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
FILE PHOTO: A worker collects used cooking oil offloaded into a filter at Lootah Biofuels factory, in Dubai
Soybeans
Policy Changes in Brazil Could Curb Controversial Used Cooking Shipments Into the U.S.
Brazil’s amendments to its domestic policies and increasing biodiesel mandates are likely to reduce the availability of used cooking oil for export, potentially reshaping its role in the global biofuel market.
November 22, 2024 11:36 AM
 · 
Jim Wiesemeyer
Rally for Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump, in New York
Politics
Trump’s Cabinet Nominees Now Up Odds for Expanding U.S. Trade/Economic War with China
Trump taps Howard Lutnick for Commerce Secretary, signaling tariff-heavy trade strategy. Lutnick has called the tariffs a negotiating tool that could be used to convince other countries to bring down their own levies or to force companies to move production to the U.S.
November 20, 2024 09:42 AM
 · 
Jim Wiesemeyer
Farm Bill Capitol Hill Washington DC Government Legislation - Lindsey Pound
Politics
Ag Groups Say Stabenow’s Lame-Duck Farm Bill is Lame; Gets Lambasted for Timing, Details
Senate Ag Chair Debbie Stabenow finally released the full text of the Senate farm bill on Monday, but it’s already drawing intense criticism. Even usually optimistic House Ag Chair GT Thompson signaled it’s time to focus on a 2018 farm bill extension by year’s end.
November 19, 2024 03:04 PM
 · 
Jim Wiesemeyer
Farm Bill
Ag Economy
Stabenow Finally Releases Full Text of Senate Farm Bill; Here’s What It Means for Agriculture
The Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act, which builds on the proposal Stabenow released in May, includes $39 billion in new resources “to keep farmers farming, families fed and rural communities strong.”
November 18, 2024 11:35 AM
 · 
Jim Wiesemeyer
A field worker picks strawberries in Oxnard, California
Politics
U.S. Ag, Food Industry Groups Express Significant Concerns About Trump’s Proposed Mass Deportation Plans
Ag industry groups recognize the crucial role that immigrant workers play in the U.S. food system. They emphasize that these workers often take on physically demanding jobs that many American-born workers are unwilling to do.
November 15, 2024 02:58 PM
 · 
Jim Wiesemeyer
Washington DC
News
President-elect Trump Names Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Head Of Department of Health and Human Services
Nomination sparks debate over Kennedy’s anti-vaccine stance and Senate support
November 14, 2024 03:58 PM
 · 
Jim Wiesemeyer
gavel2
Taxes and Finance
AFBF Terminates Illinois Farm Bureau’s Membership, Now Illinois is Filing a Lawsuit
A letter from AFBF President Zippy Duvall to state Farm Bureau presidents said the action comes after a failed mediation session on Monday. The move is in retaliation for a decision by the Illinois Farm Bureau’s affiliate, Country Financial, to drop a Farm Bureau membership eligibility requirement for non-farm insurance policy holders in Illinois.
November 14, 2024 09:23 AM
 · 
Jim Wiesemeyer
FILE PHOTO: U.S. Senate Republicans meet to vote on leadership positions on Capitol Hill in Washington
Politics
Why John Thune’s Election as Senate Majority Leader is Considered Beneficial for U.S. Agriculture
Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) wins Majority Leader race. Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) was eliminated on the first ballot. And Thune beat Sen. John Cornyn (R-Tex.) 29-24 on the second ballot.
November 13, 2024 01:50 PM
 · 
Jim Wiesemeyer
FILE PHOTO: Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump holds a rally in Concord
Politics
Trump Taps Lee Zeldin to Lead EPA; What Does It Signal for Agriculture?
Trump stated that Zeldin would “ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions” to “unleash the power of American businesses.” The administration aims to maintain “the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet” while pursuing deregulation.
November 12, 2024 09:36 AM
 · 
Jim Wiesemeyer
FILE PHOTO: The U.S. Department of Agriculture is seen in Washington
Politics
Who Will Be the Next U.S. Secretary of Agriculture?
Now that the election results are in, the parlor game of who President-elect Donald Trump will tap to serve on his Cabinet has returned, and there’s a host of possibilities.
November 07, 2024 12:44 PM
 · 
Jim Wiesemeyer
Load More