measurements and Classification

Available-for-Sale and Trading Investment Securities

The fair value of investments in U.S. Treasuries is based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets.  Farmer Mac classifies these fair value measurements as level 1.

For a significant portion of Farmer Mac's investment portfolio, including most asset-backed securities, corporate debt securities, senior agency debt securities, Government/GSE guaranteed mortgage-backed securities, commercial paper and preferred stock issued by GSEs, fair value is primarily determined using a reputable and nationally recognized third party pricing service.  The prices obtained are non-binding and generally representative of recent market trades.  The fair value of certain asset-backed and Government guaranteed mortgage-backed securities are estimated based on quotations from brokers or dealers.  Farmer Mac corroborates its primary valuation source by obtaining a secondary price from another independent third party pricing service.  Farmer Mac classifies these fair value measurements as level 2.

For certain investment securities that are thinly traded or not quoted, Farmer Mac estimates fair value using internally-developed models that employ a discounted cash flow approach.  Farmer Mac maximizes the use of observable market data, including prices of financial instruments with similar maturities and characteristics, interest rate yield curves, measures of volatility and prepayment rates.  Farmer Mac generally considers a market to be thinly traded or not quoted if the following conditions exist: (1) there are few transactions for the financial instruments; (2) the prices in the market are not current; (3) the price quotes vary significantly either over time or among independent pricing services or dealers; or (4) there is limited availability of public market information.  Farmer Mac classifies these fair value measurements as level 3.

Farmer Mac's investment securities include callable, highly rated auction-rate certificates ("ARCs"), the interest rates on which are reset through an auction process, most commonly at intervals of 28 days, or at formula-based floating rates as set forth in the related transaction documents in the event of a failed auction.  These formula-based floating rates, which may at times reset to zero, are intended to preserve the underlying principal balance of the securities and avoid overall cash shortfalls.  Accordingly, payments of accrued interest may also be delayed and are ultimately subject to cash availability. Beginning in mid-February 2008, there were widespread failures of the auction mechanism designed to provide regular liquidity to these types of securities.  Consequently, Farmer Mac has not sold any of its ARCs into the auctions since that time.  All ARCs held by Farmer Mac are collateralized entirely by pools of Federal Family Education Loan Program ("FFELP") guaranteed student loans that are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States.  Farmer Mac continues to believe that the credit quality of these securities is high, based on the underlying collateralization and the securities' ratings.  To date, Farmer Mac has received all interest due on ARCs it holds and expects to continue to do so. 
 Farmer Mac classifies its estimates of fair value for ARCs as level 3 measurements. During 2012 and 2011, Farmer Mac used unadjusted quotes from a broker specializing in these types of securities to determine the estimated fair value of these investments as of each quarter end. Through discussions with the broker, Farmer Mac gained an understanding of the assumptions underlying the broker quotes and independently benchmarked those quotes against other dealer price indications. Farmer Mac believes the broker quotes are the best indication of fair value as of the measurement date although there is uncertainty regarding the ability to transact at such levels. Considering there is no active secondary market for these securities, although limited observable transactions do occasionally occur, price quotes vary significantly among dealers or independent pricing services, if provided at all, and there is little transparency in the price determination, Farmer Mac believes these measurements are appropriately classified as level 3.
 
Net transfers in and/or out of the different levels within the fair value hierarchy are based on the fair values of the assets and liabilities as of the beginning of the reporting period.  There were no transfers within the fair value hierarchy for fair value measurements of Farmer Mac's investment securities during the first six months of 2012 and 2011.

Available-for-Sale and Trading Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Guaranteed Securities

Farmer Mac estimates the fair value of its Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Guaranteed Securities by discounting the projected cash flows of these instruments at projected interest rates.  The fair values are based on the present value of expected cash flows using management's best estimate of certain key assumptions, which include prepayment speeds, forward yield curves and discount rates commensurate with the risks involved.  Farmer Mac classifies these fair value measurements as level 3 because there is limited market activity and therefore little or no price transparency.  On a sample basis, Farmer Mac corroborates the fair value of its Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Guaranteed Securities by obtaining a secondary valuation from an independent third party service.

Farmer Mac made no transfers within the fair value hierarchy for fair value measurements of Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Guaranteed Securities during the first six months of 2012 and 2011.

Financial Derivatives

The fair value of exchange-traded U.S. Treasury futures is based on unadjusted quoted prices for identical financial instruments.  Farmer Mac classifies these fair value measurements as level 1.

Farmer Mac's derivative portfolio consists primarily of interest rate swaps, credit default swaps and forward sales contracts on the debt of other GSEs.  Farmer Mac estimates the fair value of these financial instruments primarily based upon the counterparty valuations.  Farmer Mac internally values its derivative portfolio using a discounted cash flow valuation technique and obtains a secondary valuation for certain interest rate swaps to corroborate the counterparty valuations.  Farmer Mac also regularly reviews the counterparty valuations as part of the collateral exchange process.  Farmer Mac classifies these fair value measurements as level 2.

