How ‘right to repair’ is progressing across the U.S.

John Deere

The right to repair is a hot topic right now in agriculture. Earlier this month, the American Farm Bureau Federation signed an MOU with John Deere, laying the framework for producers to get access to company tools and literature needed to do self-repairs.
But Kevin O’Reilly with the Right to Repair Campaign for U.S. PIRG says the memorandum of understanding isn’t all it appears.

“It’s clear when you ask farmers that they don’t have what they need to fix their equipment. They have pretty resoundingly said that this is not enough. And so, we are continuing to push to make sure that they have all the tools, all the software, whatever it takes for them to fully fix our equipment because at the end of the day, they’re paying hundreds of thousands of dollars for these devices, and it’s critical that when it breaks down, that they can fix it and get it back up and running and out in the field. So, we are listening to farmers and continuing to push for this kind of change,” O’Reilly said.

Just this week, AFBF signed another MOU with CNH Industrial who owns brands like New Holland and Case IH. It is very similar to the agreement signed with John Deere but O’Reilly says Deere’s agreement falls short of expectations.

“It limits certain functionalities, so farmers can’t access the same level of diagnostic information or troubleshooting information that the dealer technicians can. And, in addition to that, they can’t pair parts, which is an unfortunate reality of modern equipment. You have to electronically pair a replacement part to the particular machine, to your tractor, to your combine, etc., and farmers don’t have that functionality, which means they’ve got to call up the dealer. They’ve got to pay whatever the dealer wants to pay, and they’ve got to wait as long as the dealer will make them wait,” O’Reilly said.

AFBF President Zippy Duvall remains hopeful though, saying this MOU has been months in the making.

“Our members urged us to find a private sector-solution that gives them access to repair their own equipment and I’m pleased months of discussions have again paid off,” AFBF President Zippy Duvall said. “Farmers and ranchers are more dependent on technology than ever before, so it’s critical they have access to the tools to keep things running on the farm so the food supply chain keeps running, too.”

The agreement with CNH Industrial respects intellectual property rights and will be certain emissions systems are not altered. The two groups will meet twice a year to review the agreement.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Starting Monday, April 29, the USDA will require free avian flu (HPAI H5N1) testing on all dairy cattle before interstate travel. Positive cases must be directly reported to the USDA for tracing.
However, economists say land values could falter if commodity prices fall in the New Year.
With the New Year comes new ideas, and lawmakers are still trying to find ways to fund the Farm Bill.
The United Soybean Board representatives say export and trade development is critical for increasing international demand.
It is National Farm Safety and Health Week—a time dedicated to recognizing the critical importance of safety on the farm. The National Education Center for Ag Safety (NECAS) usually hosts this week-long event during mid-September so farmers are reminded to prioritize their safety during the harvest season.
Analysts with the Propane Education & Research Council say the outlook for propane prices is positive for the fall harvest season.
Agriculture Shows
From soil to harvest. Top Crop is an all-new series about four of the best farmers in the world—Dan Luepkes, of Oregan, Illinois; Cory Atley, of Cedarville, Ohio; Shelby Fite, of Jackson Center, Ohio; Russell Hedrick, of Hickory, North Carolina—reveals what it takes for them to make a profitable crop. It all starts with good soil, patience, and a strong planter setup.
Champions of Rural America is a half-hour dive into the legislative priorities for Rural America. Join us as we interview members of the Congressional Western Caucus to learn about efforts in Washington to preserve agriculture and tackles the most important topics in the ag industry on Champions of Rural America!
Farm Traveler is for people who want to connect with their food and those who grow it. Thanks to direct-to-consumer businesses, agritourism, and social media, it’s now easier than ever to learn how our food is made and support local farmers. Here on the Farm Traveler, we want to connect you with businesses offering direct-to-consumer products you can try at home, agritourism sites you can visit with your family, and exciting new technologies that are changing how your food is being grown.
Featuring members of Congress, federal and state officials, ag and food leaders, farmers, and roundtable panelists for debates and discussions.
Host Ben Bailey hops in the tractor cab, giving farmers 10 minutes to answer as many questions and grab as much cash as they can for their local FFA chapter.