Through research-based education and real-world application, Agricultural Business and Policy Extension equips agricultural lenders, tax professionals, and cooperative leaders with the knowledge and insights to make informed decisions that strengthen Missouri agriculture and the communities they serve:
- Agricultural Lenders School: Since 2000, more than 800 lenders across Missouri and neighboring states have strengthened their expertise in agricultural finance, credit analysis, and risk management.
- Agricultural Lenders Seminars: For more than 45 years, Missouri lenders have relied on timely market outlooks, trusted economic analysis, and regional insights to inform lending decisions.
- Graduate Institute of Cooperative Leadership: GICL’s flagship Summer Institute has built a network of more than 2,600 alumni and develops hundreds of cooperative leaders through targeted programming each year.
- Tax Preparer Education: Over the past decade, more than 3,000 tax professionals have earned 30,000 hours of continuing education through MU Extension programming.
Learn more about our executive education program areas below.
Agricultural lenders face increasingly complex decisions as farm margins tighten, input costs rise, and producers navigate economic uncertainty. The annual Agricultural Lenders School provides new and early-career lenders with the insights and practical training needed to evaluate agricultural loans, manage risk, and offer value to clients.
100% of 2026 Agricultural Lenders School participants reported that the program improved their ability to serve and advise agricultural clients
Since 2000, more than 800 lenders across multiple states and Missouri counties have honed their expertise. Through hands-on training from MU Extension, FAPRI, agricultural finance professionals, and industry leaders, participants build skills in credit analysis, financial benchmarking, loan structuring, and agricultural market analysis to become trusted partners for their agricultural clientele.
Agricultural lenders need timely information to understand changing market conditions, evaluate risk, and support their clients. The annual Agricultural Lenders Seminars series provides lenders with agricultural market outlooks, economic trends, and regional insights to help them stay informed on the issues affecting Missouri agriculture.
“Been attending for almost 40 years in various locations… good update on farm economy.” – 2022 Agricultural Lenders Seminar attendee
For more than 45 years, the seminar series has delivered trusted information on commodity markets, production costs, farmland values, farm policy, and other key factors influencing lending decisions. Through collaboration among MU Extension, FAPRI, and RaFF, the seminar series brings tailored insights to Missouri’s diverse agricultural regions through in-person events hosted across the state.
Agricultural cooperatives depend on talented, informed board and management leaders who understand the importance of effective governance, strategic decision-making, and creating long-term value for their member-owners. The University of Missouri’s nationally recognized Graduate Institute of Cooperative Leadership (GICL) equips cooperative leaders with research-based information and practical insights to strengthen producer-owned and controlled enterprises.
GICL’s flagship Summer Institute has produced more than 2,600 global alumni, alongside hundreds of cooperative leaders and stakeholders engaged annually through its programs
Since 1971, GICL has advanced cooperative leadership through research, education, and direct engagement programs that bring together cooperative executives, directors, emerging leaders, and industry stakeholders. Its flagship program is the annual Summer Institute, complemented by initiatives that extend GICL’s reach, including a podcast focused on cooperative board governance. Together, these programs translate research into solutions, foster peer learning, and provide timely resources that help cooperative leaders navigate challenges while advancing the long-term success of the cooperative business model. Visit the GICL website and follow them on LinkedIn to learn more about its programs and impact.
Tax professionals serving agricultural producers and rural communities face an evolving landscape of federal tax policy, legislative changes, and issues unique to farm businesses. MU Extension provides trusted, research-based education and training that helps tax preparers stay current, earn professional continuing education credits, and better serve their clients.
“The MU tax school… has been invaluable to my work serving farmers and preparing farm tax returns.” – 2025 Summer Tax School attendee
For more than a decade, over 3,000 attendees have earned 30,000 hours of continuing education credit through MU Extension tax programming. The annual Summer and Fall Tax Schools offer complementary educational opportunities designed to meet the ongoing needs of tax professionals. Summer programming focuses on emerging tax issues and topics affecting agriculture and rural communities, while the Fall Tax School draws on MU Extension’s membership in the National Land Grant University Tax Education Foundation to combine nationally developed curriculum with Missouri-specific expertise. Together, these programs help professionals stay informed as tax laws, regulations, and guidance continue to evolve.