Michelle Johnson

High Plains Journal • 02/28/2026

Your numbers only tell half the story—here’s the rest - High Plains Journal

Farmers are diligent about watching what they can see. Crops are scouted. Livestock health is monitored. Markets are checked daily. But many operations go years without a clear checkup on the financial health of the business itself.


In today’s environment of tighter margins, higher interest rates, and rising input costs, that lack of visibility can quietly increase risk.


In agriculture, it’s easy to blame the market. Soybean prices soften. Input costs fluctuate. Interest rates shift. Weath...

High Plains Journal • 01/16/2026

A new year's checklist for borrowers: What ag lenders want to see - High Plains Journal

As 2026 gets underway, many producers are navigating a familiar mix of uncertainty and resolve. Input costs remain elevated, margins are tighter for many operations, and lenders are taking a closer look at risk than they have in recent years.


For producers who may need financing this year—whether for operating loans, refinancing, or long-term planning—understanding what ag lenders are watching can help turn a cautious environment into a workable one.


Agriculture lenders are entering 2026 w...

High Plains Journal • 12/19/2025

Help wanted: Seeking a legacy heir - High Plains Journal

The holidays have a way of bringing families back to the same table where so many important decisions have been made over the years.


As stories are shared and traditions passed down, many producers find themselves wondering about the future: Who will carry this farm forward? These moments of togetherness can be the perfect time to talk openly about the legacy you’ve built—and how to ensure it continues for the next generation.


Many retiring operators haven’t developed a clear plan for pass...

High Plains Journal • 11/21/2025

How OBBB has changed FSA program requirements - High Plains Journal

The One Big Beautiful Bill may have extended the 2018 farm bill, but it also introduced several adjustments that leave producers wondering what comes next. From adjusted gross income qualifications to expanded program rules, there’s still a fair amount of uncertainty—yet also opportunity—for those willing to stay proactive.


I recently sat down with Pinion Farm Program leaders to discuss what farmers and ranchers should keep in mind as they prepare for the year ahead. Staying informed and keep...

Pinion Global • 02/23/2026

How Nonprofits are Flipping the Script on Fiscal Year-End Strategy | Pinion Global

For nonprofit leaders, fiscal year-end can feel like a race to the finish line. Financial reporting deadlines, compliance reviews, HR requirements, audit preparation, and donor accountability all converge at once — often while teams are already stretched thin.
But this season doesn’t have to be reactive. When approached strategically, it becomes a powerful opportunity to strengthen internal controls, reduce risk, and create clarity that supports better decision-making all year long.
Here’s how l...

HopSkipDrive • 02/18/2026

Efficient McKinney-Vento Transportation in the Bay Area

School transportation in California has long faced significant challenges. Unlike other states where nearly 40% of students rely on school buses, only 8% of California’s public-school students use them. This disparity stems largely from historical funding constraints, particularly Proposition 13, which limited property tax increases in 1978 and drastically reduced school transportation budgets. The impacts of these funding cuts persist today, exacerbated by a growing student population and risin...

HopSkipDrive • 02/18/2026

5 ways HopSkipDrive can help with summer transportation for kids

Children across the U.S. are currently enjoying the slower pace of summer vacation, but that doesn’t mean learning has to stop. This season poses the risk of the dreaded “summer slide,” where academic skills dwindle. Additionally, there’s the added concern about a rise in screen time for kids. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children spend an average of seven hours a day on screens. This figure is likely to skyrocket without the structure and routine of school. That’s why there’...

Pinion Global • 02/05/2026

Turning 45Z Incentives Into Long-Term Stability | Pinion Global

The Clean Fuel Production Credit, known as 45Z, has quickly become one of the most financially significant incentives the biofuels industry has ever seen. For many producers, it offers a rare combination of meaningful per-gallon incentives, immediate monetization through transferable credits, and strong federal support for lower-carbon fuels.
But alongside this opportunity comes an equally powerful force: uncertainty.
Funk recommends evaluating a financial strategy that might include strategic f...

Pinion Global • 02/05/2026

Is Your Operation Ready for What May Come in 2026? | Pinion Global

As you navigate a year marked by sharp swings in policy, costs, and demand — alongside nagging questions surrounding aging ownership/board demographics, timing of ERP replacements, and consolidation considerations — it’s worth taking a step back to assess the fundamentals that keep your operation steady.
Talent stability is becoming a higher priority as consolidation continues, ownership demographics shift, and operational complexity increases. A competitive benefits package can play a critical...

