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Missouri eases diesel, truck weight restrictions for harvest

Missouri is temporarily allowing farmers and ag haulers to use dyed diesel on state highways and haul heavier loads to reduce harvest transportation costs.

Governor Mike Kehoe declared a state of emergency and signed an executive order on Wednesday.

“Record high diesel prices are something farmers are dealing with,” he says. “This little bit of help we wanted to give to the agriculture industry will hopefully be a little bit of relief for them that ends up translating into market prices and the retail price of products at the stores.”

The commercial vehicle weight limitations for ag transportation have increased from 88,000 to 90,000 pounds.

“If they end up taking nine loads to the elevator instead of ten, because they could add 2,000 pounds onto the first nine loads, that can make a big differences.”

Missouri ag organizations, including the Missouri Corn Growers Association, the Missouri Soybean Association and Missouri Farm Bureau, say the action will be helpful to farmers trying to make harvest work.

Kehoe says the executive order went into effect September 30 and remains in effect for 30 days.