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By Joe Cornely

New regulations to reduce diesel emissions from farm equipment and other off-road engines could hit farmers in the pocketbook. The new rules from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will apply to all agricultural, construction and industrial off-road diesel engines. EPA’s plan would reduce emissions of soot and nitrogen oxide by 90 percent and cut the sulfur content of diesel fuel by 99 percent.

According to EPA administrator Christine Todd Whitman, off-road diesel engines are responsible for 44 percent of the soot and 12 percent of the nitrogen oxide emissions from all mobile diesel equipment, yet these emissions are "virtually unregulated."

Whitman said EPA’s calculations indicate by 2030 the off-road diesel program would annually prevent 9,600 premature deaths, 8,300 hospitalizations and nearly 1 million workdays lost to illness. She added, "Coupled with the diesel rule for highway trucks and our school bus retrofit program, these actions will be the most far-reaching diesel programs in the world today." The rules are to be phased in between 2008 and 2014.

Reaction from the farm community to the proposal has been cautious. AFBF Washington Office Director Dick Newpher said, "We obviously are supportive of those kinds of activities that truly clean up the air." But AFBF isn’t sure that everything in EPA’s plan is necessary, or practical. "The 99 percent reduction is a laudable goal, but I’m not sure if we can demonstrate that at the lower end of that reduction that we are improving human health."

Newpher also worries about the potential expense for farmers. "If we have to buy new engines or retrofit our existing engines to make sure we comply, it’s an expense factor," according to Newpher. Other Farm Bureau concerns are that the new engines may not be as fuel efficient, and whether the new emission standards will cause the price of diesel fuel to increase.

EPA’s own cost-benefit report projects diesel fuel costs could increase between 8 and 15 cents per gallon because of the new standards. With agriculture burning more than 3 billion gallons of diesel fuel per year, that’s a $240 million to $450 million increase in annual fuel costs for the farm sector.

In addition, EPA puts engine manufacturer’s costs for research and development at $199.2 million. Those expenses will be passed on to purchasers of new equipment, according to ???.

Not all of the consequences of the new diesel rules would be bad for agriculture. One potential benefit is that the new rules could boost demand for soy-based diesel fuel. According to Newpher, "Biodiesel, soybean oil that’s made into diesel fuel, automatically makes a cleaner burning engine and could be used to achieve part of the need for cleaner burning engines."

EPA is asking for public comments on the new regulations. Newpher said American Farm Bureau will submit its opinions and recommendations. Individuals may also offer comments. The deadline is Aug. 20. Public hearings on the proposed rules are scheduled in New York on June 10, Chicago on June 12 and Los Angeles June 17.

To read details of the proposed diesel regulations, visit OFBF’s Web site and click on "Featured Links," then "Diesel Regulations."