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Accounting Policies
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2018
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]
1.
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The interim unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation ("Farmer Mac") and subsidiaries have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). These interim unaudited consolidated financial statements reflect all normal and recurring adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary to present a fair statement of the financial position and the results of operations and cash flows of Farmer Mac and subsidiaries for the interim periods presented. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the annual consolidated financial statements have been omitted as permitted by SEC rules and regulations. The December 31, 2017 consolidated balance sheet presented in this report has been derived from Farmer Mac's audited 2017 consolidated financial statements. Management believes that the disclosures are adequate to present fairly the consolidated financial statements as of the dates and for the periods presented. These interim unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the 2017 consolidated financial statements of Farmer Mac and subsidiaries included in Farmer Mac's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 filed with the SEC on March 8, 2018. Results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of those that may be expected for the fiscal year. Presented below are Farmer Mac's significant accounting policies that contain updated information for the three months ended March 31, 2018.

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Farmer Mac and its two subsidiaries during the year: (1) Farmer Mac Mortgage Securities Corporation ("FMMSC"), whose principal activities are to facilitate the purchase and issuance of Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities; and (2) Farmer Mac II LLC, whose principal activity is the operation of substantially all of the business related to the USDA Guarantees line of business – primarily the acquisition of USDA Securities. The consolidated financial statements also include the accounts of VIEs in which Farmer Mac determined itself to be the primary beneficiary. The accounts of Contour Valuation Services, LLC (which began doing business as AgVisory during first quarter 2016) ("AgVisory"), Farmer Mac's former majority-owned subsidiary, are also included through March 31, 2017. Farmer Mac redeemed its ownership interest in AgVisory on May 1, 2017.

The following tables present, by line of business, details about the consolidation of VIEs:



Table 1.1
 
Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities
 
As of March 31, 2018
 
Farm & Ranch
 
USDA Guarantees
 
Rural Utilities
 
Institutional Credit
 
Corporate
 
Total
 
(in thousands)
On-Balance Sheet:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated VIEs:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loans held for investment in consolidated trusts, at amortized cost
$
1,441,718

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
1,441,718

Debt securities of consolidated trusts held by third parties (1)
1,463,653

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
1,463,653

   Unconsolidated VIEs:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
      Carrying value (2)
—

 
29,900

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
29,900

      Maximum exposure to loss (3)
—

 
29,596

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
29,596

   Investment securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
        Carrying value (4)
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
837,840

 
837,840

        Maximum exposure to loss (3) (4)
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
835,202

 
835,202

Off-Balance Sheet:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Unconsolidated VIEs:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
      Maximum exposure to loss (3) (5)
314,497

 
284,435

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
598,932

(1) 
Includes borrower remittances of $21.9 million. The borrower remittances had not been passed through to third party investors as of March 31, 2018.
(2) 
Includes $0.3 million of unamortized premiums and discounts and fair value adjustments related to the USDA Guarantees line of business.
(3) 
Farmer Mac uses unpaid principal balance and outstanding face amount of investment securities to represent maximum exposure to loss.
(4) 
Includes auction-rate certificates, asset-backed securities, and government-sponsored enterprise ("GSE")-guaranteed mortgage-backed securities.
(5) 
The amount under the Farm & Ranch line of business relates to unconsolidated trusts where Farmer Mac determined it was not the primary beneficiary due to shared power with an unrelated party.

 
Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities
 
As of December 31, 2017
 
Farm & Ranch
 
USDA Guarantees
 
Rural Utilities
 
Institutional Credit
 
Corporate
 
Total
 
(in thousands)
On-Balance Sheet:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated VIEs:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loans held for investment in consolidated trusts, at amortized cost
$
1,399,827

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
1,399,827

Debt securities of consolidated trusts held by third parties (1)
1,404,945

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
1,404,945

   Unconsolidated VIEs:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
      Carrying value (2)
—

 
30,300

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
30,300

      Maximum exposure to loss (3)
—

 
29,980

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
29,980

   Investment securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
        Carrying value (4)
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
783,964

 
783,964

        Maximum exposure to loss (3) (4)
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
783,916

 
783,916

Off-Balance Sheet:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Unconsolidated VIEs:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
      Maximum exposure to loss (3) (5)
333,511

