CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Interest income:
Loans	$ 103,644	$ 119,176	$ 124,472
Total interest income	264,670	274,687	238,711
Total interest expense	142,690	153,382	142,668
Net interest income	121,980	121,305	96,043
Provision for loan losses	(3,691)	(610)	(1,893)
Net interest income after provision for loan losses	118,289	120,695	94,150
Non-interest income/(loss):
Guarantee and commitment fees	24,963	24,821	24,091
Gain (loss) on derivatives instruments and hedging activity net pretax	(19,829)	(92,645)	(17,159)
Trading Gains (Losses)	307	3,455	5,270
Gains on sale of available-for-sale investment securities	18	269	266
Gains (Losses) on Sales of Other Real Estate	878	974	10
Lower of cost or fair value adjustment on loans held for sale	(5,943)	8,887	(8,748)
Other income	3,341	6,850	1,244
Non-interest income/(loss)	3,735	(47,389)	4,974
Non-interest expense:
Compensation and employee benefits	19,186	17,884	17,232
General and administrative	11,123	9,732	8,564
Regulatory fees	2,281	2,277	2,243
Real estate owned operating costs, net	134	823	2,171
(Release of)/provision for losses	(1,816)	(2,957)	2,417
Other expense	0	900	0
Non-interest expense	30,908	28,659	32,627
Income/(loss) before income taxes	91,116	44,647	66,497
Income tax expense/(benefit)	22,156	5,797	13,797
Net income	68,960	38,850	52,700
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest - preferred stock dividends	(22,187)	(22,187)	(20,707)
Net income attributable to Farmer Mac	46,773	16,663	31,993
Preferred stock dividends	(2,879)	(2,879)	(4,129)
Loss On Retirement Of Preferred Stock	0	0	(5,784)
Net income attributable to common stockholders	43,894	13,784	22,080
Earnings per common share and dividends:
Basic earnings per common share (dollars per share)	$ 4.19	$ 1.33	$ 2.16
Diluted Earnings per common share	$ 3.98	$ 1.28	$ 2.08
Common stock dividends per common share	$ 0.40	$ 0.20	$ 0.20
Investments and Cash Equivalents
Interest income:
Interest and dividend income, securities	24,729	28,117	27,497
Farmer Mac and USDA Guaranteed Securities
Interest income:
Interest and dividend income, securities	$ 136,297	$ 127,394	$ 86,742