Pinion Global • 01/30/2026

Become a High-Performing Financial Institution by Acting Like One | Pinion Global

Many institutions finish their annual planning cycle with a polished strategy document — but very little momentum.
The difference between a plan that gathers dust and one that drives results often comes down to how the process is designed and how it’s treated as a business discipline.
Traditional strategic planning often centers on financial forecasts, risk mitigation, and regulatory expectations. While those elements are essential, they’re not sufficient on their own.
When planning becomes over...

Pinion Global • 01/23/2026

Work Opportunity Tax Credit in Limbo | Pinion Global

As manufacturers and other industrial employers — including biofuels and food and beverage processors — continue to navigate workforce shortages, rising labor costs, and margin pressure, tax incentives like the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) have played an important role in offsetting hiring costs. That’s why news of the credit’s expiration at the end of 2025 has raised questions across these industries.
While the WOTC officially sunset on December 31, 2025, history suggests this may not be...

Pinion Global • 12/16/2025

How Peer Groups Help Food and Ag Companies Advance Sustainability | Pinion Global

Long before sustainability reports and climate risk assessments, farmers were already practicing a form of collective learning. They compared notes in grain elevators, shared weather insights at the feed store, and traded planting advice across fence lines. Those informal exchanges laid the groundwork for a tradition that continues today: learning together to solve shared challenges.
As agriculture modernized, so did these learning circles. The late 20th century saw new frameworks emerge like In...

Pinion Global • 12/15/2025

5 Traits of Successful Producers | Pinion Global

Ag businesses today face the same complex mix of challenges, but it’s the forward-thinking producers that make strategic-based decisions year-round who build the most resilient, adaptable businesses that can survive — and thrive — under pressure.
Here are the 5 things that successful producers do to maintain a strong business throughout the year:
Strong financial strategy isn’t just about minimizing taxes — it’s about positioning your operation for sustainable, scalable growth.
Across today’s ag...

Pinion Global • 12/03/2025

Avoid Delays in the Construction Loan Draw Process | Pinion Global

Managing a construction project efficiently depends on more than just skilled crews and blueprints — it hinges on streamlined project finances. When loan draw requests are delayed, subcontractors wait for payment, suppliers hold back materials, and projects risk coming to a halt. Lenders, meanwhile, need confidence that work is complete, documentation is accurate, and lien risk is controlled before funds are released.
With the right financial systems, processes, and strategies in place, you can...

Pinion Global • 11/13/2025

Bridging the Agricultural Gap: Connecting Transitioning Farmers With Future Farmers | Pinion Global

Changes in land ownership and the farming workforce are unfolding across U.S. agriculture. Among key drivers is the aging population of American farmers and ranchers. Yet many don’t have a clear plan for what happens next.
Enlisting the help of an Ag advisor can reveal opportunities where farmers least expect them, allowing them to protect what they’ve built while opening doors for the next generation.
Retirement is a major milestone, and it deserves careful planning. Over the next decade, many...

Pinion Global • 11/12/2025

The Key to Surviving Today’s Ag Economy? Knowing Where You Stand | Pinion Global

Maya Angelou’s words ring true: “You can’t really know where you’re going until you know where you have been.” It’s a truth that applies as much to life as it does to farmers navigating today’s uncertain economy.
In a time when agriculture faces more volatility than ever — shifting markets, rising costs, and unpredictable conditions — knowing exactly where you stand is the first step toward navigating what comes next.
With 2025 nearly behind us, it’s natural to look ahead. But taking a moment to...

Pinion Global • 10/29/2025

Preparing for 45Z: Operating Amid Uncertainty | Pinion Global

The 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit, first introduced under the Inflation Reduction Act and refined through the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB), is shifting once again. While many of the details are still being finalized, biofuel producers don’t have the luxury of waiting for certainty. The time to prepare — and strengthen your verification and communication strategies — is now.
To help you prepare, Pinion biofuels business advisors outline four proactive steps to strengthen your position ahead o...

Pinion Global • 10/29/2025

How Aligned Is Your Business — Really? | Pinion Global

There’s no ‘I’ in team. It’s more than a motivational cliché. In a complex operation, it’s a reminder that success doesn’t come from one department alone — it comes from how well your entire business works together.
When teams stay in their own silos — when production doesn’t talk to finance, or marketing doesn’t understand grain procurement — things fall through the cracks. Decisions are delayed. Costs creep up. Energy gets wasted.
It’s important for operations to proactively seek to improve al...

Pinion Global • 10/27/2025

Preparing for a Penny-Free Economy | Pinion Global

In fiscal year 2024, the U.S. Mint’s total cost to produce, manage, and distribute a single penny — including materials, labor, distribution, and overhead — was 3.69 cents, nearly four times its face value. This imbalance resulted in a seigniorage loss of about $85.3 million for the year.
With the U.S. Treasury slated to end penny production in early 2026, many financial institutions and businesses are already experiencing shortages. While pennies will remain legal tender, their gradual phase-ou...

