Accounting Policies - Cash and Cash Equivalents and Statements of Cash Flows (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Non-cash activity:
Proceeds from sale of Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities			$ 278,443	$ 112,440
Consolidation of Farm & Ranch Guaranteed Securities from off-balance sheet to loans held for investment in consolidated trusts and to debt securities of consolidated trusts held by third parties			255,781	112,440
Purchases of securities - traded, not yet settled			224,990	236,600
Issuance Costs on the retirement of Farmer Mac II LLC Preferred Stock	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 8,147