CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012
Interest income:
Loans	$ 24,966		$ 24,112		$ 73,678		$ 81,296
Total interest income	62,975	[1]	63,810	[2]	186,218	[1]	208,519	[2]
Total interest expense	34,787	[3]	33,448	[4]	101,499	[3]	109,332	[4]
Net interest income	28,188		30,362		84,719		99,187
Provision for loan losses	499		(137)		598		663
Net interest income after provision for loan losses	28,687		30,225		85,317		99,850
Non-interest income:
Guarantee and commitment fees	6,819		6,401		20,190		18,395
Gains on derivatives instruments and hedging activity net pretax	3,024		1,558		22,501		(23,334)
Gains on trading assets	(626)		(441)		(743)		(2,428)
Gains on sale of available-for-sale investment securities	0		0		3,073		28
Gains on sale of real estate owned	39		(13)		1,210		249
Other income	565		959		2,518		2,451
Non-interest income/(loss)	9,821		8,464		48,749		(4,639)
Non-interest expense:
Compensation and employee benefits	4,523		4,375		13,792		13,434
General and administrative	2,827		2,788		8,459		8,210
Regulatory fees	593		562		1,781		1,687
Real estate owned operating costs, net	35		66		420		87
Provision for losses	463		(43)		1,034		1,381
Non-interest expense	8,441	[5]	7,748	[5]	25,486	[5]	24,799	[5]
Income before income taxes	30,067		30,941		108,580		70,412
Income tax expense	8,226		8,294		29,978		17,319
Net income	21,841		22,647		78,602		53,093
Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest - preferred stock dividends	(5,547)		(5,547)		(16,641)		(16,641)
Net income attributable to Farmer Mac	16,294		17,100		61,961		36,452
Preferred stock dividends	(881)		(719)		(2,613)		(2,159)
Net income attributable to common stockholders	15,413		16,381		59,348		34,293
Earnings per common share and dividends:
Basic earnings per common share	$ 1.42		$ 1.56		$ 5.50		$ 3.28
Diluted Earnings per common share	$ 1.37		$ 1.49		$ 5.30		$ 3.12
Common stock dividends per common share	$ 0.12		$ 0.10		$ 0.36		$ 0.30
Investments and Cash Equivalents [Member]
Interest income:
Interest and dividend income, securities	5,263		6,437		16,468		18,693
Farmer Mac and USDA Guaranteed Securities [Member]
Interest income:
Interest and dividend income, securities	$ 32,746		$ 33,261		$ 96,072		$ 108,530

[1] Includes reconciling adjustments for the amortization of premiums and discounts on assets consolidated at fair value to reflect core earnings amounts.

[2] Includes reconciling adjustments for yield maintenance income and amortization of premiums on assets consolidated at fair value to reflect core earnings amounts.

[3] Based on effective funding cost determined for each operating segment, including expenses related to interest rate swaps not designated as hedges, which are included in "Gains/(losses) on financial derivatives and hedging activities" on the consolidated financial statements.

[4] Based on effective funding cost determined for each operating segment, including expenses related to interest rate swaps, which are included in "Gains/(losses) on financial derivatives and hedging activities" on the consolidated financial statements.

[5] Includes directly attributable costs and an allocation of indirectly attributable costs based on headcount.