Progress on Right to Repair

State Farm Bureau leaders from all of the organization’s four regions joined Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) for his signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with officials from John Deere that they believe will help ensure Illinois and other farmers have the right to repair their own farm equipment.

“The right to repair one’s own equipment, or the ability to choose where equipment is repaired, is a long-standing issue for farmers,” said Illinois Farm Bureau President Richard Guebert Jr. in a statement following a press conference held at the AFBF meeting. “This MOU ensures farmers have access to the necessary tools, information and resources to repair their own equipment. It also protects John Deere’s intellectual property rights and ensures equipment safety.”

According to an AFBF press release, the MOU, signed during the recent AFBF convention, formalizes farmers’ access to diagnostic and repair codes, as well as manuals and product guides. It says farmers will also be able to purchase diagnostic tools directly from Deere and receive assistance when ordering parts and products.

During the press conference, AFBF President Duvall said the MOU sets parameters and creates a mechanism to address farmers’ concerns. He said Deere commits to engaging with farmer and dealers to resolve issues when they arise.

“We look forward to working alongside the AFBF and our customers in the months and years ahead to ensure farmers continue to have the tools and resources to diagnose, maintain and repair their equipment,” said David Gilmore, vice president, ag and turf sales and marketing, in the AFBF release.

AFBF’s Duvall also said Deere agrees to meet with the organization at least twice a year to evaluate progress. They hope the MOU serves as a template to develop similar agreements with other original equipment manufacturers with discussions currently underway.