CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Net income	$ 35,644	$ 56,761
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	15,029	5,138
Amortization of debt premiums, discounts and issuance costs	5,144	6,286
Net change in fair value of trading securities, hedged assets, financial derivatives and loans held for sale	7,636	(25,626)
Gains on sale of available-for-sale investment securities	(158)	(3,073)
Gains on sale of real estate owned	165	1,171
Total (release of)/provision for losses	(1,883)	472
Deferred income taxes	(17,496)	10,117
Stock-based compensation expense	1,427	1,539
Proceeds from repayment and sale of trading investment securities	414	501
Proceeds from repayment of loans purchased as held for sale	58,930	76,841
Net change in:
Interest receivable	12,913	9,233
Guarantee and commitment fees receivable	427	(1,285)
Other assets	(14,473)	37,930
Securities Sold, Not yet Purchased	1,673,532	0
Accrued interest payable	(4,185)	954
Other liabilities	(3,955)	(864)
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,768,781	173,753
Cash flows from investing activities:
Net change in securities purchased under agreements to resell	(1,640,686)	0
Purchases of loans held for investment	(407,595)	(426,506)
Purchases of defaulted loans	(440)	(6,075)
Proceeds from repayment of loans purchased as held for investment	199,774	131,932
Proceeds from sale of real estate owned	461	3,407
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,565,385)	(611,928)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Excess tax benefits related to stock-based awards	35	658
Payments to third parties on debt securities of consolidated trusts	(13,615)	(35,024)
Proceeds from common stock issuance	12	1,205
Payments to Noncontrolling Interests	(6,000)	0
Dividends paid - Non-controlling interest - preferred stock	(11,366)	(11,094)
Dividends paid on common and preferred stock	(5,131)	(3,606)
Net cash (used in)/ provided by financing activities	(568,586)	303,334
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(365,190)	(134,841)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	749,313	785,564
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	384,123	650,723
Medium-term Notes [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of discount notes and medium-term notes	1,759,012	1,725,931
Payments to redeem discount notes and medium-term notes	(1,440,000)	(972,000)
Discount Notes [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of discount notes and medium-term notes	27,163,649	32,594,765
Payments to redeem discount notes and medium-term notes	(28,161,623)	(32,998,256)
Investment Securities [Member]
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of available-for-sale investment securities and Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Guaranteed Securities	(1,138,711)	(744,464)
Proceeds from repayment of available-for-sale investment securities, Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Guaranteed Securities	575,393	622,116
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale investment securities	730,527	170,614
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	(681,044)	(858,084)
Proceeds from repayment of available-for-sale investment securities, Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Guaranteed Securities	670,079	459,241
Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities [Member]
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from sale of Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities	126,857	35,891
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	73,061	0
Series C Preferred Stock [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from Preferred Stock Issuances	73,380	0
Retired Series C Preferred Stock [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Retirement of Series C Preferred stock	$ 0	$ (57,578)