CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income/(loss)	$ 53,093	$ 19,261
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	10,109	9,707
Amortization of debt premiums, discounts and issuance costs	10,653	8,822
Net change in fair value of trading securities, hedged assets, financial derivatives and loans held for sale	(3,035)	(48,538)
Gains on the sale of available-for-sale investment securities	(28)	(269)
Gains on the sale of real estate owned	(249)	(720)
Total provision for/(release of) losses	718	(2,229)
Deferred income taxes	(1,885)	(20,734)
Stock-based compensation expense	2,721	2,254
Proceeds from repayment and sale of trading investment securities	663	686
Purchases of loans held for sale	(114,299)	(152,117)
Proceeds from repayment of loans purchased as held for sale	143,915	83,361
Net change in:
Interest receivable	40,603	10,778
Guarantee and commitment fees receivable	(6,356)	4,505
Other assets	(37,388)	2,269
Accrued interest payable	(25,367)	(8,133)
Other liabilities	3,853	2,838
Net cash provided by operating activities	83,791	8,817
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of loans held for investment	(383,684)	(398,050)
Purchases of defaulted loans	(11,031)	(21,266)
Proceeds from repayment of available-for-sale investment securities	910,313	675,566
Proceeds from repayment of Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Guaranteed Securities	780,643	699,263
Proceeds from repayment of loans purchased as held for investment	244,577	251,471
Proceeds from sale of real estate owned	1,062	1,361
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,181,688)	(1,711,526)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Excess tax benefits related to stock-based awards	994	243
Payments to third parties on debt securities of consolidated trusts	(101,421)	(124,521)
Proceeds from common stock issuance	41	20
Dividends paid - Non-controlling interest - preferred stock	(16,641)	(16,641)
Dividends paid on common and preferred stock	(4,574)	(3,708)
Net cash provided by financing activities	1,150,891	1,797,803
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	52,994	95,094
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	817,046	729,920
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	870,040	825,014
Discount Notes
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of notes	51,844,862	52,174,214
Payments to redeem notes	(51,328,421)	(51,185,913)
Medium-term Notes
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of notes	2,148,051	1,981,109
Payments to redeem notes	(1,392,000)	(1,027,000)
Investment Securities
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of securities	(1,524,618)	(1,276,131)
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale investment securities	5,028	447,864
Farmer Mac and USDA Guaranteed Securities
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of securities	(1,233,312)	(2,105,473)
Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from sale of Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities	$ 29,334	$ 13,869