Karen Gefvert Director of Governmental Relations Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation

1. Implements of Husbandry Karen Gefvert Director of Governmental Relations Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation

2. Implements of Husbandry • Implements of Husbandry (IOH) legislation has been introduced by Senator Petrowski and Representative Ripp • SB 509 & AB 648 • Generally based upon DOT task force report • Finding a balance between farmers and towns & counties responsibility for maintaining roads

3. Why Legislation is Needed • Increased enforcement • This has increased over the last couple of years • Primarily for weight • Some enforcement for length & width • Modified IOH that look like Commercial Motor Vehicles • Do nothing is not a preferred option • Pictures

4. IOH • Efficiency, Modernization & Competition • Today’s Farm Machinery • Four wheel drive tractors, articulated 8-wheeler tractor, grain harvester-combine, tillage equipment, planting equipment, grain carts, 2 axle 5000G Manure Tanker, 3 axle 6300G Manure Tanker

5. What is current law? • Length • Single IOH = 40’ • Double IOH = 70’ • Triple IOH = 60’ • Height • No maximum • Must clear route • Gross Vehicle Weight • 80,000 pounds • Axle Weight • 20,000 pounds • Width • No limitation for IOH • CMV is 8’ 6”

6. Four Wheel Drive Tractor Axles – 2 Axle spacing – 10’ Actual Gr Wt – 30,000 -35,000# Legal Gr Wt – 40,000#

7. Articulated “8 Wheeler” Tractor Axles – 2 Axle spacing – 12’ Actual Gr Wt – 50,000- 55,000# Legal Gr Wt – 40,000#

8. Grain Harvester - Combine Axles – 2 Axle spacing – 10’ Actual Gr Wt – 40,000# - 55,000# Legal Gr Wt – 40,000#

9. Tillage Equipment • Axles – 3 • Axle spacing – 27-30’ • Actual Gr Wt • Small tractor = 55,000# • Large tractor = 74,000# • Legal Gr Wt – 56,000 – 58,500#

10. Tillage Equipment • Tillage implements come in many sizes but most fold to 15’ width for road travel • Some may have knives or shanks that exceed 15’ width

11. Planting Equipment • Axles – 3 • Axle spacing – 27-30’ • Actual Gr Wt • Small Unit <12 row • 59,000# • Large Unit >12 row • 80,000# • Legal Gr Wt – 56,000 – 58,500#

12. Grain Cart • Axles – 3 • Axle spacing – 27-30’ • Actual Gr Wt: (1,000 bu corn) • Grain cart empty = 12,000# • Grain cart full = 62,000# • Small tractor = 92,000 – 97,000# • Large tractor = 112,000 – 117,000# • Legal Gr Wt – 56,000 – 58,500#

13. 2 Axle 5000G Manure Tanker • Axles – 4 • Axle spacing – 32’ • Actual Gr Wt • Tanker Empty = 10,000 -12,000# (estimate) • Tanker Full = 85,000 – 87,000# • Tanker Full with 4 wheel drive tractor = 115,000 – 122,000# • Legal Gr Wt – 63,500#

15. 3 Axle 6300G Manure Tankers • Axles – 5 • Axle spacing – 37’ • Actual Gr Wt • Tanker Empty = 14,000 – 16,000# • Tanker Full = 108,500 – 110,000# • Tanker Full with 4 wheel drive tractor = 138,500 – 145,000 • Legal Gr Wt –71,000#

16. IOH • Self propelled sprayer

17. IOH or CMV?

18. IOH or CMV? • Solid manure spreaders – primarily designed to be pulled by a tractor; some are mounted on trucks. • Some fitted with flotation tires • They can be slightly wider than legal limit • Often modified: • Kuhn-Knight Manufacturing Broadhead, WI • Meyer Manufacturing Dorchester, WI • Flotation tires on truck mounted manure tankers make them wider than legal CMV width (8’ 6”)

