Unassociated Document
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 9, 2010 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549

FORM 10-Q
 
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2010
 
Commission File Number 001-14951
 
 
FEDERAL AGRICULTURAL MORTGAGE CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Federally chartered instrumentality
of the United States
 
52-1578738
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. employer identification number)

1133 Twenty-First Street, N.W., Suite 600
Washington, D.C.
 
20036
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip code)

(202) 872-7700
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
 
Yes         x                                No           ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
 
Yes         ¨                                No           ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer      
¨
Accelerated filer   ¨
        
Non-accelerated filer        
x
Smaller reporting company   ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
 
Yes         ¨                                No           x

As of August 2, 2010 the registrant had 1,030,780 shares of Class A Voting Common Stock, 500,301 shares of Class B Voting Common Stock and 8,746,123 shares of Class C Non-Voting Common Stock outstanding.

 
 

 

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.
Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

The following information concerning Farmer Mac’s interim unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements is included in this report beginning on the pages listed below:

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009
3
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009
4
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Equity for the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009
5
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009
6
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
7
 
 
-2-

 

FEDERAL AGRICULTURAL MORTGAGE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(unaudited)
   
June 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(in thousands)
 
Assets:
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 325,333     $ 654,794  
Investment securities:
               
Available-for-sale, at fair value
    1,175,376       1,041,923  
Trading, at fair value
    81,956       89,972  
Total investment securities
    1,257,332       1,131,895  
Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities:
               
Available-for-sale, at fair value
    1,718,140       2,524,867  
Trading, at fair value
    -       874,129  
Total Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities
    1,718,140       3,398,996  
USDA Guaranteed Securities:
               
Available-for-sale, at fair value
    880,424       -  
Trading, at fair value
    386,496       -  
Total USDA Guaranteed Securities
    1,266,920       -  
Loans:
               
Loans held for sale, at lower of cost or fair value
    908,778       666,534  
Loans held for investment, at amortized cost
    96,057       93,478  
Loans held for investment in consolidated trusts, at amortized cost
    1,332,624       -  
Allowance for loan losses
    (9,495 )     (6,292 )
Total loans, net of allowance
    2,327,964       753,720  
Real estate owned, at lower of cost or fair value
    4,023       739  
Financial derivatives, at fair value
    37,121       15,040  
Interest receivable
    72,616       67,178  
Guarantee and commitment fees receivable
    36,579       55,016  
Deferred tax asset, net
    10,405       24,146  
Prepaid expenses and other assets
    43,057       37,289  
Total Assets
  $ 7,099,490     $ 6,138,813  
                 
Liabilities, Mezzanine Equity and Equity:
               
Liabilities:
               
Notes payable:
               
Due within one year
  $ 3,226,745     $ 3,662,898  
Due after one year
    2,269,421       1,908,713  
Total notes payable
    5,496,166       5,571,611  
Debt securities of consolidated trusts held by third parties
    882,629       -  
Financial derivatives, at fair value
    132,675       107,367  
Accrued interest payable
    52,913       39,562  
Guarantee and commitment obligation
    32,762       48,526  
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
    19,397       23,445  
Reserve for losses
    9,470       7,895  
Total Liabilities
    6,626,012       5,798,406  
                 
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 5)
               
                 
Mezzanine Equity:
               
Series B redeemable preferred stock, par value $1,000 per share, 150,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2009 (redemption value $150,000,000)
    -       144,216  
Stockholders' Equity:
               
Preferred stock:
               
Series C, par value $1,000 per share, 100,000 shares authorized, 57,578 issued and outstanding
    57,578       57,578  
Common stock:
               
Class A Voting, $1 par value, no maximum authorization, 1,030,780 shares outstanding
    1,031       1,031  
Class B Voting, $1 par value, no maximum authorization, 500,301 shares outstanding
    500       500  
Class C Non-Voting, $1 par value, no maximum authorization, 8,745,269 shares outstanding as of June 30, 2010 and 8,610,918 shares outstanding as of December 31, 2009
    8,745       8,611  
Additional paid-in capital
    98,925       97,090  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    31,469       3,254  
Retained earnings
    33,377       28,127  
Total Stockholders' Equity
    231,625       196,191  
Non-controlling interest - preferred stock
    241,853       -  
Total Equity
    473,478       196,191  
Total Liabilities, Mezzanine Equity and Equity
  $ 7,099,490     $ 6,138,813  
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 
-3-

 

FEDERAL AGRICULTURAL MORTGAGE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(unaudited)

   
For the Three Months Ended
   
For the Six Months Ended
 
   
June 30, 2010
   
June 30, 2009
   
June 30, 2010
   
June 30, 2009
 
   
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
Interest income:
                       
Investments and cash equivalents
  $ 6,390     $ 7,049     $ 12,873     $ 15,958  
Farmer Mac and USDA Guaranteed Securities
    18,795       25,805       39,626       53,564  
Loans
    32,142       8,896       65,560       19,381  
Total interest income
    57,327       41,750       118,059       88,903  
Total interest expense
    35,719       21,849       72,834       45,562  
Net interest income
    21,608       19,901       45,225       43,341  
Recoveries/(provision) for loan losses
    1,870       5,693       (980 )     2,159  
Net interest income after recoveries/(provision) for loan losses
    23,478       25,594       44,245       45,500  
                                 
Non-interest (expense)/income:
                               
Guarantee and commitment fees
    5,710       7,908       11,629       15,318  
(Losses)/gains on financial derivatives
    (15,840 )     21,528       (21,644 )     23,239  
Gains on trading assets
    5,058       35       8,425       31,660  
Other-than-temporary impairment losses
    -       (2,292 )     -       (2,373 )
(Losses)/gains on sale of available-for-sale investment securities
    -       (300 )     240       2,850  
Gains on sale of loans and Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities
    -       -       -       1,581  
Lower of cost or fair value adjustment on loans held for sale
    90       -       (2,184 )     -  
Other income
    211       101       1,040       335  
Non-interest (expense)/income
    (4,771 )     26,980       (2,494 )     72,610  
                                 
Non-interest expense:
                               
Compensation and employee benefits
    3,907       3,572       7,418       7,597  
General and administrative
    2,051       2,986       4,554       5,900  
Regulatory fees
    562       512       1,125       1,025  
Real estate owned operating costs/(income), net
    298       (16 )     308       5  
Provision/(recoveries) for losses
    3,043       (529 )     1,575       1,990  
Non-interest expense
    9,861       6,525       14,980       16,517  
Income before income taxes
    8,846       46,049       26,771       101,593  
Income tax expense
    756       16,534       5,092       34,624  
Net income
    8,090       29,515       21,679       66,969  
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interest - preferred stock dividends
    (5,546 )     -       (9,614 )     -  
Net income attributable to Farmer Mac
    2,544       29,515       12,065       66,969  
Preferred stock dividends
    (720 )     (4,130 )     (2,690 )     (8,066 )
Loss on retirement of preferred stock
    -       -       (5,784 )     -  
Net income available to common stockholders
  $ 1,824     $ 25,385     $ 3,591     $ 58,903  
                                 
Earnings per common share and dividends:
                               
Basic earnings per common share
  $ 0.18     $ 2.50     $ 0.35     $ 5.81  
Diluted earnings per common share
  $ 0.17     $ 2.49     $ 0.34     $ 5.80  
Common stock dividends per common share
  $ 0.05     $ 0.05     $ 0.10     $ 0.10  
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 
-4-

 

FEDERAL AGRICULTURAL MORTGAGE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY
(unaudited)
   
For the Six Months Ended
 
   
June 30, 2010
   
June 30, 2009
 
   
Shares
   
Amount
   
Shares
   
Amount
 
   
(in thousands)
 
Preferred stock:
                       
Balance, beginning of period
    58     $ 57,578       9     $ 9,200  
Issuance of Series C preferred stock
    -       -       31       30,800  
Balance, end of period
    58     $ 57,578       40     $ 40,000  
Common stock:
                               
Balance, beginning of period
    10,142     $ 10,142       10,132     $ 10,132  
Issuance of Class C common stock
    121       121       6       6  
Exercise of stock options and SARs
    13       13       -       -  
Balance, end of period
    10,276     $ 10,276       10,138     $ 10,138  
Additional paid-in capital:
                               
Balance, beginning of period
          $ 97,090             $ 95,572  
Stock-based compensation expense
            1,507               1,543  
Issuance of Class C common stock
            22               11  
Excercise, vesting and cancelation of stock options, SARs and restricted stock
            306                 (1,165
Balance, end of period
          $ 98,925             $ 95,961  
Retained earnings/(accumulated deficit):
                               
Balance, beginning of period
          $ 28,127             $ (52,144 )
Net income attributable to Farmer Mac
            12,065               66,969  
Cash dividends:
                               
Preferred stock, Series B ($8.33 per share)
            (1,250 )             (7,476 )
Preferred stock, Series C ($12.50 per share)
            (1,440 )             (590 )
Common stock ($0.05 per share)
            (1,020 )             (1,014 )
Loss on retirement of preferred stock
            (5,784 )             -  
Cumulative effect of adoption of new accounting standard, net of tax
            2,679               -  
Balance, end of period
          $ 33,377             $ 5,745  
Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss):
                               
Balance, beginning of period
          $ 3,254             $ (47,412 )
Change in unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities, net of tax and reclassification adjustments
            28,163               34,776  
Change in unrealized gain on financial derivatives, net of tax and reclassification adjustments
            52               90  
Balance, end of period
          $ 31,469             $ (12,546 )
Total Stockholders' Equity
          $ 231,625             $ 139,298  
Non-controlling interest:
                               
Balance, beginning of period
          $ -             $ -  
Preferred stock - Farmer Mac II LLC
            241,853               -  
Balance, end of period
          $ 241,853             $ -  
Total Equity
          $ 473,478             $ 139,298  
                                 
Comprehensive income:
                               
Net income
          $ 21,679             $ 66,969  
Changes in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax
            28,215               34,866  
Comprehensive income
            49,894               101,835  
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interest
            9,614               -  
Total comprehensive income
          $ 40,280             $ 101,835  
 
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 
-5-

 

FEDERAL AGRICULTURAL MORTGAGE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited)
   
For the Six Months Ended
 
   
June 30, 2010
   
June 30, 2009
 
   
(in thousands)
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
           
Net income
  $ 21,679     $ 66,969  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash (used in)/provided by operating activities:
               
Net amortization of premiums and discounts on loans, investments, and Farmer Mac and USDA Guaranteed Securities
    6,150       2,207  
Amortization of debt premiums, discounts and issuance costs
    3,033       8,116  
Proceeds from repayment and sale of trading investment securities
    400       472  
Purchases of loans held for sale
    (293,003 )     (53,045 )
Proceeds from repayment of loans held for sale
    46,835       16,117  
Net change in fair value of trading securities, financial derivatives and loans held for sale
    (5,288 )     (77,939 )
Amortization of transition adjustment on financial derivatives
    80       89  
Other-than-temporary impairment losses
    -       2,373  
Gains on sale of loans and Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities
    -       (1,581 )
Gains on the sale of available-for-sale investments securities
    (240 )     (2,850 )
Total provision/(recoveries) for losses
    2,555       (169 )
Deferred income taxes
    (3,347 )     37,164  
Stock-based compensation expense
    1,508       1,543  
(Increase)/decrease in interest receivable
    (5,438 )     19,262  
Decrease in guarantee and commitment fees receivable
    18,437       5,026  
(Increase)/decrease in other assets
    (2,576 )     42,734  
Increase/(decrease) in accrued interest payable
    13,351       (1,711 )
Decrease in other liabilities
    (19,294 )     (7,686 )
Net cash (used in)/provided by operating activities
    (215,158 )     57,091  
Cash flows from investing activities:
               
Purchases of available-for-sale investment securities
    (306,239 )     -  
Purchases of Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities
    (216,302 )     (949,480 )
Purchases of loans held for investment
    (19,924 )     (14,670 )
Purchases of defaulted loans
    (3,403 )     (5,602 )
Proceeds from repayment of available-for-sale investment securities
    112,337       129,265  
Proceeds from repayment of Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities
    202,526       137,572  
Proceeds from repayment of loans held for investment
    142,328       34,252  
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale investment securities
    69,175       153,100  
Proceeds from sale of trading securities - fair value option
    5,013       -  
Proceeds from sale of Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities
    12,906       17,224  
Proceeds from sale of loans
    -       358,953  
Net cash used in investing activities
    (1,583 )     (139,386 )
Cash flows from financing activities:
               
Proceeds from issuance of discount notes
    31,919,565       27,760,730  
Proceeds from issuance of medium-term notes
    1,006,272       2,074,185  
Payments to redeem discount notes
    (32,095,725 )     (27,974,911 )
Payments to redeem medium-term notes
    (908,590 )     (1,715,000 )
Tax benefit from tax deduction in excess of compensation cost recognized
    747       -  
Payments to third parties on debt securities of consolidated trusts
    (113,749 )     -  
Proceeds from common stock issuance
    168       17  
Issuance costs on retirement of preferred stock
    (5,784 )     -  
Proceeds from preferred stock issuance - Farmer Mac II LLC
    241,853       -  
Proceeds from preferred stock issuance
    -       30,800  
Retirement of Series B Preferred stock
    (144,216 )     -  
Dividends paid - Non-controlling interest - preferred stock
    (9,551 )     -  
Dividends paid on common and preferred stock
    (3,710 )     (9,080 )
Net cash (used in)/ provided by financing activities
    (112,720 )     166,741  
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents
    (329,461 )     84,446  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    654,794       278,412  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 325,333     $ 362,858  
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 
-6-

 
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)

Note 1.
Accounting Policies

The interim unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (“Farmer Mac” or the “Corporation”) and subsidiaries have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).  These interim unaudited condensed 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 for the interim periods presented.  Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the annual consolidated financial statements have been condensed or omitted as permitted by SEC rules and regulations.  The December 31, 2009 condensed consolidated balance sheet presented in this report has been derived from the Corporation’s audited 2009 consolidated financial statements.  Management believes that the disclosures are adequate to present fairly the condensed consolidated financial statements as of the dates and for the periods presented.  These interim unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited 2009 consolidated financial statements of Farmer Mac included in the Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 filed with the SEC on March 16, 2010 (as updated by the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 4, 2010).  Results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of those that may be expected for the fiscal year.  Below is a summary of Farmer Mac’s significant accounting policies.

 
-7-

 

(a)    Cash and Cash Equivalents and Statements of Cash Flows

Farmer Mac considers highly liquid investment securities with maturities at the time of purchase of three months or less to be cash equivalents.  The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents is a reasonable estimate of their fair value.  Changes in the balance of cash and cash equivalents are reported in the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows.  The following table sets forth information regarding certain cash and non-cash transactions for the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009.

   
For the Six Months Ended
 
   
June 30, 2010
   
June 30, 2009
 
   
(in thousands)
 
Cash paid during the period for:
           
Interest
  $ 37,989     $ 42,465  
Income taxes
    12,000       10,000  
Non-cash activity:
               
Real estate owned acquired through foreclosure
    3,580       40,955  
Loans acquired and securitized as Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities
    1,288       17,224  
Consolidation of Farmer Mac I Guaranteed Securities from off-balance sheet to loans held for investment in consolidated trusts
    1,401,659       -  
Consolidation of Farmer Mac I Guaranteed Securities from off-balance sheet to debt securities of consolidated trusts held by third parties
    1,401,659       -  
Transfers of available-for-sale Farmer Mac I Guaranteed Securities to loans held for investment in consolidated trusts, upon the adoption of new consolidation guidance
    5,385       -  
Transfers of trading Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities - Rural Utilities to loans held for investment in consolidated trusts, upon the adoption of new consolidation guidance
    451,448       -  
Deconsolidation of loans held for investment in consolidated trusts - transferred to off- balance sheet Farmer Mac I Guaranteed Securities
    414,462       -  
Deconsolidation of debt securities of consolidated trusts held by third parties - transferred to off- balance sheet Farmer Mac I Guaranteed Securities
    414,462       -  
Transfers of Farmer Mac I Guaranteed Securities to loans held for sale
    -       288,012  
Transfers of loans held for investment to loans held for sale
    -       617,072  

(b)     Allowance for Losses

As of June 30, 2010, Farmer Mac maintained an allowance for losses to cover estimated probable losses on loans held and loans underlying LTSPCs, Farmer Mac I Guaranteed Securities and Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities – Rural Utilities.

The allowance for losses is increased through periodic provisions for loan losses that are charged against net interest income and provisions for losses that are charged to non-interest expense and is reduced by charge-offs for actual losses, net of recoveries.  Negative provisions, or releases of allowance for losses, are recorded in the event that the estimate of probable losses as of the end of a period is lower than the estimate at the beginning of the period.

 
-8-

 

Farmer Mac’s methodology for determining its allowance for losses incorporates the Corporation’s automated loan classification system.  That system scores loans based on criteria such as historical repayment performance, indicators of current financial condition, loan seasoning, loan size and loan-to-value ratio.  For the purposes of the loss allowance methodology, the loans in Farmer Mac’s portfolio of loans and loans underlying Farmer Mac I Guaranteed Securities and LTSPCs have been scored and classified for each calendar quarter since first quarter 2000.  The allowance methodology captures the migration of loan scores across concurrent and overlapping three-year time horizons and calculates loss rates separately within each loan classification for (1) loans underlying LTSPCs and (2) loans held and loans underlying Farmer Mac I Guaranteed Securities.  The calculated loss rates are applied to the current classification distribution of unimpaired loans in Farmer Mac’s portfolio to estimate inherent losses, on the assumption that the historical credit losses and trends used to calculate loss rates will continue in the future.  Management evaluates this assumption by taking into consideration factors, including:
 
 
·
economic conditions;
 
·
geographic and agricultural commodity/product concentrations in the portfolio;
 
·
the credit profile of the portfolio;
 
·
delinquency trends of the portfolio;
 
·
historical charge-off and recovery activities of the portfolio; and
 
·
other factors to capture current portfolio trends and characteristics that differ from historical experience.

Management believes that its use of this methodology produces a reliable estimate of probable losses, as of the balance sheet date, for all loans held and loans underlying Farmer Mac I Guaranteed Securities and LTSPCs, in accordance with the standard on accounting for contingencies issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”).

Farmer Mac separately evaluates the rural utilities loans it owns, as well as the lender obligations and loans underlying or securing its Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities – Rural Utilities, to determine if there are probable losses inherent in those assets.

Farmer Mac also analyzes assets in its portfolio for impairment in accordance with the FASB standard on measuring individual impairment of a loan.  Farmer Mac’s impaired assets include:
 
 
·
non-performing assets (loans 90 days or more past due, in foreclosure, restructured, in bankruptcy – including loans performing under either their original loan terms or a court-approved bankruptcy plan – and real estate owned (“REO”);
 
·
loans for which Farmer Mac has adjusted the timing of borrowers’ payment schedules, but still expects to collect all amounts due and has not made economic concessions; and
 
·
additional performing loans that have previously been delinquent or are secured by real estate that produces agricultural commodities or products currently under stress.

For loans with an updated appraised value, other updated collateral valuation or management’s estimate of discounted collateral value, this analysis includes the measurement of the fair value of the underlying collateral for individual loans relative to the total recorded investment, including principal, interest and advances.  In the event that the collateral value does not support the total recorded investment, Farmer Mac provides a specific allowance for the difference between the recorded investment and its fair value, less estimated costs to liquidate the collateral.  For the remaining impaired assets without updated valuations, this analysis is performed in the aggregate in consideration of the similar risk characteristics of the assets and historical statistics.

 
-9-

 

The table below summarizes the components of Farmer Mac’s allowance for losses as of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009:
 
   
June 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(in thousands)
 
Allowance for loan losses
  $ 9,495     $ 6,292  
Reserve for losses:
               
Off-balance sheet Farmer Mac I Guaranteed Securities
    560       2,033  
LTSPCs
    8,910       5,862  
Total allowance for losses
  $ 18,965     $ 14,187  

The following table summarizes the changes in the components of Farmer Mac’s allowance for losses for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009:

   
June 30, 2010
   
June 30, 2009
 
   
Allowance
         
Total
   
Allowance
         
Total
 
   
for Loan
   
Reserve
   
Allowance
   
for Loan
   
Reserve
   
Allowance
 
   
Losses
   
for Losses
   
for Losses
   
Losses
   
for Losses
   
for Losses
 
   
(in thousands)
 
For the Three Months Ended:
                                   
Beginning balance
  $ 9,142     $ 6,427     $ 15,569     $ 13,228     $ 8,025     $ 21,253  
Provision/(recovery) for losses
    (1,870 )     3,043       1,173       (5,693 )     (529 )     (6,222 )
Charge-offs
    -       -       -       (5,725 )     -       (5,725 )
Recoveries
    2,223       -       2,223       -       -       -  
Ending balance
  $ 9,495     $ 9,470     $ 18,965     $ 1,810     $ 7,496     $ 9,306  
                                                 
For the Six Months Ended:
                                               
Beginning balance
  $ 6,292     $ 7,895     $ 14,187     $ 10,929     $ 5,506     $ 16,435  
Provision/(recovery) for losses
    980       1,575       2,555       (2,159 )     1,990       (169 )
Charge-offs
    -       -       -       (7,725 )     -       (7,725 )
Recoveries
    2,223       -       2,223       765       -       765  
Ending balance
  $ 9,495     $ 9,470     $ 18,965     $ 1,810     $ 7,496     $ 9,306  

Upon the adoption of the new consolidation guidance on January 1, 2010, Farmer Mac reclassified $2.0 million from the reserve for losses to the allowance for loan losses as a result of Farmer Mac being determined the primary beneficiary of certain VIEs with beneficial interests owned by third party investors.  In June 2010, Farmer Mac deconsolidated certain VIEs with beneficial interests owned by third party investors because Farmer Mac was no longer determined to be the primary beneficiary.  This deconsolidation did not result in a material reclassification from the allowance for loan losses to the reserve for losses during second quarter 2010.  Consolidated interests in VIEs with beneficial interests owned by third party investors are presented as “loans held for investment in consolidated trusts” on Farmer Mac’s condensed consolidated balance sheets.  Upon deconsolidation, Farmer Mac classifies these interests as off-balance sheet Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities.

 
-10-

 

No allowance for losses has been provided for AgVantage securities, securities issued under the Farmer Mac II program (“Farmer Mac II Guaranteed Securities”), or USDA Guaranteed Securities.  Each AgVantage security is a general obligation of an issuing institution approved by Farmer Mac and is collateralized by eligible loans in an amount at least equal to the outstanding principal amount of the security.  Farmer Mac excludes the loans that secure AgVantage securities from the credit risk metrics it discloses because of the credit quality of the issuing institutions, the collateralization level for the securities, and because delinquent loans are required to be removed from the pool of pledged loans and replaced with current eligible loans.  As of June 30, 2010, there were no probable losses inherent in Farmer Mac’s AgVantage securities due to the credit quality of the obligors, as well as the underlying collateral.  As of June 30, 2010, Farmer Mac had not experienced any credit losses on any AgVantage securities.  The guaranteed portions (“USDA-guaranteed portions”) of certain agricultural, rural development, business & industry and community facilities loans presented as “USDA Guaranteed Securities,” as well as those USDA-guaranteed portions that collateralize Farmer Mac II Guaranteed Securities, are guaranteed by the United States Department of Agriculture (“USDA”).  Each USDA guarantee is an obligation backed by the full faith and credit of the United States.  As of June 30, 2010, neither Farmer Mac nor Farmer Mac II LLC had experienced any credit losses on any USDA Guaranteed Securities held or on any Farmer Mac II Guaranteed Securities.

As of June 30, 2010, Farmer Mac individually analyzed $49.2 million of its $147.4 million of impaired assets for collateral shortfalls against updated appraised values, other updated collateral valuations or discounted values.  Farmer Mac evaluated the remaining $98.2 million of impaired assets for which updated valuations were not available in the aggregate in consideration of their similar risk characteristics and historical statistics.  Farmer Mac’s specific allowance for under-collateralized assets was $3.0 million as of June 30, 2010 and $0.6 million as of December 31, 2009.  Farmer Mac’s non-specific or general allowances were $16.0 million as of June 30, 2010 and $13.6 million as of December 31, 2009.

Farmer Mac recognized interest income of approximately $0.4 million and $0.9 million on impaired loans during the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, respectively, compared to $0.6 million and $1.7 million, respectively, during the same periods in 2009.  During the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, Farmer Mac’s average investment in impaired loans was $115.7 million and $124.3 million, respectively, compared to $142.4 million and $136.2 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2009.

(c)     Financial Derivatives

Farmer Mac enters into transactions involving financial derivatives principally to protect against risk from the effects of market price or interest rate movements on the value of certain assets, future cash flows or debt issuance, not for trading or speculative purposes.  Farmer Mac enters into interest rate swap contracts to adjust the characteristics of its short-term debt to match more closely the cash flow and duration characteristics of its longer-term loans and other assets, and also to adjust the characteristics of its long-term debt to match more closely the cash flow and duration characteristics of its short-term assets, thereby reducing interest rate risk and often times deriving an overall lower effective cost of borrowing than would otherwise be available to Farmer Mac in the conventional debt market.  Farmer Mac also recognizes certain contracts and commitments as derivatives when the characteristics of those contracts and commitments meet the definition of a derivative.

 
-11-

 

Farmer Mac manages the interest rate risk related to loans it has committed to acquire, but has not yet purchased and permanently funded, through the use of forward sale contracts on the debt of other government-sponsored enterprises (“GSEs”), futures contracts involving U.S. Treasury securities and interest rate swap contracts.  Farmer Mac uses forward sale contracts on GSE securities to reduce its interest rate exposure to changes in both U.S. Treasury rates and spreads on Farmer Mac debt.  The notional amounts of these contracts are determined based on a duration-matched hedge ratio between the hedged item and the hedge instrument.  Gains or losses generated by these hedge transactions should offset changes in funding costs.

All financial derivatives are recorded on the balance sheet at fair value as a freestanding asset or liability.  Farmer Mac does not designate its financial derivatives as fair value hedges or cash flow hedges; therefore, the changes in the fair values of financial derivatives are reported as gains or losses on financial derivatives in the condensed consolidated statements of operations without any corresponding changes in the fair values of the hedged items.

The following tables summarize information related to Farmer Mac’s financial derivatives as of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009:
 
   
June 30, 2010
 
                                       
Weighted-
 
                     
Weighted-
   
Weighted-
   
Weighted-
   
Average
 
                     
Average
   
Average
   
Average
   
Remaining
 
   
Notional
   
Fair Value
   
Pay
   
Receive
   
Forward
   
Life
 
   
Amount
   
Asset
   
(Liability)
   
Rate
   
Rate
   
Price
   
(in years)
 
   
(dollars in thousands)
 
Interest rate swaps:
                                         
Pay fixed callable
  $ 45,121     $ -     $ (790 )  
5.67%
   
0.46%
         
7.37
 
Pay fixed non-callable
    1,204,883       -       (127,543 )  
4.95%
   
0.40%
         
4.10
 
Receive fixed callable
    345,000       36       (194 )  
0.12%
   
0.24%
         
0.40
 
Receive fixed non-callable
    2,123,972       38,676       (234 )  
0.56%
   
1.62%
         
1.92
 
Basis swaps
    221,012       -       (3,878 )  
1.71%
   
0.28%
         
2.19
 
Credit default swaps
    30,000       342       -    
1.00%
   
0.00%
         
1.56
 
Agency forwards
    87,976       -       (825 )              
101.72
         
Treasury futures
    10,700       -       (28 )              
122.29
         
Credit valuation adjustment
    -       (1,933 )     817                              
Total financial derivatives
  $ 4,068,664     $ 37,121     $ (132,675 )                            
 
 
-12-

 

   
December 31, 2009
 
                                       
Weighted-
 
                     
Weighted-
   
Weighted-
   
Weighted-
   
Average
 
                     
Average
   
Average
   
Average
   
Remaining
 
   
Notional
   
Fair Value
   
Pay
   
Receive
   
Forward
   
Life
 
   
Amount
   
Asset
   
(Liability)
   
Rate
   
Rate
   
Price
   
(in years)
 
   
(dollars in thousands)
 
Interest rate swaps:
                                         
Pay fixed callable
  $ 65,686     $ -     $ (1,725 )   5.70%    
0.27%
         
7.78
 
Pay fixed non-callable
    1,236,156       5       (99,913 )  
4.95%
   
0.26%
         
4.62
 
Receive fixed callable
    300,000       236       -    
0.09%
   
0.54%
         
0.76
 
Receive fixed non-callable
    2,262,714       14,298       (2,815 )  
0.41%
   
1.80%
         
2.25
 
Basis swaps
    262,177       294       (3,673 )  
1.63%
   
0.61%
         
2.39
 
Credit default swaps
    30,000       -       (214 )  
1.00%
   
0.00%
         
2.14
 
Agency forwards
    75,511       453       -                
101.22
         
Treasury futures
    20,500       3       -                
115.47
         
Credit valuation adjustment
    -       (249 )     973                              
Total financial derivatives
  $ 4,252,744     $ 15,040     $ (107,367 )                            
 
In the normal course of business, collateral requirements contained in Farmer Mac’s derivative contracts are enforced by Farmer Mac and its counterparties.  Upon enforcement of the collateral requirements, the amount of collateral posted is typically based on the net fair value of all derivative contracts with the counterparty, i.e., derivative assets net of derivative liabilities at the counterparty level.  If Farmer Mac were to be in violation of certain provisions of the derivative contracts, the related counterparty could request payment or full collateralization on the derivative contracts.  As of June 30, 2010, the fair value of Farmer Mac’s derivatives in a net liability position at the counterparty level, which includes accrued interest but excludes any adjustment for nonperformance risk, was $118.5 million.  As of June 30, 2010, Farmer Mac posted assets with a fair value of $37.1 million as collateral for its derivatives in net liability positions.  If Farmer Mac had breached certain provisions of the derivative contracts as of June 30, 2010, it could have been required to settle its obligations under the agreements or post additional collateral of $81.4 million.

The following table summarizes the effects of Farmer Mac’s financial derivatives on the condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009:
 
   
(Losses)/Gains on Financial Derivatives
 
   
For the Three Months Ended
   
For the Six Months Ended
 
   
June 30, 2010
   
June 30, 2009
   
June 30, 2010
   
June 30, 2009
 
   
(in thousands)
 
                         
Interest rate swaps
  $ (14,624 )   $ 21,720     $ (19,390 )   $ 24,380  
Agency forwards
    (1,339 )     (199 )     (1,938 )     (1,078 )
Treasury futures
    (393 )     84       (641 )     75  
Credit default swaps
    561       -       405       -  
      (15,795 )     21,605       (21,564 )     23,377  
Amortization of derivatives transition adjustment
    (45 )     (77 )     (80 )     (138 )
Total
  $ (15,840 )   $ 21,528     $ (21,644 )   $ 23,239  
 
 
-13-

 
 
As of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively, Farmer Mac had approximately $6,000 of net after-tax unrealized gains and $0.1 million of net after-tax unrealized losses on financial derivatives included in accumulated other comprehensive income related to the financial derivatives transition adjustment.  These amounts will be reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods during which the hedged forecasted transactions (either the payment of interest or the issuance of discount notes) affect earnings or immediately when it becomes probable that the original hedged forecasted transaction will not occur within two months of the originally specified date.  Over the next 12 months, Farmer Mac estimates that $56,000 of unrealized losses currently reported in accumulated other comprehensive income will be reclassified into earnings.

