CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Net income	$ 68,960	$ 38,850	$ 52,700
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	19,643	14,326	11,845
Amortization of debt premiums, discounts and issuance costs	14,658	12,800	7,982
Net change in fair value of trading securities, hedged assets, financial derivatives and loans held for sale	(1,017)	44,124	(16,653)
Gains on the sale of available-for-sale investment securities	(18)	(269)	(266)
Gains on the sale of real estate owned	(878)	(974)	(10)
Total provision for/(release of) losses	1,875	(2,347)	4,310
Deferred income taxes	(1,982)	(18,939)	(524)
Stock-based compensation expense	2,428	2,929	2,774
Proceeds from repayment and sale of trading investment securities	810	83,858	747
Purchases of loans held for sale	(171,925)	(214,116)	(661,310)
Proceeds from repayment of loans purchased as held for sale	151,473	95,991	43,820
Net change in:
Interest receivable	6,938	(19,982)	(23,117)
Guarantee and commitment fees receivable	(10,405)	3,368	20,264
Other assets	(43,200)	(9,623)	19,299
Accrued interest payable	(9,075)	3,723	17,569
Other liabilities	5,018	(6,899)	(18,243)
Net cash provided by operating activities	33,303	26,820	(538,813)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of loans held for investment	(564,251)	(489,483)	(34,387)
Purchases of defaulted loans	(17,024)	(21,663)	(6,082)
Proceeds from repayment of available-for-sale investment securities	1,410,427	891,108	350,197
Proceeds from repayment of Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Guaranteed Securities	862,992	749,399	711,462
Proceeds from repayment of loans purchased as held for investment	289,318	292,484	291,778
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale investment securities			100,833
Proceeds from the sale of trading securities - fair value option	0	0	5,013
Proceeds from sale of real estate owned	2,056	4,201	1,055
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,328,810)	(2,004,814)	(1,636,249)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Excess tax benefits related to stock-based awards	2,113	243	763
Payments to third parties on debt securities of consolidated trusts	(106,438)	(148,234)	(176,260)
Proceeds from common stock issuance	2,935	22	172
Issuance costs on retirement of preferred stock	0	0	(5,784)
Proceeds from preferred stock issuance - Farmer Mac II LLC	0	0	241,853
Retirement of Series B Preferred stock	0	0	(144,216)
Dividends paid - Non-controlling interest - preferred stock	(22,187)	(22,187)	(20,644)
Dividends paid on common and preferred stock	(7,084)	(4,946)	(6,178)
Net cash provided by financing activities	1,264,025	2,065,120	2,250,188
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	(31,482)	87,126	75,126
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	817,046	729,920	654,794
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	785,564	817,046	729,920
Discount Notes [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of notes	67,404,261	68,770,286	66,804,224
Payments to redeem notes	(67,577,763)	(67,459,368)	(65,300,682)
Medium-term Notes
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of notes	3,358,188	2,295,579	2,729,530
Payments to redeem notes	(1,790,000)	(1,366,275)	(1,872,590)
Investment Securities [Member]
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of securities	(1,888,352)	(1,694,794)	(1,075,852)
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale investment securities	7,018	447,864	106,300
Farmer Mac and USDA Guaranteed Securities
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of securities	(1,469,057)	(2,209,604)	(2,010,991)
Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities [Member]
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from sale of Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities	$ 38,063	$ 25,674	$ 30,725