Iowa’s Disaster Emergency Proclamation for Dyed Diesel Expanded

If you read my story yesterday, Iowa farmers were getting some temporary relief on diesel costs thanks to a proclamation from Gov. Kim Reynolds. Now, that relief has been expanded to cover even more agriculture products.

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Reynolds announced the update this morning (Wednesday, October 7, 2026) adding livestock, livestock feed, soybean meal, and other farm products to the list of items that can be transported on Iowa public roads using dyed diesel fuel under the temporary rules. The original proclamation covered corn, soybeans, hay, straw, silage, fertilizer, manure, and distillers grains. The expanded proclamation applies to qualifying loads transported on any public road in Iowa through February 2nd, 2027.

Why would using dyed diesel matter to our farmers?

Dyed (red) diesel, or off-road diesel, is usually intended for off-highway use and is typically exempt from Iowa fuel tax when used for eligible purposes. For example, used in your tractor, while plowing a field. However, using it on public roads is restricted. Reynolds' proclamation temporarily suspends those state penalties and regulations for qualifying agricultural transportation.

Credit: Unsplash

As Iowa farmers battle the weather this harvest, fuel is a major expense when it comes to running equipment and hauling crops. In fact, according to the latest Iowa crop report, 85% of the state's corn had reached maturity as of October 4th, but only 7% had been harvested. Soybean harvest was at just 5%. Wet weather also left farmers with just 1.2 days of suitable fieldwork during the week.

Credit: Joyce Vonk | Oskaloosa farmers deal with wet conditions while harvesting, October 5th, 2026

The federal government has taken action on diesel costs, too. President Donald Trump signed an executive order providing temporary relief involving the federal diesel excise tax on qualifying dyed diesel. The federal tax is 24.4 cents per gallon, and the relief is scheduled to run through the end of 2026. The temporary suspension applies to qualifying agricultural loads and the specific state provisions identified in the proclamation. Wednesday's update means more agricultural products are now covered by the temporary relief. Either way the harvest continues for Iowa farmers, with plenty of work left to go.