MC# required?

Yes he needs an MC number because he would be hauling for hire and its not his own product.
The only way I see it that he wouldn't need one is if the Harvester or the owner of the product had one and he leased on with them and used there number.
But I doubt the harvester or the owner of the product would have a MC number .

 

Based on the information you have given, I would say no, an MC number (operating authority) is not required. That's given that only exempt commodities are being transported. He'd need to ensure that the commodities that he transports are, in fact, exempt. Here's the answer from the FMCSA:

What is Operating Authority (MC number) and who needs it?

 

No, a for hire carrier that only hauls exempt commodities does not need operating authority. That's exactly what line 2 says.

Where do the regulations say that a 'for hire' carrier needs operating authority? Maybe a USDOT number, but that's not operating authority (MC number). The need for operating authority is dependent on what's being transported.

 

I have never ran an MC number. Hauled for hire exempt commodities all my life. Thats how my MCS-150 is filed if it wasn't legal there wouldn't be an option of exempt for hire

 

Exempt commodity just dot# should be fine

 

Does the regulation state that silage is exempt?
What is the value of a load of silage?
The idea behind the MC # is to make sure that carriers have certified insurances in place in the event that there is a loss of the customer commodity.
If the silage has little value I could see it being exempt.

 

Silage is maybe a couple grand a load and it is an unprocessed farm commodity like a load of corn.

 

Anything for livestock or poultry feed is exempt. Several products such as cotton seed meal, and soybean meal are not unless they are to be used as a feed ingredient. You have to read the foot notes for that part. As far as insurance I have to run the same as everyone else is required. Hopper brokers wont touch you with 50k cargo some want a 100. I carry 250k because of livestock.