CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Net income	$ 7,312	$ 22,588
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	13,983	2,712
Amortization of debt premiums, discounts and issuance costs	2,658	3,286
Net change in fair value of trading securities, hedged assets, financial derivatives and loans held for sale	3,029	(8,997)
Gains on sale of available-for-sale investment securities	(15)	(2)
(Losses)/gains on sale of real estate owned	(3)	47
Total provision for losses	674	1,176
Deferred income taxes	(6,009)	1,992
Stock-based compensation expense	713	865
Proceeds from repayment and sale of trading investment securities	283	315
Proceeds from repayment of loans purchased as held for sale	42,713	66,095
Net change in:
Interest receivable	41,978	36,879
Guarantee and commitment fees receivable	31	(570)
Other assets	(2,827)	27,003
Accrued interest payable	(16,668)	(16,305)
Other liabilities	4,793	5,069
Net cash provided by operating activities	92,651	142,059
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of loans held for investment	(246,310)	(190,149)
Purchases of defaulted loans	(440)	(140)
Proceeds from repayment of loans purchased as held for investment	141,534	93,587
Proceeds from sale of real estate owned	11	203
Net cash (used in)/provided by investing activities	(76,945)	79,194
Cash flows from financing activities:
Excess tax benefits related to stock-based awards	36	613
Payments to third parties on debt securities of consolidated trusts	(11,868)	(25,413)
Proceeds from common stock issuance	6	888
Retirement of Series C Preferred stock	0	(57,578)
Dividends paid - Non-controlling interest - preferred stock	(5,547)	(5,547)
Dividends paid on common and preferred stock	(2,405)	(1,426)
Net cash provided by financing activities	101,566	(113,430)
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents	117,272	107,823
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	749,313	785,564
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	866,585	893,387
Medium-term Notes [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of discount notes and medium-term notes	750,354	703,268
Payments to redeem discount notes and medium-term notes	(687,000)	(419,000)
Discount Notes [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of discount notes and medium-term notes	15,566,728	15,653,949
Payments to redeem discount notes and medium-term notes	(15,582,044)	(16,021,517)
Investment Securities [Member]
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of available-for-sale investment securities and Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Guaranteed Securities	(369,120)	(244,819)
Proceeds from repayment of available-for-sale investment securities, Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Guaranteed Securities	370,084	439,135
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale investment securities	10,015	15,014
Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Securities [Member]
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of available-for-sale investment securities and Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Guaranteed Securities	(289,484)	(222,187)
Proceeds from repayment of available-for-sale investment securities, Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Guaranteed Securities	244,014	163,508
Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities [Member]
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from sale of Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities	62,751	25,042
Series A Preferred Stock [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from Preferred Stock Issuances	0	58,333
Series B Preferred Stock [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from Preferred Stock Issuances	$ 73,306	$ 0