News

AG groups urge fast action on Highway Bill

Ag groups are urging Congress to act on the Highway Bill that faces a March 31st deadline. The Senate passed a version of the bill last week with strong bipartisan support. It contains two amendments that American Farm Bureau (AFBF) Transportation Specialist Andrew Walmsley says are crucial for agricultural commerce.

The first amendment deals with farm trucks, Walmsley say, “These exemptions, basically, make it easier for a farmer to get his product to market especially if he happens to be in a county bordering another state.”

Walmsley says the amendment would prevent farmers from being treated as commercial truck drivers subject to a bunch of new regulations if they only go across the state line a couple of miles.

The other Highway Bill amendment deals with an “hours of service” exemption, “There’s a limited number of hours that trucks can operate,” says Walmsley, “This becomes burdensome for farmers and agricultural companies that service farmers during very busy times of the year – when planting and harvesting – so, this amendment allows states to determine their planting and harvest season to waive those regulations.”

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) lobbyist Ken Bacus says farmers and ranchers “are not professional truck drivers” and shouldn’t be treated like them. Subjecting farmers to those additional costs and regulations, he says, would be unfair.

The U.S. House is leaning toward a longer term Highway Bill besides a two-year extension, but given the short deadline, Walmsley says a more comprehensive bill is not likely to pass.