As of June 30, 2010, Farmer Mac had outstanding basis swaps with Zions First National Bank, a related party, with total notional amount of $96.0 million and a fair value of $(3.7) million, compared to $105.2 million and $(3.7) million, respectively, as of December 31, 2009.  Under the terms of those basis swaps, Farmer Mac pays Constant Maturity Treasury-based rates and receives LIBOR.  Those swaps economically hedge most of the interest rate basis risk related to loans Farmer Mac purchases that pay a Constant Maturity Treasury based-rate and the discount notes Farmer Mac issues to fund the loan purchases (the pricing of discount notes is closely correlated to LIBOR rates).  Farmer Mac recorded unrealized losses on those outstanding basis swaps for three and six months ended June 30, 2010 of $0.1 million and $25,000 respectively, compared to unrealized gains of $0.8 million and $0.3 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2009.

 
-14-

 

(d)    Earnings Per Common Share

Basic earnings per common share are based on the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding.  Diluted earnings per common share are based on the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding adjusted to include all potentially dilutive common stock options, stock appreciation rights (“SARs”) and nonvested restricted stock awards.  The following schedule reconciles basic and diluted earnings per common share (“EPS”) for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009:

   
For the Three Months Ended
 
   
June 30, 2010
   
June 30, 2009
 
   
Net
         
$ per
   
Net
         
$ per
 
   
Income
   
Shares
   
Share
   
Income
   
Shares
   
Share
 
   
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
Basic EPS
                                   
Net income available to common stockholders
  $ 1,824       10,210     $ 0.18     $ 25,385       10,138     $ 2.50  
Effect of dilutive securities:
                                               
Stock options, SARs and restricted stock (1)
            400       (0.01 )             38       (0.01 )
Diluted EPS
  $ 1,824       10,610     $ 0.17     $ 25,385       10,176     $ 2.49  

(1)  
For the three months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, stock options, SARs and nonvested restricted stock of 1,650,050 and 1,862,829, respectively, were outstanding but not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share of common stock because they were anti-dilutive.  For the three months ended June 30, 2010, 126,000 contingent shares of nonvested restricted stock were outstanding but not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the performance conditions were not met.

   
For the Six Months Ended
 
   
June 30, 2010
   
June 30, 2009
 
   
Net
         
$ per
   
Net
         
$ per
 
   
Income
   
Shares
   
Share
   
Income
   
Shares
   
Share
 
   
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
Basic EPS
                                   
Net income available to common stockholders
  $ 3,591       10,177     $ 0.35     $ 58,903       10,136     $ 5.81  
Effect of dilutive securities:
                                               
Stock options, SARs and restricted stock (1)
            354       (0.01 )             19        (0.01 )
Diluted EPS
  $ 3,591       10,531     $ 0.34     $ 58,903       10,155     $ 5.80  

(1)
For the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, stock options, SARs and nonvested restricted stock of 1,616,008 and 1,881,885, respectively, were outstanding but not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share of common stock because they were anti-dilutive.  For the six months ended June 30, 2010, 104,250 contingent shares of nonvested restricted stock were outstanding but not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the performance conditions were not met.

 
-15-

 
 
(e)     Stock-Based Compensation

During 2008, Farmer Mac’s stockholders approved the 2008 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan that authorizes the grants of restricted stock, stock options and SARs, among other alternative forms of equity-based compensation, to directors, officers and other employees.  SARs awarded to officers and employees vest annually in thirds and SARs awarded to directors vest fully after approximately one year.  If not exercised or terminated earlier due to the termination of employment or service on the Board, SARs granted to officers or employees expire after ten years and those granted to directors expire after seven years.  For all SARs granted, the exercise price is equal to the closing price of the Class C Non-Voting Common Stock on the date of grant.  SARs granted during second quarter 2010 have exercise prices of $12.20 per share.  Restricted stock was awarded to directors during second quarter 2010 and vests fully after approximately one year.  Restricted stock awarded to officers during second quarter 2010 vests after approximately three years and only vests if certain performance conditions are met.  Restricted stock awards granted to both directors and officers are not issued until full vesting occurs.

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, Farmer Mac recognized $0.8 million and $1.5 million, respectively, of compensation expense related to stock options, SARs and restricted stock, compared to $0.9 million and $1.6 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2009.

 
-16-

 

The following tables summarize activity related to stock options, SARs and nonvested restricted stock awards for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009:

   
June 30, 2010
   
June 30, 2009
 
   
Stock
   
Weighted-
   
Stock
   
Weighted-
 
   
Options
   
Average
   
Options
   
Average
 
   
and
   
Exercise
   
and
   
Exercise
 
   
SARs
   
Price
   
SARs
   
Price
 
For the Three Months Ended:
                       
Outstanding, beginning of period
    1,799,465     $ 22.68       1,697,829     $ 24.66  
Granted
    247,000       12.20       165,000       5.93  
Exercised
    (21,331 )     13.15       -       -  
Canceled
    (102,084 )     20.88       (106,864 )     22.12  
Outstanding, end of period
    1,923,050     $ 21.53       1,755,965     $ 23.06  
                                 
For the Six Months Ended:
                               
Outstanding, beginning of period
    1,799,465     $ 22.68       2,237,711     $ 25.54  
Granted
    247,000       12.20       165,000       5.93  
Exercised
    (21,331 )     13.15       -       -  
Canceled
    (102,084 )     20.88       (646,746 )     27.28  
Outstanding, end of period
    1,923,050     $ 21.53       1,755,965     $ 23.06  
                                 
Stock options and SARs exercisable at the end of the period
    1,433,792     $ 25.04       1,349,258     $ 25.51  

   
June 30, 2010
   
June 30, 2009
 
         
Weighted-
         
Weighted-
 
   
Nonvested
   
Average
   
Nonvested
   
Average
 
   
Restricted
   
Grant-date
   
Restricted
   
Grant-date
 
   
Stock
   
Fair Value
   
Stock
   
Fair Value
 
For the Three Months Ended:
                       
Outstanding, beginning of period
    200,548     $ 5.93       -     $ -  
Granted
    111,085       12.28       200,548       5.93  
Canceled
    (11,599 )     8.15       -       -  
Vested and issued
    (118,048 )     5.93       -       -  
Outstanding, end of period
    181,986     $ 9.66       200,548     $ 5.93  
                                 
For the Six Months Ended:
                               
Outstanding, beginning of period
    200,548     $ 5.93       -     $ -  
Granted
    111,085       12.28       200,548       5.93  
Canceled
    (11,599 )     8.15       -       -  
Vested and issued
    (118,048 )     5.93       -       -  
Outstanding, end of period
    181,986     $ 9.66       200,548     $ 5.93  

The cancellations of stock options, SARs and nonvested restricted stock during the first six months of 2010 were due to unvested SARs and nonvested restricted stock terminating in accordance with the provisions of the applicable plans upon directors’ or officers’ departures from Farmer Mac and vested options terminating unexercised on their expiration date.  The cancellations of stock options and SARs during the first six months of 2009 were due to unvested options or SARS terminating and the cancellation of a portion of vested options upon employees’ and officers’ departures from Farmer Mac.

 
-17-

 

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, the additional paid-in capital received from exercises of stock options and SARs and the vesting of restricted stock was $0.3 million.  The reduction of income taxes to be paid as a result of the deduction for exercises of stock options and SARs and the vesting or accelerated tax elections of restricted stock was $0.9 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010.  There were no exercises of stock options or SARS during the comparable periods in 2009.

The following tables summarize information regarding stock options, SARs and nonvested restricted stock outstanding as of June 30, 2010:

   
Outstanding
 
Exercisable
   
Vested or Expected to Vest
       
Weighted-
       
Weighted-
       
Weighted-
   
Stock
 
Average
 
Stock
   
Average
   
Stock
 
Average
Range of
 
Options
 
Remaining
 
Options
   
Remaining
   
Options
 
Remaining
Exercise
 
and
 
Contractual
 
and
   
Contractual
   
and
 
Contractual
Prices
 
SARs
 
Life
 
SARs
   
Life
   
SARs
 
Life
                             
$5.00 - $ 9.99
    273,000  
8.8 years
    68,000    
8.7 years
      231,500  
8.8 years
10.00 - 14.99
    247,000  
9.8 years
    -    
-
      222,300  
9.8 years
15.00 - 19.99
    81,722  
3.7 years
    81,722    
3.7 years
      81,722  
3.7 years
20.00 - 24.99
    486,457  
4.2 years
    486,457    
4.2 years
      486,457  
4.2 years
25.00 - 29.99
    621,203  
4.3 years
    591,944    
4.1 years
      617,742  
4.3 years
30.00 - 34.99
    213,668  
1.6 years
    205,669    
1.4 years
      211,268  
1.6 years
      1,923,050         1,433,792               1,850,989    

   
Outstanding
 
Expected to Vest
       
Weighted-
     
Weighted-
Weighted-
     
Average
     
Average
Average
 
Nonvested
 
Remaining
 
Nonvested
 
Remaining
Grant-Date
 
Restricted
 
Contractual
 
Restricted
 
Contractual
Fair Value
 
Stock
 
Life
 
Stock
 
Life
                 
$5.00 - $ 9.99
    75,000  
1.8 years
    67,500  
1.8 years
10.00 - 14.99
    104,287  
1.7 years
    93,859  
1.7 years
15.00 - 19.99
    2,699  
0.8 years
    2,426  
0.8 years
      181,986         163,785    

The weighted-average grant date fair value of options and SARs granted during the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009 were $8.31 and $4.12 per share, respectively.  The weighted-average grant date fair value of nonvested shares granted during the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009 were $12.28 and $5.93 per share, respectively.  The fair values for SARs and stock options were estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model based on the following assumptions:

   
2010
   
2009
 
Risk-free interest rate
 
3.3%
   
1.5%
 
Expected years until exercise
 
7 years
   
7 years
 
Expected stock volatility
 
88.3%
   
104.3%
 
Dividend yield
 
1.8%
   
3.4%
 
 
 
-18-

 

(f)      Fair Value Measurement

Effective January 1, 2008, Farmer Mac adopted new accounting guidance for fair value measurements.  The guidance defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date and establishes a fair value hierarchy that ranks the quality and reliability of the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value.  The hierarchy gives highest rank to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (level 1 measurements) and the lowest rank to unobservable inputs (level 3 measurements).

Farmer Mac’s assessment of the significance of the input to the fair value measurement requires judgment, and considers factors specific to the financial instrument.  Both observable and unobservable inputs may be used to determine the fair value of positions that Farmer Mac has classified within the level 3 category.  As a result, the unrealized gains and losses for assets and liabilities within the level 3 category may include changes in fair value that were attributable to both observable inputs (e.g., changes in market interest rates) and unobservable inputs (e.g., changes in long-dated volatilities).

See Note 7 for more information regarding fair value measurement.

(g)  Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities

Farmer Mac has interests in various entities that are considered to be variable interest entities (“VIEs”).  These interests include investments in securities issued by VIEs, such as Farmer Mac agricultural mortgage-backed securities created pursuant to Farmer Mac’s securitization transactions and mortgage and asset-backed trusts that Farmer Mac did not create.  Effective January 1, 2010, Farmer Mac adopted two new accounting standards that eliminated the concept of qualifying special purpose entities (“QSPEs”) and amended the accounting for transfers of financial assets and the consolidation model for variable interest entities (“VIEs”).  All formerly designated QSPEs were evaluated for consolidation in accordance with the new consolidation model, which changed the method of analyzing which party to a VIE should consolidate the VIE.  The new consolidation model uses a qualitative evaluation that requires consolidation of an entity when the reporting enterprise both (1) has the power to direct matters which significantly impact the activities and success of the entity, and (2) has exposure to benefits and/or losses that could potentially be significant to the entity.  The reporting enterprise that meets both these conditions is deemed the primary beneficiary of the VIE.

The new consolidation standard requires the incremental assets and liabilities consolidated upon adoption to initially be reported at their carrying amounts.  Carrying amount refers to the amount at which the assets and liabilities would have been carried in the consolidated financial statements if the new guidance had been effective when Farmer Mac first met the conditions to be the primary beneficiary of the VIE.  If determining the carrying amounts is not practicable, the assets and liabilities of the VIE shall be measured at fair value at the date the new standards first apply.  For the outstanding trusts consolidated effective January 1, 2010, Farmer Mac initially recorded the assets and liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet at their carrying amounts, adjusted, where applicable, for fair value option elections that had been made previously.  Accrued interest and allowance for losses have also been recognized as appropriate.

 
-19-

 

Although these new accounting standards did not change the economic risk to Farmer Mac’s business, specifically Farmer Mac’s liquidity, credit and interest rate risks, the adoption of these new accounting standards has a significant impact on the presentation of Farmer Mac’s consolidated financial statements beginning in 2010.  On the consolidated balance sheet, there was an increase in loans held for investment, interest receivable, debt and accrued interest payable, and a decrease in available-for-sale and trading Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities, the reclassification of a portion of the reserve for losses to allowance for loan losses, and the elimination of the guarantee and commitment fees receivable and guarantee and commitment obligations related to the consolidated trusts.  On the income statement, there was an increase in interest income and interest expense attributable to the assets and liabilities of the consolidated trusts and a reclassification of a portion of guarantee fee income to interest income.

The VIEs in which Farmer Mac has a variable interest are limited to securitization trusts.  The major judgment in determining if Farmer Mac is the primary beneficiary was whether Farmer Mac had the power to direct the activities of the trust that potentially had the most significant impact on the economic performance of the trust.  Generally, the ability to make decisions regarding default mitigation was evidence of that power.  Farmer Mac determined that it was the primary beneficiary for the securitization trusts related to most Farmer Mac I and all Rural Utilities securitization transactions because of its rights as guarantor under both programs to control the default mitigation activities of the trusts.  For certain securitization trusts created when loans subject to LTSPCs were converted to Farmer Mac I Guaranteed Securities, Farmer Mac determined that it was not the primary beneficiary since the power to make decisions regarding default mitigation was shared among unrelated parties.  For similar securitization transactions where the power to make decisions regarding default mitigation was shared with a related party, Farmer Mac determined that it was the primary beneficiary because the applicable accounting guidance does not permit parties within a related party group to conclude that the power is shared.

For those trusts that Farmer Mac is the primary beneficiary, the assets and liabilities are presented on the condensed consolidated balance sheet as “Loans held for investment in consolidated trusts” and “Debt securities of consolidated trusts held by third parties,” respectively.  These assets can only be used to satisfy the obligations of the trust.

For those trusts where Farmer Mac has a variable interest but has not been determined to be the primary beneficiary, Farmer Mac’s interests are recorded as either Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities or Investment Securities.  Farmer Mac’s involvement in on-balance sheet VIEs classified as Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities include securitization trusts under the Farmer Mac II program and trusts related to the AgVantage program.  In the case of Farmer Mac II trusts, Farmer Mac was not determined to be the primary beneficiary because it does not have the decision-making power over default mitigation activities.  For the AgVantage trusts, Farmer Mac currently does not have the power to direct the activities that have the most significant economic impact to the trust unless, as guarantor, there is a default by the issuer of the trust securities.  Should there be a default, Farmer Mac would reassess whether it is primary beneficiary of those trusts.  For VIEs classified as Investment Securities, which include asset-backed securities and GSE-guaranteed mortgage-backed securities, Farmer Mac was determined not to be the primary beneficiary because of the lack of voting rights or other powers to direct the activities of the trust.  As of June 30, 2010, the Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities trusts and Investment Securities trusts have carrying amounts on the condensed consolidated balance sheet totaling $74.7 million and $434.4 million, respectively, which is Farmer Mac’s maximum exposure to loss.  In addition, Farmer Mac has a variable interest in off-balance sheet VIEs, which include a guarantee of timely payment of principal and interest, totaling $3.3 billion as of June 30, 2010.

 
-20-

 

(h)    New Accounting Standards

Accounting for Transfers of Financial Assets

On December 23, 2009, the FASB issued an Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”), which codifies recent accounting guidance related to transfers of financial assets.  The new guidance eliminates the concept of a QSPE, changes the requirements for derecognizing financial assets and enhances information reported to financial statement users by increasing the transparency or disclosures about transfers of financial assets and an entity’s continuing involvement with transferred financial assets.  Farmer Mac adopted the ASU on January 1, 2010 and the impact of adoption was not material to Farmer Mac’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Variable Interest Entities

On December 23, 2009, the FASB issued an ASU, which codifies recent accounting guidance on consolidation of VIEs.  The new guidance replaces the quantitative-based risks-and-rewards calculation for determining which reporting entity, if any, has a controlling financial interest in a VIE with an approach focused on identifying which reporting entity has (1) the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly affect the entity’s economic performance and (2) the obligation to absorb losses of, or the right to receive benefits from, the entity.  The ASU requires additional disclosures about a reporting entity’s involvement with VIEs and about any significant changes in risk exposure as a result of that involvement.  Farmer Mac adopted this ASU on January 1, 2010, which resulted in the consolidation of assets and liabilities onto Farmer Mac’s balance sheet in connection with trusts that previously qualified for the QSPE exception.  Additionally, interest income and interest expense related to the consolidated assets and liabilities of the trusts will be reflected in the statement of operations.

As of December 31, 2009, Farmer Mac disclosed the impact of adopting the new consolidation standard as an increase in consolidated assets of $292.8 million, requiring incremental regulatory capital of $5.9 million, and an increase in retained earnings of $2.6 million.  Upon adoption, Farmer Mac reassessed its securitization trusts created when loans subject to LTSPCs were converted to Farmer Mac I Guaranteed Securities in consideration of the related party relationship with certain counterparties to these transactions and concluded that additional trusts required consolidation.  The actual impact upon adoption was an increase in consolidated assets of $1.5 billion, which resulted in an incremental capital requirement of $30.4 million.  The transition adjustment upon adoption did not change significantly from the reported amount, increasing retained earnings by $2.7 million, which is presented in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Equity as “Cumulative effect of adoption of new accounting standard, net of tax.”

 
-21-

 

Accounting Standards Update on Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures

On January 21, 2010, the FASB issued a new accounting standard, which amends FASB guidance on fair value measurements and disclosures to add new requirements for disclosures about transfers into and out of levels 1 and 2 and separate disclosures about purchases, sales, issuance, and settlements relating to level 3 measurements.  The new standard also clarifies existing fair value disclosures about the level of disaggregation and about inputs and valuation techniques used to measure fair value.  The ASU is effective for first quarter 2010 reporting except for the level 3 activity disclosures, which are effective in first quarter 2011.  Adoption of the new accounting guidance did not have a significant impact on Farmer Mac’s fair value disclosures.

Effect of a Loan Modification When the Loan Is Part of a Pool That Is Accounted for as a Single Asset

On April 29, 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-18, Effect of a Loan Modification When the Loan is Part of a Pool That Is Accounted for as a Single Asset, which established that modifications of loans that are accounted for within a pool under the guidance for acquisitions of credit-impaired loans do not result in the removal of those loans from the pool, even if the modification of those loans would otherwise be considered a troubled debt restructuring.  Loans accounted for individually under the guidance for acquisitions of credit-impaired loans continue to be subject to the accounting provisions for troubled debt restructurings.  The ASU is effective for third quarter 2010 reporting.  Adoption of ASU 2010-18 will not have a material effect on Farmer Mac’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Credit Quality of Financing Receivables and the Allowance for Credit Losses

On July 21, 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-20, Disclosures about the Credit Quality of Financing Receivables and the Allowance for Credit Losses, which requires more robust and disaggregated disclosures to assist financial statement users in understanding more clearly an entity’s credit risk exposures to finance receivables and the related allowance for credit losses.  The new and amended disclosure requirements focus on five areas:  nonaccrual and past due loans; allowance for credit losses; impaired loans; credit quality information; and modifications.  The disclosures that relate to information as of the end of a reporting period will be effective for periods ending on or after December 15, 2010 and information related to activity that occurs during a reporting period will be effective for the first interim or annual period beginning after December 15, 2010.  Since ASU 2010-20 only requires additional disclosures, it will not have an impact on Farmer Mac’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

(i)       Reclassifications

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

 
-22-

 

Note 2.
Investment Securities

The following tables present the amortized cost and estimated fair values of Farmer Mac’s investments as of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009.

   
June 30, 2010
 
   
Amortized
   
Unrealized
   
Unrealized
       
   
Cost
   
Gains
   
Losses
   
Fair Value
 
   
(in thousands)
 
Available-for-sale:
                       
Floating rate auction-rate certificates backed by Government guaranteed student loans
  $ 74,100     $ -     $ (10,756 )   $ 63,344  
Floating rate asset-backed securities
    19,271       4       (11 )     19,264  
Floating rate corporate debt securities
    197,821       292       (2,197 )     195,916  
Floating rate Government/GSE guaranteed mortgage-backed securities
    405,477       3,084       (270 )     408,291  
Fixed rate GSE guaranteed mortgage-backed securities
    5,055       368       -       5,423  
Floating rate GSE subordinated debt
    70,000       -       (14,855 )     55,145  
Fixed rate GSE preferred stock
    80,160       6,926       -       87,086  
Fixed rate senior agency debt
    5,490       2       -       5,492  
Fixed rate U.S. Treasuries
    335,191       224       -       335,415  
Total available-for-sale
    1,192,565       10,900       (28,089 )     1,175,376  
                                 
Trading:
                               
Floating rate asset-backed securities
    6,307       -       (4,895 )     1,412  
Fixed rate GSE preferred stock
    84,202       -       (3,658 )     80,544  
Total trading
    90,509       -       (8,553 )     81,956  
Total investment securities
  $ 1,283,074     $ 10,900     $ (36,642 )   $ 1,257,332  

   
December 31, 2009
 
   
Amortized
   
Unrealized
   
Unrealized
       
   
Cost
   
Gains
   
Losses
   
Fair Value
 
   
(in thousands)
 
Available-for-sale:
                       
Floating rate auction-rate certificates backed by Government guaranteed student loans
  $ 74,100     $ -     $ (1,216 )   $ 72,884  
Floating rate asset-backed securities
    58,157       26       (40 )     58,143  
Floating rate corporate debt securities
    246,758       267       (1,420 )     245,605  
Floating rate Government/GSE guaranteed mortgage-backed securities
    404,452       1,188       (1,419 )     404,221  
Fixed rate GSE guaranteed mortgage-backed securities
    6,248       289       -       6,537  
Floating rate GSE subordinated debt
    70,000       -       (22,438 )     47,562  
Fixed rate GSE preferred stock
    90,543       -       (1,332 )     89,211  
Fixed rate U.S. Treasuries
    117,810       -       (50 )     117,760  
Total available-for-sale
    1,068,068       1,770       (27,915 )     1,041,923  
                                 
Trading:
                               
Floating rate asset-backed securities
    6,708       -       (4,884 )     1,824  
Fixed rate GSE preferred stock
    89,637       -       (1,489 )     88,148  
Total trading
    96,345       -       (6,373 )     89,972  
Total investment securities
  $ 1,164,413     $ 1,770     $ (34,288 )   $ 1,131,895  
 
 
-23-

 

During the three and six months ended June 20, 2010, Farmer Mac did not recognize in earnings any other-than-temporary impairment charges, compared to charges of $1.0 million and $1.1 million for the same periods in 2009.  The other-than-temporary impairment charges in 2009 were related to investments in CIT Group, Inc corporate debt securities and Fannie Mae floating rate preferred stock.

During the three months ended June 30, 2010, Farmer Mac did not receive any proceeds from the sale of securities from its available-for-sale investment portfolio, compared to proceeds of $8.6 million for the same period in 2009, resulting in gross realized losses of $0.3 million.  During the six months ended June 30, 2010, Farmer Mac received proceeds of $69.2 million from the sale of securities from its available-for-sale investment portfolio, resulting in gross realized gains of $0.4 million and gross realized losses of $0.2 million, compared to proceeds of $153.1 million for the same period in 2009, resulting in gross realized gains of $3.2 million and gross realized losses of $0.3 million.

 
-24-

 
 
As of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, unrealized losses on available-for-sale investment securities were as follows:

   
June 30, 2010
 
   
Available-for-Sale Securities
 
   
Unrealized loss position for
   
Unrealized loss position
 
   
less than 12 months
   
more than 12 months
 
         
Unrealized
         
Unrealized
 
   
Fair Value
   
Loss
   
Fair Value
   
Loss
 
   
(in thousands)
 
                         
Floating rate corporate debt securities
  $ 38,543     $ (49 )   $ 107,820     $ (2,148 )
Floating rate asset-backed securities
    5,249       (1 )     5,042       (10 )
Floating rate auction-rate certificates backed by Government guaranteed student loans
    -       -       63,344       (10,756 )
Floating rate Government/GSE guaranteed mortgage-backed securities
    73,596       (47 )     30,724       (223 )
Floating rate GSE subordinated debt
    -       -       55,145       (14,855 )
Fixed rate senior agency debt
    -       -       -       -  
Fixed rate U.S. Treasuries
    -       -       -       -  
Total
  $ 117,388     $ (97 )   $ 262,075     $ (27,992 )

   
December 31, 2009
 
   
Available-for-Sale Securities
 
   
Unrealized loss position for
   
Unrealized loss position
 
   
less than 12 months
   
more than 12 months
 
         
Unrealized
         
Unrealized
 
   
Fair Value
   
Loss
   
Fair Value
   
Loss
 
   
(in thousands)
 
                         
Floating rate corporate debt securities
  $ -     $ -     $ 182,745     $ (1,420 )
Floating rate asset-backed securities
    -       -       17,319       (40 )
Floating rate auction-rate certificates backed by Government guaranteed student loans
    -       -       72,884       (1,216 )
Floating rate Government/GSE guaranteed mortgage-backed securities
    116,754       (645 )     121,877       (774 )
Floating rate GSE subordinated debt
    -       -       47,562       (22,438 )
Fixed rate GSE preferred stock
    89,211       (1,332 )     -       -  
Fixed rate U.S. Treasuries
    117,760       (50 )     -       -  
Total
  $ 323,725     $ (2,027 )   $ 442,387     $ (25,888 )

The temporary unrealized losses presented above are principally due to a general widening of credit spreads from the dates of acquisition to June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, as applicable.  The resulting decreases in fair values reflect an increase in the perceived risk by the financial markets related to those securities.  As of June 30, 2010, all of the investment securities in an unrealized loss position were rated at least “A” by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization.  As of December 31, 2009, all of the investment securities in an unrealized loss position were rated at least “A,” except one that was not rated.  The unrealized losses were on 51 and 86 individual investment securities as of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.

 
-25-

 


As of June 30, 2010, 41 of the securities in loss positions had been in loss positions for more than 12 months and had a total unrealized loss of $28.0 million.  As of December 31, 2009, 73 of the securities in loss positions had been in loss positions for more than 12 months and had a total unrealized loss of $25.9 million.  Securities in unrealized loss positions 12 months or more have a fair value as of June 30, 2010 that is, on average, approximately 90 percent of their amortized cost basis.  Farmer Mac believes that all these unrealized losses are recoverable within a reasonable period of time through changes in credit spreads or maturity and expects to recover the amortized cost basis of these securities.  Accordingly, Farmer Mac has concluded that none of the unrealized losses on these available-for-sale investment securities represent other-than-temporary impairment as of June 30, 2010.  Farmer Mac does not intend to sell these securities and it is not more likely than not that Farmer Mac will be required to sell the securities before recovery of the amortized cost basis.

Farmer Mac did not own any held-to-maturity investments as of June 30, 2010 and 2009.  As of June 30, 2010, Farmer Mac owned trading investments with an amortized cost of $90.5 million, a fair value of $82.0 million, and a weighted-average yield of 8.10 percent.  The amortized cost, fair value and weighted-average yield of investments by remaining contractual maturity for available-for-sale investment securities as of June 30, 2010 are set forth below.  Asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities are included based on their final maturities, although the actual maturities may differ due to prepayments of the underlying assets or mortgages.

   
Investment Securities Available-for-Sale
 
   
as of June 30, 2010
 
   
Amortized
         
Weighted-
 
   
Cost
   
Fair Value
   
Average Yield
 
   
(dollars in thousands)
 
                   
Due within one year
  $ 374,289     $ 374,486    
0.35%
 
Due after one year through five years
    176,535       174,617    
0.62%
 
Due after five years through ten years
    99,355       100,120    
2.74%
 
Due after ten years
    542,386       526,153    
2.78%
 
Total
  $ 1,192,565     $ 1,175,376    
1.69%
 

 
-26-

 

Note 3.
Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Guaranteed Securities

The following table sets forth information about on-balance sheet Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Guaranteed Securities as of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009.

   
June 30, 2010
 
   
Available-
             
   
for-Sale
   
Trading
   
Total
 
   
(in thousands)
 
Farmer Mac I
  $ 47,821     $ -     $ 47,821  
Farmer Mac II
    40,436       -       40,436  
Rural Utilities
    1,629,883       -       1,629,883  
Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities
    1,718,140       -       1,718,140  
USDA Guaranteed Securities
    880,424       386,496       1,266,920  
Total
  $ 2,598,564     $ 386,496     $ 2,985,060  
                         
Amortized cost
  $ 2,543,878     $ 382,357     $ 2,926,235  
Unrealized gains
    56,187       4,369       60,556  
Unrealized losses
    (1,501 )     (230 )     (1,731 )
Fair value
  $ 2,598,564     $ 386,496     $ 2,985,060  
                         
   
December 31, 2009
 
   
Available-
                 
   
for-Sale
   
Trading
   
Total
 
   
(in thousands)
 
Farmer Mac I
  $ 56,864     $ -     $ 56,864  
Farmer Mac II
    764,792       422,681       1,187,473  
Rural Utilities
    1,703,211       451,448       2,154,659  
Total
  $ 2,524,867     $ 874,129     $ 3,398,996  
                         
Amortized cost
  $ 2,493,644     $ 817,631     $ 3,311,275  
Unrealized gains
    39,657       56,569       96,226  
Unrealized losses
    (8,434 )     (71 )     (8,505 )
Fair value
  $ 2,524,867     $ 874,129     $ 3,398,996  

Upon the adoption of the new consolidation guidance on January 1, 2010, Farmer Mac was determined to be the primary beneficiary of certain VIEs where Farmer Mac held beneficial interests in trusts used as vehicles for the securitization of agricultural real estate mortgage loans or rural utilities loans.  Prior to 2010, Farmer Mac presented these beneficial interests as “Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities” on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.  Upon consolidation, Farmer Mac transferred these assets from Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities to loans held for investment in consolidated trusts.  The transferred assets on January 1, 2010 included Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities – Rural Utilities with an unpaid principal balance of $412.9 million and a fair value of $455.6 million and Farmer Mac I Guaranteed Securities with an unpaid principal balance of $5.3 million and a fair value of $5.6 million.