Certain basis swaps are nonstandard interest rate swap structures and are therefore internally modeled using significant assumptions and unobservable inputs, resulting in level 3 classification.  Farmer Mac uses a discounted cash flow valuation technique, using management's best estimate of certain key assumptions, which include prepayment speeds, forward yield curves and discount rates commensurate with the risks involved.
As of June 30, 2012, the consideration of credit risk, Farmer Mac's and the counterparties, resulted in an adjustment of $0.7 million to the valuations of Farmer Mac's derivative portfolio. As of December 31, 2011, the consideration of credit risk, Farmer Mac's and the counterparties, resulted in an adjustment of $0.2 million to the valuations of Farmer Mac's derivative portfolio. See Note 1(c) and Note 4 for further information regarding Farmer Mac's derivative portfolio.

Nonrecurring Fair Value Measurements and Classification

Loans Held-for-Sale

Loans held for sale are reported at the lower of cost or fair value in the consolidated balance sheets. Farmer Mac internally models the fair value of loans by discounting the projected cash flows of these instruments at projected interest rates.  The fair values are based on the present value of expected cash flows using management's best estimate of certain key assumptions, which include prepayment speeds, forward yield curves and discount rates commensurate with the risks involved.  The fair values of these instruments are classified as level 3 measurements.  As of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the fair values of loans held for sale exceeded their cost amounts. Accordingly, Farmer Mac recorded no adjustment to report these loans at the lower of cost or fair value. 

Loans Held for Investment

Certain loans in Farmer Mac's held for investment loan portfolio are measured at fair value when they are determined to be impaired. Impaired loans are reported at net realizable value (fair value less estimated cost to sell). The fair value of the loan generally is based on the fair value of the underlying property, which is determined by third-party appraisals when available. When third-party appraisals are not available, fair value is estimated based on factors such as prices for comparable properties in similar geographical areas and/or assessment through observation of such properties. Farmer Mac classifies these fair values as level 3 measurements. Farmer Mac uses net realizable value as a reasonable estimate of fair value in the tables below.

Real Estate Owned

Farmer Mac initially records REO properties at net realizable value and subsequently records them at the lower of carrying value or net realizable value. The fair value of REO is determined by third-party appraisals when available. When third-party appraisals are not available, fair value is estimated based on factors such as prices for comparable properties in similar geographical areas and/or assessment through observation of such properties. Farmer Mac classifies the REO fair values as level 3 measurements. Farmer Mac uses net realizable value as a reasonable estimate of fair value in the tables below.

Fair Value Classif
Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities
Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities

Farmer Mac has interests in various entities that are considered to be VIEs.  These interests include investments in securities issued by VIEs, such as Farmer Mac agricultural mortgage-backed securities created pursuant to Farmer Mac's securitization transactions and mortgage and asset-backed trusts that Farmer Mac did not create.  The consolidation model uses a qualitative evaluation that requires consolidation of an entity when the reporting enterprise both (1) has the power to direct matters which significantly impact the activities and success of the entity, and (2) has exposure to benefits and/or losses that could potentially be significant to the entity.  The reporting enterprise that meets both these conditions is deemed the primary beneficiary of the VIE.

The VIEs in which Farmer Mac has a variable interest are limited to securitization trusts.  The major judgment in determining if Farmer Mac is the primary beneficiary is whether Farmer Mac has the power to direct the activities of the trust that potentially have the most significant impact on the economic performance of the trust.  Generally, the ability to make decisions regarding default mitigation is evidence of that power.  Farmer Mac determined that it is the primary beneficiary for the securitization trusts related to most Farmer Mac I and all Rural Utilities securitization transactions because of its rights as guarantor under both programs to control the default mitigation activities of the trusts.  For certain securitization trusts created when loans subject to LTSPCs were converted to Farmer Mac I Guaranteed Securities, Farmer Mac determined that it is not the primary beneficiary since the power to make decisions regarding default mitigation was shared among unrelated parties.  For similar securitization transactions where the power to make decisions regarding default mitigation is shared with a related party, Farmer Mac determined that it is the primary beneficiary because the applicable accounting guidance does not permit parties within a related party group to conclude that the power is shared. In the event that a related party status changes, consolidation or deconsolidation of these securitization trusts could occur.

For those trusts that Farmer Mac is the primary beneficiary, the assets and liabilities are presented on the consolidated balance sheets as "Loans held for investment in consolidated trusts" and "Debt securities of consolidated trusts held by third parties," respectively.  These assets can only be used to satisfy the obligations of the related trust.

For those trusts where Farmer Mac has a variable interest but has not been determined to be the primary beneficiary, Farmer Mac's interests are presented as either "Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities" or "Investment securities" on the consolidated balance sheets.  Farmer Mac's involvement in VIEs classified as Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities include securitization trusts under the Farmer Mac II program and trusts related to AgVantage securities.  In the case of Farmer Mac II trusts, Farmer Mac is not determined to be the primary beneficiary because it does not have the decision-making power over default mitigation activities.  For the AgVantage trusts, Farmer Mac currently does not have the power to direct the activities that have the most significant economic impact to the trust unless, as guarantor, there is a default by the issuer of the trust securities.  Should there be a default, Farmer Mac would reassess whether it is the primary beneficiary of those trusts.  For VIEs classified as investment securities, which include auction-rate certificates, asset-backed securities and government-sponsored enterprise ("GSE")-guaranteed mortgage-backed securities, Farmer Mac is determined not to be the primary beneficiary because of the lack of voting rights or other powers to direct the activities of the trust.
Reclassifications
Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications of prior period information were made to conform to the current period presentation.