CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY (USD $) In Thousands	Total	Preferred stock:	Common stock:	Additional paid-in capital:	Retained earnings:	Retained earnings: Series B Preferred Stock	Retained earnings: Series C Preferred Stock	Accumulated other comprehensive income:	Total Stockholders' Equity	Non-controlling interest:
Balance, beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2009		$ 57,578	$ 10,142	$ 97,090	$ 28,127			$ 3,254		$ 0
Balance, beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2009		58	10,142
Issuance of stock		0	122
Exercise of stock options and SARs			13
Net income attributable to Farmer Mac	18,782				18,782
Stock-based compensation expense				2,187
Change in unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities, net of tax and reclassification adjustments								44,000
Preferred stock - Farmer Mac II LLC										241,853
Cash dividends:
Common stock ($0.15 per share)					(1,534)
Preferred stock, Series B ($8.33 per share) and Series C ($37.50 per share)						(1,250)	(2,160)
Issuance of stock		0	122	33
Change in unrealized gain on financial derivatives, net of tax and reclassification adjustments								78
Loss on retirement of preferred stock	(5,784)				(5,784)
Exercise, vesting and cancellation of stock options, SARs and restricted stock				158
Exercise of stock options and SARs			13
Cumulative effect of adoption of new accounting standard, net of tax					2,679
Comprehensive income:
Net income	33,942
Change in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax	44,078
Comprehensive income	78,020
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interest	15,160
Total comprehensive income	62,860
Balance, end of period at Sep. 30, 2010	495,368	57,578	10,277	99,468	38,860			47,332	253,515	241,853
Balance, end of period at Sep. 30, 2010		58	10,277
Balance, beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2010	478,877	57,578	10,284	100,050	50,837			18,275		241,853
Balance, beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2010		58	10,284
Issuance of stock		0	59
Exercise of stock options and SARs			14
Net income attributable to Farmer Mac	2,620				2,620
Stock-based compensation expense				2,254
Change in unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities, net of tax and reclassification adjustments								67,440
Preferred stock - Farmer Mac II LLC										0
Cash dividends:
Common stock ($0.15 per share)					(1,549)
Preferred stock, Series B ($8.33 per share) and Series C ($37.50 per share)						0	(2,159)
Issuance of stock		0	59	19
Change in unrealized gain on financial derivatives, net of tax and reclassification adjustments								0
Loss on retirement of preferred stock	0				0
Exercise, vesting and cancellation of stock options, SARs and restricted stock				(514)
Exercise of stock options and SARs			14
Cumulative effect of adoption of new accounting standard, net of tax					0
Comprehensive income:
Net income	19,261
Change in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax	67,440
Comprehensive income	86,701
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interest	16,641
Total comprehensive income	70,060
Balance, end of period at Sep. 30, 2011	$ 547,061	$ 57,578	$ 10,357	$ 101,809	$ 49,749			$ 85,715	$ 305,208	$ 241,853
Balance, end of period at Sep. 30, 2011		58	10,357