State Representative Roger Thomas urges farmers to take advantage of Drought Aid

State Representative Roger Thomas of Elkader says "With Iowa facing a severe drought, I encourage farmers to contact their local FSA office and find out what assistance is available for them."

The state has issued an emergency disaster proclamation to provide assistance to Iowa farmers hit hard by the drought.  The state proclamation will be in effect for the next 60 days and assist farmers needing to transport hay, straw, and stover necessary for livestock production and feed.

Specifically, the proclamation allows for:

--Overweight loads: Hay, straw, and stover may be transported in loads weighing up to 90,000 pounds gross weight without obtaining an overweight permit normally required by the Iowa Department of Transportation. Overweight loads cannot travel on the interstate without a permit.  This proclamation applies to noninterstate roadways.  Specific axle weight limits do apply. Visit the Iowa DOT's website www.iowa.dot.gov to see the maximum gross weight table and determine the legal limits for your vehicle/trailer combination.  A vehicle that is overweight, but not overwidth, can travel at all hours.

--Overwidth loads:  A vehicle transporting these goods can be overwidth, without an Iowa DOT permit, if they do not exceed 12 feet 5 inches wide.  An overwidth load can travel on any road, including the interstate, as long as its gross weight does not exceed 80,000 pounds.  Movement must occur between the hours of 30 minutes before sunrise and 30 minutes after sunset.  All flags, signs and lights normally required are still needed.

--Overweight and overwidth loads:  A vehicle transporting these goods can be both overwidth, up to 12 feet 5 inches, and overweight, up to 90,000 pounds.  However, these vehicles cannot travel on the interstate.

--Driver hours of service: The driver hours-of-service regulations pertaining to persons transporting these specific agricultural goods are suspended. Certain rest periods must be provided to drivers to prevent fatigued or ill drivers from operating on the roadways.