 
254,217

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
587,728

(1) 
Includes borrower remittances of $5.1 million, which have not been passed through to third party investors as of December 31, 2017.
(2) 
Includes $0.3 million of unamortized premiums and discounts and fair value adjustments related to the USDA Guarantees line of business.
(3) 
Farmer Mac uses unpaid principal balance and the outstanding face amount of investment securities to represent maximum exposure to loss.
(4) 
Includes auction-rate certificates, asset-backed securities, and GSE-guaranteed mortgage-backed securities.
(5) 
The amount under the Farm & Ranch line of business relates to unconsolidated trusts where Farmer Mac determined it was not the primary beneficiary due to shared power with an unrelated party.
(a)
Statements of Cash Flows 

The following table sets forth information regarding certain cash and non-cash transactions for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017:


Table 1.2

 
For the Three Months Ended
 
March 31, 2018
 
March 31, 2017
 
(in thousands)
Non-cash activity:
 
 
 
Real estate owned acquired through loan liquidation
—

 
4,630

Loans acquired and securitized as Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities
131,202

 
149,607

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
96,909

 
117,018

Purchases of securities - traded not yet settled
5,640

 
—

Earnings Per Common Share

Basic earnings per common share ("EPS") is based on the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding.  Diluted earnings per common share is based on the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding adjusted to include all potentially dilutive common stock options, stock appreciation rights ("SARs"), and non-vested restricted stock awards.  The following schedule reconciles basic and diluted EPS for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017:

Table 1.3
 
For the Three Months Ended
 
March 31, 2018
 
March 31, 2017
 
Net
Income
 
Weighted-Average Shares
 
$ per
Share
 
Net
Income
 
Weighted-Average Shares
 
$ per
Share
 
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
Basic EPS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income attributable to common stockholders
$
22,524

 
10,622

 
$
2.12

 
$
18,615

 
10,551

 
$
1.76

Effect of dilutive securities(1)
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
Stock options, SARs and restricted stock
—

 
119

 
(0.02
)
 
—

 
231

 
(0.03
)
Diluted EPS
$
22,524

 
10,741

 
$
2.10

 
$
18,615

 
10,782

 
$
1.73

(1) 
For the three months ended March 31, 2018, 25,062 SARs were outstanding but not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share of common stock because they were anti-dilutive, compared to 50,757 stock options and SARs for the three months ended March 31, 2017. For the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, contingent shares of non-vested restricted stock of 13,138 and 32,892, respectively, were outstanding but not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share of common stock because performance conditions had not yet been met.
Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income represents all changes in stockholders' equity except those resulting from investments by or distributions to stockholders, and is comprised of net income and unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities, certain held-to-maturity securities transferred from the available-for-sale classification, and cash flow hedges, net of related taxes.

The following table presents the changes in accumulated other comprehensive income ("AOCI"), net of tax, by component for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017:

Table 1.4

 
As of March 31, 2018
 
As of March 31, 2017
 
Available-for-Sale Securities
 
Held-to-Maturity Securities
 
Cash Flow Hedges
 
Total
 
Available-for-Sale Securities
 
Held-to-Maturity Securities
 
Cash Flow Hedges
 
Total
 
(in thousands)
For the Three Months Ended:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance as of December 31, 2017
$
(1,676
)
 
$
48,236

 
$
4,525

 
$
51,085

 
$
(14,387
)
 
$
45,752

 
$
2,393

 
$
33,758

Cumulative effect from change in hedge accounting
—

 
—

 
27

 
27

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Balance as of January 1, 2018
(1,676
)
 
48,236

 
4,552

 
51,112

 
(14,387
)
 
45,752

 
2,393

 
33,758

Other comprehensive income before reclassifications
18,187

 
—

 
5,053

 
23,240

 
12,223

 
—

 
76

 
12,299

Amounts reclassified from AOCI
(1,417
)
 
(1,035
)
 
211

 
(2,241
)
 
(2,578
)
 
(2,267
)
 
332

 
(4,513
)
Net comprehensive income/(loss)
16,770

 
(1,035
)
 
5,264

 
20,999

 
9,645

 
(2,267
)
 
408

 
7,786

Ending Balance
$
15,094

 
$
47,201

 
$
9,816

 
$
72,111

 
$
(4,742
)
 
$
43,485

 
$
2,801

 
$
41,544



The following table presents other comprehensive income activity, the impact on net income of amounts reclassified from each component of AOCI, and the related tax impact for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017:

