Iowa Extends Agricultural Transport Proclamation
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Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds extended again the state’s annual harvest proclamation through Dec. 11 enabling overweight load limits on the transportation of grain, fertilizer and manure.
The Nov. 9 extension, effective immediately, is the second time Reynolds has prolonged the state of disaster emergency in a harvest proclamation initially issued Sept. 11.
The proclamation allows vehicles to transport without a permit overweight loads while moving corn, soybeans, hay, straw, silage, stover, fertilizer (dry, liquid and gas), and manure (dry and liquid) through Dec. 11.
Reynolds’ order for the grain harvest season stated that “concerns over a timely harvest have resulted in large amounts of agricultural truck traffic throughout the state and has hastened the need for efficient and effective collection of the harvest.”
Reynolds
The decree applies to agricultural loads transported on all Iowa highways (except interstates) and those less than 90,000 pounds gross weight that do not exceed either the maximum axle weight limits determined by state law by more than 12.5% or the legal maximum axle weight limit of 20,000 pounds. In addition, vehicles with overweight loads must comply with posted weight limits on roads and bridges.
The order directs the Iowa Department of Public Safety to “monitor the operation of this proclamation to ensure the public’s safety and facilitate the movement of trucks involved in our state’s harvesting season.”
As the harvest season comes to a close, the state Department of Transportation has begun an online survey of Iowa farmers to learn about their informational needs on road safety, permitting, commercial driver licenses, vehicle size and weight restrictions, and equipment movements on state roads. It also took to social media to issue road safety and crash warnings about harvest season “unsettling deer out of the relative safety of the farm fields and into more open areas.”
Hello Iowa farmers! We’re conducting a short survey to find out what information you need from us related to road safety, permitting, CDLs, size and weight restrictions, and the movement of equipment on Iowa roads.
Complete the survey today at https://t.co/9dubSMLrbl pic.twitter.com/lvrz59XgPa — Iowa DOT (@iowadot) November 12, 2023
The latest Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report (from Oct. 30 through Nov. 5) noted that corn harvested for grain reached 89% statewide, which was one day ahead of last year and 10 days earlier than the five-year average, according to the state Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.
In the same time period, the fall harvest of Iowa’s soybean crop neared completion at 97%, which was similar to last year’s pace but nine days earlier than average.
Naig
“Corn and soybean harvest is beginning to wind down thanks to more agreeable weather, though there is still plenty of farm and field work left to finish up yet this fall,” state Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig said.
Brian Gallagher, agricultural statistician for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Iowa, noted in a crop progress report that colder than normal temperatures but dry weather led to six days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending Nov. 5.
“Fieldwork,” he noted, “included harvesting corn and soybeans, completing fall tillage, applying fall fertilizer, baling stalks and hauling manure.”
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