Chung Leads Effort to Decrease Diesel Costs for Farmers During Harvest Season

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. –  State Rep. Sharon Chung, D-Bloomington, in tandem with Governor JB Pritzker, announces two new temporary measures to help farmers offset diesel costs by allowing dyed diesel to be used on highways through an executive order and disaster proclamation.

“Over the last year, the federal average diesel prices have increased nearly 68% thanks to a wholly unnecessary and unconstitutional ‘war.’ Impossibly high fuel costs hurt farmers as they plant, fertilize, maintain and harvest their crops,” said Chung. “Allowing farmers to use the dyed diesel they already own for highway travel and extending the Harvest Program will help offset some of the costs as farmers harvest.”

Declaring a diesel fuel crisis through a 30-day disaster proclamation allows state and local agencies to take swift, necessary action to respond to the current diesel shortage and exuberant costs. The proclamation removes state penalties from using dyed diesel on roads and highways, an extension of the Illinois Harvest Permit program, and increased opportunity of various state agencies to instate necessary measures to offset the crisis.

Governor Pritzker’s executive order allows dyed diesel for use in farm vehicles on highways. Dyed and regular diesel are chemically identical, but the former is dyed red to mark it as off-road fuel for tractors, irrigation pumps and other machines. Allowing the use of dyed diesel on highways will allow farmers to use fuel they already possess in vehicles transporting their crops rather than just for off-road machines.

“I want to thank a dear friend who floated this idea to me, and the various agricultural organizations across the state who reached out to me and the governor with suggestions on ways to make farming more affordable,” said Chung. “I’m grateful to Governor Pritzker for his collaboration and willingness to take swift action to support our farmers through harvest season.”

The executive order and disaster proclamation are effective immediately and will remain in effect through Nov 5.

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