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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
According to Bloomberg, the June spot price in Tampa, Florida, for ammonia nitrogen fertilizer settled at $1,000/metric ton, a 30% drop from May's $1,425/ton.
Fertilizer Prices Just Fell 30% in One Day, Farmers Saw Prices Skyrocket 133% in a Year
Fertilizer prices, led by CF Industries, fell in Thursday’s trading. Nitrogen prices reportedly plunged 30%, partly due to demand destruction.
May 27, 2022 12:16 PM
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Jim Wiesemeyer
Gas pump nozzle, Somerville, Massachusetts
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
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Jim Wiesemeyer
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
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Jim Wiesemeyer
The measures are expected to be announced when President Biden visits a farm today in Illinois include doubling the amount of funding for domestic fertilizer production to $500 million and increasing technical assistance for adoption of precision agriculture methods — USDA programs that use technology and other tools to reduce the use of fertilizer.
White House Set to Announce New Measures to Expand U.S. Crop Production and Reduce Fertilizer Use
The White House is expected to announce plans to insure double cropping in 681 more counties and doubling the amount of funding for domestic fertilizer production to $500M during a visit to an Illinois farm Wednesday.
May 11, 2022 08:37 AM
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Jim Wiesemeyer
Ukraine Agriculture
Ukraine Has Planted 20% of Expected Spring Crops So Far This Year, Says Ukrainian Ag Ministry
Ukraine has planted 2.5 million hectares of spring-planted crops so far this year, 20% of expected area, according to the Ukrainian ag ministry. The country has warned of a potential decline of 20% in 2022 plantings.
April 21, 2022 03:30 PM
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Jim Wiesemeyer
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack said only 1.8 million of the 4 million acres in expiring contracts will be re-enrolled in the program as 52% to 56% of the maturing acres were not offered in the general signup.
Vilsack Says Only 1.8 Mil. of 4 Mil. Expiring CRP Acres Will Be Re-Enrolled
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack provided more details regarding the general CRP signup that ended March 11. He said only 1.8 million of the 4 million acres in expiring contracts will be re-enrolled in the program.
April 06, 2022 11:58 AM
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Jim Wiesemeyer
One possibility for USDA would be to tap the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) Charter Act, the so-called ATM machine for aggies. One source asked: Would any fertilizer aid come in time to impact corn plantings?
Will USDA Tap CCC to Send Fertilizer Price Aid Payments to Farmers?
A growing number of lawmakers, farm groups and farmers are pleading for assistance from still surging fertilizer prices. One possibility for USDA would be to tap the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) Charter Act.
April 01, 2022 09:32 AM
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Jim Wiesemeyer
President Biden's USDA FY 2023 budget proposal focuses on climate, conservation and research with $3.8 billion discretionary spending increase for USDA with climate, conservation and clean energy the major focal points.
Biden’s USDA Budget Proposal Seeks Big CRP Boost with $2.4B to Enroll Targeted 27 Million Acres
President Biden’s USDA FY 2023 budget proposal focuses on climate, conservation and research with $3.8 billion discretionary spending increase for USDA with climate, conservation and clean energy the major focal points.
March 29, 2022 01:05 PM
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Jim Wiesemeyer
Despite interest rate hikes, food inflation remains stubbornly high.
Inflation Already Costing Consumers, USDA Makes Large Upward Revisions in Food Price Forecast
USDA now expects food price inflation in 2022 to be from 4.5% to 5.5%, compared with 2021, based on the all-food Consumer Price Index. No category shows a potential decline.
March 25, 2022 04:35 PM
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Jim Wiesemeyer
Congress
Russian Invasion of Ukraine Overtakes Other Washington Issues as Congress Returns this Week
Congress returns Monday, but to a very different situation due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which is expected to be one of the key issues President Biden talks about during his State of the Union address.
February 28, 2022 10:41 AM
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Jim Wiesemeyer
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