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
Vote
Politics
Ballot Counts Continue as Some Republicans Suggest a Break From Trump
“I strongly believe Trump should no longer be the face of the Republican Party,” said former Representative Peter King of New York, a longtime Trump supporter.
November 10, 2022 04:02 PM
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Jim Wiesemeyer
There have now been 262 commercial flocks affected with HPAI in 2022.
Poultry
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
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Jim Wiesemeyer
Voter in Pennsylvania
Politics
‘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
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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."
Politics
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
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Jim Wiesemeyer
Corn Harvest, Lindsey Pound
Politics
Mexico to Proceed with GMO Corn Ban
Mexico says it is on track to halve its U.S. imports of yellow corn and will look to make direct deals with farmers in the U.S., Argentina and Brazil who produce non-GMO corn to secure the remaining supplies.
October 28, 2022 11:18 AM
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Jim Wiesemeyer
Gas pump nozzle, Somerville, Massachusetts
Politics
Saudi Arabia Accuses Unnamed Countries of Using Emergency Oil Reserves to Manipulate Markets
U.S. officials are bracing for another potential oil price surge in December, if a European embargo on Russian oil goes into effect and the Saudis refuse to increase production to make up for the drop in oil supply.
October 26, 2022 11:00 AM
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Jim Wiesemeyer
Hurricane Ian. Reuters.Marco Bello
Weather
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
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Jim Wiesemeyer
Diesel, Lindsey Pound
Politics
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
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Jim Wiesemeyer
Ukraine Ag Flag_AdobeStock
Politics
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
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Jim Wiesemeyer
It's the final tranche of oil from a program the White House began earlier this year, and it plans to replenish the emergency stockpile by purchasing barrels of West Texas Intermediate crude when prices are at or below $67 to $72 per barrel.
Politics
Biden to Tap Final 15 Million Barrels of Oil Reserves, but Could Go Further
The 15 million barrels from the country’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) are the final part of a 180-million-barrel release announced in March and does not constitute a further release.
October 19, 2022 01:16 PM
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Jim Wiesemeyer
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