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
Katelynn
Beef
Senate Ag Committee Reviews Cattle Market Legislative Proposals
Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.), ranking panel member reveals he had ‘spirited conversations’ and ‘unsuccessfully attempted to secure the expert opinion of the Office of the Chief Economist on S 4030.’
April 26, 2022 02:17 PM
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Jim Wiesemeyer
USDA 2022 food price inflation forecasts already at 14-year high. USDA forecasts for consumer food price inflation were increased again this month, with all food prices now seen rising 5% to 6% and grocery store prices expected to rise 5% to 6%.
Politics
USDA 2022 Food Price Inflation Forecasts Already at 14-Year High, Expected to Rise Even More
USDA’s 2022 food price inflation forecasts are already at a 14-year high with forecasts for consumer food price inflation increased again this month. All food prices now seen rising 5% to 6% vs 4.5% to 5.5% in March.
April 26, 2022 12:11 PM
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Jim Wiesemeyer
The revised legislative proposals calls for the Secretary to establish five to seven “covered regions” that encompass the entire continental U.S. and that reflect similar fed cattle purchasing practices.
Beef
New Texas A&M Analysis on Revised Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act Still Shows Huge Burden on Southern Plains
The Senate Ag Committee will hold a hearing this week on a revised bill that proposes to establish a regional mandatory minimum threshold for the percentage of cattle purchased under negotiated grid or pricing terms.
April 25, 2022 08:33 AM
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Jim Wiesemeyer
Ukraine Agriculture
Planting
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
gas pump
Politics
Biden to Announce Emergency Summertime Sale of E15 During Speech Tuesday in Iowa
Year-round E15 will be announced by President Joe Biden today at a Poet bioethanol facility in Menlo, Iowa. The EPA will make the move official in a waiver closer to the beginning of June.
April 12, 2022 11:22 AM
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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.
Politics
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
Widespread drought wasn't the only factor that caused depleted grazing conditions in the Western U.S. last year. Grasshoppers ravaged hay and grass, causing some livestock producers to liquidate a portion of their herd.
Beef
What You Need To Know About USDA Announcing Payments To Livestock Producers Hammered By Drought, Soaring Feed Costs
USDA says the launch of the Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP) will address increases in supplemental feed costs in 2021. Phase 1 of the payments is expected to total $577 million.
April 04, 2022 11:01 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?
Politics
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.
Politics
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.
Politics
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
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