 
-27-

 

On January 25, 2010, Farmer Mac contributed substantially all of the assets, in excess of $1.1 billion, comprising the Farmer Mac II program to Farmer Mac’s subsidiary, Farmer Mac II LLC.  The assets that Farmer Mac contributed to Farmer Mac II LLC consisted primarily of USDA-guaranteed portions that had not been securitized by Farmer Mac (i.e., transferred to a trust whereby Farmer Mac II Guaranteed Securities were issued) but also included $35.0 million of Farmer Mac II Guaranteed Securities.  Farmer Mac did not guarantee the timely payment of principal and interest on the $1.1 billion of contributed USDA-guaranteed portions and will provide a guarantee in connection with the issuance of Farmer Mac II Guaranteed Securities only to the extent that either Farmer Mac or Farmer Mac II LLC is approached or referred by an investor.  Farmer Mac will not issue Farmer Mac II Guaranteed Securities to Farmer Mac II LLC in the future.  The contributed USDA-guaranteed portions had previously been presented as Farmer Mac II Guaranteed Securities on the condensed consolidated financial statements of Farmer Mac and are now presented as USDA Guaranteed Securities on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.  The assets of Farmer Mac II LLC would be available to creditors of Farmer Mac only after all obligations owed to creditors of and equity holders in Farmer Mac II LLC had been satisfied.

The temporary unrealized losses presented above are principally due to changes in interest rates from the date of acquisition to June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, as applicable.  As of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the unrealized losses presented above are related to Farmer Mac II and USDA Guaranteed Securities, which are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States.  Therefore, Farmer Mac has concluded that none of the unrealized losses on its available-for-sale Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities represents an other-than-temporary impairment as of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009.  Farmer Mac does not intend to sell these securities and it is not more likely than not that Farmer Mac will be required to sell the securities before recovery of the amortized cost basis.

Farmer Mac realized no gains or losses from the sale of Farmer Mac and USDA Guaranteed Securities for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009.

The table below presents a sensitivity analysis for the Corporation’s on-balance sheet Farmer Mac and USDA Guaranteed Securities as of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009.

   
June 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(dollars in thousands)
 
Fair value of beneficial interests retained in Farmer Mac and USDA Guaranteed Securities
  $ 2,985,060     $ 3,398,996  
                 
Weighted-average remaining life (in years)
    3.2       3.7  
                 
Weighted-average prepayment speed (annual rate)
    6.0 %     3.8 %
Effect on fair value of a 10% adverse change
  $ (1,188 )   $ (18 )
Effect on fair value of a 20% adverse change
  $ (2,295 )   $ (36 )
                 
Weighted-average discount rate
    2.7 %     2.8 %
Effect on fair value of a 10% adverse change
  $ (15,735 )   $ (22,081 )
Effect on fair value of a 20% adverse change
  $ (31,756 )   $ (44,531 )

 
-28-

 

These sensitivities are hypothetical.  Changes in fair value based on 10 percent or 20 percent variations in assumptions generally cannot be extrapolated because the relationship of the change in assumptions to the change in fair value may not be linear.  Also, the effect of a variation in a particular assumption on the fair value of the retained interest is calculated without changing any other assumption.  In fact, changes in one factor may result in changes in another (for example, increases in market interest rates may result in lower prepayments), which might amplify or counteract the sensitivities.

The table below presents the outstanding principal balances for Farmer Mac loans, LTSPCs and Farmer Mac and USDA Guaranteed Securities as of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009.

Outstanding Balance of Farmer Mac Loans and Loans Underlying
 
Farmer Mac and USDA Guaranteed Securities and LTSPCs
 
   
June 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(in thousands)
 
On-balance sheet:
           
Farmer Mac I:
           
Loans
  $ 844,227     $ 733,422  
Loans held in trusts:
               
Beneficial interests owned by Farmer Mac
    4,369       5,307  
Beneficial interests owned by third party investors
    880,035       -  
Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities - AgVantage
    43,550       48,800  
Farmer Mac II:
               
USDA Guaranteed Securities
    1,218,329       -  
Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities
    41,756       1,164,996  
Rural Utilities:
               
Loans
    165,388       28,644  
Loans held in trusts:
               
Beneficial interests owned by Farmer Mac
    406,679       412,948  
Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities - AgVantage
    1,587,200       1,675,000  
Total on-balance sheet
  $ 5,191,533     $ 4,069,117  
                 
Off-balance sheet:
               
Farmer Mac I:
               
AgVantage
  $ 2,945,000     $ 2,945,000  
LTSPCs
    1,739,979       2,165,706  
Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities
    826,910       1,492,239  
Farmer Mac II:
               
Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities
    40,860       34,802  
Rural Utilities:
               
AgVantage
    14,393       14,240  
Total off-balance sheet
  $ 5,567,142     $ 6,651,987  
Total
  $ 10,758,675     $ 10,721,104  

 
-29-

 

When particular criteria are met, such as the default of the borrower, Farmer Mac becomes entitled to purchase the defaulted loans underlying Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities (commonly referred to as “removal-of-account” provisions).  Farmer Mac records all such defaulted loans at their unpaid principal balance during the period in which Farmer Mac becomes entitled to purchase the loans and therefore regains effective control over the transferred loans.  Considering the low loan-to-value ratios in its portfolio, Farmer Mac believes that it is probable at the acquisition of these loans that it will be able to collect all contractually required payments receivable.  Subsequent to the purchase, such defaulted loans are treated as nonaccrual loans and, therefore, interest is accounted for on the cash basis.  Any decreases in expected cash flows are recognized as impairment.  The following table presents information related to Farmer Mac’s acquisition of defaulted loans for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009 and the outstanding balances and carrying amounts of all such loans as of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.

   
For the Three Months Ended
   
For the Six Months Ended
 
   
June 30,
   
June 30,
   
June 30,
   
June 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(in thousands)
 
                         
Unpaid principal balance at acquisition date
  $ 913     $ 572     $ 3,403     $ 5,637  
Contractually required payments receivable
    913       572       3,470       5,646  
Impairment recognized subsequent to acquisition
    359       5,725       1,740       7,725  
Recovery/release of allowance for defaulted loans
    2,924       -       2,924       -  

   
June 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(in thousands)
 
             
Outstanding balance
  $ 34,813     $ 50,409  
Carrying amount
    30,656       29,994  

Net credit losses and 90-day delinquencies as of and for the periods indicated for Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities, loans and LTSPCs are presented in the table below.  Information is not presented for loans underlying AgVantage securities, USDA Guaranteed Securities, Farmer Mac II Guaranteed Securities, or rural utilities loans held or underlying Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities – Rural Utilities.  Each AgVantage security is a general obligation of an issuing institution approved by Farmer Mac and is secured by eligible loans in an amount at least equal to the outstanding principal amount of the security.  Farmer Mac excludes the loans that secure AgVantage securities from the credit risk metrics it discloses because of the credit quality of the issuing institutions, the collateralization level for the securities, and because delinquent loans are required to be removed from the pool of pledged loans and replaced with current eligible loans.  As of June 30, 2010, there were no probable losses inherent in Farmer Mac’s AgVantage securities due to the credit quality of the obligors, as well as the underlying collateral.  As of June 30, 2010, Farmer Mac had not experienced any credit losses on any AgVantage securities.  The USDA-guaranteed portions presented as USDA Guaranteed Securities, as well as those that collateralize Farmer Mac II Guaranteed Securities, are guaranteed by the United States Department of Agriculture.  Each USDA guarantee is an obligation backed by the full faith and credit of the United States.  As of June 30, 2010, neither Farmer Mac nor Farmer Mac II LLC had experienced any credit losses on any USDA Guaranteed Securities or Farmer Mac II Guaranteed Securities.  As of June 30, 2010, there were no delinquencies and no probable losses inherent in Farmer Mac’s rural utilities loans held or in any Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities – Rural Utilities.  As of June 30, 2010, Farmer Mac had not experienced any credit losses on any of those loans or securities.

 
-30-

 

   
90-Day
   
Net Credit
 
   
Delinquencies (1)
   
(Recoveries)/Losses (2)
 
   
As of
   
As of
   
As of
   
For the Six Months Ended
 
   
June 30,
   
December 31,
   
June 30,
   
June 30,
   
June 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(in thousands)
 
On-balance sheet assets:
                             
Farmer Mac I:
                             
Loans
  $ 38,709     $ 35,470     $ 23,546     $ (1,926 )   $ 6,960  
Total on-balance sheet
  $ 38,709     $ 35,470     $ 23,546     $ (1,926 )   $ 6,960  
Off-balance sheet assets:
                                       
Farmer Mac I:
                                       
LTSPCs
  $ 17,302     $ 14,056     $ 18,761     $ -     $ -  
Guaranteed Securities
    -       -       -       -       -  
Total off-balance sheet
  $ 17,302     $ 14,056     $ 18,761     $ -     $ -  
Total
  $ 56,011     $ 49,526     $ 42,307     $ (1,926 )   $ 6,960  

(1)
Includes loans and loans underlying Farmer Mac I Guaranteed Securities and LTSPCs that are 90 days or more past due, in foreclosure, restructured after delinquency, and in bankruptcy, excluding loans performing under either their original loan terms or a court-approved bankruptcy plan.
(2)
Includes loans and loans underlying Farmer Mac I Guaranteed Securities, LTSPCs and REO.

 
-31-

 

Note 4.
Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income represents all changes in stockholders’ equity except those resulting from investments by or distributions to stockholders, and is comprised primarily of net income and unrealized gains and losses on securities available-for-sale, net of related taxes.  The following table sets forth Farmer Mac’s comprehensive income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009:

   
For the Three Months Ended
   
For the Six Months Ended
 
   
June 30,
   
June 30,
   
June 30,
   
June 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(in thousands)
 
                         
Net income
  $ 8,090     $ 29,515     $ 21,679     $ 66,969  
Available-for-sale securities, net of tax:
                               
Net unrealized holding gains
    23,853       32,178       28,353       33,941  
Reclassification adjustment for realized losses/(gains)
    -       835       (190 )     835  
Net change from available-for-sale securities (1)
    23,853       33,013       28,163       34,776  
Financial derivatives, net of tax:
                               
Reclassification for amortization of financial derivatives transition adjustment (2)
    29       50       52       90  
Other comprehensive income, net of tax
    23,882       33,063       28,215       34,866  
Comprehensive income
    31,972       62,578       49,894       101,835  
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interest
    5,546       -       9,614       -  
Total comprehensive income
  $ 26,426     $ 62,578     $ 40,280     $ 101,835  

(1)
Unrealized gains on available for sale securities is shown net of income tax expense of $12.8 million and $17.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and $15.3 million and $18.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
(2)
Amortization of financial derivatives transition adjustment is shown net of income tax expense of $16,000 and $27,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and $28,000 and $48,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

 
-32-

 

The following table presents Farmer Mac’s accumulated other comprehensive income as of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 and changes in the components of accumulated other comprehensive income for the three months ended June 30, 2010 and the year ended December 31, 2009.

   
June 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(in thousands)
 
Available-for-sale securities:
           
Beginning balance
  $ 3,300     $ (47,214 )
Net unrealized gains, net of tax
    28,163       50,514  
Ending balance
  $ 31,463     $ 3,300  
                 
Financial derivatives:
               
Beginning balance
  $ (46 )   $ (198 )
Amortization of financial derivatives transition adjustment, net of tax
    52       152  
Ending balance
  $ 6     $ (46 )
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax
  $ 31,469     $ 3,254  

Note 5.
Off-Balance Sheet Guarantees and Long Term Standby Purchase Commitments

Farmer Mac offers approved lenders two credit enhancement alternatives to increase their liquidity or lending capacity while retaining the cash flow benefits of their loans:  (1) Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities, which are available through the Farmer Mac I program, the Farmer Mac II program or the Rural Utilities program, and (2) Long Term Standby Purchase Commitments (“LTSPCs”), which are available through the Farmer Mac I program or Rural Utilities program.  For securitization trusts where Farmer Mac is the primary beneficiary, as described in Note 1(g), the trust assets and liabilities are included on Farmer Mac’s condensed consolidated balance sheet.  Upon consolidation, Farmer Mac eliminates the portion of the guarantee and commitment fees receivable and guarantee and commitment obligations related to the consolidated trusts.  For the remainder of these transactions, or in the event of deconsolidation, both of these alternatives result in the creation of off-balance sheet obligations for Farmer Mac.  Farmer Mac accounts for these transactions and other financial guarantees in accordance with FASB guidance on accounting for guarantees.  Farmer Mac records, at the inception of a guarantee, a liability for the fair value of its obligation to stand ready to perform under the terms of each guarantee and an asset that is equal to the fair value of the fees that will be received over the life of each guarantee.  The fair values of the guarantee obligation and asset at inception are based on the present value of expected cash flows using management’s best estimate of certain key assumptions, which include prepayment speeds, forward yield curves and discount rates commensurate with the risks involved.  Because the cash flows of these instruments may be interest rate path dependent, these values and projected discount rates are derived using a Monte Carlo simulation model.  The guarantee obligation and corresponding asset are subsequently amortized into guarantee and commitment fee income in relation to the decline in the unpaid principal balance on the underlying agricultural real estate mortgage and rural utilities loans.

 
-33-

 

Off-Balance Sheet Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities

Eligible loans and other eligible assets may be placed into trusts that are used as vehicles for the securitization of the transferred assets and the Farmer Mac-guaranteed beneficial interests in the trusts are sold to investors.  Proceeds from new securitizations during the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009 were $12.9 million and $17.2 million, respectively.  The following table summarizes cash flows received from and paid to trusts used for securitizations:

   
For the Six Months Ended
 
   
June 30, 2010
   
June 30, 2009
 
   
(in thousands)
 
Proceeds from new securitizations
  $ 12,906     $ 17,224  
Guarantee fees received
    2,620       5,858  
Purchases of assets from the trusts
    (2,323 )     -  
Servicing advances
    (343 )     7  
Repayments of servicing advances
    174       2  
 
The following table presents the maximum principal amount of potential undiscounted future payments that Farmer Mac could be required to make under all off-balance sheet Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities as of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, not including offsets provided by any recourse provisions, recoveries from third parties or collateral for the underlying loans.
 
Outstanding Balance of Off-Balance Sheet
 
Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities
 
   
June 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(in thousands)
 
Farmer Mac I:
           
AgVantage
  $ 2,945,000     $ 2,945,000  
Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities
    826,910       1,492,239  
Farmer Mac II Guaranteed Securities
    40,860       34,802  
Rural Utilities AgVantage
    14,393       14,240  
Total off-balance sheet Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities
  $ 3,827,163     $ 4,486,281  

For those securities issued or modified on or after January 1, 2003, Farmer Mac has recorded a liability for its obligation to stand ready under the guarantee in the guarantee and commitment obligation on the condensed consolidated balance sheet.  This liability approximated $20.2 million as of June 30, 2010 and $33.9 million as of December 31, 2009.  Upon adoption of the new consolidation guidance on January 1, 2010, Farmer Mac eliminated $15.5 million of the guarantee and commitment obligation related to the consolidated trusts.  During second quarter 2010, Farmer Mac deconsolidated $414.5 million of certain securitization trusts created when loans subject to LTSPCs were converted to Farmer Mac I Guaranteed Securities because Farmer Mac was no longer determined to be the primary beneficiary when the counterparty to the transaction ceased being a related party as a result of changes to the membership of Farmer Mac’s board of directors.  This deconsolidation resulted in an increase to the guarantee and commitment obligation of $2.7 million as of June 30, 2010.  See Note 1(g) for more information.  As of June 30, 2010, the weighted-average remaining maturity of all loans underlying off-balance sheet Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities, excluding AgVantage securities, was 14.1 years.  For information on Farmer Mac’s methodology for determining the reserve for losses on off-balance sheet Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities, see Note 1(b).

 
-34-

 

In the future, Farmer Mac will provide a guarantee in connection with the issuance of Farmer Mac II Guaranteed Securities only to the extent that Farmer Mac or Farmer Mac II LLC is approached or referred by an investor. Farmer Mac will not issue Farmer Mac II Guaranteed Securities to Farmer Mac II LLC in the future.

LTSPCs

An LTSPC is a commitment by Farmer Mac to purchase eligible loans from a segregated pool of loans under enumerated circumstances, either for cash or in exchange for Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities, on one or more undetermined future dates.  As consideration for its assumption of the credit risk on loans underlying an LTSPC, Farmer Mac receives a commitment fee payable monthly in arrears in an amount approximating what would have been the guarantee fee if the transaction were structured as Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities.

The maximum principal amount of potential undiscounted future payments that Farmer Mac could be requested to make under all LTSPCs, not including offsets provided by any recourse provisions, recoveries from third parties or collateral for the underlying loans, was $1.7 billion as of June 30, 2010 and $2.2 billion as of December 31, 2009.

As of June 30, 2010, the weighted-average remaining maturity of all loans underlying LTSPCs was 14.4 years.  For those LTSPCs issued or modified on or after January 1, 2003, Farmer Mac has recorded a liability for its obligation to stand ready under the commitment in the guarantee and commitment obligation on the condensed consolidated balance sheet.  This liability approximated $12.5 million as of June 30, 2010 and $14.7 million as of December 31, 2009.

Note 6.
Stockholders’ Equity and Mezzanine Equity

Common Stock

Farmer Mac has three classes of common stock outstanding:
 
· 
Class A Voting Common Stock, which may be held only by banks, insurance companies and other financial institutions or similar entities that are not institutions of the Farm Credit System.  By federal statute, no holder of Class A Voting Common Stock may directly or indirectly be a beneficial owner of more than 33 percent of the outstanding shares of that class of stock;
· 
Class B Voting Common Stock, which may be held only by institutions of the Farm Credit System.  There are no restrictions on the maximum holdings of Class B Voting Common Stock; and

 
-35-

 

·
Class C Non-Voting Common Stock, which has no ownership restrictions.

From fourth quarter 2004 through fourth quarter 2008, Farmer Mac paid a quarterly dividend of $0.10 per share on all classes of the Corporation’s common stock.  From first quarter 2009 through second quarter 2010, Farmer Mac paid a quarterly dividend of $0.05 per share on all classes of the Corporation’s common stock.  On August 5, 2010, Farmer Mac’s board of directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.05 per share on the Corporation’s common stock that is scheduled to be paid on September 30, 2010.  Farmer Mac’s ability to declare and pay a dividend could be restricted if it failed to comply with regulatory capital requirements.

Preferred Stock

During 2010 and 2009, Farmer Mac had two series of preferred stock outstanding:
 
·
Series B preferred stock, which was newly issued on September 30, 2008 and on December 15, 2008, was temporary equity and is reported as Mezzanine Equity on the condensed consolidated balance sheets because it contained redemption features that, although remote, were not solely within the control of Farmer Mac, was repurchased and retired on January 25, 2010 such that none was outstanding on June 30, 2010; and
·
Series C preferred stock, which was newly issued during fourth quarter 2008 and during 2009, is a component of Stockholders’ Equity on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

The Series C preferred stock was issued pursuant to an initiative under which any participant who used Farmer Mac for a credit enhancement or purchase transaction in excess of $20.0 million was required to purchase an equity interest in Farmer Mac in the form of shares of Series C preferred stock, thereby enabling Farmer Mac to raise additional capital to support its mission of providing liquidity and lending capacity to agricultural and rural utilities lenders.  Farmer Mac sold the 57,578 shares of Series C preferred stock without registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, in reliance upon the exemption provided by Section 3(a)(2), for an aggregate purchase price of $57.6 million or $1,000 per share.  There were 57,578 shares of Series C preferred stock outstanding as of June 30, 2010, all held by the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (“National Rural”).  This initiative that required participants to purchase Series C preferred stock ended in fourth quarter 2009.

Farmer Mac’s ability to declare and pay dividends on its outstanding preferred stock could be restricted if it failed to comply with regulatory capital requirements.  All series of Farmer Mac’s preferred stock are included as components of core capital for regulatory and statutory capital compliance measurements.

Non-Controlling Interest in Subsidiary

On January 25, 2010, Farmer Mac completed a private offering of $250.0 million aggregate face amount of securities issued by a newly formed Delaware statutory trust.  The trust securities represent undivided beneficial ownership interests in 250,000 shares of non-cumulative perpetual preferred stock (the “Company Preferred Stock”) of Farmer Mac’s subsidiary, Farmer Mac II LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.  The Company Preferred Stock has a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share.

 
-36-

 

The $250.0 million of proceeds from the offering were used by the trust to purchase the Company Preferred Stock from Farmer Mac.  Farmer Mac II LLC issued its Company Preferred Stock and its common equity interest to Farmer Mac as consideration for the contribution by Farmer Mac to Farmer Mac II LLC of substantially all of the assets, in excess of $1.1 billion, comprising the Farmer Mac II program business.  Farmer Mac used the proceeds from the sale of the Company Preferred Stock to the Trust to repurchase and retire Farmer Mac’s outstanding Series B preferred stock, which had an aggregate liquidation preference of $150.0 million, and for general corporate purposes.  The Company Preferred Stock is permanent equity of Farmer Mac II LLC and presented as “Non-controlling interest – preferred stock” within permanent equity on the consolidated balance sheets of Farmer Mac.

Statutory and Regulatory Capital Requirements

Farmer Mac is subject to, and as of June 30, 2010 was in compliance with, its three statutory and regulatory capital requirements:
 
· 
Minimum capital – Farmer Mac’s minimum capital level is equal to the sum of 2.75 percent of Farmer Mac’s aggregate on-balance sheet assets, as calculated for regulatory purposes, plus 0.75 percent of the aggregate off-balance sheet obligations of Farmer Mac, including Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and LTSPCs;
· 
Critical capital – Farmer Mac’s critical capital level is equal to 50 percent of the minimum capital requirement at that time; and
· 
Risk-based capital – the Farm Credit Administration (“FCA”) has established a risk-based capital stress test for Farmer Mac.

As of June 30, 2010, Farmer Mac’s minimum and critical capital requirements were $235.4 million and $117.7 million, respectively, and Farmer Mac’s core capital level (common and preferred stock outstanding plus non-controlling interest – preferred stock, additional paid-in-capital and retained earnings) was $442.0 million, $206.6 million above the minimum capital requirement and $324.3 million above the critical capital requirement.  As of December 31, 2009, Farmer Mac’s minimum and critical capital requirements were $217.0 million and $108.5 million, respectively, and its actual core capital level was $337.2 million, $120.2 million above the minimum capital requirement and $228.7 million above the critical capital requirement.

Based on the risk-based capital stress test, Farmer Mac’s risk-based capital requirement as of June 30, 2010 was $29.9 million and Farmer Mac’s regulatory capital (core capital plus the allowance for losses) of $461.0 million exceeded that requirement by approximately $431.1 million.  See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Regulatory Matters” for more information about proposed changes to the risk-based capital stress test applicable to Farmer Mac.

 
-37-

 

Note 7.
Fair Value Disclosure

Fair Value Measurement

Effective January 1, 2008, Farmer Mac adopted FASB guidance on fair value measurements, which defines fair value, establishes a hierarchy for ranking fair value measurements, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements.  Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (also referred to as an exit price).

In determining fair value, Farmer Mac uses various valuation approaches, including market, income and/or cost approaches.  The fair value hierarchy requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value.  When available, the fair value of Farmer Mac’s financial instruments is based on quoted market prices, valuation techniques that use observable market-based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data.  Pricing information obtained from third parties is internally validated for reasonableness prior to use in the consolidated financial statements.

 
-38-

 
 
When observable market prices are not readily available, Farmer Mac estimates fair value using techniques that rely on alternate market data or internally-developed models using significant inputs that are generally less readily observable.  Market data includes prices of financial instruments with similar maturities and characteristics, interest rate yield curves, measures of volatility and prepayment rates.  If market data needed to estimate fair value is not available, Farmer Mac estimates fair value using internally-developed models that employ a discounted cash flow approach.  Even when market assumptions are not readily available, Farmer Mac’s assumptions reflect those that market participants would likely use in pricing the asset or liability at the measurement date.

The fair value hierarchy ranks the quality and reliability of the information used to determine fair values.  The hierarchy gives highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs.  The standard describes the following three levels used to classify fair value measurements:

Level 1
Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities.
 
Level 2
Quoted prices in markets that are not active or financial instruments for which all significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly.
 
Level 3 
Prices or valuations that require unobservable inputs that are significant to the fair value measurement.

Farmer Mac performed a detailed analysis of the assets and liabilities carried at fair value to determine the appropriate level based on the transparency of the inputs used in the valuation techniques.  In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy.  In such cases, an instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.  Farmer Mac’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement of an instrument requires judgment and consideration of factors specific to the instrument.  While Farmer Mac believes its valuation methods are appropriate and consistent with those of other market participants, using different methodologies or assumptions to determine fair value could result in a materially different estimate of the fair value of some financial instruments.

The following is a description of the fair value techniques used for instruments measured at fair value as well as the general classification of such instruments pursuant to the valuation hierarchy described above.  Fair value measurements related to financial instruments that are reported at fair value in the consolidated financial statements each period are referred to as recurring fair value measurements.  Fair value measurements related to financial instruments that are not reported at fair value each period but are subject to fair value adjustments in certain circumstances are referred to as non-recurring fair value measurements.

Recurring Fair Value Measurements and Classification

Available-for-Sale and Trading Investment Securities

The fair value of investments in U.S. Treasuries is based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets.  Farmer Mac classifies these fair value measurements as level 1.

 
-39-

 

For a significant portion of Farmer Mac’s investment portfolio, including most asset-backed securities, corporate debt securities, Government/GSE guaranteed mortgage-backed securities and preferred stock issued by GSEs, fair value is primarily determined using a reputable and nationally recognized third party pricing service.  The prices obtained are non-binding and generally representative of recent market trades.  The fair value of certain asset-backed and Government guaranteed mortgage-backed securities are estimated based on quotations from brokers or dealers.  Farmer Mac corroborates its primary valuation source by obtaining a secondary price from another independent third party pricing service.  Farmer Mac classifies these fair value measurements as level 2.

For investment securities that are thinly traded or not quoted, Farmer Mac estimates fair value using internally-developed models that employ a discounted cash flow approach.  Farmer Mac maximizes the use of observable market data, including prices of financial instruments with similar maturities and characteristics, duration, interest rate yield curves, measures of volatility and prepayment rates.  Farmer Mac generally considers a market to be thinly traded or not quoted if the following conditions exist: (1) there are few transactions for the financial instruments; (2) the prices in the market are not current; (3) the price quotes vary significantly either over time or among independent pricing services or dealers; or (4) there is a limited availability of public market information.  Farmer Mac classifies these fair value measurements as level 3.

During first quarter 2010, Farmer Mac transferred its investments in the subordinated debt and preferred stock of CoBank, ACB and its investment in the preferred stock of AgFirst Farm Credit Bank, with par values of $70.0 million, $88.5 million and $88.0 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2009, from level 3 measurements to level 2 measurements.  Taking into consideration its own recently executed trades during first quarter 2010, along with an increase in observable trading activity for these securities, Farmer Mac determined that the best estimates of fair value for these securities as of March 31, 2010 and June 30, 2010 were the fair values provided by an independent third party pricing service.  Farmer Mac transferred these securities out of level 3 based on their fair values as of the beginning of the first quarter 2010.

Available-for-Sale and Trading Farmer Mac and USDA Guaranteed Securities

Farmer Mac estimates the fair value of its Farmer Mac and USDA Guaranteed Securities by discounting the projected cash flows of these instruments at projected interest rates.  The fair values are based on the present value of expected cash flows using management’s best estimate of certain key assumptions, which include prepayment speeds, forward yield curves and discount rates commensurate with the risks involved.  Farmer Mac classifies these measurements as level 3 because there is limited market activity and therefore little or no price transparency.  On a sample basis, Farmer Mac corroborates the fair value of it Farmer Mac and USDA Guaranteed Securities by obtaining a secondary valuation from an independent third party service.

Upon the adoption of the new consolidation guidance on January 1, 2010, Farmer Mac was deemed to be the primary beneficiary of certain VIEs where Farmer Mac held beneficial interests in trusts used as vehicles for the securitization of agricultural real estate mortgage loans or rural utilities loans.  Prior to 2010, Farmer Mac presented these beneficial interests as “Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities” on the condensed consolidated balance sheet and reported them at their fair value.  Upon consolidation, Farmer Mac transferred these assets from “Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities” to “Loans held for investment in consolidated trusts.”  Going forward, these loans will be reported at their amortized cost and will no longer be included in recurring fair value measurements.  Farmer Mac transferred these securities out of level 3 based on their fair values as of the beginning of the quarterly reporting period.

 
-40-

 
 
Financial Derivatives

The fair value of exchange-traded U.S. Treasury futures is based on unadjusted quoted prices for identical financial instruments.  Farmer Mac classifies these fair value measurements as level 1.

Farmer Mac’s derivatives portfolio consists primarily of interest rate swaps, credit default swaps and forward sales contracts on the debt of other GSEs.  Farmer Mac estimates the fair value of these financial instruments based upon the counterparty valuations.  Farmer Mac internally values its derivative portfolio using a discounted cash flow valuation technique and obtains a secondary valuation for certain interest rate swaps to corroborate the counterparty valuations.  Farmer Mac also regularly reviews the counterparty valuations as part of the collateral exchange process.  Farmer Mac classifies these fair value measurements as level 2.

Certain basis swaps are nonstandard interest rate swap structures and are therefore internally modeled using significant assumptions and unobservable inputs, resulting in level 3 classification.  Farmer Mac uses a discounted cash flow valuation technique, using management’s best estimate of certain key assumptions, which include prepayment speeds, forward yield curves and discounted rates commensurate with the risks involved.

As of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the consideration of credit risk related to both Farmer Mac and the counterparties resulted in an adjustment to the valuations of Farmer Mac’s derivative portfolio of $(1.1) million and $0.7 million, respectively.  See Note 1(c) for further information regarding Farmer Mac’s derivative portfolio.

Nonrecurring Fair Value Measurements and Classification

Loans Held for Sale

Loans held for sale are reported at the lower of cost or fair value in the consolidated balance sheets.  Farmer Mac internally models the fair value of loans by discounting the projected cash flows of these instruments at projected interest rates.  The fair values are based on the present value of expected cash flows using management’s best estimate of certain key assumptions, which include prepayment speeds, forward yield curves and discount rates commensurate with the risks involved.  The fair values of these instruments are classified as level 3 measurements.  As of June 30, 2010, Farmer Mac recorded an adjustment of $2.3 million to report loans held for sale at the lower of cost or fair value.  As of December 31, 2009, Farmer Mac recorded an adjustment of $0.1 million to report loans held for sale at the lower of cost or fair value.
 
 
-41-

 

Loans Held for Investment

Certain loans in Farmer Mac’s held for investment loan portfolio are measured at fair value when they are determined to be impaired.  Impaired loans are reported at fair value less estimated cost to sell.  The fair value of the loan is generally based on the fair value of the underlying property, which is determined by third-party appraisals when available.  When third-party appraisals are not available, fair value is estimated based on factors such as prices for comparable properties in similar geographical areas and/or assessment through observation of such properties.  Farmer Mac classifies these fair values as level 3 measurements.

