CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Net income	$ 78,602	$ 53,093
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	7,716	10,109
Amortization of debt premiums, discounts and issuance costs	9,119	10,653
Net change in fair value of trading securities, hedged assets, financial derivatives and loans held for sale	(32,126)	3,035
Gains on the sale of available-for-sale investment securities	(3,073)	(28)
Gains on sale of real estate owned	(1,210)	(249)
Total provision for/(release of) losses	436	718
Deferred income taxes	10,400	(1,885)
Stock-based compensation expense	2,287	2,721
Proceeds from repayment and sale of trading investment securities	656	663
Purchases of loans held for sale	0	(114,299)
Proceeds from repayment of loans purchased as held for sale	149,675	143,915
Net change in:
Interest receivable	32,754	40,603
Guarantee and commitment fees receivable	(1,707)	(6,356)
Other assets	48,887	(37,388)
Accrued interest payable	(14,319)	(25,367)
Other liabilities	37	3,853
Net cash provided by operating activities	288,134	83,791
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of loans held for investment	(624,702)	(383,684)
Purchases of defaulted loans	(6,704)	(11,031)
Proceeds from repayment of loans purchased as held for investment	216,506	244,577
Proceeds from sale of real estate owned	3,774	1,062
Net cash provided by/(used in) investing activities	(796,116)	(1,181,688)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Excess tax benefits related to stock-based awards	995	994
Payments to third parties on debt securities of consolidated trusts	(54,154)	(101,421)
Proceeds from common stock issuance	1,477	41
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	(16,641)	(16,641)
Dividends paid on common and preferred stock	(5,790)	(4,574)
Net cash provided by financing activities	374,131	1,150,891
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents	(133,851)	52,994
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	785,564	817,046
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	651,713	870,040
Discount Notes [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of notes	49,070,788	51,844,862
Payments to redeem notes	(49,534,649)	(51,328,421)
Medium-term Notes [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of notes	2,273,350	2,148,051
Payments to redeem notes	(1,362,000)	(1,392,000)
Investment Securities [Member]
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of securities	(1,141,601)	(1,524,618)
Proceeds from repayment of available-for-sale investment securities	1,026,745	910,313
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale investment securities	170,614	5,028
Farmer Mac and USDA Guaranteed Securities [Member]
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of securities	(1,281,956)	(1,233,312)
Proceeds from repayment of available-for-sale investment securities	776,599	780,643
Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities [Member]
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from sale of Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities	$ 64,609	$ 29,334