Senators Deb Fischer of Nebraska and Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota have introduced the Fertilizer Access and Responsible Management or FARM Act. The measure would eliminate harmful OSHA rules regarding anhydrous ammonia that would put undue costs on agriculture. Rocky Weber, President of the Nebraska Cooperatives Council says his group supports the legislation.
He says without the FARM Act, cooperatives and farmers using anhydrous ammonia tanks would have to prove the integrity of their systems or face federal fines.
Weber says unless the FARM Act is passed, ag retailers selling anhydrous ammonia won’t be able to meet the regulatory costs imposed by the OSHA rules.
Weber says Nebraska Congressman Adrian Smith is carrying a similar measure in the House that his group also supports.