CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 13,584	$ 18,614
Other comprehensive income/(loss) before taxes:
Net unrealized (losses)/gains on available-for sale securities	(6,377)	58,437
Net changes in held-to-maturity securities	(1,011)	(3,343)
Net unrealized losses on cash flow hedges	(4,763)	(247)
Other comprehensive (loss)/income before tax	(12,151)	54,847
Income tax benefit/(expense) related to other comprehensive income	4,253	(19,196)
Other comprehensive (loss)/income, net of tax	(7,898)	35,651
Comprehensive income	5,686	54,265
Less: comprehensive loss/(income) attributable to non-controlling interest	(28)	5,354
Comprehensive income attributable to Farmer Mac	$ 5,714	$ 48,911

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Held-to-Maturity Securities, before tax

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Amount after tax of increase (decrease) in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from net income and other comprehensive income, attributable to parent entity. Excludes changes in equity resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners.

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Amount before tax, after reclassification adjustments, of appreciation (loss) in value of unsold available-for-sale securities. Excludes amounts related to other than temporary impairment (OTTI) loss.

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Amount before tax, after reclassification adjustments of other comprehensive income (loss).

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Amount before tax, after reclassification adjustments, of increase (decrease) in accumulated gain (loss) from derivative instruments designated and qualifying as the effective portion of cash flow hedges and an entity's share of an equity investee's increase (decrease) in deferred hedging gain (loss).

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Amount after tax and reclassification adjustments of other comprehensive income (loss).

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Amount after tax of other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests.

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Amount of tax expense (benefit) allocated to other comprehensive income (loss).

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The consolidated profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, including the portion attributable to the noncontrolling interest.

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