CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 48,511	$ 55,571
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	1,343	2,199
Amortization of debt premiums, discounts and issuance costs	24,789	9,601
Net change in fair value of trading securities, hedged assets, and financial derivatives	1,672	(8,705)
Losses/(gains) on sale of available-for-sale investment securities	9	(9)
(Gains)/losses on sale of real estate owned	(15)	1
Total (release of)/provision for losses	490	257
Deferred income taxes	(1,270)	2,182
Stock-based compensation expense	2,565	2,457
Proceeds from repayment of trading investment securities	2,212	544
Proceeds from repayment of loans purchased as held for sale	67,506	82,864
Net change in:
Interest receivable	26,172	32,911
Guarantee and commitment fees receivable	534	(698)
Other assets	(46,832)	(2,369)
Accrued interest payable	(7,351)	(10,525)
Other liabilities	(1,468)	(864)
Net cash provided by operating activities	118,867	165,417
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of loans held for investment	(762,018)	(565,829)
Purchases of defaulted loans	(2,516)	(2,244)
Proceeds from repayment of loans purchased as held for investment	333,920	248,989
Proceeds from sale of Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities	457,369	231,242
Payments from sale of real estate owned	295	(1)
Net cash used in investing activities	(930,044)	(367,899)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Excess tax benefits related to stock-based awards	408	154
Payments to third parties on debt securities of consolidated trusts	(71,806)	(42,449)
Proceeds from common stock issuance	405	1,685
Investment in subsidiary - non-controlling interest	53	175
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	(18,031)	(15,166)
Net cash (used)/provided by financing activities	(85,326)	355,631
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents	(896,503)	153,149
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	1,210,084	1,363,387
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	313,581	1,516,536
Medium-term Notes [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of discount notes and medium-term notes	4,763,631	3,406,037
Payments to redeem discount notes and medium-term notes	(3,103,800)	(3,875,715)
Discount Notes [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of discount notes and medium-term notes	77,411,229	68,066,267
Payments to redeem discount notes and medium-term notes	(79,058,129)	(66,933,948)
Investment Securities [Member]
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of available-for-sale investment securities and Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Guaranteed Securities	(1,365,314)	(1,282,474)
Proceeds from repayment of available-for-sale investment securities, Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Guaranteed Securities	957,973	1,111,093
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale investment securities	186,769	83,735
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	(2,203,574)	(1,093,737)
Proceeds from repayment of available-for-sale investment securities, Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Guaranteed Securities	1,467,052	901,327
Common Class C, Non-Voting [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Common stock repurchased	$ (9,286)	$ (1,994)