CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 73,839	$ 70,282	$ 97,515
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	2,889	18,461	26,217
Amortization of debt premiums, discounts and issuance costs	15,060	9,689	11,839
Net change in fair value of trading securities, hedged assets, and financial derivatives	(12,144)	8,213	(44,362)
(Gains)/losses on sale of available-for-sale investment securities	(9)	238	(2,113)
Gains on repurchase of debt	0	0	(1,462)
Losses/(gains) on sale of real estate owned	1	(137)	(1,236)
Total (release of)/provision for losses	208	(3,166)	448
Deferred income taxes	3,992	(6,979)	6,670
Stock-based compensation expense	3,269	2,859	2,967
Proceeds from repayment of trading investment securities	657	685	774
Proceeds from repayment of loans purchased as held for sale	95,592	98,712	168,589
Net change in:
Interest receivable	(5,826)	3,007	(4,063)
Guarantee and commitment fees receivable	(727)	1,768	(1,887)
Other assets	8,454	(39,624)	52,872
Accrued interest payable	(734)	(5,417)	1,993
Other liabilities	(166)	(3,539)	(771)
Net cash provided by operating activities	184,355	155,052	313,990
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of loans held for investment	(837,176)	(749,099)	(911,846)
Purchases of defaulted loans	(16,907)	(705)	(6,704)
Proceeds from repayment of loans purchased as held for investment	311,136	337,466	265,151
Proceeds from sale of Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities	336,913	175,754	150,417
(Payments)/proceeds from sale of real estate owned	(1)	1,927	4,042
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,250,533)	(83,662)	(995,093)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Excess tax benefits related to stock-based awards	154	51	1,160
Payments to third parties on debt securities of consolidated trusts	(47,574)	(37,512)	(56,278)
Proceeds from common stock issuance	1,689	244	1,913
Investment in Contour	242	175	0
Redemption of Farmer Mac II LLC Preferred Stock	(244,000)	(6,000)	0
Dividends paid - Non-controlling interest - preferred stock	(5,415)	(22,192)	(22,187)
Dividends paid on common and preferred stock	(20,182)	(13,996)	(7,979)
Net cash provided by financing activities	912,875	542,684	644,852
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents	(153,303)	614,074	(36,251)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	1,363,387	749,313	785,564
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	1,210,084	1,363,387	749,313
Medium-term Notes [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of discount notes and medium-term notes	4,375,368	3,544,818	2,886,783
Payments to redeem discount notes and medium-term notes	(4,842,281)	(3,108,000)	(2,066,602)
Discount Notes [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of discount notes and medium-term notes	97,129,959	38,388,899	64,859,652
Payments to redeem discount notes and medium-term notes	(95,424,765)	(38,350,229)	(64,952,365)
Investment Securities [Member]
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of available-for-sale investment securities and Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Guaranteed Securities	(2,403,910)	(1,545,658)	(1,703,082)
Proceeds from repayment of available-for-sale investment securities, Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Guaranteed Securities	1,489,074	1,327,044	1,350,491
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale investment securities	83,735	770,149	366,562
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	(1,180,570)	(1,555,272)	(1,635,394)
Proceeds from repayment of available-for-sale investment securities, Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Guaranteed Securities	967,173	1,154,732	1,125,270
Series A Preferred Stock [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from Preferred Stock Issuances	0	0	58,333
Series B Preferred Stock [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from Preferred Stock Issuances	0	73,044	0
Series C Preferred Stock [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from Preferred Stock Issuances	0	73,382	0
Common Class C, Non-Voting [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Common stock repurchased	(10,320)	0	0
Retired Series C Preferred Stock [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Retirement of Series C Preferred stock	$ 0	$ 0	$ (57,578)