CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Interest income:
Loans	$ 24,112,000	$ 29,843,000	$ 81,296,000	$ 89,414,000
Total interest income	63,810,000	71,121,000	208,519,000	202,045,000
Total interest expense	33,448,000	39,412,000	109,332,000	114,105,000
Net interest income	30,362,000	31,709,000	99,187,000	87,940,000
(Provision for)/release of loan losses	(137,000)	349,000	663,000	(1,092,000)
Net interest income after (provision for)/release of loan losses	30,225,000	32,058,000	99,850,000	86,848,000
Non-interest income/(loss):
Guarantee and commitment fees	6,401,000	6,148,000	18,395,000	18,855,000
Gain (loss) on derivatives instruments and hedging activity net pretax	1,558,000	(68,567,000)	(23,334,000)	(82,368,000)
Losses on trading assets	(441,000)	(3,633,000)	(2,428,000)	(354,000)
Gains on sale of available-for-sale investment securities	0	74,000	28,000	269,000
(Losses)/gains on sale of real estate owned	(13,000)	(4,000)	249,000	720,000
Lower of cost or fair value adjustment on loans held for sale	0	9,851,000	0	8,887,000
Other income	959,000	726,000	2,451,000	5,748,000
Non-interest income/(loss)	8,464,000	(55,405,000)	(4,639,000)	(48,243,000)
Non-interest expense:
Compensation and employee benefits	4,375,000	4,805,000	13,434,000	13,968,000
General and administrative	2,788,000	2,505,000	8,210,000	7,417,000
Regulatory fees	562,000	550,000	1,687,000	1,714,000
Real estate owned operating costs, net	66,000	142,000	87,000	741,000
(Release of)/provision for losses	(43,000)	(452,000)	1,381,000	(3,321,000)
Other expense	0	0	0	900,000
Non-interest expense	7,748,000	7,550,000	24,799,000	21,419,000
Income/(loss) before income taxes	30,941,000	(30,897,000)	70,412,000	17,186,000
Income tax expense/(benefit)	8,294,000	(14,131,000)	17,319,000	(2,075,000)
Net income/(loss)	22,647,000	(16,766,000)	53,093,000	19,261,000
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interest - preferred stock dividends	(5,547,000)	(5,547,000)	(16,641,000)	(16,641,000)
Net income/(loss) attributable to Farmer Mac	17,100,000	(22,313,000)	36,452,000	2,620,000
Preferred stock dividends	(719,000)	(719,000)	(2,159,000)	(2,159,000)
Net income/(loss) attributable to common stockholders	16,381,000	(23,032,000)	34,293,000	461,000
Earnings/(loss) per common share and dividends:
Basic earnings/(loss) per common share (dollars per share)	$ 1.56	$ (2.22)	$ 3.28	$ 0.04
Diluted earnings/(loss) per common share (dollars per share)	$ 1.49	$ (2.22)	$ 3.12	$ 0.04
Common stock dividends per common share (dollars per share)	$ 0.10	$ 0.05	$ 0.30	$ 0.15
Investments and Cash Equivalents
Interest income:
Interest and dividend income, securities	6,437,000	6,880,000	18,693,000	21,100,000
Farmer Mac and USDA Guaranteed Securities
Interest income:
Interest and dividend income, securities	33,261,000	34,398,000	108,530,000	91,531,000
Non-Interest Income [Member]
Non-interest income/(loss):
Gain (loss) on derivatives instruments and hedging activity net pretax	$ 1,558,000	$ (68,567,000)	$ (23,334,000)	$ (82,368,000)