St. Paul, Minn.-Gov. Tim Pawlenty has come to the rescue of retailers and farmers confronted with the possibility of a shortage of anhydrous ammonia for the fall season. “The situation could have had serious consequences next spring,” according to Bill Bond, executive director of the Minnesota Crop Production Retailers. Bond explained that the problem was getting supplies from the terminals to the retailers under restrictions imposed by the Dept. of Transportation’s hours of service regulations affecting anhydrous transporters. The wet fall also complicated things by reducing time available for applying anhydrous. Bond said that Minnesota law based on the DOT rule applies to propane and fuel, but some believed that there was an exemption for anhydrous because of the fall and spring planting seasons. However, a DOT interpretation held otherwise. After a hastily called meeting of agriculture interests, it was decided to appeal to the governor to use his authority to issue an emergency order exempting drivers hauling diesel fuel and fertilizer for agriculture use. Pawlenty signed the executive order Oct. 31 after Bond and other farm group leaders met with the governor’s staff two days earlier. Bond said the order is good through November.
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