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Farm Briefs

IFB applauds ruling on CDL exemption
Illinois Farm Bureau leaders this week applauded the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) for listening to farmers’ concerns about the interpretation of agricultural transportation regulations and commercial drivers’ license provisions.
FMCSA, which operates as part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, said it has no intention of proposing new regulations governing the transportation of agricultural products. Further, FMCSA issued guidance to ensure that state transportation departments understand exemptions that enable farmers, their employees and their families to accomplish day-to-day work and transport their products to market.
The FMCSA announcement follows months of communication between IFB and FMCSA about the need to properly interpret the rules. Earlier in the year, IFB brought to FMCSA’s attention the fact that in Illinois, some farmers using crop-share leasing were being told they would need to obtain a commercial drivers license. The guidance from FMCSA clarifies that question, and directs states to grant those farmers a CDL exemption.   
The agency has also concluded that most states already have in place common-sense enforcement practices that allow farmers to safely move equipment to and from their fields. The FMCSA statement indicates that in areas where farm implements are common, the enforcement community and the agricultural community have achieved a mutual understanding of which safety regulations should apply to farm equipment on public roads.
"Illinois Farm Bureau wishes to express its gratitude to FMCSA, to the Department of Transportation, and to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood for successfully resolving what we believe was the improper interpretation of these regulations,” said Philip Nelson, president of the Illinois Farm Bureau. “The guidance set forth removes much uncertainty for farmers, just as we are moving into the fall harvest, one of our busiest times of year.”

Greenwood Farms bull on Angus list
A bull owned by Greenwood Farms of Loogootee was listed in the fall Sire Evaluation Report published by the American Angus Association.
The report, which features performance information on 5,921 sires, is accessible at www.angussiresearch.com.
"This report provides both Angus breeders and commercial cattle producers using Angus genetics with accurate, predictable selection tools for improving their heard," said Sally Northcutt, a genetic researcher.
The semi-annual analysis for the Sire Evaluation Report uses more than 20 million measures to generate nearly 59 million "expected progeny differences" for the Angus breed.
For more information on the American Angus Association, go to www.angus.org.
 

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