Gov. Reynolds signs harvest weight exemption

Gov. Reynolds signs harvest weight exemption
Sep 18, 2023

The exemption increases the weight allowance by 12.5 percent

By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has signed a proclamation allowing more goods to be transported on the roadways during the harvest season.

On Sept. 11, Gov. Reynolds signed the 2023 Harvest Weight Proclamation.

This will be in effect until Oct. 11 and allows overweight transportation of corn, soybeans hay, fertilizer and more.

“This action is intended to allow vehicles transporting soybeans, corn, hay, straw, silage, stover, fertilizer (dry, liquid and gas) and manure (dry and liquid) to be overweight, not exceeding 90,000 pounds gross weight, without a permit, but only for the duration of this proclamation,” the document reads.

The proclamation will be in place until Oct. 11.

Iowa farmers are happy with this proclamation, which the governor has signed in years past.

Granting this temporary measure will help farmers move more goods and save money, said Jolene Riessen, president of the Iowa Corn Growers Association.

“On behalf of Iowa’s farmers, we extend our gratitude to Governor Reynolds for approval of this proclamation as it is a tremendous help for Iowa’s corn farmers,” she said in a statement. “With the extended weight, a 500-acre Iowa corn farmer would require 12 fewer truckloads and a 1000-acre Iowa corn farmer would require 25 fewer truckloads, which is both a time saver and a fuel saver.”

One state has already implemented a similar proclamation this year.

In Illinois, Harvest Permits are available.

These permits allow trucks hauling ag commodities to exceed the legal gross, axle and registered weights by up to 10 per cent.

These permits are available through the Department of Transportation until Dec. 31.

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