James W. "Jim" Nichols (born June 19, 1946) is an American farmer and politician.
Nichols lives in Lake Benton, Lincoln County, Minnesota and is a farmer. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Minnesota Morris. Nichols served in the Minnesota Senate from 1977 to 1981 and was a Democrat. He then served as the commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture from 1982 to 1990.