CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 108,080	$ 84,317	$ 77,300
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	(1,104)	1,739	1,828
Amortization of debt premiums, discounts and issuance costs	30,207	22,858	31,757
Net change in fair value of trading securities, hedged assets, and financial derivatives	(23,747)	(11,187)	(15,086)
Losses/(gains) on sale of real estate owned	7	(1,748)	(15)
Total provision for losses	335	1,758	1,002
Excess Tax Benefits from Share-Based Compensation	946	860	0
Deferred income taxes	2,625	3,221	4,103
Other Noncash Income (Expense)	0	11	9
Stock-based compensation expense	2,517	2,702	3,343
Payments to Purchase Loans Held-for-sale	(25,000)	0	0
Proceeds from Sale of Loans Held-for-sale	25,000	0	0
Proceeds from (Payments for) Trading Securities, Short-term	0	0	2,212
Proceeds from repayment of loans purchased as held for sale	92,060	70,630	70,087
Net change in:
Interest receivable	(25,866)	(32,468)	(9,922)
Guarantee and commitment fees receivable	(188)	94	1,318
Other assets	(6,435)	3,641	43,560
Accrued interest payable	21,341	25,702	2,079
Other liabilities	(747)	2,881	(884)
Net cash provided by operating activities	200,031	175,011	212,691
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of held-to-maturity investment securities	0	(45,032)	0
Purchases of loans held for investment	(947,495)	(1,266,926)	(1,016,515)
Purchases of defaulted loans	(9,231)	(5,981)	(2,516)
Proceeds from repayment of loans purchased as held for investment	611,344	435,356	402,897
Proceeds from sale of Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities	382,929	519,219	609,347
Proceeds from sale of real estate owned	116	8,099	295
Net cash used by investing activities	(599,210)	(1,848,275)	(593,409)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Financing Activities	0	0	1,428
Payments to third parties on debt securities of consolidated trusts	(131,058)	(101,218)	(82,209)
Proceeds from common stock issuance	7	238	553
Tax payments related to share-based awards	(2,631)	(2,536)	(4,103)
Dividends paid on common and preferred stock	(37,905)	(28,439)	(24,067)
Net cash provided/(used) by financing activities	522,413	1,710,057	(564,137)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	123,234	36,793	(944,855)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	302,022	265,229	1,210,084
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	425,256	302,022	265,229
Proceeds from Noncontrolling Interests	0	0	53
Medium-term Notes [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of discount notes and medium-term notes	7,692,845	8,600,860	6,519,115
Payments to redeem discount notes and medium-term notes	(6,834,057)	(4,675,300)	(4,083,450)
Notes Payable to Banks [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of discount notes and medium-term notes	41,726,788	51,980,890	95,036,368
Payments to redeem discount notes and medium-term notes	(41,891,576)	(54,064,438)	(97,918,539)
Investment Securities [Member]
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of available-for-sale investment securities	(1,221,392)	(979,671)	(1,753,423)
Proceeds from repayment of available-for-sale investment securities, Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Guaranteed Securities	1,242,310	1,326,779	1,725,045
Proceeds from Sale of Available-for-sale Securities	0	10,218	186,769
Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Securities [Member]
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of available-for-sale investment securities	(3,470,832)	(2,913,514)	(2,579,980)
Proceeds from repayment of available-for-sale investment securities, Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Guaranteed Securities	2,813,041	1,063,178	1,834,672
Common Class C, Non-Voting [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock	$ 0	$ 0	$ (9,286)