Farmers, agriculturists and local town officials are invited to a meeting next week to discuss recently enacted Wisconsin legislation that updates state laws regarding farm machinery operating on state roadways.
The meeting will be held from 7:30-10 p.m. Tuesday at the Hartland Town Hall, W3454 County Road BE, and is presented by the University of Wisconsin-Extension Shawano County along with the Shawano County Farm Bureau.
The new legislation, which was signed into law in April as Wisconsin Act 377, updates the definition of implements of husbandry, creates a definition for an agricultural commercial motor vehicle, provides an additional weight allowance from a maximum single axle weight of 20,000 pounds to 23,000, and increases the maximum gross vehicle weight from 80,000 to 92,000 pounds.
Other components of the law address length and width limits, safety concerns, including lighting and marking, and rules of the road. The legislation requires farmers and large equipment operators to secure a 12-month permit from their local town, county or state unit of government, depending on where the equipment will be operated.
Speakers at the meeting will include Rob Richard, senior director of government relations for Wisconsin Farm Bureau; Cheryl Skjolaas, University of Wisconsin-Extension agriculture safety specialist; Lt. Michael Klingenberg, Wisconsin State Patrol; and Rick Stadelman, executive director of the Wisconsin Towns Association.
They will discuss how the new laws and practices will affect the agriculture industry, as well as how these laws and practices will be enforced.
There is no cost for this program. Pre-registration is recommended by calling 715-526-6136.
Shawano County Farm Bureau is sponsoring free ice cream sundaes after the meeting.
For more information, contact Jamie Patton, UW-Extension agriculture agent for Shawano County, at 715-526-6136 or jamie.patton@ces.uwex.edu.
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