Governor Whitmer's executive order aiming to get farmers through fall harvest

NILES, Mich. -- On Oct. 12, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of energy emergency to suspend rules for certain farm and forestry vehicles in response to record-high diesel prices.  

The executive order provides temporary relief for Michigan’s harvest and logging operations by enabling farm and wood harvester vehicles to use dyed diesel on state highways.   

Head of Petroleum Analysis at GasBuddy, Patrick De Hann believes the move is more of a headline rather than a big price drop.  

“We’ve been seeing a lot of politicians trying to do what they think is right,” De Hann said. “A lot of these are band aid approaches. They don’t really have a meaningful movement of the needle.”  

At the beginning of the month, Indiana Governor Mike Braun was one of those politicians to try and ease the effects of rising diesel costs on farmers. 

Back when Indiana announced they would be allowing farmers to use dyed diesel, ABC 57 spoke with Hoosier farmer, Clay Geyer, who said things are still tough despite the break.  

“It doesn’t matter whether you’re in a pickup truck or a tractor down the road, the price to pay is just off the charts right now,” Geyer said.  

Both Whitmer and Braun's executive orders are strictly meant to carry farmers through the fall harvest season and no later than December 31, 2026.