Gov. Branstad signs Harvest Weight proclamation

Proclamation to aid farmers in hauling harvest in an efficient and effective manner

(DES MOINES) – Gov. Terry E. Branstad today signed a proclamation to allow the transportation of overweight loads of soybeans, corn, hay, straw, silage and stover.  The proclamation takes effect tomorrow, September 20, 2016, and expires after 60 days.

“I am pleased today to sign this proclamation to allow Iowa farmers to move their crop yields in an effective and efficient manner,” said Branstad. “Iowa’s farmers are a critical component of Iowa’s economy and this proclamation will ensure they’re able to transport their crop ahead of deteriorating weather conditions.”

This proclamation is intended to allow vehicles transporting soybeans, corn, hay, straw, silage and stover to be overweight, not exceeding 90,000 pounds gross weight, without a permit, but only for the duration of this proclamation.  This action is intended to allow loads transported on all highways within Iowa, excluding the interstate system, and those which do not exceed a maximum of 90,000 pounds gross weight, do not exceed the maximum axle weight limit determined under the non-primary highway maximum gross weight table in Iowa Code §321.463(5) (b), by more than twelve and one-half percent (12.5%), do not exceed the legal maximum axle weight limit of 20,000 pounds, and comply with posted limits on roads and bridges.

The Iowa Department of Transportation is directed to monitor the operation of this proclamation to assure the public’s safety and facilitate the movement of the trucks involved.

The proclamation language can be read here:

WHEREAS, the 2016 grain harvest has begun across Iowa; and

WHEREAS, the optimal conditions this growing season have produced record high yields and has hastened the need for efficient and effective collection; and 

WHEREAS, concerns over a timely harvest has resulted in large amounts of agricultural truck traffic throughout the state; and

WHEREAS, strict compliance with the permit and fee requirements of Iowa Code § 321E.29 and 761 Iowa Admin. Code 511 allowing oversize and overweight divisible loads under certain circumstances will prevent or hinder efforts to cope with this time-sensitive harvest in all counties of our state.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, TERRY E. BRANSTAD, Governor of the State of Iowa, by the power and authority vested in me by the Iowa Constitution Art. IV, §§ 1, 8 and Iowa Code § 29C.6 (1), and all other applicable laws, do hereby proclaim a State of Disaster Emergency for the entire state of Iowa and do hereby ORDER and DIRECT the following:

SECTION One.  Pursuant to Iowa Code §29C.6 (6), I hereby suspend the regulatory provisions of Iowa Code §§321.463 (5) (a), (b), 321E.29 and 761 Iowa Admin. Code 511, to the extent that those provisions restrict the movement of oversize and overweight loads of soybeans, corn, hay, straw, silage and stover, and require a permit to transport such loads. 

SECTION Two.  Suspension of these provisions applies to loads transported on all highways within Iowa, excluding the interstate system, and those which do not exceed a maximum of 90,000 pounds gross weight, do not exceed the maximum axle weight limit determined under the non-primary highway maximum gross weight table in Iowa Code §321.463 (5) (b), by more than twelve and one-half percent (12.5%), do not exceed the legal maximum axle weight limit of 20,000 pounds, and comply with posted limits on roads and bridges. 

SECTION Three.  This action is intended to allow vehicles transporting soybeans, corn, hay, straw, silage and stover to be oversize and overweight, not exceeding 90,000 pounds gross weight, without a permit, but only for the duration of this proclamation.

SECTION Four.  Nothing contained in this declaration shall be construed as an exemption from any other portion of the Iowa Code or Iowa Administrative Code not specifically identified in this proclamation.

SECTION Five.  The Iowa Department of Transportation is hereby directed to monitor the operation of this proclamation to assure the public’s safety and facilitate the movement of trucks involved in our state’s harvest.

SECTION Six.  This state of disaster emergency shall be effective at 12:01 a.m. on September 20, 2016, shall continue for sixty (60) days, and shall expire on November 19 at 11:59 p.m., unless sooner terminated or extended in writing by me. Iowa Code § 29C.6 (1).