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
Bank Security
Industry
High Interest Rates Are Already Impacting Farmers, And It’s Coming at the Expense of Ag Loans
Farmers are opting to tap into their savings from recent prosperous years instead of taking out loans at the highest interest rates since 2007, according to surveys conducted by regional Federal Reserve banks.
October 20, 2023 09:50 AM
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Jim Wiesemeyer
US-Europe-Tariffs
Ag Policy
The U.S. And Europe Are At Odds Over Trump-Era Tariffs, And It’s Now Causing Strained Relations
While the U.S. and EU aim to make progress during an upcoming summit, reaching a final agreement is uncertain. This issue has significant implications for U.S./EU ties, climate goals, and geopolitics.
October 16, 2023 12:11 PM
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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
Trade Relations Between the U.S. and China Just Got Even More Complicated
China’s Commerce minister expressed concerns over trade and tech restrictions to U.S. Senate Majority Leader this week. That’s as the U.S. Commerce Department added 42 more Chinese companies to the export blacklist.
October 10, 2023 02:28 PM
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Jim Wiesemeyer
Congress
Ag Policy
Hamas-Israel War Gets U.S. Lawmakers’ Attention; May Impact House Speakership Vote
The attack on Israel by Hamas adds urgency to GOP efforts to elect a new House speaker. The need to focus on Israel may help get a House GOP leadership decision this week, several lawmakers said.
October 09, 2023 08:45 AM
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Jim Wiesemeyer
Congress. Photo: Philip, Adobe Stock
Ag Policy
The Government Didn’t Shut Down, And That’s Good News For The Farm Bill
With the government funding in place for now, work on a new farm bill can continue, with the same questions (timing, funding, Title 1 reform, etc.) still being unanswered.
October 02, 2023 09:47 AM
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Jim Wiesemeyer
FILE PHOTO: A view shows oil pump jacks outside Almetyevsk in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia June 4, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo
Ag Policy
Crude Awakening: Rising Oil Prices Complicate Fed’s Rate-Hike Decisions
As brent crude futures soar toward $100, it’s creating a new battle in the Federal Reserve’s effort to fight inflation. One money manager warns another rate hike is likely.
September 20, 2023 04:16 PM
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Jim Wiesemeyer
Sow housing
Ag Policy
Triumph Foods Sues Massachusetts for Question 3 Compliance
Pork processor Triumph and others dispute legality of a Massachusetts law about sow housing regulations.
July 27, 2023 02:26 PM
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Jim Wiesemeyer
Cash/Money_Canva
Hog Production
Food Inflation Outlook for 2023 Drops Below Previous Projections
For 2024, USDA projects that food price inflation will be lower than that seen in 2023 and significantly lower than the rise seen in 2022.
July 26, 2023 03:34 PM
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Jim Wiesemeyer
Young corn plants - lake - pond - water - WOTUS - sunset - scenic - By Lindsey Pound 2
Ag Policy
WOTUS Meetings on the Calendar with New Recommendations in Tow
EPA has been asked to exclude ditches from the definition of federal waters, include wetlands when they can’t be distinguished from navigable waters, and erase the independent interstate waters and wetlands category.
July 25, 2023 02:51 PM
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Jim Wiesemeyer
land - aerial - Lindsey Pound
Ag Policy
New Farmland Bill Would Create a Public Database for Foreign Land Ownership
The Farmland Security Act of 2023 seeks to further boost transparency in foreign ownership of U.S. farmland.
July 21, 2023 10:07 PM
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Jim Wiesemeyer
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