New Farm Equipment Law Will Be Discussed At Presentation In Monroe County

A coalition that includes officials from the University of Wisconsin and La Crosse and Monroe counties will host a presentation on Wednesday in Sparta in which the ins and outs of a new law affecting farm equipment will be discussed.

The law passed in April increased the weight limit of farm equipment that can be operated on roads to 92,000 pounds. It also lets local governments give permits for heavier machinery and decide which routes farmers take. The law was meant to address local officials’ worries about road damage from heavy equipment, while still letting farmers access fields and processing plants.

The new weight limit means equipment can be 15 percent heavier except during spring thaws when roads are vulnerable. Producers can also get the no-fee permit to exceed the 92,000 pound weight limit.

“The townships aren’t seeing any income off of those permits to help pay for that extra (road) damage,” said Steve Struss, an engineer with the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. “In a way it was kind of a ‘gimme’ for producers, and so I think townships have to be aware of it.”

Cheryl Skjolaas, a UW-Extension ag specialist, said the new law also has a requirement for additional lighting and marking on equipment to help other vehicles pass safely.

“Lighting and marking right now are required primarily during what is referred is ‘hours of darkness,’” she said. “With these new lighting and marking requirements, they will need to have lights activated at all times when they are on the highway.”

The new requirements come on the heels of a 2011 incident in Marathon County, when a manure hauler got big fines for violating height and weight limits.

UW-Extension, La Crosse and Monroe counties, Western Technical College, and the La Crosse and Monroe Farm Bureau’s are hosting a presentation about these changes on Wednesday from 1 to 3:30 p.m. at Club 16. located at 1615 W. Wisconsin Street, Sparta.