The Minnesota Department of Transportation urges farmers and others who want to mow or bale hay on state highway right-of-way land to apply for permit applications early next year.

MnDOT recently adopted a statewide standard for mowing and baling in the right of way and has developed a new permit form. State law requires that MnDOT manage right-of-way mowing, which includes cutting in advance of baling.

According to state law, it is a misdemeanor to mow on state highway rights of way without a permit.

“Having local landowners mow, and bale hay if they choose, in the right of way can be mutually beneficial,” said Steve Lund, MnDOT’s state maintenance engineer. “However, we want to ensure that it is done at the right time of year to make sure we are protecting habitat for wildlife and pollinators. And we want to ensure that those who mow and harvest hay are doing so safely.”

Standard conditions stated with the permit application include:

• All mowing and hay baling will be performed in a workmanlike manner under the supervision of MnDOT's area maintenance engineer. Mowed areas must be left with an aesthetically pleasing appearance.

• All persons performing work authorized by this permit within the trunk highway right of way shall wear a MnDOT-approved, high-visibility safety vest and soft cap/hard hat.

• No mowing, baling or removal of bales shall be done within the highway right of way between sunset and sunrise.

• Equipment used for mowing and baling shall be equipped with an operable 360-degree amber rotating warning light and slow-moving-vehicle markers. The warning lights shall be operating and visible during all phases of the mowing and baling operations.

• Per state statute, in areas outside city limits, no mowing shall be done before Aug. 1 or after Aug. 31.

• After baling, all hay bales must be removed from the highway right of way as soon as possible, and no later than five days after baling, unless an extension is approved by the area maintenance engineer. All bales left on the highway right of way, pending removal, must be moved out of the clear zone and sight corners or lines immediately. MnDOT reserves the right to remove and/or dispose of bales left in the clear zone or left on the right of way longer than five days. No compensation will be made for such bales. The applicant may be charged for the cost of removal.

Landowners who want to mow on rights of way adjacent to their property need to apply for a permit before the end of January. On Feb. 1, all others may apply for permits to mow on state rights of way. MnDOT will accept, review and approve permits on a first-come, first-serve basis.

The new permit can be found at mndot.gov/mowing.

Source: Minnesota Department of Transportation