Real Estate Owned

Farmer Mac initially records REO properties at fair value less costs to sell and subsequently records them at the lower of carrying value or fair value less costs to sell.  The fair value of REO is determined by third-party appraisals when available.  When third-party appraisals are not available, fair value is estimated based on factors such as prices for comparable properties in similar geographical areas and/or assessment through observation of such properties.  Farmer Mac classifies the REO fair values as level 3 measurements.

Fair Value Classification and Transfers

As of June 30, 2010, Farmer Mac’s assets and liabilities recorded at fair value include financial instruments valued at $3.2 billion whose fair values were estimated by management in the absence of readily determinable fair values (i.e., level 3).  These financial instruments measured as level 3 represented 45 percent of the total assets and 70 percent of financial instruments measured at fair value as of June 30, 2010.  As of December 31, 2009, Farmer Mac’s asset and liabilities recorded at fair value included financial instruments valued at $3.7 billion whose fair values were estimated by management in the absence of readily determinable fair values (i.e., level 3).  These financial instruments measured as level 3 represented 61 percent of the total assets and 80 percent of financial instruments measured at fair value as of December 31, 2009.

The following tables present information about Farmer Mac’s asset and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring and nonrecurring basis as of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively, and indicate the fair value hierarchy of the valuation techniques used by Farmer Mac to determine such fair value.

 
-42-

 
 
Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value as of June 30, 2010


   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Total
 
   
(in thousands)
 
Recurring:
                       
Assets:
               
Investment securities:
               
Available-for-sale:
               
Floating rate auction-rate certificates backed by Government guaranteed student loans
  $ -     $ -     $ 63,344     $ 63,344  
Floating rate asset-backed securities
    -       19,264       -       19,264  
Floating rate corporate debt securities
    -       195,916       -       195,916  
Floating rate Government/GSE guaranteed mortgage-backed securities
    -       408,291       -       408,291  
Fixed rate GSE guaranteed mortgage-backed securities
    -       5,423       -       5,423  
Floating rate GSE subordinated debt
    -       55,145       -       55,145  
Floating rate GSE preferred stock
    -       87,086       -       87,086  
U.S. Treasuries
    335,415       -       -       335,415  
Senior agency debt
    -       5,492       -       5,492  
Total available-for-sale
    335,415       776,617       63,344       1,175,376  
Trading:
                               
Floating rate asset-backed securities
    -       -       1,412       1,412  
Fixed rate GSE preferred stock
    -       80,544       -       80,544  
Total trading
    -       80,544       1,412       81,956  
Total investment securities
    335,415       857,161       64,756       1,257,332  
Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities:
                               
Available-for-sale:
                               
Farmer Mac I
    -       -       47,821       47,821  
Farmer Mac II
    -       -       40,436       40,436  
Rural Utilities
    -       -       1,629,883       1,629,883  
Total available-for-sale
    -       -       1,718,140       1,718,140  
Trading - Farmer Mac II
    -       -       -       -  
Total Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities
    -       -       1,718,140       1,718,140  
USDA Guaranteed Securities:
                               
Available-for-sale
    -       -       880,424       880,424  
Trading
    -       -       386,496       386,496  
Total USDA Guaranteed Securities
    -       -       1,266,920       1,266,920  
Financial derivatives
    -       37,121       -       37,121  
Total Assets at fair value
  $ 335,415     $ 894,282     $ 3,049,816     $ 4,279,513  
Liabilities:
                               
Financial derivatives
  $ (28 )   $ (128,969 )   $ (3,678 )   $ (132,675 )  
Total Liabilities at fair value
  $ (28 )   $ (128,969 )   $ (3,678 )   $ (132,675 )  
Nonrecurring:
                               
Assets:
                               
Loans held for sale, at lower of cost or fair value
  $ -     $ -     $ 163,065     $ 163,065  
Loans held for investment, at fair value
    -       -       4,256       4,256  
Total Assets at fair value
  $ -     $ -     $ 167,321     $ 167,321  
 
 
-43-

 

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value as of December 31, 2009

 
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Total
 
 
 
(in thousands)
 
Recurring: 
     
Assets:
                       
Investment securities:
                       
Available-for-sale:
                       
Floating rate auction-rate certificates backed by Government guaranteed student loans
  $ -     $ -     $ 72,884     $ 72,884  
Floating rate asset-backed securities
    -       58,143       -       58,143  
Floating rate corporate debt securities
    -       245,605       -       245,605  
Floating rate Government/GSE guaranteed mortgage-backed securities
    -       404,221       -       404,221  
Fixed rate GSE guaranteed mortgage-backed securities
    -       6,537       -       6,537  
Floating rate GSE subordinated debt
    -       -       47,562       47,562  
Fixed rate GSE preferred stock
    -       -       89,211       89,211  
U.S. Treasuries
    117,760       -       -       117,760  
Total available-for-sale
    117,760       714,506       209,657       1,041,923  
Trading:
                               
Floating rate asset-backed securities
    -       -       1,824       1,824  
Fixed rate GSE preferred stock
    -       -       88,148       88,148  
Total trading
    -       -       89,972       89,972  
Total investment securities
    117,760       714,506       299,629       1,131,895  
Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities:
                               
Available-for-sale:
                               
Farmer Mac I
    -       -       56,864       56,864  
Farmer Mac II
    -       -       764,792       764,792  
Rural Utilities
    -       -       1,703,211       1,703,211  
Total available-for-sale
    -       -       2,524,867       2,524,867  
Trading:
                               
Farmer Mac II
    -       -       422,681       422,681  
Rural Utilities
    -       -       451,448       451,448  
Total trading
    -       -       874,129       874,129  
Total Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities
    -       -       3,398,996       3,398,996  
                                 
Financial derivatives
    3       15,037       -       15,040  
Total Assets at fair value
  $ 117,763     $ 729,543     $ 3,698,625     $ 4,545,931  
                                 
Liabilities:
                               
Financial derivatives
  $ -     $ 103,714     $ 3,653     $ 107,367  
Total Liabilities at fair value
  $ -     $ 103,714     $ 3,653     $ 107,367  
Nonrecurring:
                               
Assets:
                               
Loans held for sale
  $ -     $ -     $ 28,505     $ 28,505  
Total Assets at fair value
  $ -     $ -     $ 28,505     $ 28,505  
 
 
-44-

 
 
The following tables present additional information about assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring and nonrecurring basis for which Farmer Mac has used significant level 3 inputs to determine fair value. Net transfers in and/or out of level 3 are based on the fair values of the assets and liabilities as of the beginning of the quarterly reporting period.
 
Level 3 Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value for the Three Months Ended June 30, 2010

   
Beginning
Balance
   
Purchases,
Sales,
Issuances and
Settlements,
net
   
Realized and
Unrealized
Gains/(Losses)
included in
Income
   
Unrealized
Gains/(Losses)
included in Other
Comprehensive
Income
   
Net Transfers In
and/or Out
   
Ending Balance
 
 
 
(in thousands)
 
Recurring: 
     
Assets:
                                   
Investment securities:
                                   
Available-for-sale:
                                   
Floating rate auction-rate certificates backed by Government guaranteed student loans
  $ 62,256     $ -     $ -     $ 1,088     $ -     $ 63,344  
Floating rate GSE subordinated debt
    -       -       -       -       -       -  
Fixed rate GSE preferred stock
    -       -       -       -       -       -  
Total available-for-sale investment securities
    62,256       -       -       1,088       -       63,344  
Trading:
                                               
Floating rate asset-backed securities(1)
    1,452       (166 )     126       -       -       1,412  
Fixed rate GSE preferred stock
    -       -       -       -       -       -  
Total trading investment securities
    1,452       (166 )     126       -       -       1,412  
Total investment securities
    63,708       (166 )     126       1,088       -       64,756  
Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities:
                                               
Available-for-sale:
                                               
Farmer Mac I
    48,080       (1,508 )     -       1,249       -       47,821  
Farmer Mac II
    39,692       502       -       242       -       40,436  
Rural Utilities
    1,706,155       (87,799 )     -       11,527       -       1,629,883  
Total available-for-sale
    1,793,927       (88,805 )     -       13,018       -       1,718,140  
Trading:
                                               
Farmer Mac II
    -       -       -       -       -       -  
Rural Utilities
    -       -       -       -       -       -  
Total trading
    -       -       -       -       -       -  
Total Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities
    1,793,927       (88,805 )     -       13,018       -       1,718,140  
USDA Guaranteed Securities:
                                               
Available-for-sale
    781,823       84,682       -       13,919       -       880,424  
Trading(2)
    407,844       (26,931 )     5,583       -       -       386,496  
Total USDA Guaranteed Securities
    1,189,667       57,751       5,583       13,919       -       1,266,920  
Total Assets at fair value
  $ 3,047,302     $ (31,220 )   $ 5,709     $ 28,025     $ -     $ 3,049,816  
Liabilities:
                                               
Financial derivatives(3)
  $ (3,591 )   $ -     $ (87 )   $ -     $ -     $ (3,678 )
Total Liabilities at fair value
  $ (3,591 )   $ -     $ (87 )   $ -     $ -     $ (3,678 )
Nonrecurring:
                                               
Assets:
                                               
Loans held for sale, at lower of cost or fair value
  $ 85,248     $ -     $ 90     $ -     $ 77,727     $ 163,065  
Loans held for investment, at fair value
    10,522       -       (584 )     -       (5,682 )     4,256  
Total Assets at fair value
  $ 95,770     $ -     $ (494 )   $ -     $ 72,045     $ 167,321  

(1) Unrealized gains are attributable to assets still held as of June 30, 2010 and are recorded in gains on trading assets.
(2) Includes unrealized gains of $4.0 million attributable to assets still held as of June 30, 2010 that are recorded in gains on trading assets.
(3) Unrealized losses are attributable to liabilities still held as of June 30, 2010 and are recorded in (losses)/gains on financial derivatives.
 
 
-45-

 

Level 3 Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value for the Three Months Ended June 30, 2009


   
Beginning
Balance
   
Purchases,
Sales,
Issuances and
Settlements,
net
   
Realized and
Unrealized
Gains/(Losses)
included in
Income
   
Unrealized
Gains/(Losses)
included in Other
Comprehensive
Income
   
Net Transfers In
and/or Out
   
Ending Balance
 
 
 
(in thousands)
 
Recurring: 
     
Assets:
                                   
Investment Securities:
                                   
Available-for-sale:
                                   
Floating rate auction-rate certificates backed by Government guaranteed student loans
  $ 67,636     $ -     $ -     $ 1,080     $ -     $ 68,716  
Floating rate GSE subordinated debt
    -       -       -       5,055       49,132       54,187  
Total available-for-sale
    67,636       -       -       6,135       49,132       122,903  
Trading:
                                               
Floating rate asset-backed securities(1)
    1,962       (205 )     180       -       -       1,937  
Fixed rate GSE preferred stock(1)
    176,790       (333 )     7,043       -       -       183,500  
Total trading
    178,752       (538 )     7,223       -       -       185,437  
Total investment securities
    246,388       (538 )     7,223       6,135       49,132       308,340  
Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities:
                                               
Available-for-sale:
                                               
Farmer Mac I
    63,216       (6,570 )     -       (1,014 )     -       55,632  
Farmer Mac II
    588,996       56,760       -       (1,184 )     -       644,572  
Rural Utilities
    912,695       500,000       -       11,382       -       1,424,077  
Total available-for-sale
    1,564,907       550,190       -       9,184       -       2,124,281  
Trading:
                                               
Farmer Mac II(2)
    476,681       (23,428 )     (5,296 )     -       -       447,957  
Rural Utilities(1)
    449,066       -       (1,892 )     -       -       447,174  
Total trading
    925,747       (23,428 )     (7,188 )     -       -       895,131  
Total Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities
    2,490,654       526,762       (7,188 )     9,184       -       3,019,412  
Total Assets at fair value
  $ 2,737,042     $ 526,224     $ 35     $ 15,319     $ 49,132     $ 3,327,752  
Liabilities:
                                               
Financial Derivatives(3)
  $ (4,236 )   $ -     $ 886     $ -     $ -     $ (3,350 )
Total Liabilities at fair value
  $ (4,236 )   $ -     $ 886     $ -     $ -     $ (3,350 )
Nonrecurring:
                                               
Assets:
                                               
REO
  $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ 43,260     $ 43,260  
Total Assets at fair value
  $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ 43,260     $ 43,260  

(1) Unrealized gains/(losses) are attributable to assets still held as of June 30, 2009 and are recorded in gains on trading assets.
(2) Includes unrealized gains of approximately $4.9 million attributable to assets still held as of June 30, 2009 that are recorded in gains on trading assets.
(3) Unrealized gains are attributable to liabilities still held as of June 30, 2009 and are recorded in (losses)/gains on financial derivatives.
 
 
-46-

 

Level 3 Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2010

      
Beginning
Balance
   
Purchases,
Sales,
Issuances and
Settlements,
net
   
Realized and
Unrealized
Gains/(Losses)
included in
Income
   
Unrealized
Gains/(Losses)
included in Other
Comprehensive
Income
   
Net Transfers In
and/or Out
   
Ending Balance
 
   
 
(in thousands)
 
Recurring: 
     
Assets:
                                   
Investment securities:
                                   
Available-for-sale:
                                   
Floating rate auction-rate certificates backed by Government guaranteed student loans
  $ 72,884     $ -     $ -     $ (9,540 )   $ -     $ 63,344  
Floating rate GSE subordinated debt
    47,562       -       -       -       (47,562 )     -  
Fixed rate GSE preferred stock
    89,211       -       -       -       (89,211 )     -  
Total available-for-sale investment securities
    209,657       -       -       (9,540 )     (136,773 )     63,344  
Trading:
                                               
Floating rate asset-backed securities(1)
    1,824       (402 )     (10 )     -       -       1,412  
Fixed rate GSE preferred stock
    88,148       -               -       (88,148 )     -  
Total trading investment securities
    89,972       (402 )     (10 )     -       (88,148 )     1,412  
Total investment securities
    299,629       (402 )     (10 )     (9,540 )     (224,921 )     64,756  
Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities:
                                               
Available-for-sale:
                                               
Farmer Mac I
    56,864       (5,265 )     -       1,607       (5,385 )     47,821  
Farmer Mac II
    764,792       197       -       (1,369 )     (723,184 )     40,436  
Rural Utilities
    1,703,211       (87,799 )     -       14,471       -       1,629,883  
Total available-for-sale
    2,524,867       (92,867 )     -       14,709       (728,569 )     1,718,140  
Trading:
                                               
Farmer Mac II
    422,681       -               -       (422,681 )     -  
Rural Utilities
    451,448       -       -       -       (451,448 )     -  
Total trading
    874,129       -       -       -       (874,129 )     -  
Total Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities
    3,398,996       (92,867 )     -       14,709       (1,602,698 )     1,718,140  
USDA Guaranteed Securities:
                                               
Available-for-sale
    -       137,579       -       19,661       723,184       880,424  
Trading(2)
    -       (46,789 )     10,604       -       422,681       386,496  
Total USDA Guaranteed Securities
    -       90,790       10,604       19,661       1,145,865       1,266,920  
Total Assets at fair value
  $ 3,698,625     $ (2,479 )   $ 10,594     $ 24,830     $ (681,754 )   $ 3,049,816  
Liabilities:
                                               
Financial derivatives(3)
  $ (3,653 )   $ -     $ (25 )   $ -     $ -     $ (3,678 )
Total Liabilities at fair value
  $ (3,653 )   $ -     $ (25 )   $ -     $ -     $ (3,678 )
Nonrecurring:
                                               
Assets:
                                               
Loans held for sale, at lower of cost or fair value
  $ 28,505     $ -     $ (2,184 )   $ -     $ 136,744     $ 163,065  
Loans held for investment, at fair value
    -       -       (668 )     -       4,924       4,256  
Total Assets at fair value
  $ 28,505     $ -     $ (2,852 )   $ -     $ 141,668     $ 167,321  

(1) Unrealized losses are attributable to assets still held as of June 30, 2010 and are recorded in gains on trading assets.
(2) Includes unrealized gains of $8.0 million attributable to assets still held as of June 30, 2010 that are recorded in gains on trading assets.
(3) Unrealized losses are attributable to liabilities still held as of June 30, 2010 and are recorded in (losses)/gains on financial derivatives.
 
 
-47-

 
 
Level 3 Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2009


     
Beginning
Balance
   
Purchases,
Sales,
Issuances and
 Settlements,
net
   
Realized and
Unrealized
Gains/(Losses)
included in
Income
   
Unrealized
 Gains/(Losses)
included in Other
Comprehensive
Income
   
Net Transfers In
and/or Out
   
Ending Balance
 
  
 
(in thousands)
 
Recurring: 
     
Assets:
                                   
Investment Securities:
                                   
Available-for-sale:
                                   
Floating rate auction-rate certificates backed by Government guaranteed student loans
  $ 178,577     $ (119,850 )   $ -     $ 9,989     $ -     $ 68,716  
Floating rate GSE subordinated debt
    -       -       -       5,055       49,132       54,187  
Total available-for-sale
    178,577       (119,850 )     -       15,044       49,132       122,903  
Trading:
                                               
Floating rate asset-backed securities(1)
    2,211       (473 )     199       -       -       1,937  
Fixed rate GSE preferred stock(1)
    161,552       (681 )     22,629       -       -       183,500  
Total trading
    163,763       (1,154 )     22,828       -       -       185,437  
Total investment securities
    342,340       (121,004 )     22,828       15,044       49,132       308,340  
Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities:
                                               
Available-for-sale:
                                               
Farmer Mac I
    349,292       (3,681 )     -       (1,967 )     (288,012 )     55,632  
Farmer Mac II
    522,565       118,251       -       3,756       -       644,572  
Rural Utilities
    639,837       770,000       -       14,240       -       1,424,077  
Total available-for-sale
    1,511,694       884,570       -       16,029       (288,012 )     2,124,281  
Trading:
                                               
Farmer Mac II(2)
    496,863       (47,342 )     (1,564 )     -       -       447,957  
Rural Utilities(1)
    442,687       (5,909 )     10,396       -       -       447,174  
Total trading
    939,550       (53,251 )     8,832       -       -       895,131  
Total Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities
    2,451,244       831,319       8,832       16,029       (288,012 )     3,019,412  
Total Assets at fair value
  $ 2,793,584     $ 710,315     $ 31,660     $ 31,073     $ (238,880 )   $ 3,327,752  
Liabilities:
                                               
Financial Derivatives(3)
  $ (3,719 )   $ -     $ 369     $ -     $ -     $ (3,350 )
Total Liabilities at fair value
  $ (3,719 )   $ -     $ 369     $ -     $ -     $ (3,350 )
Nonrecurring:
                                               
Assets:
                                               
REO
  $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ 43,260     $ 43,260  
Total Assets at fair value
  $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ 43,260     $ 43,260  

(1) Unrealized gains are attributable to assets still held as of June 30, 2009 and are recorded in gains on trading assets.
(2) Includes unrealized losses of approximately $0.9 million attributable to assets still held as of June 30, 2009 that are recorded in gains on trading assets.
(3) Unrealized gains are attributable to liabilities still held as of June 30, 2009 and are recorded in (losses)/gains on financial derivatives.

Fair Value Option

FASB guidance on the fair value option for financial instruments permits entities to make a one-time irrevocable election to report financial instruments at fair value with changes in fair value recorded in earnings as the occur. One of the FASB’s stated objectives of this guidance was to improve financial reporting by providing entities with the opportunity to mitigate volatility in reported earnings caused by measuring related assets and liabilities differently without having to apply complex hedge accounting provisions.

Farmer Mac made no fair value option elections for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, Farmer Mac recorded net gains on trading assets of $4.9 million and $8.4 million, respectively, for changes in fair values of assets selected for the fair value option, compared to $(0.1) million and $31.5 million for the same periods ended June 30, 2009. These gains are presented as “Gains on trading assets” in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

 
-48-

 
 
Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The following table sets forth the estimated fair values and the carrying amounts for financial assets, liabilities and guarantees and commitments as of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 in accordance with FASB guidance on disclosures about fair value of financial instruments.

   
June 30, 2010
   
December 31, 2009
 
   
Fair Value
   
Carrying
Amount
   
Fair Value
   
Carrying
Amount
 
   
(in thousands)
 
Financial assets:
                       
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 325,333     $ 325,333     $ 654,794     $ 654,794  
Investment securities
    1,257,332       1,257,332       1,131,895       1,131,895  
Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities
    1,718,140       1,718,140       3,398,996       3,398,996  
USDA Guaranteed Securities
    1,266,920       1,266,920       -       -  
Loans
    2,472,261       2,327,964       779,185       753,720  
                                 
Financial derivatives
    37,121       37,121       15,040       15,040  
Interest receivable
    72,616       72,616       67,178       67,178  
Guarantee and commitment fees receivable:
                               
LTSPCs
    13,280       13,430       14,591       15,896  
Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities
    20,467       23,149       36,135       39,120  
Financial liabilities:
                               
Notes payable:
                               
Due within one year
    3,225,846       3,226,745       3,665,282       3,662,898  
Due after one year
    2,382,859       2,269,421       1,964,526       1,908,713  
Debt securities of consolidated trusts held by third parties
    957,761       882,629       -       -  
Financial derivatives
    132,675       132,675       107,367       107,367  
Accrued interest payable
    52,913       52,913       39,562       39,562  
Guarantee and commitment obligation:
                               
LTSPCs
    12,366       12,516       13,370       14,676  
Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities
    17,564       20,246       30,865       33,850  

The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, certain short-term investment securities, interest receivable and accrued interest payable is a reasonable estimate of their approximate fair value. Farmer Mac estimates the fair value of its loans, guarantee and commitment fees receivable/obligation and notes payable by discounting the projected cash flows of these instruments at projected interest rates. The fair values are based on the present value of expected cash flows using management’s best estimate of certain key assumptions, which include prepayment speeds, forward yield curves and discount rates commensurate with the risks involved. Because the cash flows of these instruments may be interest rate path dependent, these values and projected discount rates are derived using a Monte Carlo simulation model. Different market assumptions and estimation methodologies could significantly affect estimated fair value amounts.
 
 
-49-

 
 

Note 8.
Business Segment Reporting

Farmer Mac accomplishes its congressional mission of providing liquidity and lending capacity to rural lenders through three programs – Farmer Mac I, Farmer Mac II and Rural Utilities. Prior to first quarter 2010, Farmer Mac reported its financial results as a single segment using GAAP-basis income. Beginning in first quarter 2010, Farmer Mac revised its segment financial reporting, by using core earnings, a non-GAAP financial measure, to reflect the manner in which management has begun assessing the Corporation’s performance since the contribution of substantially all of the Farmer Mac II program business to a subsidiary, Farmer Mac II LLC. Farmer Mac uses core earnings to measure corporate economic performance and develop financial plans because, in management’s view, core earnings more accurately represents Farmer Mac’s economic performance, transaction economics and business trends. Core earnings differs from GAAP net income primarily by excluding unrealized gains or losses on financial derivatives and trading assets, lower of cost or fair value adjustments on loans held for sale and other items related to the retirement of preferred stock and the amortization of premiums on assets consolidated at fair value. This non-GAAP financial measure may not be similar to non-GAAP financial measures disclosed by other companies.
 
 The financial information presented below reflects the accounts of Farmer Mac and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis. Accordingly, the core earnings for Farmer Mac’s reportable operating segments will differ from the stand-alone financial statements of Farmer Mac’s subsidiaries. These differences will be due to various factors, including the reversal of unrealized gains and losses related to fair value changes of trading assets and financial derivatives, as well as the allocation of certain expenses such as dividends and interest expense related to the issuance of capital and the incurrence of indebtedness managed at the corporate level. The allocation of general and administrative expenses that are not directly attributable to an operating segment may also result in differences. The assets of Farmer Mac’s subsidiary Farmer Mac II LLC would be available to creditors of Farmer Mac only after all obligations owed to creditors of and equity holders in Farmer Mac II LLC had been satisfied. As of June 30, 2010, Farmer Mac II LLC held assets with a fair value of $1.3 billion, had debt outstanding of $46.0 million, had preferred stock outstanding with a liquidation preference of $250.0 million, and had $1.0 billion of common stock outstanding, all of which is held by Farmer Mac.

Management has determined that the Corporation’s operations consist of three reportable segments – Farmer Mac I, Farmer Mac II and Rural Utilities. Farmer Mac uses these three segments to generate revenue and manage business risk, and each segment is based on distinct products and distinct business activities. In addition to these three program operating segments, a corporate segment is presented. That segment represents activity in Farmer Mac’s non-program investment portfolio and other corporate activities. The segment financial results include directly attributable revenues and expenses. Corporate charges for administrative expenses that are not directly attributable to an operating segment are allocated based on headcount.

Each of the program operating segments generates revenue through purchasing loans or securities, committing to purchase loans, or guaranteeing securities backed by eligible loans. Purchases of both program and non-program assets are funded through debt issuance of various maturities. Management makes decisions about pricing, funding, guarantee and commitment fee levels, based on inherent credit risks, resource allocation and target returns on equity separately for each segment.
 
 
-50-

 
 
Under the Farmer Mac I program, Farmer Mac purchases or commits to purchase eligible mortgage loans secured by first liens on agricultural real estate, including through the issuance of LTSPCs.  Farmer Mac also guarantees securities representing interests in, or obligations secured by, pools of eligible agricultural real estate mortgage loans, and may purchase those securities.

Under the Farmer Mac II program, Farmer Mac II LLC purchases USDA-guaranteed portions of loans.  Farmer Mac currently operates only that part of the Farmer Mac II program that involves the guarantee of Farmer Mac II Guaranteed Securities, and only to the extent that either Farmer Mac or Farmer Mac II LLC is approached or referred by an investor.  Farmer Mac will not issue Farmer Mac II Guaranteed Securities to Farmer Mac II LLC in the future.

Under the Rural Utilities program, Farmer Mac’s business activities include loan purchases, guarantees and purchases of securities with respect to eligible rural utilities loans.  To date, all of the business under the Rural Utilities program has been with one lender, National Rural.

The following table presents core earnings for Farmer Mac’s reportable operating segments and a reconciliation to GAAP net income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009.  Farmer Mac has presented the financial information and disclosures for the prior periods to reflect the segment disclosures as if they had been in effect for all periods reported.
 
-51-

 
Core Earnings by Business Segment
For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2010

                           
Core
   
Reconciling
   
GAAP
 
   
Farmer Mac I
   
Farmer Mac II
   
Rural Utilities
   
Corporate
   
Earnings
   
Adjustments
   
Income
 
   
(in thousands)
 
Interest income (1)
  $ 27,081     $ 13,825     $ 13,987     $ 6,390     $ 61,283     $ (3,956 )   $ 57,327  
Interest income related to consolidated trusts owned by third parties reclassed to guarantee fee income
    (1,282 )     -       -       -       (1,282 )     1,282       -  
Interest expense (2)
    (18,210 )     (11,262 )     (11,342 )     (3,638 )     (44,452 )     8,733       (35,719 )
Net effective spread
    7,589       2,563       2,645       2,752       15,549       6,059       21,608  
                                                         
Guarantee and commitment fees
    5,450       50       1,492       -       6,992       (1,282 )     5,710  
Other income/(expense) (3)
    411       -       -       (784 )     (373 )     (10,108 )     (10,481 )
Non-interest income/(loss)
    5,861       50       1,492       (784 )     6,619       (11,390 )     (4,771 )
                                                         
Recoveries of loan losses
    1,870       -       -       -       1,870       -       1,870  
                                                         
Reserve for losses
    (3,043 )     -       -       -       (3,043 )     -       (3,043 )
Other non-interest expense
    (3,350 )     (721 )     (1,038 )     (1,709 )     (6,818 )     -       (6,818 )
Non-interest expense (4)
    (6,393 )     (721 )     (1,038 )     (1,709 )     (9,861 )     -       (9,861 )
                                                         
Income before income taxes
    8,927       1,892       3,099       259       14,177       (5,331 )     8,846  
Income tax (expense)/benefit
    (3,124 )     (662 )     (1,085 )     2,249       (2,622 )     1,866       (756 )
Net income before dividends
    5,803       1,230       2,014       2,508       11,555       (3,465 )     8,090  
Preferred stock dividends
    -       -       -       (720 )     (720 )     -       (720 )
Net income
    5,803       1,230       2,014       1,788       10,835       (3,465 )     7,370  
Non-controlling interest
    -       -       -       (5,546 )     (5,546 )     -       (5,546 )
Segment core earnings
  $ 5,803     $ 1,230     $ 2,014     $ (3,758 )   $ 5,289     $ (3,465 )   $ 1,824  
                                                         
Total assets at carrying value
  $ 1,836,374     $ 1,324,674     $ 2,262,314     $ 1,676,128     $ -     $ -     $ 7,099,490  
Total on- and off-balance sheet program assets at principal balance
    7,288,389       1,300,944       2,173,660       -       -       -       10,762,993  

Core Earnings by Business Segment
For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2009

                           
Core
   
Reconciling
   
GAAP
 
   
Farmer Mac I
   
Farmer Mac II
   
Rural Utilities
   
Corporate
   
Earnings
   
Adjustments
   
Income
 
   
(in thousands)
 
Interest income (1)
  $ 9,567     $ 11,656     $ 13,370     $ 7,049     $ 41,642     $ 108     $ 41,750  
Interest expense (2)
    (5,430 )     (9,960 )     (12,300 )     (4,096 )     (31,786 )     9,937       (21,849 )
Net effective spread
    4,137       1,696       1,070       2,953       9,856       10,045       19,901  
                                                         
Guarantee and commitment fees
    5,871       691       1,346       -       7,908       -       7,908  
Other (expense)/income (3)
    (93 )     -       -       (2,591 )     (2,684 )     21,756       19,072  
Non-interest income/(loss)
    5,778       691       1,346       (2,591 )     5,224       21,756       26,980  
                                                         
Recoveries of loan losses
    5,693       -       -       -       5,693       -       5,693  
                                                         
Recoveries of losses
    529       -       -       -       529       -       529  
Other non-interest expense
    (3,224 )     (958 )     (810 )     (2,062 )     (7,054 )     -       (7,054 )
Non-interest expense (4)
    (2,695 )     (958 )     (810 )     (2,062 )     (6,525 )     -       (6,525 )
                                                         
Income before income taxes
    12,913       1,429       1,606       (1,700 )     14,248       31,801       46,049  
Income tax (expense)/benefit
    (4,520 )     (500 )     (562 )     178       (5,404 )     (11,130 )     (16,534 )
Net income before dividends
    8,393       929       1,044       (1,522 )     8,844       20,671       29,515  
Preferred stock dividends
    -       -       -       (4,130 )     (4,130 )     -       (4,130 )
Segment core earnings
  $ 8,393     $ 929     $ 1,044     $ (5,652 )   $ 4,714     $ 20,671     $ 25,385  
                                                         
Total assets at carrying value
  $ 814,717     $ 1,108,455     $ 1,885,496     $ 1,514,016     $ -     $ -     $ 5,322,684  
Total on- and off-balance sheet program assets at principal balance
    7,464,419       1,115,025       1,819,033       -       -       -       10,398,477  

(1)
Includes reconciling adjustments for yield maintenance income and amortization of premiums on assets consolidated at fair value to reflect core earnings amounts.
(2)
Based on effective funding cost determined for each operating segment, including the expense related to interest rate swaps, which is included in "other income" on the GAAP financial statements.
(3)
Includes reconciling adjustments for the reclassification of yield maintenance and the expense related to interest rate swaps and fair value adjustments on loans held for sale and financial derivatives.
(4)
Includes directly attributable costs and an allocation of indirectly attributable costs based on headcount.
 
