CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified					9 Months Ended												9 Months Ended				9 Months Ended				9 Months Ended														9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014 Preferred Stock [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Preferred Stock [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Preferred Stock [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Preferred Stock [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Preferred Stock [Member] Series A Preferred Stock [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Preferred Stock [Member] Series A Preferred Stock [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Preferred Stock [Member] Series B Preferred Stock [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Preferred Stock [Member] Series B Preferred Stock [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Preferred Stock [Member] Series C Preferred Stock [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Preferred Stock [Member] Series C Preferred Stock [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Preferred Stock [Member] Retired Series C Preferred Stock [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Preferred Stock [Member] Retired Series C Preferred Stock [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Common Stock [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Common Stock [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Common Stock [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Common Stock [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Retained Earnings [Member}	Sep. 30, 2013 Retained Earnings [Member}	Dec. 31, 2013 Retained Earnings [Member}	Dec. 31, 2012 Retained Earnings [Member}	Sep. 30, 2014 Retained Earnings [Member} Series A Preferred Stock [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Retained Earnings [Member} Series A Preferred Stock [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Retained Earnings [Member} Series B Preferred Stock [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Retained Earnings [Member} Series B Preferred Stock [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Retained Earnings [Member} Series C Preferred Stock [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Retained Earnings [Member} Series C Preferred Stock [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Retained Earnings [Member} Retired Series C Preferred Stock [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Retained Earnings [Member} Retired Series C Preferred Stock [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Total Stockholders Equity [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Total Stockholders Equity [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Non-controlling Interest - Preferred Stock [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Non-controlling Interest - Preferred Stock [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Non-controlling Interest - Preferred Stock [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Non-controlling Interest - Preferred Stock [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period (Shares)	8,400	2,400	2,400	58									10,936	10,860	10,886	10,702
Balance, beginning of period	$ 204,773	$ 58,333	$ 58,333	$ 57,578									$ 10,936	$ 10,860	$ 10,886	$ 10,702	$ 112,861	$ 109,675	$ 110,722	$ 106,617	$ 196,897	$ 157,699	$ 168,877	$ 102,243									$ 21,080	$ 26,828	$ (16,202)	$ 73,969	$ 546,547	$ 363,395	$ 235,853	$ 241,853	$ 241,853	$ 241,853
Issuance of Series preferred stock (Shares)					0	2,400	3,000	0	3,000	0			50	158
Issuance of Series preferred stock					0	58,333	73,061	0	73,379	0			50	158			16	19
Redemption of Series C preferred stock (Shares)											0	(58)
Redemption of Series C preferred stock											0	(57,578)
Issuance of Class C common stock (Shares)					0	2,400	3,000	0	3,000	0			50	158
Issuance of Class C common stock					0	58,333	73,061	0	73,379	0			50	158			16	19
Stock-based compensation expense																	2,182	2,287
Tax effect of stock-based awards																	(59)	752
Net income attributable to Farmer Mac																					39,147	61,961
Balance, end of period	204,773	58,333	58,333	57,578									10,936	10,860	10,886	10,702	112,861	109,675	110,722	106,617	196,897	157,699	168,877	102,243									21,080	26,828	(16,202)	73,969	546,547	363,395	235,853	241,853	241,853	241,853
Balance, end of period (Shares)	8,400	2,400	2,400	58									10,936	10,860	10,886	10,702
Cash dividends:
Preferred Stock Series A ($1.1016 per share in 2014 and $1.0322 per share in 2013) Preferred stock, Series B ($0.8330 per share), Preferred stock Series C ($0.4167 per share), Preferred stock, retired Series C ($2.36) per share)																									(2,644)	(2,477)	(2,649)	0	(1,250)	0	0	(136)
Common stock ($0.42 per share in 2014 and $0.36 per share in 2013)																					(4,584)	(3,892)
Other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax																																	37,282	(47,141)
Purchase of interest - Non-controlling interest - preferred stock																																							$ (6,000)	$ 0