(DES MOINES)  - Today, Gov. Branstad issued a disaster emergency proclamation that will provide relief to Iowa farmers hit hard by the drought being experienced in the state.

This proclamation takes affect at noon today for the next 60 days.  The assistance comes in the form of a suspension of state laws and regulations affecting the transport of hay, straw and stover. The drought has destroyed or depleted sources of these products that are necessary for livestock production and feed.

Specifically, this 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.

For additional details, call 1-800-925-6469 or visit the Iowa DOT's website at www.iowadot.gov where a question and answer sheet can be found.

The proclamation reads as follows:

PROCLAMATION OF DISASTER EMERGENCY

WHEREAS, The State of Iowa is in the midst of a severe drought; and

WHEREAS, the drought has destroyed and depleted sources and stores of hay, straw, and stover necessary for livestock production and feed; and

WHEREAS, the lack of hay, straw and stover threatens the health and viability of Iowa livestock and the economic health and well being of Iowa livestock producers and the State of Iowa; and

WHEREAS, strict compliance with the permit and fee requirements of Iowa Code sections 321.454, 321.463, and 321E.29 and 761 I.A.C. 511 allowing overwidth and overweight loads, and strict compliance with the hours of service requirements of section 321.449 of the Iowa Code will prevent, hinder, or delay timely transportation and delivery of hay, straw, and stover necessary to protect and preserve Iowa livestock and Iowa livestock producers from the effects of the drought.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Terry E. Branstad, Governor of the State of Iowa, by the power and authority invested in me by the Constitution, Article IV Sections 1 and 8 and Iowa Code section 29C.6(1), do hereby proclaim a state of disaster emergency for the entire State of Iowa.  Further, pursuant to Iowa Code section 29C.6(6), I hereby suspend the following regulatory provisions:

1. I hereby suspend the regulatory provisions of Iowa Code sections 321.463, paragraphs "5.a" and "5.b" and 321E.29  and 761 I.A.C. 511 to the extent that those provisions restrict the movement of overweight loads of hay, straw, and stover only and require a permit to transport such loads.  Suspension of these provisions applies to loads transported on all highways within Iowa, excluding the interstate system, and which do not exceed a maximum of 90,000 pounds gross weight, do not exceed the maximum axle weight limit determined under the nonprimary highway maximum gross weight table in Iowa Code section 321.463 paragraph "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.
   
   
2. I hereby suspend the regulatory provisions of Iowa Code sections 321.454 and 321E.29  and 761 I.A.C. 511 to the extent that those provisions restrict the movement of overwidth loads of hay, straw, and stover only and require a permit to transport such loads.  Suspension of these provisions applies to loads transported on all highways within Iowa and which are a width of 12 feet 5 inches or less, are of a length that complies with Iowa Code section 321.457, are of a height that is 13 feet 6 inches or less, and are within the weight restrictions set forth in paragraph "1" above.  This paragraph and paragraph "1" above are intended to allow vehicles transporting hay, straw or stover only to be overwidth but not overweight, not exceeding 12 feet 5 inches, on all highways within Iowa including the interstate system without a permit, and to be overwidth and overweight, not exceeding 12 feet 5 inches and 90,000 pounds gross weight, on all highways within Iowa, excluding the interstate system, without a permit, but only for the duration of this proclamation. 
   
   Persons transporting hay, straw, or stover without a permit under authority of this declaration are responsible for assessing and determining their route and should consult Iowa Department of Transportation travel information at www.511IA.org to determine road closures and restrictions.
   
   Movement of vehicles operated without a permit under authority of this declaration that are overwidth shall be permitted only during the hours from one-half-hour before sunrise to one-half-hour after sunset, and shall comply with the flags, signs, and lights requirements applicable to overwidth vehicles set forth in 761 I.A.C. 511.15(3).
   
   
3. I do hereby suspend the regulatory provisions of Iowa Code section 321.449 pertaining to hours of service of motor carriers and drivers of commercial motor vehicles, only while transporting hay, straw, or stover during the duration of this proclamation.
   
