Several bills have been introduced in Michigan calling for right to repair on agricultural equipment. A total of seven are in the works, according to Brownfield Ag News, including one introduced by the chair of the Michigan House Ag Committee.
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Kevin O’Reilly, director, campaign for the right to repair, PIRG, testified in the House Ag Committee hearing on HB4673, according to his post on PIRG.org.
He said repair restrictions are costing Michigan farmers $124 million per year, and allowing farmers to fix their own equipment would help alleviate the technician shortage among ag equipment dealers.
Four agricultural equipment makers have signed MOUs (memorandum of understanding) with the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), focusing on allowing farmers to repair their own equipment: AGCO, John Deere, Kubota, and CNH ag brands Case IH and New Holland.
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According to AFBF, the four MOUs cover roughly 70 percent of the ag equipment sold in the United States. In signing the MOUs, AFBF agreed not to pursue legislative solutions.
Colorado was the first state to pass a right to repair law covering agricultural equipment.
