Despite a 2023 memorandum of understanding (MOU) promising greater access to diagnostics, Illinois farmers struggle for a fair shot at repairing their own farm equipment. This unfolds against the backdrop of a legislative attempt to establish a more equitable right to repair, which, despite support, has stalled in the statehouse.
The right to repair movement in agriculture centers on one’s ability to fix increasingly complex farm machinery dominated by proprietary software. Illinois Senate Bill 2669, an agricultural equipment bill of rights, aimed to mandate manufacturers to make necessary software and tools available at reasonable costs. However, it’s been reported that the Illinois Corn Growers Association doesn’t see the bill passing this year.
The tension lies in the details—or lack thereof—of the diagnostic tools offered to farmers. The 2023 MOU, secured between the American Farm Bureau Federation and agricultural machinery giants including John Deere, provided diagnostic tools for farmers and independent shops. Yet, these tools are deemed inadequate by advocates like the Public Interest Research Group, who found the customer versions significantly lacking compared to dealer tools.
Farmers like Jake Lieb, who faced harvest delays due to inoperable, software-locked new equipment, express frustration. Lieb pointed out, “If I knew what sensor was bad in that combine, I could have had it fixed in five minutes. But if you don’t have the software, it’s impossible to know what’s wrong.” The discrepancy between the customer and dealer diagnostic tools underscores a disadvantage, requiring “extra steps” and offering less access to necessary information.
This disparity in repair capability is not trivial. Kevin O’Reilly’s study showed that farmers lost an average of $3,348 per year due to repair downtime. Extrapolated nationally, this could cost farmers more than $3 billion annually.
Opponents to the right-to-repair legislation, like the Illinois Chamber of Commerce and the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, cite safety, cybersecurity, and emissions concerns. Meanwhile, the EPA has clarified that their policies “are aligned in preventing tampering, not by limiting access to independent repair.”
The financial implications for companies like John Deere are significant, with their parts sales having grown by 22% from 2013 to 2019. This has coincided with Deere’s mergers and technological advancements, further consolidating their market share and blurring the lines between Big Tech and Big Ag.
Advocacy groups like the National Farmers Union argue that more competition and transparency would benefit farmers. Vice President of Advocacy Mike Stranz stated, “Having more choices in the marketplace and a more open repair market that drives competition makes things work better for farmers.”
Relevant articles:
– Farmers have clamored for the Right to Repair for years. It’s getting little traction in John Deere’s home state. The Farm Bureau agreed not to support R2R legislation in exchange for consumer repair diagnostics. Farmers and repair advocates say the tools fall short.
– Farmers finding problems with right-to-repair agreement, The Gazette, Sun, 14 Apr 2024 10:00:00 GMT
– INVESTIGATE MIDWEST: Farmers have clamored for the Right to Repair for years. It’s getting little traction in John Deere’s home state, Southwest Regional Publishing, Mon, 15 Apr 2024 19:05:48 GMT