-52-

 
Core Earnings by Business Segment
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2010

                           
Core
   
Reconciling
   
GAAP
 
   
Farmer Mac I
   
Farmer Mac II
   
Rural Utilities
   
Corporate
   
Earnings
   
Adjustments
   
Income
 
   
(in thousands)
 
Interest income (1)
  $ 55,763     $ 26,431     $ 27,940     $ 12,873     $ 123,007     $ (4,948 )   $ 118,059  
Interest income related to consolidated trusts owned by third parties reclassed to guarantee fee income
    (2,749 )     -       -       -       (2,749 )     2,749       -  
Interest expense (2)
    (38,250 )     (21,721 )     (22,636 )     (7,295 )     (89,902 )     17,068       (72,834 )
Net effective spread
    14,764       4,710       5,304       5,578       30,356       14,869       45,225  
                                                         
Guarantee and commitment fees
    11,000       351       3,027       -       14,378       (2,749 )     11,629  
Other income/(expense) (3)
    1,297       -       -       (1,233 )     64       (14,187 )     (14,123 )
Non-interest income/(loss)
    12,297       351       3,027       (1,233 )     14,442       (16,936 )     (2,494 )
                                                         
Provision for loan losses
    (980 )     -       -       -       (980 )     -       (980 )
                                                         
Reserve for losses
    (1,575 )     -       -       -       (1,575 )     -       (1,575 )
Other non-interest expense
    (6,386 )     (1,548 )     (2,067 )     (3,404 )     (13,405 )     -       (13,405 )
Non-interest expense (4)
    (7,961 )     (1,548 )     (2,067 )     (3,404 )     (14,980 )     -       (14,980 )
                                                         
Income before income taxes
    18,120       3,513       6,264       941       28,838       (2,067 )     26,771  
Income tax (expense)/benefit
    (6,342 )     (1,230 )     (2,192 )     3,949       (5,815 )     723       (5,092 )
Net income before dividends
    11,778       2,283       4,072       4,890       23,023       (1,344 )     21,679  
Preferred stock dividends
    -       -       -       (2,690 )     (2,690 )     (5,784 )     (8,474 )
Net income
    11,778       2,283       4,072       2,200       20,333       (7,128 )     13,205  
Non-controlling interest
    -       -       -       (9,614 )     (9,614 )     -       (9,614 )
Segment core earnings
  $ 11,778     $ 2,283     $ 4,072     $ (7,414 )   $ 10,719     $ (7,128 )   $ 3,591  
                                                         
Total assets at carrying value
  $ 1,836,374     $ 1,324,674     $ 2,262,314     $ 1,676,128     $ -     $ -     $ 7,099,490  
Total on- and off-balance sheet program assets at principal balance
    7,288,389       1,300,944       2,173,660       -       -       -       10,762,993  

Core Earnings by Business Segment
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2009

                           
Core
   
Reconciling
   
GAAP
 
   
Farmer Mac I
   
Farmer Mac II
   
Rural Utilities
   
Corporate
   
Earnings
   
Adjustments
   
Income
 
   
(in thousands)
 
Interest income (1)
  $ 24,589     $ 23,101     $ 24,883     $ 15,958     $ 88,531     $ 372     $ 88,903  
Interest expense (2)
    (13,878 )     (20,241 )     (22,829 )     (9,139 )     (66,087 )     20,525       (45,562 )
Net effective spread
    10,711       2,860       2,054       6,819       22,444       20,897       43,341  
                                                         
Guarantee and commitment fees
    11,761       1,343       2,214       -       15,318       -       15,318  
Other income/(expense) (3)
    2,287       -       -       (92 )     2,195       55,097       57,292  
Non-interest income/(loss)
    14,048       1,343       2,214       (92 )     17,513       55,097       72,610  
                                                         
Recoveries of loan losses
    2,159       -       -       -       2,159       -       2,159  
                                                         
Reserve for losses
    (1,990 )     -       -       -       (1,990 )     -       (1,990 )
Other non-interest expense
    (6,661 )     (1,967 )     (1,664 )     (4,235 )     (14,527 )     -       (14,527 )
Non-interest expense (4)
    (8,651 )     (1,967 )     (1,664 )     (4,235 )     (16,517 )     -       (16,517 )
                                                         
Income before income taxes
    18,267       2,236       2,604       2,492       25,599       75,994       101,593  
Income tax (expense)/benefit
    (6,393 )     (783 )     (911 )     61       (8,026 )     (26,598 )     (34,624 )
Net income before dividends
    11,874       1,453       1,693       2,553       17,573       49,396       66,969  
Preferred stock dividends
    -       -       -       (8,066 )     (8,066 )     -       (8,066 )
Segment core earnings
  $ 11,874     $ 1,453     $ 1,693     $ (5,513 )   $ 9,507     $ 49,396     $ 58,903  
                                                         
Total assets at carrying value
  $ 814,717     $ 1,108,455     $ 1,885,496     $ 1,514,016     $ -     $ -     $ 5,322,684  
Total on- and off-balance sheet program assets at principal balance
    7,464,419       1,115,025       1,819,033       -       -       -       10,398,477  

(1)
Includes reconciling adjustments for yield maintenance income and amortization of premiums on assets consolidated at fair value to reflect core earnings amounts.
(2)
Based on effective funding cost determined for each operating segment, including the expense related to interest rate swaps, which is included in "other income" on the GAAP financial statements.
(3)
Includes reconciling adjustments for the reclassification of yield maintenance and the expense related to interest rate swaps and fair value adjustments on loans held for sale and financial derivatives.
(4)
Includes directly attributable costs and an allocation of indirectly attributable costs based on headcount.
 
-53-


Item 2.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Financial information is consolidated to include the accounts of Farmer Mac and its subsidiaries, Farmer Mac Mortgage Securities Corporation and Farmer Mac II LLC.  Farmer Mac II LLC was formed as a Delaware limited liability company in December 2009 to operate substantially all of the business related to the Farmer Mac II program – primarily the acquisition of USDA-guaranteed portions.  The business operations of Farmer Mac II LLC began in January 2010.  In the future, Farmer Mac will operate only that part of the Farmer Mac II program that involves the issuance of Farmer Mac II Guaranteed Securities, and only to the extent that Farmer Mac is approached or referred by an investor.  Farmer Mac will not issue Farmer Mac II Guaranteed Securities to Farmer Mac II LLC in the future.

This discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations should be read together with:  (1) the interim unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the related notes that appear elsewhere in this report; (2) Farmer Mac’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 filed with the SEC on March 16, 2010; and (3) the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 4, 2010, which updated the aforementioned Form 10-K.

The discussion below is not necessarily indicative of future results.
 
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Some statements made in this report are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 pertaining to management’s current expectations as to Farmer Mac’s future financial results, business prospects and business developments.  Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future results, performance or achievements, and typically are accompanied by, and identified with, such terms as “anticipates,” “believes,” “expects,” “intends,” “should” and similar phrases.  The following management’s discussion and analysis includes forward-looking statements addressing Farmer Mac’s:
 
 
·
prospects for earnings;
 
·
prospects for growth in loan purchase, guarantee, securitization, and LTSPC volume;
 
·
trends in net interest income;
 
·
trends in portfolio credit quality, delinquencies, and provisions for losses;
 
·
trends in expenses;
 
·
trends in non-program investments;
 
·
prospects for asset impairments and allowance for losses;
 
·
changes in capital position; and
 
·
other business and financial matters.
 
-54-

 
Management’s expectations for Farmer Mac’s future necessarily involve a number of assumptions and estimates and the evaluation of risks and uncertainties.  Various factors or events could cause Farmer Mac’s actual results to differ materially from the expectations as expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including the factors discussed under “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of Farmer Mac’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 filed with the SEC on March 16, 2010, as well as uncertainties regarding:
 
 
·
the availability to Farmer Mac and Farmer Mac II LLC of debt financing on reasonable rates and terms;
 
·
legislative or regulatory developments that could affect Farmer Mac;
 
·
fluctuations in the fair value of assets held by Farmer Mac and Farmer Mac II LLC;
 
·
the rate and direction of development of the secondary market for agricultural mortgage and rural utilities loans, including lender interest in Farmer Mac credit products and the Farmer Mac secondary market;
 
·
the general rate of growth in agricultural mortgage and rural utilities indebtedness;
 
·
borrower preferences for fixed rate agricultural mortgage indebtedness;
 
·
the impact of economic conditions and real estate values on agricultural mortgage lending;
 
·
the willingness of investors to invest in Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities;
 
·
developments in the financial markets, including possible investor, analyst and rating agency reactions to events involving GSEs, including Farmer Mac; and
 
·
the future level of interest rates, commodity prices, and export demand for U.S. agricultural products.

In light of these potential risks and uncertainties, no undue reliance should be placed on any forward-looking statements expressed in this report.  Furthermore, Farmer Mac undertakes no obligation to release publicly the results of revisions to any forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect new information or any future events or circumstances, except as otherwise mandated by the SEC.

Overview

With the new capital raised during first quarter 2010, Farmer Mac is well-positioned to partner with agricultural and rural utilities lenders, and Farmer Mac II LLC is well-positioned to partner with lenders participating in USDA’s guaranteed loan programs, to continue to fulfill Farmer Mac’s mission to provide capital and liquidity to rural America.  As of June 30, 2010, Farmer Mac’s excess core capital above its statutory minimum capital requirement was $206.6 million.

During first and second quarters 2010, increased loan purchase activity in the Farmer Mac I program continued in part due to attractive long-term fixed interest rates offered by Farmer Mac along with farmers and ranchers reaching Farmer Mac’s commercial bank business partners’ borrower exposure limits.  Similarly, purchases of USDA Guaranteed Securities by Farmer Mac II LLC were at a record pace for second quarter 2010.  While Farmer Mac did not complete any of the larger portfolio transactions during second quarter that have contributed to its historical growth, in July 2010 Farmer Mac purchased an aggregate of $250.0 million of AgVantage securities in two transactions.  Those purchases were the first Farmer Mac I program portfolio transactions of comparable size completed since third quarter 2008.
 
-55-


The growth in Farmer Mac’s Rural Utilities program continued during 2010 with the purchase of $136.7 million of loans under that program during the six months ended June 30, 2010.  That growth occurred at a lower rate than in 2008 and 2009 when Farmer Mac purchased general obligation notes from National Rural secured by eligible rural utilities loans in AgVantage structures in several larger transactions.  Beginning in August 2009 and continuing through 2010, the majority of Farmer Mac’s rural utilities business was direct purchases of distribution cooperative rural utilities loans, and this trend of purchasing eligible rural utilities loans, as opposed to guaranteeing general obligations secured by eligible loans in AgVantage transactions, is expected to continue for the foreseeable future under the Rural Utilities program.  In late 2009, Farmer Mac developed underwriting standards for the purchase of loans to generation and transmission cooperatives.  Farmer Mac expects to begin purchasing these types of rural utilities loans during third quarter 2010.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The preparation of Farmer Mac’s consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires the use of estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes for the periods presented.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.  The critical accounting policies that are both important to the portrayal of Farmer Mac’s financial position and results of operations and require complex, subjective judgments are the accounting policies for:  (1) the allowance for losses, (2) fair value measurement, and (3) other-than-temporary impairment.

For a discussion of Farmer Mac’s critical accounting policies related to the allowance for losses, fair value measurement and other-than-temporary impairment and the related use of estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes for the periods presented, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” in the Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 filed with the SEC on March 16, 2010 (as updated by the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 4, 2010).

Results of Operations

Farmer Mac’s net income available to common stockholders for second quarter 2010 was $1.8 million or $0.17 per diluted common share, compared to net income of $25.4 million or $2.49 per diluted common share for second quarter 2009.  For the six months ended June 30, 2010, Farmer Macs net income available to common stockholders was $3.6 million, compared to $58.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2009.
 
-56-

 
Farmer Mac uses core earnings, a non-GAAP financial measure, to measure corporate economic performance and develop financial plans because, in financial management’s view, core earnings more accurately represents Farmer Mac’s economic performance, transaction economics and business trends.  Core earnings differs from GAAP net income primarily by excluding unrealized gains or losses on financial derivatives and trading assets, lower of cost or fair value adjustments on loans held for sale and other items related to the retirement of preferred stock and the amortization of premiums on assets consolidated at fair value.  Farmer Mac’s disclosure of this non-GAAP measure is not intended to replace GAAP information but, rather, to supplement it.  A reconciliation of Farmer Mac’s GAAP net income available to common stockholders to core earnings is presented in the following table, and those reconciling items are described in more detail below the table.

Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income Available to Common Stockholders to Core Earnings
   
For the Three Months Ended
 
   
June 30, 2010
   
June 30, 2009
 
         
Per Diluted
         
Per Diluted
 
         
Share
         
Share
 
   
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
GAAP net income available to common stockholders
  $ 1,824     $ 0.17     $ 25,385     $ 2.49  
Less the net of tax effects of:
                               
Unrealized (losses)/gains on financial derivatives
    (4,016 )     (0.38 )     20,281       1.99  
Unrealized gains on trading assets
    3,288       0.31       23       -  
Amortization of premiums on assets consolidated at fair value
    (2,701 )     (0.25 )     -       -  
Issuance costs on the retirement of preferred stock
    -       -       -       -  
Net effects of settlements on agency forward contracts
    (94 )     (0.01 )     367       0.04  
Lower of cost or fair value adjustment on loans held for sale
    58       -       -       -  
Core earnings
  $ 5,289     $ 0.50     $ 4,714     $ 0.46  

   
For the Six Months Ended
 
   
June 30, 2010
   
June 30, 2009
 
         
Per Diluted
         
Per Diluted
 
         
Share
         
Share
 
   
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
GAAP net income available to common stockholders
  $ 3,591     $ 0.34     $ 58,903     $ 5.80  
Less the net of tax effects of:
                               
Unrealized (losses)/gains on financial derivatives
    (2,129 )     (0.20 )     30,009       2.95  
Unrealized gains on trading assets
    5,476       0.52       20,580       2.03  
Amortization of premiums on assets consolidated at fair value
    (3,383 )     (0.32 )     -       -  
Issuance costs on the retirement of preferred stock
    (5,784 )     (0.56 )     -       -  
Net effects of settlements on agency forward contracts
    112       0.01       (1,193 )     (0.12 )
Lower of cost or fair value adjustment on loans held for sale
    (1,420 )     (0.13 )     -       -  
Core earnings
  $ 10,719     $ 1.02     $ 9,507     $ 0.94  

Changes in the fair values of financial derivatives and trading assets have historically contributed significant volatility to Farmer Mac’s periodic earnings.  Consistent with that trend, Farmer Mac’s second quarter 2010 loss on financial derivatives was $15.8 million, compared to a gain of $21.5 million during second quarter 2009.  For the six months ended June 30, 2010, the loss on financial derivatives was $21.6 million, compared to a gain of $23.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2009.  Fair value gains on trading assets totaled $5.1 million for second quarter 2010, compared to gains of $35,000 for second quarter 2009.  For the six months ended June 30, 2010 the gains on trading assets totaled $8.4 million, compared to $31.7 million for the same period in 2009.  While these volatile changes in fair values of derivatives and trading assets may at times produce significant income, as was the case in 2009, they may also produce significant losses, as was the case in the first six months of 2010 and as has been the case in previous reporting periods.  Future changes in those values cannot be reliably predicted; however, as of June 30, 2010, the cumulative fair value of after-tax losses recorded on financial derivatives was $62.1 million.  Over time, Farmer Mac will realize in earnings the net effect of the cash settlements on its interest rate swap contracts, which may on its own produce either income or expense, but is expected to generate positive effective net spread when combined with the interest earned and paid on the assets and liabilities Farmer Mac holds on its balance sheet.  This positive effective net spread will continue to build retained earnings and capital over time.  Although the unrealized fair value fluctuations experienced throughout the term of the financial derivatives will temporarily impact earnings and capital, those fluctuations will have no permanent effect if the financial derivatives are held to maturity, as is generally expected.
 
-57-

 
Upon the adoption of the new consolidation guidance on January 1, 2010, Farmer Mac was determined to be the primary beneficiary of certain VIEs where Farmer Mac held beneficial interests in trusts used as vehicles for the securitization of rural utilities loans.  Upon consolidation, Farmer Mac transferred these assets from “Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities” to “Loans held for investment in consolidated trusts” on its condensed consolidated balance sheet.  Farmer Mac transferred these assets at their fair value, which resulted in an unamortized premium of $42.7 million.  This premium is being amortized over the contractual lives of the underlying loans and that amortization is not included in Farmer Mac’s core earnings.

In January 2010, Farmer Mac contributed substantially all of the assets, in excess of $1.1 billion, comprising the Farmer Mac II program to a subsidiary, Farmer Mac II LLC.  Farmer Mac transferred these assets at their fair value, which resulted in an unamortized premium of $39.1 million being recorded by Farmer Mac II LLC.  This premium is being amortized over the estimated remaining lives of the underlying USDA-guaranteed portions and is not included in Farmer Mac’s core earnings.

In January 2010, Farmer Mac retired and repurchased all of the outstanding shares of Series B preferred stock with proceeds from the completed capital raise.  As a result of the repurchase, Farmer Mac wrote off $5.8 million of deferred issuance costs related to those Series B preferred shares as loss on retirement of preferred stock on the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

In addition to those adjustments to reconcile Farmer Mac’s GAAP net income available to common stockholders to core earnings, Farmer Mac’s year-to-date 2009 results benefited from two transactions that were not replicated in the year-to-date 2010 results.  The first was the sale of a pool of loans with a total principal balance of $354.5 million that resulted in a gain of $1.6 million.  The second transaction was the sale of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. senior debt securities that had been written down to $5.4 million as of December 31, 2008.  The sale of those securities during first quarter 2009 for $8.6 million resulted in a $3.2 million recovery of previously written off losses.

The following sections provide more detail regarding specific components of Farmer Mac’s results of operations.
 
-58-

 
Net Interest Income.  Net interest income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 was $21.6 million and $45.2 million, respectively, compared to $19.9 million and $43.3 million for the same periods during 2009.  Beginning in first quarter 2010, net interest income includes the reclassification of guarantee fees related to certain Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities previously reported as off-balance sheet as a result of the adoption of the new consolidation guidance.  For the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, these reclassifications resulted in an increase in net interest income of $1.3 million and $2.7 million, respectively and a decrease in the net interest yield of 18 basis points and 19 basis points, respectively.  The decrease in the net interest yield is the result of the average rate earned on guarantee fees being lower than the net interest spread earned on assets Farmer Mac purchases and holds on-balance sheet.  For the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, the net interest yield was 129 basis and 176 basis points, respectively.  Excluding the impacts of the guarantee fee reclassifications, the net interest yield was 148 basis points for the six months ended June 30, 2010, compared to 176 basis points for the six months ended June 30, 2009.
 
The following table provides information regarding interest-earning assets and funding for the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009.  The balance of non-accruing loans is included in the average balance of interest-earning loans and Farmer Mac and USDA Guaranteed Securities presented, though the related income is accounted for on the cash basis.  Therefore, as the balance of non-accruing loans and the income received increases or decreases, the net interest yield will fluctuate accordingly.  The balance of consolidated loans with beneficial interests owned by third parties is disclosed in the net effect of consolidated trusts and is not included in the average balances of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities.  The interest income and expense associated with these trusts are shown net in the net effect of consolidated trusts.  The average rate earned on cash and investments reflects lower short-term market rates during the six months ended June 30, 2010 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2009.  The lower average rate on loans and Farmer Mac and USDA Guaranteed Securities during the six months ended June 30, 2010 reflects the decline in market rates reflected in the rates on loans acquired or reset during the past year.  The lower average rate on Farmer Mac’s notes payable due within one year is consistent with general trends in average short-term rates during the periods presented.  The downward trend in the average rate on notes payable due after one year reflects the retirement of older debt and the issuance of new debt at lower market rates during the latter part of 2008, throughout 2009 and the first half of 2010.
 
-59-

 
   
For the Six Months Ended
 
   
June 30, 2010
 
June 30, 2009
 
   
Average
   
Income/
   
Average
 
Average
   
Income/
   
Average
 
   
Balance
   
Expense
   
Rate
 
Balance
   
Expense
   
Rate
 
   
(dollars in thousands)
 
Interest-earning assets:
                                 
Cash and investments
  $ 1,535,482     $ 12,873    
1.68%
  $ 1,554,738     $ 15,958    
2.05%
 
Loans and Farmer Mac and USDA
                                         
Guaranteed Securities (1)
    4,194,011       70,980    
3.38%
    3,359,356       72,945    
4.34%
 
Total interest-earning assets
    5,729,493       83,853    
2.93%
    4,914,094       88,903    
3.62%
 
Funding:
                                         
Notes payable due within one year
    3,049,991       5,137    
0.34%
    3,223,496       15,144    
0.94%
 
Notes payable due after one year (2)
    2,276,958       36,240    
3.18%
    1,482,193       30,418    
4.10%
 
Total interest-bearing liabilities (3)
    5,326,949       41,377    
1.55%
    4,705,689       45,562    
1.94%
 
Net non-interest-bearing funding
    402,544       -           208,405       -        
Total funding
    5,729,493       41,377    
1.44%
    4,914,094       45,562    
1.85%
 
Net interest income/yield prior to consolidation of certain trusts
    5,729,493       42,476    
1.48%
    4,914,094       43,341    
1.76%
 
Net effect of consolidated trusts (4)
    1,308,514       2,749    
0.42%
    -       -    
0.00%
 
Adjusted net interest income/yield
  $ 7,038,007     $ 45,225    
1.29%
  $ 4,914,094     $ 43,341    
1.76%
 

(1)
Excludes interest income of $34.2 million related to consolidated trusts with beneficial interests owned by third parties.
(2)
Includes current portion of long-term notes.
(3)
Excludes interest expense of $31.5 million related to consolidated trusts with beneficial interests owned by third parties.
(4)
Includes the effect of consolidated trusts with beneficial interests owned by third party investors.
 
The following table sets forth information regarding the changes in the components of Farmer Mac’s net interest income for the periods indicated.  For each category, information is provided on changes attributable to changes in volume (change in volume multiplied by old rate) and changes in rate (change in rate multiplied by old volume).  Combined rate/volume variances, the third element of the calculation, are allocated based on their relative size.  The decreases in income due to changes in rate reflect the reset of variable-rate investments and adjustable-rate mortgages to lower rates and the acquisition of new lower-yielding investments, loans and Farmer Mac and USDA Guaranteed Securities, as described above.  The decreases in expense reflect the decreased cost of funding due to lower interest rates in the debt markets.

   
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2010
 
   
Compared to the Six Months Ended
 
   
June 30, 2009
 
   
Increase/(Decrease) Due to
 
   
Rate
   
Volume
   
Total
 
   
(in thousands)
 
Income from interest-earning assets:
                 
Cash and investments
  $ (2,889 )   $ (195 )   $ (3,084 )
Loans and Farmer Mac and USDA
                       
Guaranteed Securities
    (17,970 )     16,005       (1,965 )
Total
    (20,859 )     15,810       (5,049 )
Expense from interest-bearing liabilities
    (9,724 )     5,540       (4,184 )
Change in net interest income prior to
                       
consolidation of certain trusts (1)
  $ (11,135 )   $ 10,270     $ (865 )

(1) Excludes the effect of consolidated trusts with beneficial interests owned by third parties.
 
-60-

 
In addition to the guarantee fee reclassification described above, the net interest yield includes yield maintenance payments received upon the early payoff of certain borrower’s loans and the amortization of premiums on assets consolidated at fair value and excludes the accrual of income and expense related to the payments on financial derivatives.  The following paragraphs describe the effects of these items on the net interest yield and the table below presents them as adjustments to reconcile to the net effective spread Farmer Mac earns on the difference between its interest-earning assets and its net funding costs, including payments for income and expense related to financial derivatives.

Farmer Mac accounts for its financial derivatives as undesignated financial derivatives.  Accordingly, the Corporation records the income or expense related to financial derivatives as gains and losses on financial derivatives.  For the three months ended June 30, 2010, this resulted in an increase of the net interest yield of $8.7 million (60 basis points), compared to an increase of the net interest yield of $9.9 million (83 basis points) for the three months ended June 30, 2009.  For the six months ended June 30, 2010, this resulted in an increase of the net interest yield of $17.1 million (60 basis points), compared to an increase of the net interest yield of $20.5 million (84 basis points) for the six months ended June 30, 2009.

Farmer Mac’s net interest income and net interest yields for the three months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009 included the benefits of yield maintenance payments of $0.2 million (1 basis point) and $0.1 million (1 basis point), respectively.  The net interest yields for the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009 included the benefits of yield maintenance payments of $0.3 million (1 basis point) and $0.4 million (2 basis points), respectively.  Yield maintenance payments represent the present value of expected future interest income streams and accelerate the recognition of interest income from the related loans.  Because the timing and size of these payments vary greatly, variations do not necessarily indicate positive or negative trends to gauge future financial results.

 Upon the adoption of the new consolidation guidance on January 1, 2010, Farmer Mac was determined to be the primary beneficiary of certain VIEs where Farmer Mac held beneficial interests in trusts used as vehicles for the securitization of agricultural real estate mortgage loans or rural utilities loans.  Upon consolidation, Farmer Mac transferred these assets from “Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities” to “Loans held for investment in consolidated trusts.”  The transferred assets on January 1, 2010 included Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities – Rural Utilities with an unpaid principal balance of $412.9 million and a fair value of $455.6 million.  Farmer Mac was reporting these assets at their fair values, with changes in fair value recorded in earnings, based on its election of the fair value option in 2008.  Upon consolidation of the underlying rural utilities loans, Farmer Mac reclassified the unrealized gain of $42.7 million as of January 1, 2010 to unamortized premiums on loans held for investment.  The related premium is being amortized over the contractual lives of the underlying rural utilities loans.

On January 25, 2010, Farmer Mac contributed substantially all of the assets, in excess of $1.1 billion, comprising the Farmer Mac II program to Farmer Mac’s subsidiary, Farmer Mac II LLC.  Farmer Mac transferred these assets at their fair value which resulted in an unamortized premium of $39.1 million being recorded by Farmer Mac II LLC.  This premium is being amortized over the estimated remaining lives of the underlying USDA Guaranteed Securities.
 
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Farmer Mac’s net interest income and net interest yield for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 include expenses of $4.2 million (29 basis points) and $5.2 million (18 basis points), respectively, related to the amortization of the premiums described above.

The following table presents the net effective spread between Farmer Mac’s interest-earning assets and its net funding costs.  This spread is measured by including income or expense related to financial derivatives and subtracting yield maintenance payments and the amortization of premiums on assets consolidated at fair value.

   
For the Three Months Ended
   
For the Six Months Ended
 
   
June 30, 2010
   
June 30, 2009
   
June 30, 2010
   
June 30, 2009
 
   
Dollars
   
Yield
   
Dollars
   
Yield
   
Dollars
   
Yield
   
Dollars
   
Yield
 
   
(dollars in thousands)
 
                                                 
Net interest income/yield
  $ 20,326    
1.40%
    $ 19,901    
1.66%
    $ 42,476    
1.48%
    $ 43,341    
1.76%
 
Expense related to financial derivatives
    (8,733 )  
-0.60%
      (9,937 )  
-0.83%
      (17,068 )  
-0.60%
      (20,525 )  
-0.84%
 
Yield maintenance payments
    (200 )  
-0.01%
      (108 )  
-0.01%
      (256 )  
-0.01%
      (372 )  
-0.02%
 
Amortization of premiums on assets consolidated at fair value
    4,156    
0.29%
      -    
-
      5,204    
0.18%
      -    
-
 
Net effective spread
  $ 15,549    
1.08%
    $ 9,856    
0.82%
    $ 30,356    
1.05%
    $ 22,444    
0.90%
 
 
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Provision for Loan Losses. During the three months ended June 30, 2010, Farmer Mac recorded releases to its allowance for loan losses of $1.9 million and recoveries of $2.2 million.  The releases recorded during second quarter 2010 were the result of increased provision needs of $0.3 million offset by recoveries of $2.2 million on a loan secured by an ethanol plant.  During the six months ended June 30, 2010, Farmer Mac recorded provisions to its allowance for loan losses of $1.0 million and recoveries of $2.2 million.  The provisions to the allowance for loan losses during the first half of 2010 include:
 
 
·
the reclassification of $2.0 million from the reserve for losses to the allowance for loan losses upon adoption of the new consolidation guidance in first quarter 2010;
 
·
increased provision needs of $1.2 million; offset by
 
·
recoveries of $2.2 million on a loan secured by an ethanol plant.
 
During the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, Farmer Mac recorded releases to its allowance for loan losses of $5.7 million and $2.2 million, respectively.  Farmer Mac also recorded $5.7 million and $7.7 million of charge-offs, respectively, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009.  Farmer Mac recorded no recoveries during the three months ended June 30, 2009 and $0.8 million of recoveries for the six months ended June 30, 2009.  The activity in the allowance for loan losses in 2009 was largely attributable to defaulted ethanol loans previously purchased from AgStar Financial Services, a related party, pursuant to the terms of an LTSPC agreement.  As of June 30, 2010, Farmer Mac’s total allowance for loan losses was $9.5 million, compared to $6.3 million as of December 31, 2009 and $1.8 million as of June 30, 2009.  See “—Risk Management—Credit Risk – Loans.”

Provision for Losses.  During the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, Farmer Mac recorded provisions to its reserve for losses of $3.0 million and $1.6 million, respectively.  The provisions recorded in the second quarter 2010 primarily relate to Farmer Mac’s exposure to the ethanol industry pursuant to loans underlying LTSPCs.  Farmer Mac recorded provisions to its reserve for losses of $3.6 million in the first half of 2010, which were partially offset by the reclassification of $2.0 million from the reserve for losses to the allowance for loan losses upon adoption of the new consolidation guidance in first quarter 2010.  During the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, Farmer Mac recorded a release of $0.5 million and provisions of $2.0 million, respectively, for losses related to its guarantee activities and LTSPCs.  As of June 30, 2010, Farmer Mac’s reserve for losses was $9.5 million, compared to $7.9 million as of December 31, 2009 and $7.5 million as of June 30, 2009.  See “—Risk Management—Credit Risk – Loans.”

Guarantee and Commitment Fees.  Guarantee and commitment fees, which compensate Farmer Mac for assuming the credit risk on loans underlying Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and LTSPCs, were $5.7 million for second quarter 2010 and $11.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010, compared to $7.9 million for second quarter 2009 and $15.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2009.  Guarantee and commitment fees for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 includes the reclassification of $1.3 million and $2.7 million, respectively, to net interest income related to Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities previously reported as off- balance sheet as a result of the adoption of the new consolidation guidance.
 
