CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 785,564,000	$ 817,046,000
Loans:
Loans held for sale, at lower of cost or fair value	673,991,000	541,447,000
Loans Held for Investment, at Amortized Cost	1,503,559,000	1,241,311,000
Loans held for investment in consolidated trust, at amortized cost	563,575,000	1,121,559,000
Allowance for loan losses	(11,351,000)	(10,161,000)
Total loans, net of allowance	2,729,774,000	2,894,156,000
Real estate owned, at lower of cost or fair value	3,985,000	3,136,000
Financial derivatives, at fair value	31,173,000	40,250,000
Interest receivable	103,414,000	110,339,000
Guarantee and commitment fees receivable	41,789,000	31,384,000
Deferred Tax Assets, Net	3,123,000	0
Prepaid expenses and other assets	66,709,000	21,530,000
Total Assets	12,622,201,000	11,883,508,000
Notes payable:
Due within one year	6,567,366,000	6,087,879,000
Due after one year	5,034,739,000	4,104,882,000
Total notes payable	11,602,105,000	10,192,761,000
Debt securities of consolidated trusts held by third parties	167,621,000	701,583,000
Financial derivatives, at fair value	150,682,000	160,024,000
Accrued interest payable	51,779,000	60,854,000
Guarantee and commitment obligation	37,803,000	27,440,000
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	13,710,000	178,708,000
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net	0	250,000
Reserve for losses	5,539,000	7,355,000
Total Liabilities	12,029,239,000	11,328,975,000
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 12)
Preferred stock:
Series C, par value $1,000 per share, 100,000 shares authorized, 57,578 shares issued and outstanding	57,578,000	57,578,000
Common stock:
Additional paid-in capital	106,617,000	102,821,000
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax, related to available-for-sale securities	73,969,000	79,370,000
Retained earnings	102,243,000	62,554,000
Total Stockholders' Equity	351,109,000	312,680,000
Non-controlling interest - preferred stock	241,853,000	241,853,000
Total Equity	592,962,000	554,533,000
Total Liabilities and Equity	12,622,201,000	11,883,508,000
Investment Securities [Member]
Assets:
Available-for-sale, at fair value	2,498,382,000	2,182,694,000
Trading, at fair value	1,247,000	1,796,000
Total securities	2,499,629,000	2,184,490,000
Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities [Member]
Assets:
Available-for-sale, at fair value	4,766,258,000	4,289,272,000
USDA Guaranteed Securities [Member]
Assets:
Available-for-sale, at fair value	1,486,595,000	1,279,546,000
Trading, at fair value	104,188,000	212,359,000
Total securities	1,590,783,000	1,491,905,000
Common Stock, Class A Voting
Common stock:
Common stock	1,031,000	1,031,000
Common stock, Class B Voting
Common stock:
Common stock	500,000	500,000
Common stock, Class C Non-Voting
Common stock:
Common stock	$ 9,171,000	$ 8,826,000