President Bush is tentatively scheduled to sign the omnibus highway reauthorization bill today, and while ag is pleased it makes permanent the agriculture exemption from the hours of service rule, budget hawks are calling for the Bush to veto the bill over its cost.
The hours of service exemption applies to feed, ag commodities, non-processed foods, fiber and livestock. The exemption says that regulations on maximum driving time and on-duty time for drivers do not apply during planting and harvest periods determined by each state if the delivery of the "supply" is within a 100 air mile radius of the source or distribution point of the commodities involved. Further, the definition of "farm supplies" specifically mentions "livestock feed at any time of the year."