CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 25,819	$ 21,895
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	309	181
Amortization of debt premiums, discounts and issuance costs	6,008	5,656
Net change in fair value of trading securities, hedged assets, and financial derivatives	19,174	525
(Gains)/losses on sale of real estate owned	0	5
Total provision for losses	(410)	444
Excess Tax Benefits from Share-Based Compensation	440	679
Deferred income taxes	(161)	1,419
Stock-based compensation expense	664	981
Proceeds from repayment of loans purchased as held for sale	34,699	25,928
Net change in:
Interest receivable	41,219	37,292
Guarantee and commitment fees receivable	(15)	(357)
Other assets	(11,973)	2,236
Accrued interest payable	(4,054)	(2,855)
Other liabilities	6,111	8,605
Net cash provided by operating activities	117,830	102,634
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of loans held for investment	(267,756)	(341,702)
Purchases of defaulted loans	(721)	(311)
Proceeds from repayment of loans purchased as held for investment	191,298	182,790
Proceeds from sale of Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities	131,202	149,607
Proceeds from sale of real estate owned	0	697
Net cash used by investing activities	(383,997)	(245,913)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payments to third parties on debt securities of consolidated trusts	(38,197)	(46,926)
Proceeds from common stock issuance	3	148
Tax payments related to share-based awards	(1,407)	(1,341)
Dividends paid on common and preferred stock	(9,457)	(7,094)
Net cash provided/(used) by financing activities	457,403	191,691
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	191,236	48,412
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	302,022	265,229
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	493,258	313,641
Medium-term Notes [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of discount notes and medium-term notes	2,060,844	2,251,535
Payments to redeem discount notes and medium-term notes	(1,200,936)	(856,300)
Notes Payable to Banks [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of discount notes and medium-term notes	10,587,657	13,618,574
Payments to redeem discount notes and medium-term notes	(10,941,104)	(14,766,905)
Investment Securities [Member]
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of available-for-sale investment securities and Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Guaranteed Securities	(242,677)	(66,561)
Proceeds from repayment of available-for-sale investment securities, Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Guaranteed Securities	263,621	183,749
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	(931,199)	(692,245)
Proceeds from repayment of available-for-sale investment securities, Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Guaranteed Securities	$ 472,235	$ 338,063