Governor Tim Walz issued an executive order on Thursday providing immediate relief to Minnesota's agricultural, timber, and fuel-transport industries as diesel prices hit record highs.
Executive Order 26-11 authorizes vehicles transporting agricultural and forest products to exceed regular weight limits by up to 10 percent on state and local highways. By allowing producers and haulers to move more products per trip, the order aims to conserve fuel and reduce costs during the critical harvest season.
"Trump started a war with no clear mission, end, or plan to protect American families from the economic wreckage," Walz said. "Minnesotans are paying the price every time they fill up their tank or buy groceries."
The relief applies to vehicles hauling corn, soybeans, wheat, potatoes, carrots, sugar beets, and forest products from harvest sites to the first unloading point on state and local highways, but not on interstate highways. The order also grants temporary hours-of-service relief for carriers and drivers transporting fuel products, including diesel, fuel oil, gasoline, ethanol, and biodiesel. It does not waive requirements governing driver qualifications, commercial driver's licenses, drug and alcohol testing, or equipment needed for safe vehicle operation.
Diesel prices have surged above $6.50 per gallon nationally, according to AAA. Minnesota farmers report that roughly 90 percent of the fuel used on their farms goes toward planting, caring for, and harvesting crops, with corn and soybean production requiring about eight gallons of fuel per acre and two to three gallons used during harvest alone.
Earlier in the week, Walz traveled to Denmark, Sweden, and Iceland to strengthen international partnerships, promote Minnesota as a destination for business investment, and expand opportunities for state companies and workers.
"Minnesota is a global leader in innovation, research, agriculture, and business because of the partnerships we have built and the strategic investments we have made – and we are making sure the world knows it," Walz said.
The governor met with government, business, and economic development leaders to advance Minnesota's leadership in healthcare innovation, agriculture, clean technology, higher education, and advanced manufacturing. Since 2019, the administration has led 12 international trade missions to more than 18 countries and visited more than 45 international companies with investments in Minnesota.