Jim Wiesemeyer

Jim Wiesemeyer is well known to Pro Farmer Members for his long tenure as Washington Bureau Chief for Pro Farmer. Now with agricultural consulting firm Informa Economics, formerly Sparks Companies, Inc., he is still offering his expertise and insight on farm policy, trade policy and Washington politics as a consultant to Pro Farmer. His Inside Washington Today column on AgWeb.com is a must-read item to keep up with the latest in Washington developments.

Latest Stories
Gas pump nozzle, Somerville, Massachusetts
Ag Policy
Biden to Call on Congress to Suspend Gas and Diesel Tax This Summer
The move is contingent on legislative action, which would temporarily lift the 18.3 cents tax per gallon on gasoline and 24 cents tax per gallon on diesel during the summer months.
June 22, 2022 09:04 AM
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Jim Wiesemeyer
Class III milk bounced back after some early selling pressure to finish the day down slightly.
Industry
U.S. Recession Probability Soars as Inflation Pains Worsen
Economists see interest-rate increases raising likelihood of recession to 44% in coming 12 months.
June 21, 2022 02:07 PM
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Jim Wiesemeyer
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Ag Policy
Senate Ag Panel Expected to Vote Wednesday on Controversial Cattle and Meat Measures
The Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act and Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act are both expected to get votes ad approval from the Senate Ag Committee this week, despite expected Republican opposition.
June 20, 2022 11:56 AM
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Jim Wiesemeyer
The over $2 billion package includes previously announced funding to expand meat and poultry processing and to finance new infrastructure such as cold storage facilities, but there $600 million in new aid to support food supply chain infrastructure outside meat processing.
Ag Policy
Vilsack Announces $2B in Funding to Transform U.S. Food System
Transforming the U.S. food system by improving supply chains and addressing issues exposed by the Covid-19 pandemic was detailed by USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack during a speech at Georgetown University.
June 01, 2022 07:38 PM
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Jim Wiesemeyer
China marketplace
Ag Policy
Can China’s Economic Stats Be Trusted?
Shanghai offered some tax rebates for companies and allowed all manufacturers to resume operations from June as authorities rolled out policies to revitalize an economy impacted by Covid-19 lockdowns.
June 01, 2022 08:31 AM
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Jim Wiesemeyer
Researchers at K-State are carving out answers to how COVID-19 survives in processing plants
Ag Policy
USDA Announces More Money for Meat Processing Capacity, New Efforts to Strengthen Food Supply Chain
USDA is making $200 million available to create a new meat processing capacity expansion program, providing $25 million for workforce training under the Meat and Poultry Intermediary Lending Program (MPILP).
May 26, 2022 08:30 AM
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Jim Wiesemeyer
Pork At the Meat Case - Change Driven by Consumer Dollar
Ag Policy
USDA Raises 2022 Food Inflation Forecasts Again, Highest Grocery Food Price Hikes in 42 Years
USDA raised its estimated range of 6.5%-7.5% y/y increase from a range of 5%-6%, according to the May Food Price Outlook report, the highest forecast for all food prices and restaurant prices since 1981.
May 25, 2022 03:31 PM
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Jim Wiesemeyer
Gas pump nozzle, Somerville, Massachusetts
Ag Policy
Diesel Prices Jump 37% in 10 Weeks, Gas Prices Projected to Hit $6.20 by August
The White House is considering waiving U.S. gasoline environmental rules aimed at reducing summertime smog, hoping the waiver will combat rising pump prices, Reuters reported.
May 24, 2022 02:58 PM
 · 
Jim Wiesemeyer
Gregg Doud's negotiations with China’s vice minister of agriculture on an agricultural trade agreement included 33 sessions over the course of a year.
Ag Policy
Who Actually Won the U.S., China Trade War?
The U.S.-China trade war began in July 2018 when the Trump administration imposed tariffs on $550 billion worth of Chinese goods. Nearly four years later, the debate remains as to which country actually won.
May 23, 2022 10:38 AM
 · 
Jim Wiesemeyer
Industry
Filling A Tractor Tank Daily Now Costs Some Farmers $1,000, Double What It Did a Year Ago
U.S. diesel prices are the highest ever, with warnings of shortages, especially in the eastern U.S., and the most intensive part of the farming season is still ahead.
May 20, 2022 03:17 PM
 · 
Jim Wiesemeyer
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