Exempting Farmers from Hours of Service Rules
Many farmers are finishing up their harvest for the year. Getting the crop harvested in time is always a big chore. That's why we need to keep Washington from passing rules that make it harder.
Last year, my colleague and fellow farmer, Blaine Luetkemeyer, and I were able to secure a federal waiver that ensured a timely delivery of farm supplies for the 2010 planting season. It was a victory for hard-working farm families throughout Missouri.
This year, we have introduced legislation to make sure that bureaucrats do not misinterpret the rule. Currently, under the Agriculture Hours of Service exemption, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration only allows for the transportation of a single farm supply – anhydrous ammonia – from any distribution point to a local farm retailer or to the ultimate consumer.
While anhydrous ammonia is perhaps the most widely used farm supply to be transported under the AgHOS regulations, many other critical farm supplies have been excluded because of the agency's interpretation. This severely hinders the flexibility our farmers need during planting and harvesting seasons.
Our legislation would reinforce what we believe is existing law by clarifying that a driver transporting farm supplies from source to retail, source to farm, and retail to farm is included under the AgHOS exemption. The agriculture industry and farmers have enough to worry about without adding more excessive regulations from Washington on top of it.
Agriculture is the backbone of our economy and I will continue to work with our farmers to ensure they are able to grow the safest, most abundant food supply in the world.
Sincerely,
