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

Railroad - Grain elevator - Lindsey Pound

Rail Strike Averted Until Dec. 4, Saving U.S. $2 Billion Per Day

Unions are arguing railroads haven’t done enough to address worker concerns, largely surrounding working conditions and paid time off.

November 10, 2022 04:05 PM

Jim Wiesemeyer

There have now been 262 commercial flocks affected with HPAI in 2022.

Expect Thanksgiving Turkey Prices to Skyrocket Thanks to Avian Influenza

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has wreaked havoc on many poultry operations this year. Cases confirmed this week in Iowa, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin total nearly 1.5 million infected birds.

November 10, 2022 03:49 PM

Jim Wiesemeyer

‘Red Wave’ of Voters Did Not Happen: Why Were Poll Predictions So Far Off the Mark?

What caused the polls to shift away from the predicted ‘red wave’ many had suggested? It comes down to multiple factors, including abortion, Trump and voter turnout.

November 09, 2022 05:51 PM

Jim Wiesemeyer

Biden was triumphant on Sunday after Democrats cemented control of the Senate and said the result meant he was going into his meeting with Xi in Bali on Monday "stronger."

China Looks to Move Away from Strict COVID-19 Restrictions as Imports, Exports Slow

Chinese leaders are considering steps toward reopening after nearly three years of tough pandemic restrictions. The news comes as China’s imports and exports slow on rising risks of a global recession.

November 08, 2022 04:22 PM

Jim Wiesemeyer

Florida’s Hurricane Ian Losses Total Over $1 Billion

Nikki Fried, Florida commissioner of ag, says the preliminary assessment is a “first step” in trying to get federal disaster aid for affected producers.

October 25, 2022 03:14 PM

Jim Wiesemeyer

U.S. Diesel Crisis Lingers as Europe Prepares for Russian Oil Ban

Global diesel and distillate fuel stocks have fallen to dangerous levels and the U.S. has been exporting a lot of diesel to Europe and Latin America, but now things are changing.

October 24, 2022 01:37 PM

Jim Wiesemeyer

Ukraine Ag Export Numbers Have Recovered to Prewar Levels

Data from Ukraine’s Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food shows the country shipped 6.9 million metric tons of grain, vegetables and edible oils last month, nearly matching the 7.1 million tons exported in Sept. 2021.

October 20, 2022 02:46 PM

Jim Wiesemeyer

Dredging by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been helpful to keep the traffic flowing, but new challenging spots can surface any day.

New Supply Chain Setbacks: Mississippi River Levels Hit All-Time Low

“The low water disruption will be felt not only by our U.S. producers of food, farm, and fiber but also by U.S. and international consumers as well,” says Friedmann of the Agriculture Transportation Coalition.

October 18, 2022 06:12 PM

Jim Wiesemeyer

Farm Bureau Seeks ‘Unified’ Farm Bill of Ag and Nutrition Aid

American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) released its general new farm bill recommendations on Thursday. First on the AFBF’s list: “protect farm bill program spending.”

October 14, 2022 02:35 PM

Jim Wiesemeyer

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who filed suit in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, likened the situation to the loss of assistance to Black farmers after the Civil War.

Minority Farmers Sue Over Repeal of the Debt Relief Program

The Virginia farmers filing the suit allege repeal of the debt relief effort is a breach of contract by the government, arguing some farmers made financial plans based on the expectation of getting debt relief.

October 13, 2022 01:28 PM

Jim Wiesemeyer