CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Net income	$ 56,761	$ 30,446
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	5,138	6,998
Amortization of debt premiums, discounts and issuance costs	6,286	6,934
Net change in fair value of trading securities, hedged assets, financial derivatives and loans held for sale	(25,626)	7,911
Gains on the sale of available-for-sale investment securities	(3,073)	(28)
Gains on sale of real estate owned	(1,171)	(262)
Total provision for/(release of) losses	472	624
Deferred income taxes	10,117	(3,657)
Stock-based compensation expense	1,539	1,800
Proceeds from repayment and sale of trading investment securities	501	527
Purchases of loans held for sale	0	(86,963)
Proceeds from repayment of loans purchased as held for sale	76,841	78,156
Net change in:
Interest receivable	9,233	14,290
Guarantee and commitment fees receivable	(1,285)	(6,738)
Other assets	37,930	(54,632)
Accrued interest payable	954	(5,857)
Other liabilities	(864)	4,409
Net cash provided by operating activities	173,753	(6,042)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of loans held for investment	(426,506)	(251,583)
Purchases of defaulted loans	(6,075)	(3,857)
Proceeds from repayment of loans purchased as held for investment	131,932	159,666
Proceeds from sale of real estate owned	3,407	938
Net cash provided by/(used in) investing activities	(611,928)	(778,677)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Excess tax benefits related to stock-based awards	658	856
Payments to third parties on debt securities of consolidated trusts	(35,024)	(69,124)
Proceeds from common stock issuance	1,205	27
Proceeds from Issuance of Preferred Stock and Preference Stock	58,333	0
Retirement of Series C Preferred stock	(57,578)	0
Dividends paid - Non-controlling interest - preferred stock	(11,094)	(11,094)
Dividends paid on common and preferred stock	(3,606)	(2,804)
Net cash (used in)/provided by financing activities	303,334	720,175
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	(134,841)	(64,544)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	785,564	817,046
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	650,723	752,502
Discount Notes [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of notes	32,594,765	34,231,830
Payments to redeem notes	(32,998,256)	(34,013,370)
Medium-term Notes
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of notes	1,725,931	1,315,854
Payments to redeem notes	(972,000)	(732,000)
Investment Securities [Member]
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of securities	(744,464)	(1,058,206)
Proceeds from repayment of available-for-sale investment securities	622,116	581,672
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale investment securities	170,614	5,000
Farmer Mac and USDA Guaranteed Securities
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of securities	(858,084)	(667,338)
Proceeds from repayment of available-for-sale investment securities	459,241	437,375
Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities [Member]
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from sale of Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities	$ 35,891	$ 17,628