ND Department of Agriculture Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FEBRUARY 27, 2008

STATE AG LEADERS BACK BILL ON HIGHWAY WEIGHT LIMITS

BISMARCK – The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) is on record in support of federal legislation allowing agricultural producers to use the 26,001-pound weight limit when transporting crops, livestock and equipment across state lines.

“House Resolution 3098 will provide much-needed uniformity between state and federal laws,” said North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson. “Under existing federal regulations, farmers using their own vehicles to transport their own crops or livestock can get caught up in the same regulations that apply to individuals operating commercial motor vehicles for hire year-round.”

Johnson, who is president of NASDA, and Oklahoma Agriculture Commissioner Terry Peach, who chairs NASDA’s Rural Development & Financial Security Committee, wrote a letter to Rep. James Oberstar (MN), chairman of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, and other congressional leaders, urging them to support the measure.

Johnson said the legislation, introduced by Reps. Dan Boren (OK), Mary Fallin (OK) and Robert Aderholt (AL) clarifies the situation regarding agricultural vehicles by changing the current definition of a commercial motor vehicle from 10,001 pounds to 26,001 pounds.

“This would allow farmers and ranchers, especially those who may travel only short distances but whose best markets are just across a state line, to continue to conduct their agricultural business on highways,” Johnson said. “It also provides growers the opportunity to capture the best price for their products.”

NASDA members, the agriculture commissioners, secretaries and directors of the 50 states and four territories, adopted a resolution in support of the legislation at their recent midwinter meeting in Washington.

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MEDIA: For more information, please call Ted Quanrud at (701) 328-2233 or tquanrud@nd.gov or Patrice Lahlum at (701) 239-7210 or plahlum@nd.gov.