CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY - USD ($) $ 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)		2,400,000			10,886,000
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)		2,400,000			10,886,000
Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Shares						0
Issuance of Series preferred stock (Shares)			3,000,000			50,000
Issuance of Series preferred stock			$ 73,061	$ 73,379		$ 50	16
Issuance of Class C common stock (Shares)			3,000,000			50,000
Issuance of Class C common stock			$ 73,061	$ 73,379		$ 50	16
Stock-based compensation expense							2,182
Stock-based award activity							(59)
Net income attributable to Farmer Mac	$ 39,147							39,147
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	37,282											37,282
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	(16,778)													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)									$ (2,644)	$ (2,649)	$ (1,250)
Common stock ($0.48 per share in 2015 and $0.42 per share in 2014)								(4,584)
Loss on retirement of preferred stock	0
Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Value						$ 0		0
Balance, beginning of period (Shares)		8,400,000			10,936,000
Balance, beginning of period	782,400	$ 204,773			$ 10,936		112,861	196,897				21,080	$ 546,547	235,853
Balance, end of period	782,400	$ 204,773			$ 10,936		112,861	196,897				21,080	546,547	235,853
Balance, end of period (Shares)		8,400,000			10,936,000
Balance, beginning of period (Shares)		8,400,000			10,937,000
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)		8,400,000			10,937,000
Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Shares	(104,000)					(104,000)
Issuance of Series preferred stock (Shares)			0	0		110,000
Issuance of Series preferred stock			$ 0	$ 0		$ 110	10
Issuance of Class C common stock (Shares)			0	0		110,000
Issuance of Class C common stock			$ 0	$ 0		$ 110	10
Stock-based compensation expense							2,457
Stock-based award activity							1,051
Net income attributable to Farmer Mac	$ 50,372							50,372
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	(33,347)											(33,347)
Redemption of Farmer Mac II LLC preferred stock														(235,853)
Investment in Contour - non-controlling interest														175
Less: Net loss/(income) attributable to non-controlling interest	(5,199)													(155)
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)									$ (2,644)	$ (3,867)	$ (3,375)
Common stock ($0.48 per share in 2015 and $0.42 per share in 2014)								(5,280)
Loss on retirement of preferred stock	(8,147)
Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Value	(2,800)					$ (104)		(2,686)
Balance, beginning of period (Shares)		8,400,000			10,943,000
Balance, beginning of period	540,546	$ 204,759			$ 10,943		117,077	225,386				(17,814)	540,351	195
Balance, end of period	$ 540,546	$ 204,759			$ 10,943		$ 117,077	$ 225,386				$ (17,814)	$ 540,351	$ 195
Balance, end of period (Shares)		8,400,000			10,943,000