CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 30,446	$ 36,027
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities:
Net amortization of deferred gains, premiums and discounts on loans, investments, Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Guaranteed Securities	6,998	5,329
Amortization of debt premiums, discounts and issuance costs	6,934	5,765
Net change in fair value of trading securities, financial derivatives and loans held for sale	7,911	(10,299)
Gains on the sale of available-for-sale investment securities	(28)	(195)
Gains on the sale of real estate owned	(262)	(724)
Total provision for/(release of) losses	624	(1,428)
Deferred income taxes	(3,657)	393
Stock-based compensation expense	1,800	1,490
Proceeds from repayment and sale of trading investment securities	527	550
Purchases of loans held for sale	(86,963)	(119,410)
Proceeds from repayment of loans purchased as held for sale	78,156	51,012
Net change in:
Interest receivable	14,290	1,434
Guarantee and commitment fees receivable	(6,738)	2,928
Other assets	(54,632)	12,650
Accrued interest payable	(5,857)	(979)
Other liabilities	4,409	(3,976)
Net cash used in operating activities	(6,042)	(19,433)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of loans held for investment	(251,583)	(329,782)
Purchases of defaulted loans	(3,857)	(18,345)
Proceeds from repayment of available-for-sale investment securities	581,672	511,562
Proceeds from repayment of Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Guaranteed Securities	437,375	647,701
Proceeds from repayment of loans purchased as held for investment	159,666	181,792
Proceeds from sale of real estate owned	938	1,279
Net cash used in investing activities	(778,677)	(848,833)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Excess tax benefits related to stock-based awards	856	144
Payments to third parties on debt securities of consolidated trusts	(69,124)	(80,783)
Proceeds from common stock issuance	27	16
Dividends paid - Non-controlling interest - preferred stock	(11,094)	(11,094)
Dividends paid on common and preferred stock	(2,804)	(2,471)
Net cash provided by financing activities	720,175	906,681
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents	(64,544)	38,415
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	817,046	729,920
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	752,502	768,335
Discount Notes
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of notes	34,231,830	34,663,582
Payments to redeem notes	(34,013,370)	(34,114,562)
Medium-term Notes
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of notes	1,315,854	991,849
Payments to redeem notes	(732,000)	(540,000)
Investment Securities
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of securities	(1,058,206)	(990,568)
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale investment securities	5,028	153,609
Farmer Mac and USDA Guaranteed Securities
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of securities	(667,338)	(1,016,815)
Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from sale of Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities	$ 17,628	$ 10,734