CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($)		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Comprehensive Income
Net income		$ 11,618,000	$ 20,281,000	$ 55,571,000	$ 55,925,000
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Available-for-sale Securities Adjustment, Net of Tax [Abstract]
Unrealized holding (losses)/gains on available-for-sale securities(1)	[1]	(34,846,000)	2,070,000	(21,790,000)	46,612,000
Gains/(losses) on sale of available-for-sale investment securities(4)	[2]	2,000	(258,000)	6,000	(155,000)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivatives Qualifying as Hedges, Net of Tax [Abstract]
Unrealized (losses)/gains on cash flow hedges(2)	[3]	(2,077,000)	30,000	(1,308,000)	(99,000)
Other comprehensive loss		(40,547,000)	(843,000)	(33,347,000)	37,282,000
Comprehensive (loss)/income		(28,929,000)	19,438,000	22,224,000	93,207,000
Less: Comprehensive loss/(income) attributable to non-controlling interest		36,000	(5,412,000)	(5,199,000)	(16,778,000)
Comprehensive (loss)/income attributable to Farmer Mac		(28,893,000)	14,026,000	17,025,000	76,429,000
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Available-for-sale Securities, Tax [Abstract]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Holding Gain (Loss) on Securities Arising During Period, Tax		(18,800,000)	1,100,000	(11,700,000)	25,100,000
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI for Sale of Securities, Tax		(1,000)	100,000	(3,000)	100,000
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivatives Qualifying as Hedges, Tax Effect [Abstract]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Tax		(1,100,000)	16,000	(700,000)	(100,000)
financial derivatives and hedging activities [Member]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivatives Qualifying as Hedges, Net of Tax [Abstract]
Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss), Reclassification Adjustment, net of tax	[4]	(3,275,000)	(3,131,000)	(9,654,000)	(9,338,000)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivatives Qualifying as Hedges, Tax Effect [Abstract]
Tax effects of reclassification adjustment for gains included in net income, tax		(1,800,000)	(1,700,000)	(5,200,000)	(5,000,000)
Other Income [Member]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivatives Qualifying as Hedges, Net of Tax [Abstract]
Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss), Reclassification Adjustment, net of tax	[5]	(347,000)	(70,000)	(589,000)	(48,000)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivatives Qualifying as Hedges, Tax Effect [Abstract]
Tax effects of reclassification adjustment for gains included in net income, tax		$ (200,000)	$ (38,000)	$ (300,000)	$ (26,000)

[1] Presented net of income tax benefit of $18.8 million and expense of $1.1 million, for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and income tax benefit of $11.7 million and expense of $25.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

[2] Represents realized gains on sales of available-for-sale investment securities. Presented net of income tax benefit of $1,000 and expense of $0.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and income tax benefit of $3,000 and expense of $0.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

[3] Presented net of income tax benefit of $1.1 million and expense of $16,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and income tax benefit of $0.7 million and $0.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

[4] Relates to the amortization of the unrealized gains on the hedged items prior to application of hedge accounting. Presented net of income tax benefit of $1.8 million and $1.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and tax benefit of $5.2 million and $5.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

[5] Represents amortization of deferred gains related to certain available-for-sale USDA Securities and Farmer Mac Guaranteed USDA Securities. Presented net of income tax benefit of $0.2 million and $38,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and income tax benefit of $0.3 million and $26,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.