Summary

Agricultural lending represents both a significant opportunity and a unique challenge for credit unions serving rural communities. As member needs evolve and economic pressures increase across the agricultural sector, credit unions are exploring new ways to deepen relationships, manage risk, and expand access to capital.

This extended breakout workshop brings together experienced credit unions actively engaged in agricultural lending, alongside representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), to provide practical insights and real-world strategies. Participants will gain a clearer understanding of how government guarantee programs can support lending efforts by mitigating risk — often covering a substantial portion of potential loan loss — while enabling credit unions to serve borrowers who may not qualify through conventional channels.

The session will also feature a panel discussion focused on the needs of members in rural and agricultural communities, exploring topics such as access to credit, economic volatility, infrastructure gaps, and the evolving expectations of rural consumers, and more.

Key Takeaways

• Understand the economic and financial challenges facing rural and agricultural members
• Explore ways to deepen relationships, manage risk, and expand access to capital
• Evaluate opportunities to grow agricultural lending portfolios through government-backed lending programs

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Event Date / Time

October 9^th from 1:30 pm — 3:30 pm

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Location