High Plains Journal • 10/26/2025

Preparing your operation for tough markets and better days ahead - High Plains Journal

Crop prices have eased back to levels we haven’t seen in several years and many producers are feeling the pinch. In real terms, after adjusting for inflation, corn and soybean prices are hovering near their weakest levels in nearly two decades—even as input costs, machinery prices, and global trade pressures continue to rise.


Add in tighter export markets and ongoing tariff uncertainty, and it’s clear that today’s margins are under strain.


But while the numbers may not look encouraging, th...

Pinion Global • 10/24/2025

Strengthening Mobile Banking Defenses Against Cyber Attacks | Pinion Global

The rapid adoption of mobile and digital banking has created tremendous opportunities for financial institutions to meet customer demand for convenience. But it has also opened new pathways for cybercriminals and state-sponsored hackers. Recent FBI warnings and international intelligence assessments underscore that mobile banking applications are actively targeted — and in some cases exploited as part of larger nation-state campaigns.
One of the most recent and significant threats is the Chinese...

Pinion Global • 09/26/2025

Take Control of Cash Flow During Economic Shifts in Manufacturing | Pinion Global

Cash flow management isn’t just a survival tactic when times get tough — it’s a discipline you need in both good and bad times. Recent years have shown how quickly the ground can shift: supply chain challenges, economic fluctuations, and post-COVID demand swings have left many manufacturers with inflated inventories and tough decisions about pricing and production.
Instead, Mentele recommends focusing on fundamentals — with better data, sharper cost visibility, and smarter forecasting — you can...

High Plains Journal • 09/26/2025

5 ways the OBBB gives farmers flexibility and financial clarity - High Plains Journal

Editor’s note: Pinion Global’s Keaton Dugan is a new columnist to replace Maxson Irsik.


The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law on July 4, has become a common topic around kitchen tables across farm country. Some producers are optimistic, others are skeptical, and many are simply trying to wrap their heads around the nearly 900 pages of changes.


To help make sense of it, this article takes a closer look at five provisions with practical implications for farmers. Whether you’re thin...

Pinion Global • 08/27/2025

The Most Essential Business Strategy for Manufacturers in 2025 | Pinion Global

The truth is, AI isn’t here to take your job — it’s here to unlock your potential. By tackling inefficiencies and streamlining workflows, it’s helping manufacturers work smarter, faster, and more competitively. The real opportunity lies in treating AI not as a buzzword, but as a powerful business tool.
Gone are the days when business decisions were made based on gut instinct and spreadsheets alone. Imagine your forecasts adjusting in real time, your financial models flagging risks before you see...

Pinion Global • 08/14/2025

New to Land Ownership? Here are 5 Tips to Manage Your Land Wisely | Pinion Global

Did you just buy or inherit farmland? If so, you’re now part of the largest land transition in U.S. history, and what you do next matters more than ever. 
Over the next two decades, more than $24 trillion in American farmland and agricultural assets is expected to change hands as farmers retire. This historic shift presents both opportunity and responsibility for new landowners. 
As Quint Shambaugh, Pinion Land Advisor, puts it: 
If you’re unsure what to do next, here are four important steps to...

Pinion Global • 08/08/2025

Advantages of Peer Groups for Business Leaders | Pinion Global

With the ease of connectivity and virtual meetings a mainstay today, many business leaders are syncing up with peers who better relate to their business challenges, strategies, and decisions.
“It’s lonely at the top” isn’t just a saying for many business leaders — it’s a lived experience. The responsibility of decisions, long hours, and distance from others in similar roles can feel isolating. In fact, nearly half of CEOs report feeling lonely, and 61% say it affects their performance (RHR Inter...

Pinion Global • 07/16/2025

Key Tax Changes and Strategic Moves for Equipment Dealers | Pinion Global

If you sell, rent, or service heavy equipment, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) just rewrote a big part of your tax playbook.
This over 800-page piece of sweeping federal legislation touches everything from estate planning to depreciation rules. But what does it mean specifically for your business?
Pinion tax advisors break down the most impactful changes — and what you should do now to get ahead.
One of the biggest wins for equipment dealers: the return of 100% bonus depreciation for qual...

Pinion Global • 06/04/2025

Could You Ensure Success if You Handed Off Your Business Today? | Pinion Global

Is your business ready for a management or leadership transition? If your operations manager resigned tomorrow, would you have a plan – or would you be scrambling? And lastly, what’s stopping you from getting started?If you’d feel unprepared, you’re not alone. Only 35% of organizations have a succession plan in place for their critical roles. But with the right approach, you can ensure your business is prepared for the future, without the panic.1. Start the conversation EARLY. Succession plannin...