Michigan is the latest state to take up a tractor Right to Repair bill that would restore farmers’ fixing freedoms. It’s been a big year for the campaign: 16 other states have considered similar policies, with Colorado being the first to sign one into law.
After testifying in Michigan House Agriculture Committee’s hearing on HB 4673, it’s clear that the momentum for tractor Right to Repair isn’t going anywhere. Here’s 5 takeaways from the hearing.
1. Michigan farmers just want to be able to fix their stuff.
This past winter, Michigan Rep. Reggie Miller, the lead sponsor of HB 4673 and chair of the House Ag Committee, attended a dinner organized by the Michigan Farm Bureau. “This is what was talked about,” Chair Miller told her colleagues. “They shared their worries around the topic of Right to Repair, explaining how this impacts their lives.”
Bob Thompson, a farmer and president of Michigan Farmers Union, explained why. “As a farmer, I want true repair choice for my farm equipment,” Thompson said. Members of the Potato Growers of Michigan and Michigan Corn Growers also submitted their support of the bill.
. Manufacturer MOUs aren’t true tractor Right to Repair solutions. Over the course of the past year, the American Farm Bureau Federation has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) on repair with John Deere, CNH Industrial, Kubota and AGCO. Unfortunately, these agreements are non-binding pinky swears that fail to guarantee comprehensive repair access to independent fixers.
One major flaw with the MOUs is that manufacturers can walk away from their agreement with as little as 15 day’s notice. In his testimony in support of the bill, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Director Tim Boring put it this way: “The MOUs are written in pencil, this measure here today puts these things in ink for farmers.”
Source: pirg.org
Photo Credit: gettyimages-lightfieldstudios
Categories: Michigan, Crops, Corn, Equipment & Machinery