When your tractor shuts down in the middle of feeding cattle because diesel exhaust fluid froze in sub-zero temperatures, you know there’s a problem with federal regulations. That’s exactly the message Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation President Todd Fornstrom delivered to U.S. senators this week.

Fornstrom, who runs a fourth-generation farming operation near Pine Bluffs, appeared before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on Wednesday to discuss how current DEF mandates are creating serious headaches for agricultural producers across the West.

The DEF Dilemma

For those unfamiliar, diesel exhaust fluid is required equipment on modern diesel engines to meet EPA emissions standards. While the environmental goals make sense on paper, the reality in farm country tells a different story.

The problems are real and costly:

• DEF systems freeze solid in winter temperatures
• Sensors fail when exposed to dust and constant vibration
• Engines automatically shut down or lose power when DEF systems malfunction
• Critical farm operations get interrupted during time-sensitive windows

“Living and farming in Wyoming, dealing with DEF in the winter can feel like a battle against both the cold and the clock,” Fornstrom explained to the committee. “If DEF freezes or the system triggers an engine derate, it can bring a tractor or combine to a halt right in the middle of critical planting or feeding windows.”

A Potential Solution

The hearing focused on Senate Bill 3135, known as the Cold Weather Diesel Reliability Act. This legislation, introduced by Senators Dan Sullivan of Alaska and Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, would provide some relief for operators dealing with frozen DEF systems.

Key provisions include:

• Allowing manufacturers to disable automatic engine shutdowns when temperatures drop below freezing
• Requiring EPA to grant exemptions for equipment used primarily in cold climates
• Recognizing the unique challenges faced by agricultural and cold-weather operations

Representing Rural America

Fornstrom wasn’t just speaking for Wyoming producers. His testimony represented nearly 12,000 Wyoming Farm Bureau members and more than five million farmers and ranchers nationwide through the American Farm Bureau Federation.

“Clean air and water are essential to successful farms and ranches,” he acknowledged. “Agriculture depends on natural systems, and the quality of the air and water surrounding a farm strongly influences crop growth, soil health, livestock well-being and overall productivity.”

However, he argued that the current approach creates more problems than it solves for agricultural operations that must function reliably in harsh conditions.

Calling for Broader Reform

While supporting the cold-weather legislation, Fornstrom pushed senators to consider more comprehensive changes. He believes Congress should examine whether DEF requirements make sense for agricultural equipment at all.

“The agricultural community believes Congress should go further and carefully weigh the environmental benefits of DEF systems against their reliability issues and economic costs,” he stated. “Farmers and ranchers are calling for the elimination of DEF requirements on agricultural equipment so producers can focus on productivity, efficiency, and feeding our country.”

For Montana and Wyoming producers who’ve dealt with similar frustrations, Fornstrom’s testimony represents a long-overdue pushback against regulations that may work fine in laboratory conditions but fail miserably in the real world of agricultural production.

The question now is whether senators will listen to the folks who actually feed the country, or stick with policies that look good on paper but break down when the temperature drops.

Original source: Northern Ag Network