CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) - USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Interest receivable - consolidated trusts amount	$ 153,170,000	$ 199,195,000
Accrued interest payable - consolidated trusts amount	92,648,000	106,959,000
Available-for-Sale Securities
Amortized cost of available-for-sale investment securities	3,522,674,000	2,961,430,000
Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities:
Amortized cost of available-for-sale investment securities	7,150,606,000	7,016,971,000
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary
Interest receivable - consolidated trusts amount	11,525,000	20,568,000
Accrued interest payable - consolidated trusts amount	$ 9,353,000	$ 18,018,000
Series A Preferred Stock
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 25	$ 25
Preferred stock, shares authorized (in shares)	2,400,000	2,400,000
Preferred stock, shares issued (in shares)	2,400,000	2,400,000
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	2,400,000	2,400,000
Preferred stock, redemption amount	$ 60,000,000
Series C Preferred Stock
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 25	$ 25
Preferred stock, shares authorized (in shares)	3,000,000	3,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued (in shares)	3,000,000	3,000,000
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	3,000,000	3,000,000
Series D Preferred Stock
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 25	$ 25
Preferred stock, shares authorized (in shares)	4,000,000	4,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued (in shares)	4,000,000	4,000,000
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	4,000,000	4,000,000
Series E Preferred Stock
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 25	$ 25
Preferred stock, shares authorized (in shares)	3,180,000	3,180,000
Preferred stock, shares issued (in shares)	3,180,000	3,180,000
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	3,180,000	3,180,000
Series F Preferred Stock
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 25	$ 25
Preferred stock, shares authorized (in shares)	4,800,000	4,800,000
Preferred stock, shares issued (in shares)	4,800,000	4,800,000
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	4,800,000	4,800,000
Class A voting common stock
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 1	$ 1
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	1,030,780	1,030,780
Common Class B, Voting
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 1	$ 1
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	500,301	500,301
Class C non-voting common stock
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 1	$ 1
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	9,204,724	9,180,744

Amortized cost of investment in debt security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in other comprehensive income (available-for-sale).

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121645371&loc=d3e27161-111563

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121558606&loc=SL82898722-210454

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAmortizedCostBasis
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Face amount or stated value per share of common stock.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of shares of common stock outstanding. Common stock represent the ownership interest in a corporation.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109259400&loc=d3e21463-112644

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(29))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of interest payable on debt, including, but not limited to, trade payables.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.15(5))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120398452&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.15(a))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120400017&loc=d3e572229-122910

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InterestPayableCurrentAndNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of interest earned but not received. Also called accrued interest or accrued interest receivable.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InterestReceivable
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Face amount or stated value per share of preferred stock nonredeemable or redeemable solely at the option of the issuer.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PreferredStockParOrStatedValuePerShare
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The redemption (or callable) amount of currently redeemable preferred stock. Includes amounts representing dividends not currently declared or paid but which will be payable under the redemption features or for which ultimate payment is solely within the control of the issuer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.27(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 11
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109259400&loc=d3e21564-112644

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PreferredStockRedemptionAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The maximum number of nonredeemable preferred shares (or preferred stock redeemable solely at the option of the issuer) permitted to be issued by an entity's charter and bylaws.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesAuthorized
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Total number of nonredeemable preferred shares (or preferred stock redeemable solely at the option of the issuer) issued to shareholders (includes related preferred shares that were issued, repurchased, and remain in the treasury). May be all or portion of the number of preferred shares authorized. Excludes preferred shares that are classified as debt.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesIssued
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Aggregate share number for all nonredeemable preferred stock (or preferred stock redeemable solely at the option of the issuer) held by stockholders. Does not include preferred shares that have been repurchased.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesOutstanding
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_MortgageBackedSecuritiesIssuedByUSGovernmentSponsoredEnterprisesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesAxis=us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis=us-gaap_SeriesAPreferredStockMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis=us-gaap_SeriesCPreferredStockMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis=us-gaap_SeriesDPreferredStockMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis=us-gaap_SeriesEPreferredStockMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis=us-gaap_SeriesFPreferredStockMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis=us-gaap_CommonClassAMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis=us-gaap_CommonClassBMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis=us-gaap_CommonClassCMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: