Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2019

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, 2018 consolidated balance sheet presented in this report has been derived from Farmer Mac's audited 2018 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 2018 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, 2018 filed with the SEC on February 21, 2019. 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, 2019.

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 Variable Interest Entities ("VIEs") in which Farmer Mac determined itself to be the primary beneficiary.

Earnings Per Share

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 stock appreciation rights ("SARs") and unvested restricted stock awards.

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.

New Accounting Standards

Recently Adopted Accounting Guidance



Standard	Description	Date of Adoption	Effect on Consolidated Financial Statements
ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842)	This Update provides new guidance intended to improve financial reporting about leasing transactions. This Update requires organizations that lease assets to recognize on the balance sheet the assets and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by those leases. It also requires new disclosures to help investors and other financial statement users better understand the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases.	January 1, 2019	The adoption of this Update did not have a material effect on Farmer Mac's financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

Recently Issued Accounting Guidance, Not Yet Adopted Within Our Consolidated Financial Statements



Standard	Description	Date of Planned Adoption	Effect on Consolidated Financial Statements
ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments	This Update 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, as well as require entities to use forward-looking information to form their credit loss estimates.	January 1, 2020	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. The impact will primarily result from the new requirements to recognize all expected losses rather than just incurred losses as of the reporting date.
ASU 2017-08, Receivables - Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs (Subtopic 310-20): Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities	The amendments in this Update shorten the amortization period for certain callable debt securities held at a premium by requiring the premium to be amortized to the earliest call date. There is no required accounting change for securities held at a discount in this ASU.	January 1, 2020	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.
ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement	The amendments in this Update modify the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements in Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements, including the consideration of costs and benefits. Certain disclosure requirements were either removed, modified, or added.	January 1, 2020	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.
ASU 2018-15, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer's Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That is a Service Contract	The amendments in this Update align the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software (and hosting arrangements that include an internal-use software license).	January 1, 2020	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.

Reclassifications

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