CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 28,870	$ 43,953
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	1,035	1,604
Amortization of debt premiums, discounts and issuance costs	16,143	5,870
Net change in fair value of trading securities, hedged assets, and financial derivatives	4,314	(15,619)
Losses/(gains) on sale of available-for-sale investment securities	9	(6)
Loss on sale of real estate owned	0	1
Total (release of)/provision for losses	521	560
Deferred income taxes	(1,964)	5,657
Stock-based compensation expense	1,788	1,644
Proceeds from repayment of trading investment securities	325	437
Proceeds from repayment of loans purchased as held for sale	37,460	54,728
Net change in:
Interest receivable	6,300	5,747
Guarantee and commitment fees receivable	536	1,615
Other assets	(54,970)	9,182
Accrued interest payable	285	1,828
Other liabilities	(3,499)	(3,838)
Net cash provided by operating activities	37,153	113,363
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of loans held for investment	(459,315)	(336,364)
Purchases of defaulted loans	(1,415)	(1,981)
Proceeds from repayment of loans purchased as held for investment	199,357	143,804
Proceeds from sale of Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities	278,443	112,440
Payments from sale of real estate owned	0	(1)
Net cash used in investing activities	(173,829)	(330,091)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Excess tax benefits related to stock-based awards	253	154
Payments to third parties on debt securities of consolidated trusts	(41,259)	(20,641)
Proceeds from common stock issuance	137	1,488
Investment in subsidiary - non-controlling interest	53	131
Redemption of Farmer Mac II LLC Preferred Stock	0	(244,000)
Dividends paid - Non-controlling interest - preferred stock	0	(5,415)
Dividends paid on common and preferred stock	(12,012)	(10,107)
Net cash provided by financing activities	691,218	536,497
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	554,542	319,769
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	1,210,084	1,363,387
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	1,764,626	1,683,156
Medium-term Notes [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of discount notes and medium-term notes	2,843,542	2,690,604
Payments to redeem discount notes and medium-term notes	(2,040,800)	(2,106,715)
Discount Notes [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of discount notes and medium-term notes	48,914,061	38,965,462
Payments to redeem discount notes and medium-term notes	(48,963,471)	(38,734,464)
Investment Securities [Member]
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of available-for-sale investment securities and Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Guaranteed Securities	(341,099)	(915,614)
Proceeds from repayment of available-for-sale investment securities, Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Guaranteed Securities	624,402	914,988
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale investment securities	186,769	74,998
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	(1,506,177)	(559,162)
Proceeds from repayment of available-for-sale investment securities, Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Guaranteed Securities	845,206	236,801
Common Class C, Non-Voting [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Common stock repurchased	$ (9,286)	$ 0