Stitt Seeks 120-Day Pause on Dyed Diesel Enforcement for Oklahoma Farmers

Oklahoma farmers are deep in harvest season, and fuel costs are taking a bite out of every pass through the field. Gov. Kevin Stitt sent a Sept. 28 letter asking three state agencies to pause enforcement of dyed diesel rules for 120 days, arguing that higher production costs eventually reach grocery store shelves for everyone.

The details matter here. Dyed diesel, the red fuel, is legal for off-road equipment like tractors and combines but not for highway vehicles, where federal rules and penalties apply. Stitt wants the Oklahoma Tax Commission to seek IRS penalty relief and asked the Department of Public Safety and Corporation Commission to stop citing people based solely on red fuel in road vehicles. It’s a request, not an executive order. The Corporation Commission says it doesn’t have jurisdiction over roadway dyed diesel use, and the IRS hasn’t granted relief.

Agriculture leaders around the state welcomed the attention to farm costs while noting diesel is only part of the picture, alongside fertilizer and interest expenses. For Lawton families, the connection is simple: when the people who feed us pay more to operate, prices at the register tend to follow.

What do you think? Should state agencies honor the governor’s request, or wait for federal guidance before changing enforcement? Let us know in the comments.