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Gains and Losses on Financial Derivatives.  Farmer Mac accounts for its financial derivatives as undesignated financial derivatives and does not apply hedge accounting available under FASB guidance on derivatives.  The net effect of gains and losses on financial derivatives for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 was a net loss of $15.8 million and $21.6 million, respectively, compared to net gains of $21.5 million and $23.2 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2009.  The components of gains and losses on financial derivatives for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009 are summarized in the following table:

   
For the Three Months Ended
   
For the Six Months Ended
 
   
June 30, 2010
   
June 30, 2009
   
June 30, 2010
   
June 30, 2009
 
   
(in thousands)
 
                         
Realized:
                       
Expense related to financial derivatives
  $ (8,733 )   $ (9,937 )   $ (17,068 )   $ (20,525 )
(Losses)/gains due to terminations or net settlements
    (885 )     255       (1,257 )     (2,378 )
Unrealized (losses)/gains due to fair value changes
    (6,177 )     31,287       (3,239 )     46,280  
Amortization of financial derivatives transition adjustment
    (45 )     (77 )     (80 )     (138 )
(Losses)/gains on financial derivatives
  $ (15,840 )   $ 21,528     $ (21,644 )   $ 23,239  

The accrual of periodic cash settlements for interest paid or received from Farmer Mac’s interest rate swap contracts is shown as expense related to financial derivatives in the table above.  Payments or receipts to terminate derivative positions or net cash settle forward sales contracts on the debt of other GSEs and U.S. Treasury futures are included in gains/(losses) due to terminations or net settlements.  Changes in the fair value of Farmer Mac’s open derivative positions are captured in unrealized gains/(losses) due to fair value changes and are primarily the result of fluctuations in market interest rates.  The amortization of the financial derivatives transition adjustment reflects the reclassification into earnings of the unrealized gains/(losses) on financial derivatives included in accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) as a result of the adoption of the FASB standard on derivatives.  The remaining financial derivatives transition adjustment will be reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods during which the hedged forecasted transactions (either the payment of interest or the issuance of discount notes) affect earnings or immediately when it becomes probable that the original hedged forecasted transaction will not occur within two months of the originally specified date.

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, Farmer Mac was a party to interest rate swap contracts with one related party, Zions First National Bank.  Farmer Mac realized expenses of $0.8 million and $1.6 million for three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and June 30, 2009, respectively.  Farmer Mac recognized unrealized losses $0.1 million and $25,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, respectively, compared to unrealized gains of $0.8 million and $0.3 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2009.

Gains and Losses on Trading Assets.  During the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, Farmer Mac recognized gains on trading assets of $5.1 million and $8.4 million, respectively, compared to gains of $35,000 and $31.7 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2009.  During first quarter 2010, Farmer Mac changed its primary source of valuation for its investment in the preferred stock of AgFirst Farm Credit Bank.  Taking into consideration its own recently executed trades during first quarter 2010, along with an increase in observable trading activity for this and similar securities, Farmer Mac determined that the best estimates of fair value for this security as of March 31, 2010 and June 30, 2010 were the fair values provided by an independent third party pricing service.  For the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, Farmer Mac recorded $0.7 million and $2.2 million of trading losses, respectively, related to the decline in the fair value of its investment in AgFirst Farm Credit Bank preferred stock.  During first and second quarters 2010, Farmer Mac also recorded trading gains of $5.0 million and $5.6 million, respectively, related to an increase in the fair value of the USDA Guaranteed Securities contributed to its subsidiary, Farmer Mac II LLC, which had previously been selected for the fair value option.
 
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Farmer Mac made no fair value option elections during the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009.

Gains and Losses on Sale of Available-for-Sale Investment Securities.  During the three months ended June 30, 2010, Farmer Mac did not sell any securities from its available-for-sale- portfolio, compared to realized losses of $0.3 million from the sale of securities for the three months ended June 30, 2009.  During the six months ended June 30, 2010, Farmer Mac realized gains of $0.2 million from the sale of securities from its available-for-sale portfolio, compared to gains of $2.9 million six months ended June 30, 2009.

General and Administrative Expenses.  General and administrative expenses, including legal, independent audit, and consulting fees, were $2.1 million for second quarter 2010 and $4.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010, compared to $3.0 million and $5.9 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2009.  The higher level of expenses in 2009 compared to 2010 was largely attributable to legal and consulting fees related to the development of Farmer Mac programs and related transactions.

Regulatory Fees.  Regulatory fees for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 were $0.6 million and $1.1 million, respectively, compared to $0.5 million and $1.0 million for the same periods in 2009.  FCA has advised Farmer Mac that its estimated fees for the federal fiscal year ending September 30, 2010 will be $2.3 million, compared to $2.1 million for the federal fiscal year ended September 30, 2009.  After the end of a federal government fiscal year, FCA may revise its prior year estimated assessments to reflect actual costs incurred, and has issued both additional assessments and refunds in the past.

Income Tax Expense/Benefit.  Income tax expense totaled $0.8 million and $5.1 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, respectively, compared to $16.5 million and $34.6 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2009.  Income tax expense decreased significantly primarily due to the decrease in pre-tax book income.  Farmer Mac’s effective tax rates for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 were 8.5 percent and 19.0 percent, respectively, compared to 35.9 percent and 34.0 percent, respectively, for the same periods in 2009.  The reduction in the effective tax rate was due primarily to the income attributed to the non-controlling interest in Farmer Mac II LLC, for which Farmer Mac does not accrue income tax expense.
 
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Business Volume.  During second quarter 2010, Farmer Mac added $331.5 million of new program volume in the form of:
 
 
·
purchases of $98.2 million of Farmer Mac I loans;
 
·
the placement of $32.4 million of Farmer Mac I loans under LTSPCs;
 
·
purchases of $123.2 million of USDA-guaranteed portions of loans; and
 
·
purchases of $77.7 million of Rural Utilities loans.
 
This new business volume was partially offset by principal paydowns on outstanding loans and loans underlying Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and LTSPCs.  Farmer Mac’s outstanding program volume was $10.8 billion as of June 30, 2010.

In addition to the second quarter business volume, in July 2010 Farmer Mac purchased (1) $200.0 million of AgVantage securities representing a five-year general obligation of MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut secured by agricultural mortgage loans eligible for the Farmer Mac I program; and (2) $50.0 million of AgVantage securities representing a five-year general obligation of Metropolitan Life Insurance Company secured by agricultural mortgage loans eligible for the Farmer Mac I program.

The following table sets forth loan purchase, LTSPC and guarantee activities for current loans under the Farmer Mac I, Farmer Mac II and Rural Utilities programs during the periods indicated:

Farmer Mac Loan Purchases, Guarantees and LTSPCs
   
For the Three Months Ended
   
For the Six Months Ended
 
   
June 30,
   
June 30,
   
June 30,
   
June 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(in thousands)
 
Farmer Mac I:
                       
Loans
  $ 98,235     $ 37,900     $ 176,183     $ 67,714  
LTSPCs
    32,430       22,717       109,573       88,437  
AgVantage
    -       -       -       -  
Farmer Mac II:
                               
USDA Guaranteed Securities
    115,109       -       201,672       -  
Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities
    7,953       96,322       13,678       175,377  
Rural Utilities:
                               
Loans
    77,726       -       136,744       -  
Guaranteed Securities
    -       900,000       -       1,170,000  
Total purchases, guarantees and commitments
  $ 331,453     $ 1,056,939     $ 637,850     $ 1,501,528  
 
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The outstanding principal balance of loans held and loans underlying LTSPCs and on- and off-balance sheet Farmer Mac and USDA Guaranteed Securities was $10.8 billion as of June 30, 2010 and $10.7 billion as of December 31, 2009.  The following table sets forth information regarding those outstanding balances as of the dates indicated:

Outstanding Balance of Farmer Mac Loans and Loans Underlying
Farmer Mac and USDA Guaranteed Securities and LTSPCs
   
June 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(in thousands)
 
On-balance sheet:
           
Farmer Mac I:
           
Loans
  $ 844,227     $ 733,422  
Loans held in trusts:
               
Beneficial interests owned by Farmer Mac
    4,369       5,307  
Beneficial interests owned by third party investors
    880,035       -  
Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities - AgVantage
    43,550       48,800  
Farmer Mac II:
               
USDA Guaranteed Securities
    1,218,329       -  
Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities
    41,756       1,164,996  
Rural Utilities:
               
Loans
    165,388       28,644  
Loans held in trusts:
               
Beneficial interests owned by Farmer Mac
    406,679       412,948  
Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities - AgVantage
    1,587,200       1,675,000  
Total on-balance sheet
  $ 5,191,533     $ 4,069,117  
                 
Off-balance sheet:
               
Farmer Mac I:
               
AgVantage
  $ 2,945,000     $ 2,945,000  
LTSPCs
    1,739,979       2,165,706  
Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities
    826,910       1,492,239  
Farmer Mac II:
               
Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities
    40,860       34,802  
Rural Utilities:
               
AgVantage
    14,393       14,240  
Total off-balance sheet
  $ 5,567,142     $ 6,651,987  
Total
  $ 10,758,675     $ 10,721,104  

Of the $10.8 billion outstanding principal balance of volume included in Farmer Mac’s three programs as of June 30, 2010, $4.6 billion are Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities structured as AgVantage securities.  Each AgVantage security is a general obligation of an issuing institution approved by Farmer Mac and is secured by eligible loans in an amount at least equal to the outstanding principal amount of the security.  Unlike business volume in the form of purchased loans and loans underlying LTSPCs and non-AgVantage Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities, the Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities structured as AgVantage securities generally do not pay down principal based on amortization schedules and instead have fixed maturity dates when the secured general obligation is due.
 
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The following table summarizes by maturity date the outstanding principal amount of AgVantage securities as of June 30, 2010.
 
AgVantage Balances by Year of Maturity
 
   
As of
 
   
June 30, 2010
 
   
(in thousands)
 
       
2010
  $ 102,550  
2011
    2,051,400  
2012
    497,000  
2013
    157,750  
2014
    761,900  
Thereafter
    1,019,543  
Total
  $ 4,590,143  
 
As shown in the table above, $2.1 billion of the outstanding $4.6 billion of AgVantage securities matures in 2011.  If the issuer of a maturing AgVantage security does not refinance the security through Farmer Mac and Farmer Mac does not find alternate sources of business volume, the Corporation’s income could be adversely affected.  However, the income effect of less AgVantage business may not be material and will likely not be proportional to the amount of any decrease in business volume as a result of the maturity of AgVantage securities.

The weighted-average ages of the Farmer Mac I newly originated and current seasoned loans purchased during each of second quarter 2010 and second quarter 2009 was less than one month.  Of the Farmer Mac I newly originated and current seasoned loans purchased during second quarter 2010 and second quarter 2009, 75 percent and 77 percent, respectively, had principal amortization periods longer than the maturity date, resulting in balloon payments at maturity, with a weighted-average remaining terms to maturity of 15.0 years and 16.2 years, respectively.  The weighted-average age of delinquent loans purchased out of securitized pools and LTSPCs during second quarter 2010 and second quarter 2009 was 5.6 years and 2.3 years, respectively.

As part of fulfilling its guarantee obligations for Farmer Mac I Guaranteed Securities and commitments to purchase eligible loans underlying LTSPCs, Farmer Mac purchases defaulted loans, all of which are at least 90 days delinquent or in material non-monetary default at the time of purchase, out of the loan pools underlying those securities and LTSPCs, and records the purchased loans as such on its balance sheet.  The purchase price for defaulted loans purchased out of Farmer Mac I Guaranteed Securities is the current outstanding principal balance of the loan plus accrued and unpaid interest.  The purchase price for defaulted loans purchased under an LTSPC is the then-current outstanding principal balance of the loan, with accrued and unpaid interest on the defaulted loans payable out of any future loan payments or liquidation proceeds as received.  The purchase price of a defaulted loan is not an indicator of the expected loss on that loan; many other factors affect expected loss, if any, on loans so purchased.  See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Risk Management—Credit Risk—Loans” in the Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 filed with the SEC on March 16, 2010 (as updated by the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 4, 2010).
 
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The following table presents Farmer Mac’s loan purchases of newly originated and current seasoned loans and defaulted loans purchased underlying Farmer Mac I Guaranteed Securities and LTSPCs:
 
  
 
For the Three Months Ended
   
For the Six Months Ended
 
   
June 30,
   
June 30,
   
June 30,
   
June 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(in thousands)
 
Farmer Mac I newly originated and current seasoned loan purchases
  $ 98,235     $ 37,900     $ 176,183     $ 67,714  
Defaulted loans purchased underlying Farmer Mac I Guaranteed Securities owned by third party investors
    -       -       2,323       -  
Defaulted loans purchased underlying LTSPCs
    913       572       1,080       3,386  
Defaulted loans underlying on-balance sheet Farmer Mac I Guaranteed Securities transferred to loans
    -       -       -       2,216  
Total loan purchases
  $ 99,148     $ 38,472     $ 179,586     $ 73,316  

Farmer Mac II LLC.  In January 2010, Farmer Mac contributed substantially all of the assets comprising the Farmer Mac II program (in excess of $1.1 billion) to Farmer Mac’s subsidiary, Farmer Mac II LLC.  The assets that Farmer Mac contributed to Farmer Mac II LLC consisted primarily of USDA-guaranteed portions that had not been securitized by Farmer Mac but also included $35.0 million of Farmer Mac II Guaranteed Securities.  Farmer Mac did not guarantee the timely payment of principal and interest on the $1.1 billion of contributed USDA-guaranteed portions and will provide a guarantee in connection with the issuance of Farmer Mac II Guaranteed Securities only to the extent that either Farmer Mac or Farmer Mac II LLC is approached by an investor.  The contributed USDA-guaranteed portions had previously been presented as Farmer Mac II Guaranteed Securities on the condensed consolidated financial statements of Farmer Mac and are now presented as “USDA Guaranteed Securities” on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.  The financial information presented in this report reflects the accounts of Farmer Mac and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.  Accordingly, Farmer Mac’s reportable operating segments presented in this report will differ from the stand-alone financial statements of Farmer Mac II LLC.  Those separate financial statements are available on the website of Farmer Mac II LLC.

The assets of Farmer Mac II LLC would be available to creditors of Farmer Mac only after all obligations owed to creditors of and equity holders in Farmer Mac II LLC had been satisfied.  As of June 30, 2010, Farmer Mac II LLC held assets with a fair value of $1.3 billion, had debt outstanding of $46.0 million, had preferred stock outstanding with a liquidation preference of $250.0 million, and had $1.0 billion of common stock outstanding, all of which is held by Farmer Mac.  For more information about the formation and operations of Farmer Mac II LLC and the features of the preferred stock issued by Farmer Mac II LLC in January 2010, see Notes 3, 5, 6 and 8 to the condensed consolidated financial statements and Note 15 to the consolidated financial statements in the Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 filed with the SEC on March 16, 2010 (as updated by the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 4, 2010).
 
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Outlook.  The agricultural sector is made up of diverse industries that respond in different ways to changes in economic conditions.  Those industries often are affected differently, sometimes positively and sometimes negatively, by prevailing economic conditions, which results in cycles where one or more industries may be under stress at any one time.  Conditions in the agricultural sector during 2009 and the first half of 2010 were more stable than the national economy in general, but agriculture was not completely insulated from the effects of the economic downturn and remained subject to traditional commodity price cycles and national agricultural and energy policy reconsideration.  Although some industries in the agricultural sector prospered, others, such as the dairy sector, experienced operating losses throughout most of 2009 due to oversupply and the worldwide economic slowdown.  This situation has only slightly moderated throughout 2010, as low-cost dairy operators began to operate close to or slightly above break-even cash flow levels.  Farmer Mac expects that the remainder of 2010 will continue to be a challenge for dairy producers, which could lead to higher delinquencies and additional provisions for losses and charge-offs.  The protein sector (i.e., cattle, poultry and pork producers) has seen continued improvement in prices received during the first half of 2010.  However, given the multi-year period of stress and recent trends in feed prices, these industries will continue to be monitored closely.  In addition, competing interests for the water supply have limited the flow to farmers in some areas to a level well below that embedded in long-standing water contract agreements.  Ethanol margins tightened during the first half of 2010, and, on average, ethanol plants operated at breakeven levels.  Federal support of this industry, in the form of an excise tax credit and an import tariff, expire at the end of 2010 and Congress is in the process of considering what, if any, future price supports should be in place.  Congress is considering an increase in the mandate for ethanol use, which would be a positive for the industry, but a reduction in or loss of current price supports via blending credits or tax policies would be detrimental to the industry.  Farmer Mac will continue to closely monitor developments in industries and geographic areas experiencing stress.  The cyclical credit issues related to the agricultural sector are expected to remain within Farmer Mac’s historical experience, but are likely to be greater than the historical average.

With respect to the agricultural operating and lending markets, recent farmland sales have reflected more limited interest and the effects of reduced profitability in some of the noted agricultural sectors.  Elevated farm input costs and lower current commodity prices have significantly squeezed profits and the related farmer demand for additional land, especially in the dairy sector and those isolated stressed irrigation water areas.  Although these factors have slowed the rapid farm real estate value appreciation of the past several years, Farmer Mac generally expects farmland values to remain stable.  Farmer Mac also monitors the establishment and evolution of governmental policies and regulations that affect farmers, ranchers, and lenders, including agricultural polices contained in the current Farm Bill due to expire in 2012.  Congress has begun the process of preparing a new Farm Bill that is targeted to be passed in 2012.
 
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Broader trends underway now, such as the deleveraging of capital, will also have an effect in reducing credit availability from traditional lenders to the agricultural sector.  Accordingly, Farmer Mac expects a growing need for financial vehicles to expand credit availability to those agricultural industries that have sound financial fundamentals, which presents both a challenge and an opportunity that Farmer Mac is actively pursuing.  For example, based on recent communications between a Farmer Mac commercial bank business partner and its banking regulator, it is expected that loans from commercial banks that are placed in the LTSPC program will receive favorable capital treatment, thereby increasing opportunities for LTSPC transactions with commercial banks.  As the disruptions in the financial industry subside and agricultural lenders’ business strategies are recast, Farmer Mac has identified and is pursuing related business opportunities and is confident new business partners will result.

Farmer Mac also foresees opportunities for continued business growth in the rural utilities segment, though not at the pace experienced during 2008 and 2009.  In the near term, Farmer Mac expects that the majority of any new rural utilities business will be in the form of direct credit exposures to both electric distribution and generation and transmission loans through purchases of those loans, rather than indirect credit exposures to those loans through AgVantage transactions.

Farmer Mac expects that, in the near term, demand for rural utilities loans will reflect the state of the general economy.  Recently, electric consumption has been reduced, which has slowed loan demand, but is expected to return as the economy strengthens.  The industry recently added significant new generation capacity for the first time since the 1970s, and in some areas planned residential and commercial development did not keep pace with generation expansion.  Nonetheless, Farmer Mac believes that the rural utilities sector is a strong and growing industry with significant needs for future financing during the next five to ten years, as capital will be needed to finance the construction of new generation and transmission facilities, modernize existing equipment, and comply with environmental regulations.  Farmer Mac’s ability to participate in the growth of the rural utilities portion of its business will be limited by Farmer Mac’s limits on borrower exposures, its overall risk tolerance, and the ability of Farmer Mac to maintain its funding costs at levels conducive to further growth in the Rural Utilities program.

The electrical power generated by and for rural electric cooperatives generally uses coal as a fuel, and Farmer Mac continues to closely monitor the risk factors associated with the electric industry and their potential effect on the Corporation’s rural utilities portfolio.  As green energy sources continue to be developed, new power transmission lines will be needed to support the development and operation of many new wind and solar power plants to transfer their power from remote locations to the ultimate consumer.  Public policy shifts in the energy sector, such as carbon tax, cap and trade legislation, and clean energy incentives, may also alter Farmer Mac’s opportunities in this area as cooperatives invest in clean energy projects and demand-side management and have more limited funding options for the construction of new coal-fired generating projects.  Any of those developments could lead to increased or decreased business volume for Farmer Mac in the rural utilities sector depending on how any new initiatives, legislation, or regulations are implemented and their effect on lending to rural utilities cooperative borrowers.
 
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With lenders in both the agricultural and rural utilities sectors continuing to face capital markets and economic challenges, Farmer Mac represents a source of liquidity, capital, and risk management to help lenders meet the borrowing needs of their customers.  Farmer Mac intends to continue to explore new possibilities for advancing the Corporation’s mission of serving the financing needs of agriculture and rural America, especially as the structures, strategies, and programs deployed by the financial markets continue to evolve in attempts to unlock the credit markets.  These efforts will take time to develop, but Farmer Mac believes that the flexibility provided in its charter is a strength that offers advantages in current market conditions.  The charter permits both (1) loan purchases, which create value in new loan originations by providing liquidity for them, and (2) guarantees and LTSPCs, which enhance the value of eligible loans already in the portfolios of lenders while reducing the required regulatory capital support for those loans.  Farmer Mac’s business strategies in the near term will focus on flexibility, identification of opportunities, and growth through multiple channels and with numerous business partners.  In pursuing these objectives, Farmer Mac intends to actively search for new program business, aggressively work with business partners to create new products, continue to improve operations with the goal of improving the customer experience, and continue to seek out new relationships and strengthen long-term relationships.

Balance Sheet Review

During first quarter 2010, Farmer Mac adopted two new accounting standards that eliminated the concept of QSPEs and amended the accounting for transfers of financial assets and the consolidation model for VIEs.  The impact upon adoption was an increase in consolidated assets and liabilities of $1.5 billion, which resulted in an incremental regulatory capital requirement of $30.4 million.  Pursuant to this new guidance, Farmer Mac routinely assesses its securitization trusts to determine whether it is the primary beneficiary and thereby required to consolidate the assets and liabilities of the trust onto its balance sheet, or if determined not to be the primary beneficiary of a previously consolidated trust, deconsolidate the assets and liabilities from its balance sheet.

As of March 31, 2010, Farmer Mac consolidated $1.1 billion of its outstanding $1.4 billion securitization trusts created when loans subject to LTSPCs were converted to Farmer Mac I Guaranteed Securities at the request of program participants.  Those securitization transactions contain provisions resulting in shared power over default mitigation decisions.  For those transactions where the power is shared with a related party (as defined by applicable accounting guidance), Farmer Mac was determined to be the primary beneficiary and thus is required to consolidate the assets and liabilities of the trust onto its balance sheet.  For those transactions where the power was shared with an unrelated party, Farmer Mac was not determined to be the primary beneficiary and is not required to consolidate the assets and liabilities of the trust onto its balance sheet.

Determinations about which business partners of Farmer Mac are related parties often depend on whether an officer or director of that business partner is a member of Farmer Mac’s board of directors, ten of whom are elected on an annual basis by the holders of Farmer Mac’s outstanding voting common stock.  Changes in the membership of the board of directors may result in Farmer Mac consolidating a trust previously disclosed as off-balance sheet, or deconsolidating a trust previously consolidated on balance sheet.  Although this will have no net effect on Farmer Mac’s net income, it may, at times, produce volatility in the statutory minimum capital Farmer Mac is required to hold.

At Farmer Mac’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders on June 3, 2010, ten directors were elected to serve one-year terms, nine of whom were re-elected as directors of Farmer Mac and one of whom was new to Farmer Mac’s board.  As a result of this change in membership of the board of directors, Farmer Mac deconsolidated $0.4 billion of securitization transactions with a business partner that was no longer a related party (as defined by applicable accounting guidance).  As of June 30, 2010, Farmer Mac consolidated $0.6 billion of its outstanding $1.4 billion securitization trusts created when loans subject to LTSPCs were converted to Farmer Mac I Guaranteed Securities at the request of program participants.
 
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For more information on Farmer Mac’s policy relating to the consolidation of VIEs, see Note 1(g) to the condensed consolidated financial statements.  For a discussion of Farmer Mac’s related party transactions, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Related Party Transactions” and Note 3 in the Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 filed with the SEC on March 16, 2010 (as updated by the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 4, 2010).

Assets.  Total assets were $7.1 billion as of June 30, 2010 and $6.1 billion as of December 31, 2009.  The increase in the first half of 2010 was largely attributable to the consolidation as of March 31, 2010 of $1.3 billion of off-balance sheet Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities resulting from the adoption of new consolidation guidance.  During the second quarter 2010, this increase was partially offset by the deconsolidation of $0.4 billion of Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities due to a change in related party status.  A corresponding increase to liabilities was also recorded and presented as “Debt securities of consolidated trusts held by third parties” on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

As of June 30, 2010, Farmer Mac had $325.3 million of cash and cash equivalents, compared to $654.8 million as of December 31, 2009.  As of June 30, 2010, Farmer Mac had $1.3 billion of investment securities, compared to $1.1 billion as of December 31, 2009.

Liabilities and Total Equity.  During the six months ended June 30, 2010, total liabilities increased $0.8 billion as a result of the consolidation of trusts.  Total equity, including mezzanine equity, increased $133.1 million during the same period.  The increase in total equity was primarily the result of raising new capital.  On January 25, 2010, Farmer Mac used the proceeds from the sale of $250.0 million of preferred stock of its subsidiary, Farmer Mac II LLC, to repurchase and retire the Corporation’s $150.0 million of outstanding Series B preferred stock and to further strengthen Farmer Mac’s financial position to support the continued fulfillment of its mission.  That transaction provided Farmer Mac with additional capital at a significantly lower cost, with the net effective cost of the new $250.0 million of preferred stock of 5.77 percent per year after consideration of the consolidated tax benefits to Farmer Mac.  As a result, the net cost of the new preferred stock on Farmer Mac’s consolidated financial statements will be approximately $14.4 million per year, compared to an annual cost of $18.0 million per year for the $150.0 million of Series B preferred stock (based on the 2010 dividend rate of 12 percent for the Series B preferred stock, which was scheduled to increase to 14 percent at the end of 2010 and 16 percent in 2011).

Regulatory Capital Compliance.  Farmer Mac was in compliance with its statutory minimum capital requirement and its risk-based capital standard as of June 30, 2010.  Farmer Mac is required to hold capital at the higher of its statutory minimum capital requirement or the amount required by its risk-based capital stress test.  As of June 30, 2010, Farmer Mac’s core capital totaled $442.0 million and exceeded its statutory minimum capital requirement of $235.4 million by $206.6 million.  As of December 31, 2009, Farmer Mac’s core capital totaled $337.2 million and exceeded its statutory minimum capital requirement of $217.0 million by $120.2 million.  As of June 30, 2010, Farmer Mac’s risk-based capital stress test generated a risk-based capital requirement of $29.9 million.  Farmer Mac’s regulatory capital of $461.0 million exceeded that amount by approximately $431.1 million.  Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) is not a component of Farmer Mac’s core capital or regulatory capital.  For more information, see “—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Capital” and “—Regulatory Matters.”

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Off-Balance Sheet Program Activities

Farmer Mac offers approved lenders two credit enhancement alternatives to increase their liquidity or lending capacity while retaining the cash flow benefits of their loans:  (1) Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities, which are available through each of the Farmer Mac I, Farmer Mac II and Rural Utilities programs; and (2) LTSPCs, which are available only through the Farmer Mac I and Rural Utilities programs.  For securitization trusts where Farmer Mac is the primary beneficiary, the trust assets and liabilities are included on Farmer Mac’s condensed consolidated balance sheet.  For the remainder of these transactions, and in the event of deconsolidation, both of these alternatives result in the creation of off-balance sheet obligations for Farmer Mac.  In the future, Farmer Mac will operate only that part of the Farmer Mac II program that involves the transfer of USDA-guaranteed portions to trusts and the issuance of Farmer Mac II Guaranteed Securities, and will only do so to the extent that Farmer Mac is approached or referred by an investor.  Farmer Mac will not issue Farmer Mac II Guaranteed Securities to Farmer Mac II LLC in the future.  See Note 5 to the condensed consolidated financial statements for further information regarding Farmer Mac’s off-balance sheet program activities.
 
Risk Management

Credit Risk – Loans.  Farmer Mac is exposed to credit risk resulting from the failure of borrowers to repay their loans in conjunction with a deficiency in the value of the collateral relative to the outstanding balance of the loan and the costs of liquidation.  Farmer Mac is exposed to credit risk on:
 
 
·
loans held;
 
·
loans underlying Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities; and
 
·
loans underlying LTSPCs.
 
Farmer Mac generally assumes 100 percent of the credit risk on loans held and loans underlying Farmer Mac I Guaranteed Securities, LTSPCs and Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities – Rural Utilities.  Farmer Mac has direct credit exposure on loans in non-AgVantage transactions and indirect credit exposure on AgVantage transactions, which involve a general obligation of a lender secured by qualified loans.  The credit exposure of Farmer Mac and Farmer Mac II LLC on USDA-guaranteed portions is covered by the full faith and credit of the United States.  Farmer Mac believes that the Corporation and Farmer Mac II LLC have little or no credit risk exposure to USDA-guaranteed portions because of the USDA guarantee.  As of June 30, 2010, neither Farmer Mac nor Farmer Mac II LLC had experienced any credit losses on any USDA-guaranteed portions or Farmer Mac II Guaranteed Securities and does not expect to incur any such losses in the future.
 
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Farmer Mac has established underwriting, collateral valuation and documentation standards for eligible loans to mitigate the risk of loss from borrower defaults and to provide guidance concerning the management, administration and conduct of underwriting and appraisals to all participating sellers and potential sellers in its programs.  In general, Farmer Mac limits its maximum loan size to $22.5 million for transactions involving direct exposure to credit risk on loans and $50.0 million for AgVantage and similar Rural Utilities transactions that involve a general obligation of a lender and include indirect exposure to credit risk on the underlying loans.  More detailed information regarding loan limits and Farmer Mac’s underwriting and collateral valuation standards and seller eligibility requirements are presented in “Business—Farmer Mac Programs—Farmer Mac I—Underwriting and Collateral Valuation (Appraisal) Standards,” “Business—Farmer Mac Programs—Farmer Mac I—Sellers” and “Business—Farmer Mac Programs—Rural Utilities” in the Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 filed with the SEC on March 16, 2010.

Farmer Mac has developed different underwriting standards for rural utilities loans that depend on whether direct or indirect credit exposure is assumed on a loan and whether the borrower is an electric distribution cooperative or a generation and transmission cooperative.  As of June 30, 2010, there were no delinquencies or non-performing assets in Farmer Mac’s portfolio of rural utilities loans, which includes rural utilities loans held and rural utilities loans underlying or securing Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities – Rural Utilities.  Farmer Mac’s current direct credit exposure to rural utilities loans as of June 30, 2010 was $572.1 million, all of which loans were to electric distribution cooperatives.  Farmer Mac also had indirect credit exposure to the rural utilities loans securing Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities – Rural Utilities structured as AgVantage securities, some of which were secured by loans to generation and transmission cooperatives.  See “—Credit Risk – Institutional” for more information about Farmer Mac’s credit risk on AgVantage securities.

