CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Preferred Stock [Member]	Preferred Stock [Member] Series B Preferred Stock [Member]	Preferred Stock [Member] Series C Preferred Stock [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Common Stock [Member] Common Class C, Non-Voting [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member}	Retained Earnings [Member} Series A Preferred Stock [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member} Series B Preferred Stock [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member} Series C Preferred Stock [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Total Stockholders Equity [Member]	Non-controlling Interest - Preferred Stock [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period (Shares)		2,400			10,886
Balance, beginning of period		$ 58,333			$ 10,886		$ 110,722	$ 168,877				$ (16,202)		$ 241,853
Balance, end of period		$ 58,333			$ 10,886		110,722	168,877				(16,202)		241,853
Balance, end of period (Shares)		2,400			10,886
Issuance of Series preferred stock (Shares)			3,000			38
Issuance of Series preferred stock			$ 73,061	$ 73,380		$ 38	12
Issuance of Class C common stock (Shares)			3,000			38
Issuance of Class C common stock			$ 73,061	$ 73,380		$ 38	12
Stock-based compensation expense							1,426
Tax effect of stock-based awards							(202)
Net income attributable to Farmer Mac	$ 24,278							24,278
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	38,125											38,125
Redemption of Farmer Mac II LLC preferred stock														(6,000)
Investment in Contour - non-controlling interest														0
Less: Net loss/(income) attributable to non-controlling interest	(11,366)													0
Cash dividends:
Preferred Stock Series A ($0.7344 per share in 2015 and 2014) Preferred stock, Series B ($0.8594 per share in 2015 and $0.5347 per share in 2014), Preferred stock Series C ($0.7500 per share in 2015 and $0.0458 per share in 201)									$ (1,762)	$ (1,360)	$ (138)
Common stock ($0.32 per share in 2015 and $0.28 per share in 2014)								(3,053)
Loss on retirement of preferred stock	0
Balance, beginning of period (Shares)		8,400			10,924
Balance, beginning of period	772,274	$ 204,774			$ 10,924		111,958	186,842				21,923	$ 536,421	235,853
Balance, end of period	772,274	$ 204,774			$ 10,924		111,958	186,842				21,923	536,421	235,853
Balance, end of period (Shares)		8,400			10,924
Balance, beginning of period (Shares)		8,400			10,937
Balance, beginning of period	781,829	$ 204,759			$ 10,937		113,559	201,013				15,533		236,028
Balance, end of period	781,829	$ 204,759			$ 10,937		113,559	201,013				15,533		236,028
Balance, end of period (Shares)		8,400			10,937
Issuance of Series preferred stock (Shares)			0	0		102
Issuance of Series preferred stock			$ 0	$ 0		$ 102	7
Issuance of Class C common stock (Shares)			0	0		102
Issuance of Class C common stock			$ 0	$ 0		$ 102	7
Stock-based compensation expense							1,644
Tax effect of stock-based awards							888
Net income attributable to Farmer Mac	38,718							38,718
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	7,200											7,200
Redemption of Farmer Mac II LLC preferred stock														(235,853)
Investment in Contour - non-controlling interest														131
Less: Net loss/(income) attributable to non-controlling interest	(5,235)													(119)
Preferred Stock Series A ($0.7344 per share in 2015 and 2014) Preferred stock, Series B ($0.8594 per share in 2015 and $0.5347 per share in 2014), Preferred stock Series C ($0.7500 per share in 2015 and $0.0458 per share in 201)									$ (1,763)	$ (2,578)	$ (2,250)
Common stock ($0.32 per share in 2015 and $0.28 per share in 2014)								(3,516)
Loss on retirement of preferred stock	(8,147)
Balance, beginning of period (Shares)		8,400			11,039
Balance, beginning of period	576,293	$ 204,759			$ 11,039		116,098	221,477				22,733	576,106	187
Balance, end of period	$ 576,293	$ 204,759			$ 11,039		$ 116,098	$ 221,477				$ 22,733	$ 576,106	$ 187
Balance, end of period (Shares)		8,400			11,039