Reynolds Issues Harvest Proclamation Easing Weight Limits for Grain, Fertilizer and Manure Haulers

DES MOINES — Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a proclamation Wednesday temporarily raising weight limits for vehicles hauling grain, fertilizer and manure across Iowa, a move aimed at helping farmers and haulers keep pace during harvest.

The proclamation took effect immediately and remains in place through Oct. 10, according to the governor’s office.

Under the proclamation, vehicles transporting corn, soybeans, hay, straw, silage, stover, dry and liquid fertilizer, gas fertilizer, and dry and liquid manure may operate overweight — up to 90,000 pounds gross weight — without a permit for the duration of the order.

The exemption applies to loads carried on all Iowa highways except the interstate system. To qualify, loads must not exceed 90,000 pounds gross weight, must not exceed the maximum axle weight limit set under the non-primary highway maximum gross weight table in Iowa Code § 321.463(6)(a)-(b) by more than 12.5%, must not exceed the legal maximum axle weight limit of 20,000 pounds per axle, and must comply with posted limits on roads and bridges.

The proclamation is a routine step Reynolds’ office has taken in previous years to ease logistics during the fall harvest season.