After Smartphones, Farmers Get Right-To-Repair Agreement For Equipment

After years of campaigning, farmers in the United State will finally be able to fix John Deere equipment on their own, no longer needing to only use the company’s authorized parts and service facilities.

The tractor maker, one of the world’s largest providers of farming equipment, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) last week to issue the long-standing issue.

Recently, consumers have been fighting for their right to independently repair goods, which typically cost less than going to a firm’s repair station, first with smartphones and gadgets, and now, even heavy equipment. 

“A piece of equipment is a major investment. Farmers must have the freedom to choose where equipment is repaired, or to repair it themselves, to help control costs,” explains AFBF President Zippy Duvall.

According to the BBC, equipment owners and independent technicians will not be allowed to “divulge trade secrets” or “override safety features or emissions controls” when performing their own repairs, and are not allowed to tinkle with the power levels. 

Going forward, farmers will have access to diagnostic and repair codes, manuals, and product guides needed for repair works. It will ensure customers can purchase tools directly from the firm, and receive assistance when it comes to picking out the right parts and products.

[via BBC and CNN, cover image via Bluetoes67 | Dreamstime.com]