Farmer Mac AgVantage securities are general obligations of institutions approved by Farmer Mac and are secured by eligible loans in an amount at least equal to the outstanding principal amount of the security.  Farmer Mac excludes the loans that secure AgVantage securities from the credit risk metrics it discloses because of the credit quality of the issuing institutions, the collateralization level for the securities, and because delinquent loans are required to be removed from the pool of pledged loans and replaced with current eligible loans.  As of June 30, 2010, Farmer Mac had not experienced any credit losses on any AgVantage securities and does not expect to incur any such losses in the future.

Farmer Mac maintains an allowance for losses to cover estimated probable losses on loans held and loans underlying Farmer Mac I Guaranteed Securities, LTSPCs and Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities – Rural Utilities.  The methodology that Farmer Mac uses to determine the level of its allowance for losses is described in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates—Allowance for Losses” in the Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 filed with the SEC on March 16, 2010 (as updated by the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 4, 2010).  Management believes that this methodology produces a reliable estimate of probable losses, as of the balance sheet date, for all loans held and loans underlying Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and LTSPCs, in accordance with FASB standards on accounting for contingencies and on measuring individual impairment of a loan.
 
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The following table summarizes the components of Farmer Mac’s allowance for losses as of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009:

   
June 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(in thousands)
 
Allowance for loan losses
  $ 9,495     $ 6,292  
Reserve for losses:
               
Off-balance sheet Farmer Mac I Guaranteed Securities
    560       2,033  
LTSPCs
    8,910       5,862  
      Total
  $ 18,965     $ 14,187  

Upon the adoption of the new consolidation guidance on January 1, 2010, Farmer Mac reclassified $2.0 million from the reserve for losses to the allowance for loan losses as a result of Farmer Mac being determined the primary beneficiary of certain VIEs with beneficial interests owned by third party investors.  In June 2010, Farmer Mac deconsolidated certain VIEs with beneficial interests owned by third party investors because Farmer Mac was no longer determined to be the primary beneficiary.  This deconsolidation did not result in a material reclassification from the allowance for loan losses to the reserve for losses during second quarter 2010.  Consolidated interests in VIEs with beneficial interests owned by third party investors are presented as “loans held for investment in consolidated trusts” on Farmer Mac’s condensed consolidated balance sheets.  Upon deconsolidation, Farmer Mac classifies these interests as off-balance sheet Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities.

The following table summarizes the changes in the components of Farmer Mac’s allowance for losses for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009:

   
June 30, 2010
   
June 30, 2009
 
   
Allowance
         
Total
   
Allowance
         
Total
 
   
for Loan
   
Reserve
   
Allowance
   
for Loan
   
Reserve
   
Allowance
 
   
Losses
   
for Losses
   
for Losses
   
Losses
   
for Losses
   
for Losses
 
   
(in thousands)
 
For the Three Months Ended:
                                   
Beginning balance
  $ 9,142     $ 6,427     $ 15,569     $ 13,228     $ 8,025     $ 21,253  
Provision/(recovery) for losses
    (1,870 )     3,043       1,173       (5,693 )     (529 )     (6,222 )
Charge-offs
    -       -       -       (5,725 )     -       (5,725 )
Recoveries
    2,223       -       2,223       -       -       -  
Ending balance
  $ 9,495     $ 9,470     $ 18,965     $ 1,810     $ 7,496     $ 9,306  
                                                 
For the Six Months Ended:
                                               
Beginning balance
  $ 6,292     $ 7,895     $ 14,187     $ 10,929     $ 5,506     $ 16,435  
Provision/(recovery) for losses
    980       1,575       2,555       (2,159 )     1,990       (169 )
Charge-offs
    -       -       -       (7,725 )     -       (7,725 )
Recoveries
    2,223       -       2,223       765       -       765  
Ending balance
  $ 9,495     $ 9,470     $ 18,965     $ 1,810     $ 7,496     $ 9,306  

 
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During the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, Farmer Mac recorded a provision to its allowance for losses of $1.2 million and $2.6 million, respectively, compared to releases of its allowance for losses of $6.2 million and $0.2 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2009.  Farmer Mac recorded no charge-offs during the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, compared to charge-offs of $5.7 million and $7.7 million during the same periods in 2009.  Farmer Mac recorded recoveries of $2.2 million for both the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, compared to no recoveries in three months ended June 30, 2009 and $0.8 million in recoveries for the six months ended June 30, 2009.  There was no previously accrued or advanced interest on loans or Farmer Mac I Guaranteed Securities charged off in second quarter 2010 or second quarter 2009.  As of June 30, 2010, Farmer Mac’s allowance for losses totaled $19.0 million, or 44 basis points of the outstanding principal balance of loans held and loans underlying Farmer Mac I Guaranteed Securities (excluding AgVantage securities) and LTSPCs, compared to $14.2 million or 32 basis points as of December 31, 2009.

As of June 30, 2010, Farmer Mac’s 90-day delinquencies were $56.0 million (1.30 percent), compared to $42.3 million (0.95 percent) as of June 30, 2009.  Ethanol loans comprised $10.9 million of the 90-day delinquencies as of June 30, 2010, compared to $18.8 million as of June 30, 2009.  As of June 30, 2010, Farmer Mac’s non-performing assets totaled $71.3 million (1.66 percent), compared to $97.1 million (2.17 percent) as of June 30, 2009.  Ethanol loans comprised $10.9 million of non-performing assets as of June 30, 2010, compared to $59.7 million as of June 30, 2009.  Loans that have been restructured were insignificant and are included within the reported 90-day delinquency and non-performing asset disclosures.  From quarter to quarter, Farmer Mac anticipates that 90-day delinquencies and non-performing assets will fluctuate, both in dollars and as a percentage of the outstanding portfolio, with higher levels likely at the end of the first and third quarters of each year corresponding to the annual (January 1st) and semi-annual (January 1st and July 1st) payment characteristics of most Farmer Mac I loans.

As of June 30, 2010, Farmer Mac’s ethanol exposure, which includes loans held and loans subject to LTSPCs, was $239.8 million on 29 different plants, with an additional $50.9 million of undisbursed commitments.  Other than the undisbursed commitments, Farmer Mac is not seeking to add more ethanol loan exposure to its portfolio.

 
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The following table presents historical information regarding Farmer Mac’s non-performing assets and 90-day delinquencies in the Farmer Mac I program compared to the principal balance of all loans held and loans underlying Farmer Mac I Guaranteed Securities (excluding AgVantage securities) and LTSPCs:

   
Outstanding
                               
    
Loans,
               
Less:
             
    
Guarantees (1),
   
Non-
         
REO and
             
    
LTSPCs,
   
performing
         
Performing
   
90-day
       
   
and REO
   
Assets
   
Percentage
   
Bankruptcies
   
Delinquencies
   
Percentage
 
   
(dollars in thousands)
 
As of:
                                   
June 30, 2010
  $ 4,299,417     $ 71,300    
1.66%
    $ 15,289     $ 56,011    
1.30%
 
March 31, 2010
    4,303,663       83,977    
1.95%
      13,542       70,435    
1.64%
 
December 31, 2009
    4,396,642       62,020    
1.41%
      12,494       49,526    
1.13%
 
September 30, 2009
    4,379,450       84,779    
1.94%
      25,341       59,438    
1.36%
 
June 30, 2009
    4,471,567       97,123    
2.17%
      54,816       42,307    
0.95%
 
March 31, 2009
    4,530,892       96,175    
2.12%
      9,941       86,234    
1.90%
 
December 31, 2008
    4,983,963       80,032    
1.61%
      12,912       67,120    
1.35%
 
September 30, 2008
    4,989,755       32,883    
0.66%
      21,402       11,481    
0.23%
 
June 30, 2008
    4,937,870       28,230    
0.57%
      23,060       5,170    
0.11%
 

(1) Excludes loans underlying AgVantage securities.

As of June 30, 2010, Farmer Mac individually analyzed $49.2 million of its $147.4 million of impaired assets for collateral shortfalls against updated appraised values, other updated collateral valuations or discounted values.  Farmer Mac evaluated the remaining $98.2 million of impaired assets for which updated valuations were not available in the aggregate in consideration of their similar risk characteristics and historical statistics.  As of June 30, 2010, Farmer Mac had recorded specific allowances of $3.0 million for under-collateralized assets.  Farmer Mac’s non-specific or general allowances were $16.0 million as of June 30, 2010.

As of June 30, 2010, the weighted-average original loan-to-value ratio (“LTV”) for loans held and loans underlying LTSPCs and Farmer Mac I Guaranteed Securities (excluding AgVantage securities) was 51.2 percent, and the weighted-average original LTV for all non-performing assets was 54.6 percent.

 
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The following table presents outstanding loans held and loans underlying LTSPCs and Farmer Mac I Guaranteed Securities (excluding AgVantage securities) and non-performing assets as of June 30, 2010 by year of origination, geographic region and commodity/collateral type.

Farmer Mac I Non-performing Assets as of June 30, 2010
 
   
Distribution of
 
Outstanding
             
   
Outstanding
 
Loans,
             
   
Loans,
 
Guarantees,
   
Non-
   
Non-
 
   
Guarantees,
 
LTSPCs
   
performing
   
performing
 
   
LTSPCs and REO
 
and REO (1)
   
Assets (2)
   
Asset Rate
 
   
(dollars in thousands)
 
By year of origination:
                     
Before 1997
 
7%
  $ 294,463     $ 7,526    
2.56%
 
1997
 
3%
    114,511       1,634    
1.43%
 
1998
 
4%
    169,036       3,912    
2.31%
 
1999
 
5%
    227,130       2,749    
1.21%
 
2000
 
3%
    117,116       1,105    
0.94%
 
2001
 
5%
    220,277       6,900    
3.13%
 
2002
 
7%
    294,580       5,644    
1.92%
 
2003
 
8%
    341,848       3,878    
1.13%
 
2004
 
6%
    279,141       1,420    
0.51%
 
2005
 
10%
    410,563       2,189    
0.53%
 
2006
 
11%
    462,031       1,890    
0.41%
 
2007
 
10%
    436,435       21,766    
4.99%
 
2008
 
10%
    461,879       10,687    
2.31%
 
2009
 
6%
    274,210       -    
0.00%
 
2010
 
5%
    196,197       -    
0.00%
 
Total
 
100%
  $ 4,299,417     $ 71,300    
1.66%
 
                           
By geographic region (1):
                         
Northwest
 
15%
  $ 655,873     $ 17,375    
2.65%
 
Southwest
 
40%
    1,692,623       16,438    
0.97%
 
Mid-North
 
21%
    920,198       17,116    
1.86%
 
Mid-South
 
12%
    534,883       11,030    
2.06%
 
Northeast
 
8%
    338,517       4,068    
1.20%
 
Southeast
 
4%
    157,323       5,273    
3.35%
 
Total
 
100%
  $ 4,299,417     $ 71,300    
1.66%
 
                           
By commodity/collateral type:
                         
Crops
 
40%
  $ 1,692,849     $ 25,299    
1.49%
 
Permanent plantings
 
19%
    831,908       12,536    
1.51%
 
Livestock
 
27%
    1,180,931       15,741    
1.33%
 
Part-time farm/rural housing
 
7%
    314,928       6,600    
2.10%
 
Ag storage and processing
                         
(including ethanol facilities)
 
6%
    252,639       10,893    
4.31%
 
Other
 
1%
    26,162       231    
0.88%
 
Total
 
100%
  $ 4,299,417     $ 71,300    
1.66%
 

(1)
Excludes loans underlying AgVantage securities.
(2)
Includes loans 90 days or more past due, in foreclosure, restructured after delinquency, in bankruptcy (including loans performing under either their original loan terms or a court-approved bankruptcy plan), and real estate owned.
(3)
Geographic regions - Northwest (AK, ID, MT, ND, NE, OR, SD, WA, WY); Southwest (AZ, CA, CO, HI, NM, NV, UT); Mid-North (IA, IL, IN, MI, MN, MO, WI); Mid-South (KS, OK, TX); Northeast (CT, DE, KY, MA, MD, ME, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, TN, VA, VT, WV); and Southeast (AL, AR, FL, GA, LA, MS, SC).

 
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The following table presents Farmer Mac’s cumulative net credit losses relative to the cumulative original balance for all loans purchased and loans underlying LTSPCs and Farmer Mac I Guaranteed Securities (excluding AgVantage securities) as of June 30, 2010, by year of origination, geographic region and commodity/collateral type.  The purpose of this information is to present information regarding losses relative to original guarantees and commitments.

Farmer Mac I Credit Losses Relative to all
 
Cumulative Original Loans, Guarantees and LTSPCs
 
As of June 30, 2010
 
                   
   
Cumulative
             
   
Original Loans,
   
Cumulative
   
Cumulative
 
    
Guarantees and
   
Net Credit
   
Loss
 
   
LTSPCs
   
Losses
   
Rate
 
   
(dollars in thousands)
 
By year of origination:
                 
Before 1997
  $ 3,449,100     $ 1,593    
0.05%
 
1997
    765,895       2,256    
0.29%
 
1998
    1,142,569       3,885    
0.34%
 
1999
    1,164,917       1,291    
0.11%
 
2000
    763,480       2,550    
0.33%
 
2001
    1,121,439       45    
0.00%
 
2002
    1,123,116       -    
0.00%
 
2003
    931,446       -    
0.00%
 
2004
    652,102       32    
0.00%
 
2005
    778,419       131    
0.02%
 
2006
    809,238       7,689    
0.95%
 
2007
    582,272       750    
0.13%
 
2008
    578,451       1,821    
0.31%
 
2009
    323,946       1,193    
0.37%
 
2010
    216,792       -    
0.00%
 
Total
  $ 14,403,182     $ 23,236    
0.16%
 
By geographic region (1):
                     
Northwest
  $ 2,632,691     $ 10,569    
0.40%
 
Southwest
    5,657,975       6,010    
0.11%
 
Mid-North
    2,451,650       6,659    
0.27%
 
Mid-South
    1,336,984       (314 )  
-0.02%
 
Northeast
    1,299,422       83    
0.01%
 
Southeast
    1,024,460       229    
0.02%
 
Total
  $ 14,403,182     $ 23,236    
0.16%
 
By commodity/collateral type:
                     
Crops
  $ 5,772,301     $ 1,309    
0.02%
 
Permanent plantings
    3,193,304       9,378    
0.29%
 
Livestock
    3,732,126       2,676    
0.07%
 
Part-time farm/rural housing
    1,010,283       371    
0.04%
 
Ag storage and processing
                     
(including ethanol facilities) (2)
    545,556       9,502    
1.74%
 
Other
    149,612       -    
0.00%
 
Total
  $ 14,403,182     $ 23,236    
0.16%
 

(1)
Geographic regions - Northwest (AK, ID, MT, ND, NE, OR, SD, WA, WY); Southwest (AZ, CA, CO, HI, NM, NV, UT); Mid-North (IA, IL, IN, MI, MN, MO, WI); Mid-South (KS, OK, TX);Northeast (CT, DE, KY, MA, MD, ME, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, TN, VA, VT, WV); and Southeast (AL, AR, FL, GA, LA, MS, SC).

(2)
Several of the loans underlying agricultural storage and processing LTSPCs are for facilities under construction and, as of June 30, 2010, approximately $50.9 million of the loans were not yet disbursed by the lender.

 
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Historically, losses and collateral deficiencies have been less prevalent in the loans secured by real estate producing agricultural commodities that receive significant government support (such as cotton, soybeans, wheat, and corn) and more prevalent in those that do not receive such support (such as the protein sector, permanent plantings and vegetables). However, the level of government support may vary and is not necessarily the primary factor to forecast future losses and collateral deficiencies. In Farmer Mac’s experience, another significant determinant of ultimate losses on loans is the degree to which the collateral is specialized or highly improved, such as permanent plantings and facilities. As adverse economic conditions persist for the agricultural commodities or products related to those types of collateral, the prospective sale value of the collateral is likely to decrease and the related loans may become under-collateralized.

This analysis is consistent with corresponding commodity analyses, which indicate that Farmer Mac has experienced higher loss and collateral deficiency rates in its loans classified as permanent plantings as well as storage and processing loans, which include Farmer Mac’s exposure to loans on ethanol plants.  Most of the loans classified as permanent plantings do not receive significant government support and are therefore more susceptible to adverse commodity-specific economic trends, while the collateral for storage and processing loans is typically highly improved and specialized.  Farmer Mac anticipates that one or more particular commodity groups will be under economic pressure at any one time and actively manages its portfolio to mitigate concentration risks while preserving Farmer Mac’s ability to meet the financing needs of all commodity groups.  See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Results of Operations—Outlook.”

Analysis of portfolio performance by geographic distribution indicates that, while commodities are the primary determinant of exposure to loss, within most commodity groups certain geographic areas allow greater economies of scale or proximity to markets than others and, consequently, result in more successful farms within the commodity group.  Likewise, certain geographic areas offer better growing conditions than others and, consequently, result in more versatile and more successful farms within a given commodity group – and the ability to switch crops among commodity groups.

Farmer Mac’s methodologies for pricing its guarantee and commitment fees, managing credit risks and providing adequate allowances for losses consider all of the foregoing factors and information.

Credit Risk – Institutional.  Farmer Mac is also exposed to credit risk arising from its business relationships with other institutions, including:
 
 
·
issuers of AgVantage securities and other investments held or guaranteed by Farmer Mac;
 
·
sellers and servicers; and
 
·
interest rate swap contract counterparties.

 
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AgVantage securities are general obligations of the AgVantage issuers and are secured by eligible loans in an amount at least equal to the outstanding principal amount of the security, with some level of overcollateralization also required for Farmer Mac I AgVantage securities.  The required collateralization level is established at the time of issuance and does not change during the life of the security.  In AgVantage transactions, the corporate obligor is required to remove from the pool of pledged collateral any loan that becomes more than 30 days delinquent in the payment of principal or interest and to substitute an eligible loan that is current in payment to maintain the minimum required collateralization level.  In the event of a default on the general obligation, Farmer Mac would have recourse to the pledged collateral and have rights to the ongoing borrower payments of principal and interest.  For a more detailed description of AgVantage securities, see “Business—Farmer Mac Programs—Farmer Mac I—AgVantage Securities” in the Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 filed with the SEC on March 16, 2010.

Outstanding AgVantage on-balance sheet Farmer Mac I Guaranteed Securities totaled $43.6 million and $48.8 million as of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.  Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities – Rural Utilities structured as AgVantage transactions issued by National Rural totaled $1.6 billion and $1.7 billion as of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.  In addition, outstanding off-balance sheet AgVantage Farmer Mac I Guaranteed Securities totaled $2.9 billion as of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009.  The following table provides information about the issuers of AgVantage securities, as well as the required collateralization levels for those transactions as of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009.

   
June 30, 2010
   
December 31, 2009
 
          
Credit
   
Required
         
Credit
   
Required
 
Counterparty
 
Balance
   
Rating
   
Collateralization
   
Balance
   
Rating
   
Collateralization
 
   
(dollars in thousands)
 
                                     
MetLife (1)
  $ 2,500,000    
AA-
   
103%
    $ 2,500,000    
AA-
   
103%
 
National Rural
    1,601,593    
A
   
100%
      1,689,240    
A
   
100%
 
M&I Bank
    475,000    
BBB
   
106%
      475,000    
BBB
   
106%
 
Other (2)
    13,550    
N/A
   
111% to 120%
       18,800    
N/A
   
111% to 120%
  
Total outstanding
  $ 4,590,143                 $ 4,683,040              

(1)
MetLife was put on credit watch negative (*-) in February 2010.
(2)
Consists of AgVantage securities issued by 5 different issuers as of June 30, 2010 and 6 different issuers as of December 31, 2009.
 
Farmer Mac manages institutional credit risk related to sellers and servicers by requiring those institutions to meet Farmer Mac’s standards for creditworthiness.  Farmer Mac monitors the financial condition of those institutions by evaluating financial statements and bank credit rating agency reports.  For more information on Farmer Mac’s approval of sellers, see “Business—Farmer Mac Programs—Farmer Mac I—Sellers” in the Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 filed with the SEC on March 16, 2010.

Credit Risk – Other Investments.  As of June 30, 2010, Farmer Mac had $325.3 million of cash and cash equivalents and $1.3 billion of investment securities.  The management of the credit risk inherent in these investments is governed by Farmer Mac’s own policies and FCA’s Liquidity and Investment Regulations.

 
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In general, these policies and regulations require each investment or issuer of an investment to be highly rated by a nationally-recognized statistical rating organization (“NRSRO”).  Investments in mortgage securities and asset-backed securities are required to have a rating in the highest NRSRO category.  Corporate debt securities with maturities of no more than five years but more than three years are required to be rated in one of the two highest categories; corporate debt securities with maturities of three years or less are required to be rated in one of the three highest categories.  There are investments for which a rating is not required, such as obligations of the United States or diversified investment funds regulated under the Investment Company Act of 1940.  Investments in diversified investment funds are further limited to those funds that are holding only instruments approved for direct investment by Farmer Mac.

FCA’s Liquidity and Investment Regulations and Farmer Mac’s policies also establish concentration limits, which are intended to limit exposure to any one counterparty.  FCA’s Liquidity and Investment Regulations limit Farmer Mac’s total credit exposure to any single issuer of securities and uncollateralized financial derivatives is limited by regulation to 25 percent of the Corporation’s regulatory capital (as of June 30, 2010, 25 percent of Farmer Mac’s regulatory capital was $115.2 million).  This limitation is not applied to the obligations of the United States or to qualified investment funds.  The limitation applied to the obligations of any GSE is 100 percent of Farmer Mac’s regulatory capital.  Since June 2009, Farmer Mac’s policies applicable to new investments have limited the Corporation’s total exposure to any single issuer of securities and uncollateralized financial derivatives to the lower of (1) 10 percent of the Corporation’s regulatory capital and (2) 50 percent of the expected net interest income from the investment portfolio over 12 months.
 
Interest Rate Risk.  Farmer Mac is subject to interest rate risk on all assets held for investment because of possible timing differences in the cash flows of the assets and related liabilities.  This risk is primarily related to loans held and on-balance sheet Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities due to the ability of borrowers to prepay their mortgages before the scheduled maturities, thereby increasing the risk of asset and liability cash flow mismatches.  Cash flow mismatches in a changing interest rate environment can reduce the earnings of the Corporation if assets repay sooner than expected and the resulting cash flows must be reinvested in lower-yielding investments when Farmer Mac’s funding costs cannot be correspondingly reduced, or if assets repay more slowly than expected and the associated debt must be replaced by higher-cost debt.

Yield maintenance provisions and other prepayment penalties contained in many agricultural mortgage and rural utilities loans reduce, but do not eliminate, prepayment risk, particularly in the case of a defaulted loan where yield maintenance may not be collected.  Those provisions require borrowers to make an additional payment when they prepay their loans so that, when reinvested with the prepaid principal, yield maintenance payments generate substantially the same cash flows that would have been generated had the loan not prepaid.  Those provisions create a disincentive to prepayment and compensate the Corporation for some of its interest rate risks.  As of June 30, 2010, 17 percent of the outstanding balance of loans in the Farmer Mac I program where Farmer Mac either owned the loan or the beneficial interest in the underlying loan had yield maintenance provisions and 8 percent had other forms of prepayment protection (together covering 48 percent of all loans with fixed interest rates).  Of the Farmer Mac I current loans purchased in second quarter 2010, none had yield maintenance or other forms of prepayment protection.  As of June 30, 2010, none of the USDA-guaranteed portions held or underlying Farmer Mac II Guaranteed Securities had yield maintenance provisions; however, 12 percent contained prepayment penalties.  Of the USDA-guaranteed portions purchased in the first six months of 2010, 8 percent contained various forms of prepayment penalties.  As of June 30, 2010, 29 percent of the rural utilities loans owned by Farmer Mac had yield maintenance provisions.  Of the rural utilities loans purchased in second quarter 2010, 37 percent had yield maintenance provisions.  As of June 30, 2010, all of the rural utilities loans held in trusts where Farmer Mac owned the beneficial interest in the underlying loan had yield maintenance provisions.

 
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Taking into consideration the prepayment provisions and the default probabilities associated with its mortgage assets, Farmer Mac uses prepayment models to project and value cash flows associated with these assets.  Because borrowers’ behaviors in various interest rate environments may change over time, Farmer Mac periodically evaluates the effectiveness of these models compared to actual prepayment experience and adjusts and refines the models as necessary to improve the precision of subsequent prepayment forecasts.

Farmer Mac’s $325.3 million of cash and cash equivalents mature within three months and are funded with discount notes having similar maturities.  As of June 30, 2010, $743.4 million of the $1.3 billion of investment securities (59 percent) were floating rate securities with rates that adjust within one year or fixed rate securities with original maturities between three months and one year.  Such securities are funded with floating rate medium-term notes or discount notes that closely match the rate adjustment dates of the associated investments. As of June 30, 2010, Farmer Mac had outstanding discount notes of $2.1 billion, medium-term notes that mature within one year of $1.1 billion and medium-term notes that mature after one year of $2.3 billion.

The goal of interest rate risk management at Farmer Mac is to create and maintain a portfolio that generates stable earnings and value across a variety of interest rate environments.  Farmer Mac’s primary strategy for managing interest rate risk is to fund asset purchases with liabilities that have similar durations and cash flows so that they will perform similarly as interest rates change.  To achieve this match, Farmer Mac issues discount notes and both callable and non-callable medium-term notes across a spectrum of maturities.  Farmer Mac issues callable debt to offset the prepayment risk associated with some loans.  By using a blend of liabilities that includes callable debt, the interest rate sensitivities of the liabilities tend to increase or decrease as interest rates change in a manner similar to changes in the interest rate sensitivities of the assets.  Farmer Mac also uses financial derivatives to better match the durations of the Corporation’s assets and liabilities, thereby reducing overall interest rate sensitivity.

An important “stress test” of Farmer Mac’s exposure to long-term interest rate risk is the measurement of the sensitivity of its market value of equity (“MVE”) to yield curve shocks.  MVE represents management’s estimate of the present value of all future cash flows from on- and off-balance sheet assets, liabilities and financial derivatives, discounted at current interest rates and appropriate spreads.  Farmer Mac’s MVE sensitivity decreased significantly during the first half of 2010.  This reduction in sensitivity resulted from the $250.0 million of preferred stock issued by the Corporation’s subsidiary, Farmer Mac II LLC.  This transaction extended the duration of Farmer Mac’s liabilities relative to its assets thereby reducing MVE sensitivity.  The following schedule summarizes the results of Farmer Mac’s MVE sensitivity analysis as of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 to an immediate and instantaneous uniform or “parallel” shift in the yield curve.

 
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Percentage Change in MVE from
Base Case
 
Interest Rate
 
June 30,
   
December 31,
 
Scenario
 
2010
   
2009
 
+ 300 bp
 
3.4%
   
-23.1%
 
+ 200 bp
 
4.9%
   
-13.8%
 
+ 100 bp
 
4.1%
   
-5.4%
 
- 100 bp
 
*
   
*
 
- 200 bp
 
*
   
*
 
- 300 bp
 
*
   
*
 

*
As of the date indicated, a parallel shift of the U.S. Treasury yield curve by the number of basis points indicated produced negative interest rates for portions or all of this curve.

As of June 30, 2010, Farmer Mac’s effective duration gap, another standard measure of interest rate risk that measures the difference between the sensitivities of assets compared to that of liabilities, was minus 2.2 months, compared to plus 1.1 months as of December 31, 2009.  This change in duration gap is also attributable to the preferred stock issued by Farmer Mac II LLC.  Duration matching helps to maintain the correlation of cash flows and stabilize portfolio earnings even when interest rates are not stable.

Farmer Mac also calculates the sensitivity of net interest income (“NII”) to changes in interest rates which represents a shorter-term measure of interest rate risk.  As of June 30, 2010, a parallel increase of 100 basis points would have decreased Farmer Mac’s NII by 7.1 percent, while a parallel decrease of 25 basis points would have decreased NII by 3.2 percent.  Farmer Mac also measures the sensitivity of both MVE and NII to a variety of non-parallel interest rate shocks, including flattening and steepening yield curve scenarios.  As of June 30, 2010, both MVE and NII showed similar or lesser sensitivity to non-parallel shocks than to the parallel shocks.

The economic effects of financial derivatives are included in the Corporation’s MVE, NII and duration gap analyses.  Farmer Mac enters into the following financial derivative transactions principally to protect against risk from the effects of market price or interest rate movements on the value of assets, future cash flows, credit exposure and debt issuance, not for trading or speculative purposes:
 
 
·
“pay-fixed” interest rate swaps, in which it pays fixed rates of interest to, and receives floating rates of interest from, counterparties;
 
·
“receive-fixed” interest rate swaps, in which it receives fixed rates of interest from, and pays floating rates of interest to, counterparties;
 
·
“basis swaps,” in which it pays variable rates of interest based on one index to, and receives variable rates of interest based on another index from, counterparties; and

 
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·
“credit default swaps,” in which it pays a periodic fee to a counterparty in exchange for the counterparty’s agreement to make payments in the event of an instrument’s default or other credit event.
 
As of June 30, 2010, Farmer Mac had $4.1 billion combined notional amount of interest rate and credit default swaps, with terms ranging from one to fifteen years, of which $1.3 billion were pay-fixed interest rate swaps, $2.5 billion were receive-fixed interest rate swaps, $0.2 billion were basis swaps and $30.0 million were credit default swaps.
 
Liquidity and Capital Resources

Farmer Mac depends on regular access to the capital markets for liquidity, and Farmer Mac maintained access to the capital markets at favorable rates throughout second quarter 2010.  Assuming continuation of current market conditions, Farmer Mac believes it has sufficient liquidity and capital resources to support its operations for the next 12 months and for the foreseeable future.  Farmer Mac also has a liquidity contingency plan to manage unanticipated disruptions in its access to the capital markets.  That plan involves borrowing through repurchase agreement arrangements and the sale of liquid assets.  In accordance with the calculation prescribed by FCA regulations, Farmer Mac maintains a minimum of 60 days of liquidity and a target of 90 days of liquidity.  In accordance with the methodology prescribed by those regulations, Farmer Mac maintained an average of 155 days of liquidity during second quarter 2010 and had 169 days of liquidity as of June 30, 2010.

Debt Issuance.  Farmer Mac funds its purchases of program and non-program assets primarily by issuing debt obligations of various maturities in the public capital markets.  Debt obligations issued by Farmer Mac include discount notes and fixed and floating rate medium-term notes, including callable notes.  Farmer Mac also issues discount notes and medium-term notes to obtain funds to finance its investment activities, transaction costs, guarantee payments and LTSPC purchase obligations.  See “Business—Financing—Debt Issuance” in the Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 filed with the SEC on March 16, 2010 for more information about Farmer Mac’s debt issuance.

Farmer Mac’s board of directors has authorized the issuance of up to $7.0 billion of discount notes and medium-term notes (of which $5.5 billion was outstanding as of June 30, 2010), subject to periodic review of the adequacy of that level relative to Farmer Mac’s borrowing requirements.  Farmer Mac invests the proceeds of such issuances in loans, Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities, and non-program investment assets in accordance with policies established by its board of directors and subject to regulations established by FCA.

