I am planning on sending another e-mail to this dude at the DOT, asking if a tractor pulling a sap collection vessel is or isn't an IoH Implement of Husbandry. I don't know about other states, but there was a big deal last year about updating the law in Wisconsin due to the changes in farm equipment size, lighting, weights and such. If the response indicates that it isn't an IoH, because maple is not considered agriculture, then we in this state have some big issues that will need to be addressed with our state politicians. I believe the state assoc. is working on getting permitted uses for sap hauling on roads in the spring to be identical to milk trucks in terms of weights. Issues like this could be incorporated I would think.
There are so many things I'd like to tell this DOT guy, but he is just a worker and doesn't make the law. I find it ironic that I file a state and federal "farm" tax return due to syruping, only to have the DOT tell me that maple sap and syrup is not considered farm or agriculture.
I will certainly be taking this issue higher up the ladder.
Mark
Where we made syrup long before the trendies made it popular, now its just another commodity.
John Deere 4000, 830, and 420 crawler
1400 taps, 600 gph CDL RO, 4x12 wood-fired Leader, forced air and preheater. 400 gallon Sap-O-Matic vacuum gathering tank, PTO powered. 2500 gallon X truck tank, 17 bulk tanks.
No cage tanks allowed on this farm!