The Farm Bureau Federation and John Deere signed a memorandum of understanding on farmers’ right to repair their equipment on Sunday — potentially a breakthrough after years of complaints that manufacturers prevented access to the increasingly computerized controls of tractors, combines and other equipment. Deere has been sued repeatedly on the question. Right-to-repair legislation has been filed at the state and federal level.
“This will enable you and your independent mechanics to identify and fix problems,” Farm Bureau president Zippy Duvall told the opening session of the AFBF convention in Puerto Rico. “You will have access to the diagnostic tools and information you need. And you’ll get it at a fair and reasonable price.”
David Gilmore, Deere senior vice president for ag and turf sales, said the memorandum “really formalizes a long-standing that Deere has had with our customers to ensure they have the tools and the information necessary for them to repair their equipment.”
The memorandum “is a starting point to bring other manufacturers on board,” said Sam Kieffer, AFBF chief lobbyist. It assures “the timely availability on fair and reasonable terms of tools, specialty tools, software and documentation” for repairs while protecting safety controls and protocols from modification.
Congress is due to overhaul U.S. farm policy this year. “There’s a lot of discussion about advancing climate-smart farming practices as part of the farm bill renewal,” said Duvall. “It is important that any additional resources go to voluntary, market-based programs.” The climate, health and tax bill enacted last August allotted $20 billion for USDA soil and water conservation programs with a priority on climate mitigation.
Text of the AFBF-Deere memorandum of understanding is available here.