Liquidity.  The funding and liquidity needs of Farmer Mac’s business are driven by the purchase of loans, USDA-guaranteed portions and Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities; the maturities of and interest payments on Farmer Mac’s discount notes and medium-term notes; and payment of principal and interest on Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities.  Farmer Mac’s primary sources of funds to meet these needs are:
 
 
·
principal and interest payments and ongoing guarantee and commitment fees received on loans, Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities, and LTSPCs;
 
·
principal and interest payments received from investment securities; and

 
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·
the issuance of new discount notes and medium-term notes.

Farmer Mac’s short-term borrowing costs have remained at favorable levels despite continued market volatility.  Prior to 2009, Farmer Mac historically used pay-fixed interest rate swaps, combined with a planned series of discount note issuances, as an alternative source of effectively fixed rate funding.  While the swap market may have provided favorable effectively fixed rates, interest rate swap transactions expose Farmer Mac to the risk of future widening of its own issuance spreads versus corresponding LIBOR rates.  If the spreads on the Farmer Mac discount notes were to increase relative to LIBOR, Farmer Mac would be exposed to a commensurate reduction on its net interest yield on the notional amount of its pay-fixed interest rate swaps and its LIBOR-based floating rate assets.  Conversely, if the rates on the Farmer Mac discount notes were to decrease relative to LIBOR, Farmer Mac would benefit from a commensurate increase on its net interest yield on the notional amount of its pay-fixed interest rate swaps and its LIBOR-based floating rate assets.  Further, the widespread use of pay-fixed interest rate swaps subjected the Corporation’s regulatory capital surplus to the potential adverse effects of a downward move in the fair values of those interest rate swaps.  Such a downward move was seen in the third and fourth quarters of 2008.  Since September 2008, Farmer Mac has systematically entered into various offsetting interest rate swaps (receive-fixed swaps) to counteract the fair value movements of previously-existing swaps.  These transactions have dampened the susceptibility of Farmer Mac’s regulatory capital surplus to changes in the fair values of its financial derivatives.  Farmer Mac remains cautious about using pay-fixed interest rate swaps, but may use that type of financial derivative as necessary in the future to manage specific interest rate risks for specific transactions.

The following table presents Farmer Mac’s cash and cash equivalents and investment securities which, in addition to the proceeds from the issuance of discount notes and medium-term notes, comprise Farmer Mac’s primary sources of liquidity.

   
June 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(in thousands)
 
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 325,333     $ 654,794  
Investment securities:
               
Guaranteed by US Government agencies
    636,489       635,679  
Guaranteed by GSEs
    340,907       117,760  
Corporate debt securities
    195,916       245,605  
Asset-backed securities principally backed by Government
               
 guaranteed student loans (1)
    84,020       132,851  
 Total
  $ 1,582,665     $ 1,786,689  

(1)  
None of Farmer Mac's asset-backed securities were backed by sub-prime or Alt-A residential or commercial mortgages or home-equity loans.

 
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Farmer Mac’s asset-backed investment securities include callable, AAA-rated auction-rate certificates (“ARCs”), the interest rates on which are reset through an auction process, most commonly at intervals of 28 days, or at formula-based floating rates as set forth in the related transaction documents in the event of a failed auction.  These formula-based floating rates, which may at times reset to zero, are intended to preserve the underlying principal balance of the securities and avoid overall cash shortfalls.  Accordingly, payments of accrued interest may also be delayed and are ultimately subject to cash availability.  Beginning in mid-February 2008, there were widespread failures of the auction mechanism designed to provide regular liquidity to these types of securities.  Consequently, Farmer Mac has not sold any of its ARCs into the auctions since that time.  All ARCs held by Farmer Mac are collateralized entirely by pools of Federal Family Education Loan Program (“FFELP”) guaranteed student loans that are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States.  Farmer Mac continues to believe that the credit quality of these securities is high, based on the underlying collateralization and the securities’ continued AAA ratings.  To date, Farmer Mac has received all interest due on ARCs it holds and expects to continue to do so.  Farmer Mac does not believe that the auction failures will affect the Corporation’s liquidity or its ability to fund its operations or make dividend payments.  All ARCs held by Farmer Mac are callable by the issuers at par at any time.

Farmer Mac held $63.3 million of ARCs as of June 30, 2010, compared to $72.9 million as of December 31, 2009.  As of June 30, 2010, Farmer Mac’s carrying value of its ARCs was 85 percent of par.  The discounted carrying value reflects uncertainty regarding the ability to obtain par in the absence of any active market trading.

As of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, Farmer Mac had a remaining investment of $0.5 million and $5.3 million, respectively, in The Reserve Primary Fund (the “Fund”), a money market fund that has suspended redemptions and is being liquidated.  Farmer Mac has presented its unsettled trades in the Fund as “Prepaid expenses and other assets” on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.  Farmer Mac received the remaining investment in the Fund on July 16, 2010, resulting in a recovery of $37,000 of amounts previously written off.

Capital.  During the six months ended June 30, 2010, Farmer Mac issued $250.0 million of non-voting, non-cumulative preferred stock of its newly formed subsidiary Farmer Mac II LLC and simultaneously retired and repurchased all $150.0 million Farmer Mac Series B preferred stock.  No Series C preferred stock was issued in first or second quarters 2010.  For more information about the Series C preferred stock, see Note 6 to the condensed consolidated financial statements and Farmer Mac’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 filed with the SEC on March 16, 2010 (as updated by the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 4, 2010).  See “—Balance Sheet Review—Capital” for more information about Farmer Mac’s capital position and “—Regulatory Matters” for more information about proposed changes to the risk-based capital stress test applicable to Farmer Mac.
 
Other Matters

Common Stock Dividends.  For the first and second quarters of 2010 and for each quarter in 2009, Farmer Mac’s board of directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.05 per share on the Corporation’s common stock.  Farmer Mac’s ability to pay dividends on its common stock is subject to the payment of dividends on its outstanding preferred stock.  On August 5, 2010, Farmer Mac’s board of directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.05 per share on the Corporation’s common stock, payable on September 30, 2010 to shareholders of record on September 15, 2010.  Farmer Mac’s ability to declare and pay dividends could be restricted if it were to fail to comply with the applicable regulatory capital requirements.  See “Business—Government Regulation of Farmer Mac—Regulation—Capital Standards—Enforcement levels” in Farmer Mac’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 filed with the SEC on March 16, 2010.

 
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Preferred Stock Dividends.  For the first and second quarters of 2010, Farmer Mac’s board of directors declared a quarterly dividend of $12.50 per share on the Corporation’s Series C Preferred Stock.  On August 5, 2010, Farmer Mac’s board of directors declared a quarterly dividend of $12.50 per share on the Corporation’s Series C Preferred Stock, payable on September 30, 2010 to shareholders of record on September 15, 2010. On January 25, 2010, all of the outstanding shares of the Corporation’s Series B preferred stock was repurchased and retired.  The price paid to repurchase the Series B Preferred Stock included accrued dividends of $8.33 per share through the purchase date.

Non-controlling Interest.  For the first and second quarter 2010, Farmer Mac II LLC’s board of directors declared a quarterly dividend of $16.02 per share and $22.1875 per share, respectively, on the company’s preferred stock.  On August 5, 2010, Farmer Mac II LLC’s board of directors declared a quarterly dividend of $22.1875 per share payable on September 30, 2010 to holders of record on September 15, 2010.  Farmer Mac’s net income attributable to non-controlling interest totaled $5.5 million and $9.6 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, respectively.  These amounts represent the gross dividend cost of the Farmer Mac II LLC preferred stock held by third parties.  Pre-tax income is reduced by this dividend cost before Farmer Mac’s income tax expense is determined.
 
Regulatory Matters
 
In the January 22, 2010 issue of the Federal Register, FCA published for public comment a proposed rule that would revise certain FCA regulations governing the risk-based capital stress test applicable to Farmer Mac.  In its announcement of the proposed rule, FCA stated that the purpose of the proposed changes is to update the risk-based capital model to address the addition of rural utilities loans to Farmer Mac’s program authorities, to revise the existing treatment of risk mitigations of general obligations in the AgVantage structure, and to revise the treatment of counterparty risk on Farmer Mac’s non-program investments.  The public comment period for the proposed rule closed April 22, 2010.  Farmer Mac has provided written comments on the proposed rule to FCA.

In the preamble to the proposed rule, FCA noted that had the proposed rule been in effect on March 31, 2009, Farmer Mac’s risk-based capital requirement as of that date would have been approximately $62.9 million, compared to the risk-based capital requirement of approximately $40.1 million under the existing risk-based capital stress test at that time.  Farmer Mac is required to hold capital at the higher of the statutory minimum capital requirement or the amount required by the risk-based capital stress test.  As of June 30, 2010, Farmer Mac’s minimum capital requirement was $235.4 million, and Farmer Mac’s core capital level was $442.0 million, $206.6 million above the minimum capital requirement.  Based on the risk-based capital stress test currently in effect, Farmer Mac’s risk-based capital requirement as of June 30, 2010 was $29.9 million, and Farmer Mac’s regulatory capital of $461.0 million exceeded that requirement by approximately $431.1 million.

 
-89-

 

On May 19, 2010, FCA issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (“ANPRM”) regarding the Corporation’s investments and liquidity portfolio policies and solicited comments.  The public comment period for the ANPRM closed on July 6, 2010, and Farmer Mac provided written comments to the ANPRM on July 2, 2010.

On July 21, 2010, President Obama signed into law the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”).  The Dodd-Frank Act contains a variety of provisions designed to regulate financial markets, including credit and derivatives transactions.  Certain provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act, such as the requirement to retain a five percent credit risk in any securitized loan, do not apply to Farmer Mac or, with respect to any loan sold to Farmer Mac, the seller of such loan.  In addition, Farmer Mac’s equity and debt securities are excluded from the Dodd-Frank Act’s prohibitions on proprietary trading by banking entities.  However, certain provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act, such as those regarding derivatives regulation, corporate governance and executive compensation, do not contain specific exemptions for Farmer Mac.  Until various studies are completed and final regulations are promulgated pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act, the full effect of the legislation on the Corporation’s business activities and operations cannot be completely assessed, particularly how it will affect the Corporations hedging operations and costs.  Farmer Mac will continue to monitor all applicable developments in the implementation of the Dodd-Frank Act and expects to be able to adapt successfully to any new applicable legislative and regulatory requirements.

 
-90-

 

Supplemental Information

The following tables present quarterly and annual information regarding loan purchases, guarantees and LTSPCs and outstanding loans, guarantees and LTSPCs.

Farmer Mac Purchases, Guarantees and LTSPCs
 
   
Farmer Mac I
   
Farmer Mac II
   
Rural Utilities
       
   
Loans and
         
and USDA
   
Loans and
       
   
Guaranteed
         
Guaranteed
   
Guaranteed
       
   
Securities
   
LTSPCs (1)
   
Securities
   
Securities (2)
   
Total
 
   
(in thousands)
 
For the quarter ended:
                             
June 30, 2010
  $ 98,235     $ 32,430     $ 123,062     $ 77,726     $ 331,453  
March 31, 2010
    77,948       77,143       92,288       59,018       306,397  
December 31, 2009
    86,872       108,646       94,936       16,009       306,463  
September 30, 2009
    40,732       37,083       76,119       553,644       707,578  
June 30, 2009
    37,900       22,717       96,322       900,000       1,056,939  
March 31, 2009
    29,814       65,720       79,055       270,000       444,589  
December 31, 2008
    72,137       121,440       87,455       230,000       511,032  
September 30, 2008
    508,179       239,170       83,672       -       831,021  
June 30, 2008
    53,838       116,472       79,700       1,330,676       1,580,686  
                                         
For the year ended:
                                       
December 31, 2009
    195,318       234,166       346,432       1,739,653       2,515,569  
December 31, 2008
    671,622       530,363       303,941       1,560,676       3,066,602  

(1)
As of June 30, 2010, approximately $50.9 million of the loans underlying $545.6 million of AgStorage and processing LTSPCs (including ethanol facilities) were not yet disbursed by the lender.
(2)
The enactment of the Farm Bill on May 22, 2008 expanded Farmer Mac’s authorities to include providing a secondary market for rural electric and telephone loans made by cooperative lenders.

 
-91-

 

 
Guarantees and LTSPCs and USDA Guarantees
 
   
Farmer Mac I
   
Farmer Mac II
   
Rural Utilities
       
   
Loans and
         
and USDA
   
Loans and
       
   
Guaranteed
         
Guaranteed
   
Guaranteed
       
   
Securities
   
LTSPCs
   
Securities
   
Securities
   
Total
 
   
(in thousands)
 
As of:
                             
June 30, 2010 (1)
  $ 5,544,091     $ 1,739,979     $ 1,300,945     $ 2,173,660     $ 10,758,675  
March 31, 2010 (2)
    5,444,448       1,846,244       1,237,539       2,183,576       10,711,807  
December 31, 2009
    5,224,768       2,165,706       1,199,798       2,130,832       10,721,104  
September 30, 2009
    5,227,939       2,135,445       1,141,570       2,266,592       10,771,546  
June 30, 2009
    5,241,145       2,181,712       1,115,025       1,819,033       10,356,915  
March 31, 2009
    5,313,680       2,216,564       1,082,215       1,319,033       9,931,492  
December 31, 2008
    5,759,773       2,224,181       1,043,425       1,054,941       10,082,320  
September 30, 2008
    5,724,867       2,264,880       995,639       824,941       9,810,327  
June 30, 2008
    5,474,303       1,997,172       960,278       1,330,676       9,762,429  

(1)
The Loans and Guaranteed Securities and LTSPCs amounts reflect the conversion of $86.0 million of existing LTSPCs to Farmer Mac I Guaranteed Securities during the second quarter 2010 at the request of a program participant.
(2)
The Loans and Guaranteed Securities and LTSPCs amounts reflect the conversion of $265.8 million of existing LTSPCs to Farmer Mac I Guaranteed Securities during the first quarter 2010 at the request of a program participant.

Outstanding Balance of Loans Held and Loans Underlying
 
On-Balance Sheet Farmer Mac and USDA Guaranteed Securities
 
         
5-to-10-Year
         
Total
 
          
ARMs &
   
1-Month-to-
   
Held in
 
    
Fixed Rate
   
Resets
   
3 Year ARMs
   
Portfolio
 
   
(in thousands)
 
As of:
                       
June 30, 2010
  $ 2,347,206     $ 1,051,722     $ 1,914,096     $ 5,313,024  
March 31, 2010
    2,431,701       1,340,856       1,840,181       5,612,738  
December 31, 2009
    1,983,749       729,700       1,439,267       4,152,716  
September 30, 2009
    2,138,544       685,553       1,403,298       4,227,395  
June 30, 2009
    1,716,678       649,078       1,303,332       3,669,088  
March 31, 2009
    1,728,174       660,398       759,535       3,148,107  
December 31, 2008
    1,659,983       746,623       819,234       3,225,840  
September 30, 2008
    1,412,136       699,611       743,146       2,854,893  
June 30, 2008
    1,974,048       772,859       739,642       3,486,549  

 
-92-

 

Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Farmer Mac is exposed to market risk attributable to changes in interest rates.  Farmer Mac manages this market risk by entering into various financial transactions, including financial derivatives, and by monitoring its exposure to changes in interest rates.  See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Risk Management—Interest Rate Risk” for more information about Farmer Mac’s exposure to interest rate risk and strategies to manage such risk.  For information regarding Farmer Mac’s use of and accounting policies for financial derivatives, see Note 1(c) to the condensed consolidated financial statements contained in this report.  See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources” for further information regarding Farmer Mac’s debt issuance and liquidity risks.
 
Item 4.
Controls and Procedures

(a)  Management’s Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures.  Farmer Mac maintains disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Corporation’s periodic filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), including this report, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported on a timely basis.  These disclosure controls and procedures include controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Corporation’s management on a timely basis to allow decisions regarding required disclosure.  Management, including Farmer Mac’s Chief Executive Officer (the “CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (the “CFO”), has evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Corporation’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined under Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act) as of June 30, 2010.

The Corporation carried out the evaluation required by paragraph (b) of Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15, under the supervision and with the participation of management, including the CEO and CFO, of the effectiveness of Farmer Mac’s disclosure controls and procedures.  Based upon this evaluation, the CEO and CFO concluded that the Corporation’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of June 30, 2010.

(b)  Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.  There were no changes in Farmer Mac’s internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended June 30, 2010 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, Farmer Mac’s internal control over financial reporting.

 
-93-

 
 
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.
Legal Proceedings

None.

Item 1A.
Risk Factors

There were no material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in Farmer Mac’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 filed with the SEC on March 16, 2010.

Item 2.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
 
 
(a)
Farmer Mac is a federally chartered instrumentality of the United States and its debt and equity securities are exempt from registration pursuant to Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933.
 
During second quarter 2010, two types of transactions occurred related to Farmer Mac common stock that were not registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and not otherwise reported on a Current Report on Form 8-K:
 
 
1.
On April 26, 2010, pursuant to Farmer Mac’s policy that permits directors of Farmer Mac to elect to receive shares of Class C Non-Voting Common Stock in lieu of their cash retainers, Farmer Mac issued an aggregate of 1,114 shares of its Class C Non-Voting Common Stock to the five directors who elected to receive such stock in lieu of their cash retainers.  The number of shares issued to the directors was calculated based on a price of $11.33 per share, which was the closing price of the Class C Non-Voting Common Stock on March 31, 2010 as reported by the New York Stock Exchange.
 
 
2.
On June 3, 2010, Richard H. Davidson was granted 2,699 restricted shares of Farmer Mac’s Class C Non-Voting Common Stock in connection with his election as a director of the Corporation.  Those restricted shares have the same terms as the restricted shares granted to the other Farmer Mac directors on April 1, 2010 (as reported on a Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 5, 2010) and will vest on March 31, 2011 or upon Mr. Davidson’s (i) death, (ii) disability or (iii) involuntary removal as a director without cause.

 
(b)
Not applicable.

 
(c)
None.

 
-94-

 

Item 3.
Defaults Upon Senior Securities

 
(a)
None.

 
(b)
None.

Item 4.
(Removed and Reserved)
 
 
Item 5.
Other Information

 
(a)
None.

 
(b)
None.

 
-95-

 

Item 6.
Exhibits

*
 
3.1
 
-
 
Title VIII of the Farm Credit Act of 1971, as most recently amended by the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (Form 10-Q filed August 12, 2008).
             
**
 
3.2
 
-
 
Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Registrant.
             
*
 
4.1
 
-
 
Specimen Certificate for Farmer Mac Class A Voting Common Stock (Form 10-Q filed May 15, 2003).
             
*
 
4.2
 
-
 
Specimen Certificate for Farmer Mac Class B Voting Common Stock (Form 10-Q filed May 15, 2003).
             
*
 
4.3
 
-
 
Specimen Certificate for Farmer Mac Class C Non-Voting Common Stock (Form 10-Q filed May 15, 2003).
             
*
 
4.4
 
-
 
Amended and Restated Certificate of Designation of Terms and Conditions of Non-Voting Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series C (Previously filed as Exhibit 4.7 to Form 10-Q filed November 9, 2009).
             
†*
 
10.1
 
-
 
Amended and Restated 1997 Incentive Plan (Form 10-Q filed November 14, 2003).
             
†*
 
10.1.1
 
-
 
Form of stock option award agreement under 1997 Incentive Plan (Form 10-K filed March 16, 2005).
             
†*
 
10.1.2
 
-
 
2008 Omnibus Incentive Plan (Form 10-Q filed August 12, 2008).
             
†*
 
10.1.3
 
-
 
Form of SAR Agreement under the 2008 Omnibus Incentive Plan (Previously filed as Exhibit 10 to Form 8-K filed June 11, 2008).
             
†*
 
10.1.4
 
-
 
Form of Restricted Stock Agreement (Officers) under the 2008 Omnibus Incentive Plan (Previously filed as Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K filed June 10, 2009).
             
†*
 
10.1.5
 
-
 
Form of Restricted Stock Agreement (Directors) under the 2008 Omnibus Incentive Plan (Previously filed as Exhibit 10.2 to Form 8-K filed June 10, 2009).
             
†*
 
10.2
 
-
 
Employment Agreement dated as of March 1, 2009 between Michael A. Gerber and the Registrant (Form 10-Q filed May 12, 2009).
 

*
Incorporated by reference to the indicated prior filing.
**
Filed with this report.
Management contract or compensatory plan.
#
Portions of this exhibit have been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment.

 
-96-

 

†*
 
10.3
 
-
 
Compiled Amended and Restated Employment Contract dated as of June 5, 2008 between Tom D. Stenson and the Registrant (Previously filed as Exhibit 10.4 to Form 10-Q filed August 12, 2008).
             
†*
 
10.4
 
-
 
Compiled Amended and Restated Employment Contract dated June 5, 2008 between Timothy L. Buzby and the Registrant (Previously filed as Exhibit 10.5 to Form 10-Q filed August 12, 2008).
             
†*
 
10.4.1
 
-
 
Amendment No. 6 to Employment Contract between Timothy L. Buzby and the Registrant, dated as of April 2, 2009 (Form 10-Q filed August 10, 2009).
             
†*
 
10.5
 
-
 
Compiled Amended and Restated Employment Contract dated June 5, 2008 between Mary K. Waters and the Registrant (Previously filed as Exhibit 10.6 to Form 10-Q filed August 12, 2008).
             
   
10.6
 
-
 
Exhibit number reserved for future use.
             
*
 
10.7
 
-
 
Farmer Mac I Seller/Servicer Agreement dated as of August 7, 1996 between Zions First National Bank and the Registrant (Form 10-Q filed November 14, 2002).
             
*
 
10.8
 
-
 
Medium-Term Notes U.S. Selling Agency Agreement dated as of October 1, 1998 between Zions First National Bank and the Registrant (Form 10-Q filed November 14, 2002).
             
*
 
10.9
 
-
 
Discount Note Dealer Agreement dated as of September 18, 1996 between Zions First National Bank and the Registrant (Form 10-Q filed November 14, 2002).
             
*#
 
10.10
 
-
 
ISDA Master Agreement and Credit Support Annex dated as of June 26, 1997 between Zions First National Bank and the Registrant (Form 10-Q filed November 14, 2002).
             
*#
 
10.11
 
-
 
Amended and Restated Master Central Servicing Agreement dated as of May 1, 2004 between Zions First National Bank and the Registrant (Previously filed as Exhibit 10.11.2 to Form 10-Q filed August 9, 2004).
             
*#
 
10.11.1
 
-
 
Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Master Central Servicing Agreement between Zions First National Bank and the Registrant, dated as of June 1, 2009 (Form 10-Q filed August 10, 2009).
 

*
Incorporated by reference to the indicated prior filing.
**
Filed with this report.
Management contract or compensatory plan.
#
Portions of this exhibit have been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment.

 
-97-

 

*#
 
10.12
 
-
 
Loan Closing File Review Agreement dated as of August 2, 2005 between Zions First National Bank and the Registrant (Form 10-Q filed November 9, 2005).
             
*#
 
10.13
 
-
 
Long Term Standby Commitment to Purchase dated as of August 1, 1998 between AgFirst Farm Credit Bank and the Registrant (Form 10-Q filed November 14, 2002).
             
*#
 
10.13.1
 
-
 
Amendment No. 1 dated as of January 1, 2000 to Long Term Standby Commitment to Purchase dated as of August 1, 1998 between AgFirst Farm Credit Bank and the Registrant (Form 10-Q filed November 14, 2002).
             
*
 
10.13.2
 
-
 
Amendment No. 2 dated as of September 1, 2002 to Long Term Standby Commitment to Purchase dated as of August 1, 1998, as amended by Amendment No. 1 dated as of January 1, 2000, between AgFirst Farm Credit Bank and the Registrant (Form 10-Q filed November 14, 2002).
             
*
 
10.14
 
-
 
Lease Agreement, dated June 28, 2001 between EOP – Two Lafayette, L.L.C. and the Registrant (Previously filed as Exhibit 10.10 to Form 10-K filed March 27, 2002).
             
*#
 
10.15
 
-
 
Long Term Standby Commitment to Purchase dated as of August 1, 2007 between Farm Credit Bank of Texas and the Registrant (Previously filed as Exhibit 10.20 to Form 10-Q filed November 8, 2007).
             
*#
 
10.16
 
-
 
Long Term Standby Commitment to Purchase dated as of June 1, 2003 between Farm Credit Bank of Texas and the Registrant (Form 10-Q filed November 9, 2004).
             
*#
 
10.16.1
 
-
 
Amendment No. 1 dated as of December 8, 2006 to Long Term Standby Commitment to Purchase dated as of June 1, 2003 between Farm Credit Bank of Texas and the Registrant (Form 10-K filed March 15, 2007).
             
*#
 
10.17
 
-
 
Central Servicer Delinquent Loan Servicing Transfer Agreement dated as of July 1, 2004 between AgFirst Farm Credit Bank and the Registrant (Form 10-Q filed November 9, 2004).
             
†*
 
10.18
 
-
 
Form of Indemnification Agreement for Directors (Previously filed as Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K filed April 9, 2008).
             
†*
 
10.19
 
-
 
Description of compensation agreement between the Registrant and its directors (Form 10-Q filed August 9, 2007).
 

*
Incorporated by reference to the indicated prior filing.
**
Filed with this report.
Management contract or compensatory plan.
#
Portions of this exhibit have been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment.

 
-98-

 

†*
 
10.20
 
-
 
Agreement and General Release dated as of January 30, 2009 between Henry D. Edelman and the Registrant (Form 10-Q filed May 12, 2009).
             
†*
 
10.21
 
-
 
Agreement and General Release dated as of February 6, 2009 between Nancy E. Corsiglia and the Registrant (Form 10-Q filed May 12, 2009).
             
**
 
10.22
     
Master Trust, Sale and Servicing Agreement dated as of October 20, 2006 between CFC Advantage, LLC, National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation, U.S. Bank National Association, and the Registrant.
             
**
 
10.23
     
Registration Rights Agreement Series 2007-1 dated as of February 15, 2007 between CFC Advantage, LLC, National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation, and the Registrant.
             
**
 
10.24
     
Registration Rights Agreement Series 2007-2 dated as of August 10, 2007 between CFC Advantage, LLC, National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation and the Registrant.
             
**
 
10.25
     
Note Purchase Agreement dated as of December 15, 2008 between Farmer Mac Mortgage Securities Corporation, National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation, and the Registrant.
             
**
 
10.25.1
     
First Amendment to Note Purchase Agreement dated as of July 13, 2009 between Farmer Mac Mortgage Securities Corporation, National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation, and the Registrant.
             
**
 
10.26
     
Pledge Agreement dated as of December 15, 2008 between Farmer Mac Mortgage Securities Corporation, National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation, U.S. Bank Trust National Association, and the Registrant.
             
**
 
10.26.1
     
First Amendment to Pledge Agreement dated as of September 23, 2009 between Farmer Mac Mortgage Securities Corporation, National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation, U.S. Bank Trust National Association, and the Registrant.
             
**
 
10.27
     
Setoff Rights Letter Agreement dated as of December 15, 2008 between National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation, Farmer Mac Mortgage Securities Corporation, and the Registrant.
             
**
 
10.28
     
Note Purchase Agreement dated as of February 5, 2009 between Farmer Mac Mortgage Securities Corporation, National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation, and the Registrant.
 

*
Incorporated by reference to the indicated prior filing.
**
Filed with this report.
Management contract or compensatory plan.
#
Portions of this exhibit have been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment.

 
-99-

 

**
 
10.28.1
 
First Amendment to Note Purchase Agreement dated as of July 13, 2009 between Farmer Mac Mortgage Securities Corporation, National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation, and the Registrant.
         
**
 
10.29
 
Pledge Agreement dated as of February 5, 2009 between Farmer Mac Mortgage Securities Corporation, National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation, U.S. Bank Trust National Association, and the Registrant.
         
**
 
10.29.1
 
First Amendment to Pledge Agreement dated as of September 23, 2009 between Farmer Mac Mortgage Securities Corporation, National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation, U.S. Bank Trust National Association, and the Registrant.
         
**
 
10.30
 
Setoff Rights Letter Agreement dated as of February 5, 2009 between National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation, Farmer Mac Mortgage Securities Corporation, and the Registrant.
         
**
 
10.31
 
Note Purchase Agreement dated as of March 23, 2009 between Farmer Mac Mortgage Securities Corporation, National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation, and the Registrant.
         
**
 
10.32
 
Pledge Agreement dated as of March 23, 2009 between Farmer Mac Mortgage Securities Corporation, National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation, U.S. Bank Trust National Association, and the Registrant.
         
**
 
10.32.1
 
First Amendment to Pledge Agreement dated as of September 23, 2009 between Farmer Mac Mortgage Securities Corporation, National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation, U.S. Bank Trust National Association, and the Registrant.
         
**
 
10.33
 
Setoff Rights Letter Agreement dated as of March 23, 2009 between National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation, Farmer Mac Mortgage Securities Corporation, and the Registrant.
         
**
 
10.34
 
Note Purchase Agreement dated as of May 22, 2009 between Farmer Mac Mortgage Securities Corporation, National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation, and the Registrant.
 

*
Incorporated by reference to the indicated prior filing.
**
Filed with this report.
Management contract or compensatory plan.
#
Portions of this exhibit have been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment.

 
-100-

 

**
 
10.35
     
Pledge Agreement dated as of May 22, 2009 between Farmer Mac Mortgage Securities Corporation, National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation, U.S. Bank Trust National Association, and the Registrant.
             
**
 
10.36
     
Setoff Rights Letter Agreement dated as of May 22, 2009 between National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation, Farmer Mac Mortgage Securities Corporation, and the Registrant.
             
**
 
10.37
     
Master Sale and Servicing Agreement dated as of July 24, 2009 between National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation and the Registrant.
             
**
 
10.37.1
     
Amendment No. 1 to Master Sale and Servicing Agreement dated as of February 1, 2010 between National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation and the Registrant.
             
**#
 
10.38
     
Credit Support Agreement dated as of September 1, 2009 between National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation and the Registrant.
             
**
 
10.39
     
Indenture dated as of September 1, 2009 between National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation, U.S. Bank National Association and the Registrant.
             
*
 
21
 
-
 
List of Registrant’s subsidiaries (Form 10-K filed March 16, 2010).
             
**
 
31.1
 
-
 
Certification of Chief Executive Officer relating to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2010, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
             
**
 
31.2
 
-
 
Certification of Chief Financial Officer relating to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2010, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
             
**
 
32
 
-
 
Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer relating to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2010, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 

*
Incorporated by reference to the indicated prior filing.
**
Filed with this report.
Management contract or compensatory plan.
#
Portions of this exhibit have been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment.
 
 
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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

FEDERAL AGRICULTURAL MORTGAGE CORPORATION

August 9, 2010

 
By:
     /s/ Michael A. Gerber
   
Michael A. Gerber
President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)

   
    /s/ Timothy L. Buzby
   
Timothy L. Buzby
Senior Vice President – Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
(Principal Financial Officer)

 
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