   

4.       Nothing contained in this declaration shall be construed as an exemption from the controlled substances and alcohol use and testing requirements (49 CFR 382), the commercial drivers license requirements (49 CFR 383), the financial responsibility requirements (49 CFR 387), or any other portion of the regulations not specifically identified in this proclamation.

5.       No motor carrier operating under the terms of this proclamation shall require or allow a fatigued or ill driver to operate a motor vehicle.  A driver who informs a carrier that he or she needs immediate rest shall be given at least ten consecutive hours off duty before the driver is required to return to service.

6.       Upon the request of a driver, a commercial motor carrier operating under this proclamation must give a driver at least 34 consecutive hours off when the driver has been on duty for more than 70 hours in any eight consecutive days.

7.       Motor carriers that have an out-of-service order in effect may not take advantage of the relief from regulations that this declaration provides under title 49 CFR 390.23.

8.       This proclamation only applies to hours of service of motor carriers and drivers of commercial motor vehicles while transporting hay, straw, or stover only.

9.       Upon the expiration of the effective date of this proclamation, or when a driver has been relieved of all duty and responsibility to provide direct assistance to the emergency effort, a driver that has had at least 34 consecutive hours off duty shall be permitted to start his or her on-duty status hours and 60/70 hour clock at zero.

This proclamation of disaster emergency becomes effective at noon on the twenty-sixth day of July, 2012 and expires 60 days from the date issued.  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 vehicles involved.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto subscribed my name and caused the great seal of the State of Iowa to be affixed. Done at Des Moines this 26^th day of July in the year of our Lord two thousand twelve.

__________________________________

TERRY E. BRANSTAD

Iowa Farm Bureau Economic Summit Brings National Media, Hundreds of Farmers to Ames

WEST DES MOINES, IOWA - July 25, 2012 - Impacts of the most widespread drought to hit Iowa topped many expert panel discussions during the Iowa Farm Bureau Economic Summit this week in Ames.  More than 400 Iowa farmers and agribusiness industry leaders came to Scheman Auditorium July 23-24 for perspectives from national experts in banking, fiscal policy, commodity marketing and climate change.

Many panelists at the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF)-sponsored event agreed the agricultural sector is constantly evolving and currently highly volatile. Planning is crucial to maintain economic sustainability for Iowa farmers, currently impacted by drought-squeezed yields, rising farmland values and livestock feed costs.  "The consistent message was make long-term plans, and make sure you're grounded in reality," said IFBF Director of Research and Commodity Services David Miller.  "Land prices topping $10,000 to $15,000 an acre involve a lot of emotion, both for sellers and the buyers.  Multiple experts at our event agreed it is vital our farmers have long-term repayment capacity to weather the many variables that affect their bottom line," said Miller.  "Drought impacts on the nation's leading grain-producing states are driving corn and soybean prices through the roof now, but the reality is there is no guarantee this price rally is sustainable.  Yield prospects vary stalk-to-stalk this year, and we won't know what our yields will be until we're in the fields for harvest."

Economist Danny Klinefelter of Texas A&M University and Jeff Plagge, president & CEO of Northwest Financial Corp., and vice-chair of the American Bankers Association, to Iowa State University climatologist and weather expert Elwynn Taylor, a panel of D.C. experts from the Senate and House Ag Committees and Daniel Mitchell of the D.C. 'think tank,' the CATO Institute, were among the nationally-recognized monetary, policy, trade and economic experts tapped for the July IFBF economic summit.

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About Iowa Farm Bureau

The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation is a grassroots, statewide organization dedicated to enhancing the People, Progress and Pride of Iowa.  More than 153,000 families in Iowa are Farm Bureau members, working together to achieve farm and rural prosperity.  For more information about Farm Bureau and agriculture, visit the online Newsroom page at www.iowafarmbureau.com.