Table 1.5

 
For the Three Months Ended
 
March 31, 2018
 
March 31, 2017
 
Before Tax
 
Provision (Benefit)
 
After Tax
 
Before Tax
 
Provision (Benefit)
 
After Tax
 
(in thousands)
Other comprehensive income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale-securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unrealized holding gains/(losses) on available-for-sale-securities
$
23,022

 
$
4,835

 
$
18,187

 
$
18,804

 
$
6,581

 
$
12,223

Less reclassification adjustments included in:
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
Net Interest Income(1)
(1,787
)
 
(375
)
 
(1,412
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

Gains/(losses) on financial derivatives and hedging activities(1)
—

 
—

 
—

 
(3,959
)
 
(1,386
)
 
(2,573
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other income(2)
(7
)
 
(2
)
 
(5
)
 
(7
)
 
(2
)
 
(5
)
Total
$
21,228

 
$
4,458

 
$
16,770

 
$
14,838

 
$
5,193

 
$
9,645

Held-to-maturity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Less reclassification adjustments included in:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net interest income(3)
(1,310
)
 
(275
)
 
(1,035
)
 
(3,487
)
 
(1,220
)
 
(2,267
)
Total
$
(1,310
)
 
$
(275
)
 
$
(1,035
)
 
$
(3,487
)
 
$
(1,220
)
 
$
(2,267
)
Cash flow hedges
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unrealized gains/(losses) on cash flow hedges
$
6,396

 
$
1,343

 
$
5,053

 
$
117

 
$
41

 
$
76

Less reclassification adjustments included in:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net interest income(4)
267

 
56

 
211

 
512

 
180

 
332

Total
$
6,663

 
$
1,399

 
$
5,264

 
$
629

 
$
221

 
$
408

Other comprehensive income/(loss)
$
26,581

 
$
5,582

 
$
20,999

 
$
11,980

 
$
4,194

 
$
7,786

(1) 
Relates to the amortization of unrealized gains on hedged items prior to the application of fair value hedge accounting.
(2) 
Represents amortization of deferred gains related to certain available-for-sale USDA Securities and Farmer Mac Guaranteed USDA Securities.
(3) 
Relates to the amortization of unrealized gains or losses prior to the reclassification of these securities from available-for-sale to held-to-maturity. The amortization of unrealized gains or losses reported in AOCI for held-to-maturity securities will be offset by the amortization of the premium or discount created from the transfer into held-to-maturity securities, which occurred at fair value. These unrealized gains or losses will be recorded over the remaining life of the security with no impact on future net income.
(4) 
Relates to the recognition of unrealized gains and losses on cash flow hedges recorded in AOCI.
New Accounting Standards

In June 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2016-13, "Financial Instruments—Credit Losses," which will require entities to measure all expected credit losses for financial assets held at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts.  Entities will be required to use forward-looking information to form their credit loss estimates.  The ASU will also require enhanced disclosures to help users of financial statements better understand significant estimates and judgments used in estimating credit losses, as well as the credit quality and underwriting standards of an entity’s portfolio.  The new standard is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019.   Early application will be permitted for all entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018.  Farmer Mac is currently developing its accounting policy, planning for changes to its loss estimation methodologies and evaluating the impact that the new guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements. That impact will primarily be from the new requirement to recognize all expected losses rather than just incurred losses as of the reporting date. 

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-08, "Receivables—Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs (Subtopic 310-20): Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities," which shortens the amortization period for certain callable debt securities held at a premium by requiring the premium to be amortized to the earliest call date. The ASU does not require an accounting change for securities held at a discount. The new standard is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. Farmer Mac does not expect that adoption of the new guidance will have a material effect on Farmer Mac's financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

In first quarter 2018 Farmer Mac adopted ASU 2017-12, "Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities," which amends hedge accounting recognition and presentation requirements to better align a reporting entity's risk management activities and hedge accounting. The new guidance reduces the complexity and simplifies the application of hedge accounting by eliminating the requirement to separately measure and report hedge ineffectiveness and by requiring the entire change in the fair value of a hedging instrument to be presented in the same income statement line as the hedged item. The cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of January 1, 2018 reflected application of the new guidance and did not have a material effect on Farmer Mac's financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications of prior period information were made to conform to the current period presentation.