CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 55,925	$ 78,602
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 Securities	16,624	7,716
Amortization of debt premiums, discounts and issuance costs	7,384	9,119
Net change in fair value of trading securities, hedged assets, and financial derivatives	3,537	(32,126)
Losses/(gains) on sale of available-for-sale investment securities	238	(3,073)
Gains on sale of real estate owned	165	1,210
Total (release of)/provision for losses	(2,687)	436
Deferred income taxes	(16,340)	10,400
Stock-based compensation expense	2,183	2,287
Proceeds from repayment of trading investment securities	541	656
Proceeds from repayment of loans purchased as held for sale	95,194	149,675
Net change in:
Interest receivable	41,679	32,754
Guarantee and commitment fees receivable	1,826	(1,707)
Other assets	(19,179)	48,887
Securities sold not yet purchased	1,657,901	0
Accrued interest payable	(18,919)	(14,319)
Other liabilities	4,910	37
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,830,652	288,134
Cash flows from investing activities:
Net change in securities purchased under agreements to resell	(1,630,427)	0
Purchases of loans held for investment	(567,774)	(624,702)
Purchases of defaulted loans	(440)	(6,704)
Proceeds from repayment of loans purchased as held for investment	303,905	216,506
Proceeds from sale of Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities	169,820	64,609
Proceeds from sale of real estate owned	1,224	3,774
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,205,249)	(796,116)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Excess tax benefits related to stock-based awards	57	995
Payments to third parties on debt securities of consolidated trusts	(34,080)	(54,154)
Proceeds from common stock issuance	209	1,477
Purchase of interest - Non-controlling interest - preferred stock	(6,000)	0
Dividends paid - Non-controlling interest - preferred stock	(16,778)	(16,641)
Dividends paid on common and preferred stock	(8,832)	(5,790)
Net cash (used in)/provided by financing activities	(747,046)	374,131
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(121,643)	(133,851)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	749,313	785,564
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	627,670	651,713
Medium-term Notes [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of discount notes and medium-term notes	2,644,707	2,273,350
Payments to redeem discount notes and medium-term notes	(2,121,000)	(1,362,000)
Discount Notes [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of discount notes and medium-term notes	32,008,889	49,070,788
Payments to redeem discount notes and medium-term notes	(33,360,658)	(49,534,649)
Investment Securities [Member]
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of available-for-sale investment securities and Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Guaranteed Securities	(1,171,063)	(1,141,601)
Proceeds from repayment of available-for-sale investment securities, Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Guaranteed Securities	894,475	1,026,745
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale investment securities	770,149	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	(1,074,019)	(1,281,956)
Proceeds from repayment of available-for-sale investment securities, Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Guaranteed Securities	1,098,901	776,599
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	73,379	0
Retired Series C Preferred Stock [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Retirement of Series C Preferred stock	$ 0	$ (57,578)