CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 43,953	$ 35,644
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	1,604	15,029
Amortization of debt premiums, discounts and issuance costs	5,870	5,144
Net change in fair value of trading securities, hedged assets, and financial derivatives	(15,619)	7,636
Gains on sale of available-for-sale investment securities	(6)	(158)
Gains on sale of real estate owned	1	(165)
Total (release of)/provision for losses	560	(1,883)
Deferred income taxes	5,657	(17,496)
Stock-based compensation expense	1,644	1,427
Proceeds from repayment of trading investment securities	437	414
Proceeds from repayment of loans purchased as held for sale	54,728	58,930
Net change in:
Interest receivable	5,747	13,125
Guarantee and commitment fees receivable	1,615	215
Other assets	9,182	(14,473)
Increase (Decrease) in Financial Instruments Sold, Not yet Purchased	0	1,673,532
Accrued interest payable	1,828	(4,185)
Other liabilities	(3,838)	(3,955)
Net cash provided by operating activities	113,363	1,768,781
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of loans held for investment	(323,401)	(407,595)
Purchases of defaulted loans	(1,981)	(440)
Proceeds from repayment of loans purchased as held for investment	143,804	199,774
Proceeds from sale of Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities	99,477	126,857
(Payments)/proceeds from sale of real estate owned	(1)	461
Net cash used in investing activities	(330,091)	(1,565,385)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Excess tax benefits related to stock-based awards	154	35
Payments to third parties on debt securities of consolidated trusts	(20,641)	(13,615)
Proceeds from common stock issuance	1,488	12
Investment in Contour	131	0
Redemption of Farmer Mac II LLC Preferred Stock	(244,000)	(6,000)
Dividends paid - Non-controlling interest - preferred stock	(5,415)	(11,366)
Dividends paid on common and preferred stock	(10,107)	(5,131)
Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities	536,497	(568,586)
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	319,769	(365,190)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	1,363,387	749,313
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	1,683,156	384,123
Medium-term Notes [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of discount notes and medium-term notes	2,690,604	1,759,012
Payments to redeem discount notes and medium-term notes	(2,106,715)	(1,440,000)
Discount Notes [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of discount notes and medium-term notes	38,965,462	27,163,649
Payments to redeem discount notes and medium-term notes	(38,734,464)	(28,161,623)
Investment Securities [Member]
Net change in:
Proceeds from (Payments for) Securities Purchased under Agreements to Resell	0	1,640,686
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of available-for-sale investment securities and Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Guaranteed Securities	(915,614)	(1,138,711)
Proceeds from repayment of available-for-sale investment securities, Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Guaranteed Securities	914,988	575,393
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale investment securities	74,998	730,527
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	(559,162)	(681,044)
Proceeds from repayment of available-for-sale investment securities, Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Guaranteed Securities	236,801	670,079
Series B Preferred Stock [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from Preferred Stock Issuances	0	73,061
Series C Preferred Stock [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from Preferred Stock Issuances	$ 0	$ 73,380