The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) has achieved a major milestone in enhancing the right to repair for farmers by signing memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with AGCO and Kubota, two prominent agricultural equipment manufacturers. These agreements enable farmers to repair their own farm equipment and contribute to the AFBF's goal of ensuring farmers have access to essential tools for equipment maintenance.
Negotiated separately with AGCO and Kubota, these MOUs join previous agreements with John Deere and CNH Industrial brands, resulting in a combined coverage of approximately 70% of agricultural machinery sales in the United States.
AFBF President Zippy Duvall emphasized the importance of finding private sector solutions to address farmers' concerns regarding equipment repairs.
Barry O'Shea, AGCO's Vice President of Customer Support, highlighted the company's commitment to supporting farmers in their repair needs. AGCO aims to be the trusted partner in smart farming solutions and views the MOU with the Farm Bureau as a testament to that commitment.
Todd Stucke, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Kubota Tractor Corporation, stressed that the MOU empowers customers to safely maintain, diagnose, and repair their equipment. Kubota's vast network of over 1,100 dealers will provide farmers with the necessary tools, parts, guides, and manuals to work on their machines independently.
These MOUs ensure farmers and independent repair facilities in all 50 U.S. states and Puerto Rico have access to AGCO and Kubota manuals, tools, product guides, and diagnostic information. The agreements strike a balance between respecting manufacturers' intellectual property rights and enabling farmers to perform self-diagnosis and repairs.
By expanding the right to repair coverage, the AFBF and its industry partners empower farmers, promote self-sufficiency, and drive efficiency in the agricultural sector.
Photo Credit: GettyImages-kali9
Categories: Michigan, Equipment & Machinery, General