Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) on Thursday introduced a bipartisan amendment to the transportation bill currently on the Senate floor that would cut red tape for farmers and ranchers transporting their products. The amendment, co-sponsored by Sens. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) and Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), would allow farmers and ranchers who live near state borders to transport their products to the closest processing facility even if it may be in a neighboring state.
If current law is not changed, farmers crossing state borders would be subject to burdensome regulations such as vehicle inspections for every trip a farm vehicle takes, even if it is simply driving from the field to the barn; adhering to reporting requirements like hours of service rules, even though the farmer is driving an hour down the road to a mill; and obtaining medical certifications meant for commercial truck drivers.
AFBF supports the amendment and is working to ensure its passage.
