Fornstrom Testifies Before U.S. Senate Committee on Diesel Emissions Policy

Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation President Todd Fornstrom recently testified before the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on the impacts diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) requirements have on farmers and ranchers. The hearing examined the Cold Weather Diesel Reliability Act, legislation aimed at addressing reliability issues diesel-powered vehicles and equipment face in freezing temperatures.

Fornstrom spoke on behalf of nearly 12,000 Wyoming Farm Bureau members and more than five million members of the American Farm Bureau Federation. Fornstrom explained that while DEF systems were introduced to reduce emissions from diesel engines, they have created operational challenges for agriculture. Equipment used on farms often operates in extreme conditions, including freezing temperatures, dust and vibration, which can affect the reliability of DEF tanks, pumps and sensors.

The Cold Weather Diesel Reliability Act would allow manufacturers to suspend automatic engine shutdowns when temperatures fall below freezing and would require the Environmental Protection Agency to provide exemptions for equipment operating primarily in cold regions. Fornstrom thanked Sens. Dan Sullivan of Alaska and Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming for introducing the legislation to address the challenges DEF systems pose in cold climates and urged Congress to address the broader challenges DEF systems pose for farmers and ranchers.