19. IOH or CMV? • Feed Mixer • Truck mounted • Used for multiple site facilities • Can be very high and wider than legal limit • Extra unloading conveyor adds extra weight • Side discharge door adds extra width

20. SB 509 & AB 648 • What is included in the IOH legislation? • IOH & Ag CMV definitions • Size envelope • Weight • Permitting Process • Width • Lighting & marking standards • Height • Length

21. SB 509 & AB 648 • Updates the definition of implements of husbandry for consistency and clarification • Creates a definition for agriculture commercial motor vehicle (Ag – CMV) (trucks mounted with spreaders, feed mixers, etc.) (allows for self-certification for Ag-CMV) • IOH and Ag-CMV exempt from registration

22. SB 509 & AB 648 • Current misconception that IOH are exempt from weight. • Increased size and weight of equipment • Lack of enforcement • Current State law: • GVW = 80,000# • Axle Weight = 20,000# • Proposed Legislation: • GVW = 92,000# • Axle Weight = 23,000# 15% increase for both GVW & Axles

23. SB 509 & AB 648 • Bridge postings and spring thaw limitations both still apply • Penalties • If IOH or Ag-CMV is overweight (GVW or axle) fine based upon 80,000# and 20,000# • Fine rate based on amount of weight and frequency of citation • Exemption for potato harvesters

24. SB 509 & AB 648 • Establishes a “no fee permit” for IOH that exceed the weight or length limit • For self propelled equipment such as combines and forage harvesters, local units of government must approve a route for the farmer to travel to the field • But… • Allows for incidental movement up to a ¼ mile

25. SB 509 & AB 648 • Permits are an area of concern • Trying to balance local road authority with farmers’ needs to drive to the field • Ag groups proposing to exempt IOH from axle weight limitations • This would greatly reduce the need for permits

26. SB 509 & AB 648 • Many Implements of husbandry are incidentally used on roads

27. SB 509 & AB 648 • Width • Current law has no width limitations for IOH temporarily operated on roads and 12’ for tractors • Legislation does not have any width limitations for IOH and Ag-CMV, but do specify lighting and marking requirements for “wide farm machinery”

28. SB 509 & AB 648 • Lighting and marking for self-propelled IOH 12 feet or wider • Must have a yellow or amber 360º rotating strobe or beacon mounted at the highest practical point or have two flashing amber lights visible to both the front and rear at the highest practicable point of the equipment

29. SB 509 & AB 648 • Lighting and marking requirements for IOH that exceed 15 feet • Two amber flashing warning lamps visible from the front and rear • Red retro reflective material visible to the rear • Yellow retro reflective material visible to the front • Two red tail lamps • SMV sign

30. SB 509 & AB 648 • Lighting and marking requirements for IOH that exceed 20 feet • Must be accompanied by an escort vehicle

31. SB 509 & AB 648 • Lighting and marking • We cannot ignore the need for increased safety requirements for equipment • Tell legislators what is practical for your farm machinery

32. SB 509 & AB 648 • Height • Current law has no height limitations for IOH • Legislation does not change this • Remember, farmers are still responsible for damage if IOH hits a bridge or utility line • Liability concerns - collision with a utility line that is clearly hung at a level below the legal standards

33. SB 509 & AB 648 • Length criteria for IOH • Single IOH may not exceed 60” • Two vehicle IOH train may not exceed 100” • Three vehicle IOH train may not exceed 70” • If traveling 20 mph or less, a three vehicle IOH may not exceed 100” • Permits required for IOH’s greater than above

34. SB 509 & AB 648 • Miscellaneous provisions • Repeals ability for motorists to pass Ag-CMV and IOH on the solid yellow line if traveling at less than half the posted speed limit • Eliminated antiquated provision that limited IOH movement on the weekends (hours of operation)

35. Key Messages to Legislators • Need to pass appropriate legislation to allow farm machinery to operate legally on the road • Need to respect local authority for maintaining roads • Explain to your legislator the type of equipment used on your farm and how these changes impact YOU! • Ask them to support IOH legislation