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3. 2026 Extension Risk Management Education National Conference

Better Land Decisions Start with AgSite

Ryan Milhollin and Mallory Rahe

Summary

When evaluating an existing farm, considering a new property, or planning a farmland lease, access to reliable land information can reduce financial and management risks. Agricultural producers can use online mapping tools to turn publicly available data into actionable insights about environmental risks that affect land purchasing and management decisions.

This session will highlight recent educational efforts and outcomes to help producers use an interactive mapping tool, AgSite (agsite.missouri.edu), developed by University of Missouri Extension and the Center for Applied Research and Engagement Systems (CARES). Launched in 2013, AgSite has been recently updated with an improved interface and expanded data layers covering all U.S. states. AgSite reports are available at no cost to users and can be easily printed or saved as PDF files. Farmers have used AgSite reports to negotiate farm lease rates, explore potential properties for expansion opportunities, and to apply for loans.

Participants will learn how to use AgSite to outline a farm or field and instantly generate a comprehensive land report. Report topics include demographics; hydrologic features such as streams, wetlands, and aquifers; land use; soils and productivity indexes; environmental concerns such as flood risk, sinkhole susceptibility, and endangered species; and long-term climate trends. AgSite reports also include access to data maps, educational information and descriptions of each data source to support further analysis.

By the end of the session, educators will understand how AgSite can be used to help farmers and landowners make more informed decisions related to land use, farm development, and future investments.

Details

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