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
U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) waves while walking outside the West Wing of the White House in Washington, U.S. November 18, 2021.
Ag Policy
Manchin Blocks Biden’s Build Back Better Climate and Social Agenda, What Happens Now?
Lawmakers may have left town, but centrist Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) left no doubt that he cannot support President Biden’s $1.75 trillion social and climate spending plan, imperiling the president’s agenda.
September 19, 2022 09:31 PM
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Jim Wiesemeyer
food lion supermarket produce department
Ag Policy
Could Food Prices Ease in 2023? USDA’s New Consumer Food Price Forecast Has a Bit of Good News
USDA raised its consumer food price forecast again, to 8.5% to 9.5% for 2022. The agency had initially predicted a 2% to 3% rise in prices. Eggs, fats and oils, and poultry prices are making the biggest gains.
July 25, 2022 02:50 PM
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Jim Wiesemeyer
Drought pasture
Ag Policy
Senators Call On USDA To Improve ERP Disaster Assistance For Producers
Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) led their colleagues in requesting USDA to address ERP implementation issues. ERP helps producers offset impacts of natural disasters that occurred in 2020 and 2021.
July 15, 2022 01:45 PM
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Jim Wiesemeyer
Exports by Canva
Ag Policy
Labor Contract Negotiations Continue Past Deadline at Some of America’s Most Important Ports
U.S. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh remained optimistic about contract negotiations between workers and shipping companies for some of the country’s most important ports, even as talks extend past a previous deadline.
July 14, 2022 03:42 PM
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Jim Wiesemeyer
Pumping Gas in Pennsylvania
Ag Policy
CPI Shows Inflation Surged to 9.1% in June — the Highest Level Since November 1981
The CPI, an inflation gauge measuring what consumers pay for goods and services, rose 1.3% from May to June. Prices were up across the economy, with gasoline far outpacing other categories, up 11.2%.
July 14, 2022 03:42 PM
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Jim Wiesemeyer
Both ERP and the previously announced Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP) are funded by a bill President Biden signed into law in 2021. The law provided $10 billion from taxpayers to help agricultural producers impacted by wildfires, droughts, hurricanes, winter storms and other eligible disasters experienced during calendar years 2020 and 2021, of which $750 million is committed to livestock producers who experienced losses to drought or wildfire in calendar year 2021.
Ag Policy
USDA Reveals Farmers Have Received More Than $4 Billion in ERP Payouts to Date
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced agricultural producers have already received more than $4 billion through the Emergency Relief Program (formerly WHIP+), representing 67% of the $6 billion projected to be paid.
July 13, 2022 03:27 PM
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Jim Wiesemeyer
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
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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
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
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