Gov. Jeff Landry has declared a state of emergency over Louisiana’s diesel fuel shortage, giving farmers and timber harvesters a way to stretch their fuel supply during peak harvest season.
The executive order, signed September 22 and effective September 23, temporarily suspends state penalties for using “dyed diesel” — untaxed, off-road fuel typically reserved for tractors, skidders and irrigation pumps — in vehicles registered for on-road use. The suspension applies specifically to vehicles registered as Class 2 (forest products) or Class 5 (farm use).
“We’re not going to sit on the sidelines while Louisiana farmers are paying record prices to harvest the crops that feed our families and support our economy. We have an opportunity to provide immediate relief, and that’s exactly what we’re doing,” Landry said in a statement.
Under normal state law, using dyed diesel in a highway-registered vehicle carries a penalty of $10 per gallon or $1,000, whichever is greater. The executive order blocks state agencies from enforcing that penalty against qualifying farm and forestry vehicles through October 22.
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