CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 19,261	$ 33,942
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities:
Net amortization of premiums and discounts on loans, investments, Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Guaranteed Securities	13,923	8,421
Amortization of debt premiums, discounts and issuance costs	8,822	5,057
Net change in fair value of trading securities, financial derivatives and loans held for sale	48,538	(5,970)
Amortization of deferred gains on certain Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Guaranteed Securities	(4,216)	0
Gains on the sale of available-for-sale investment securities	(269)	(264)
Gains on the sale of real estate owned	(720)	0
Total (release of)/provision for losses	(2,229)	3,072
Deferred income taxes	(20,734)	809
Stock-based compensation expense	2,254	2,188
Proceeds from repayment and sale of trading investment securities	686	586
Purchases of loans held for sale	(152,117)	(404,072)
Proceeds from repayment of loans purchased as held for sale	83,361	32,506
Net change in:
Interest receivable	10,778	(246)
Guarantee and commitment fees receivable	4,505	20,958
Other assets	2,269	642
Accrued interest payable	(8,133)	5,532
Other liabilities	2,838	(17,865)
Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities	8,817	(314,704)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of loans held for investment	(398,050)	(26,367)
Purchases of defaulted loans	(21,266)	(5,317)
Proceeds from repayment of available-for-sale investment securities	675,566	213,315
Proceeds from repayment of Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Guaranteed Securities	699,263	372,862
Proceeds from repayment of loans purchased as held for investment	251,471	246,906
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale investment securities	447,864	92,767
Proceeds from sale of trading securities - fair value option	0	5,013
Proceeds from sale of Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities	13,869	18,860
Proceeds from sale of real estate owned	1,361	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,711,526)	(860,014)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Excess tax benefits related to stock-based awards	243	747
Payments to third parties on debt securities of consolidated trusts	(124,521)	(147,832)
Proceeds from common stock issuance	20	180
Issuance costs on retirement of preferred stock	0	(5,784)
Proceeds from preferred stock issuance - Farmer Mac II LLC	0	241,853
Retirement of Series B preferred stock	0	(144,216)
Dividends paid - non-controlling interest - preferred stock	(16,641)	(15,097)
Dividends paid on common and preferred stock	(3,708)	(4,944)
Net cash provided by financing activities	1,797,803	973,197
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	95,094	(201,521)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	729,920	654,794
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	825,014	453,273
Investment Securities
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of securities	(1,276,131)	(626,678)
Farmer Mac and USDA Guaranteed Securities
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of securities	(2,105,473)	(1,151,375)
Discount Notes
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of debt	52,174,214	50,774,678
Repayments of debt	(51,185,913)	(50,262,407)
Medium-term Notes
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of debt	1,981,109	1,977,609
Repayments of debt	$ (1,027,000)	$ (1,441,590)