The Nebraska Farmers Union is supporting legislation on both the state and federal level that would give farmers and independent repair shops the ability to repair their own equipment. President John Hansen says the National Farmers Union also supports Montana Senator John Tester’s Agriculture Right to Repair Act that would require all farm equipment manufacturers to provide all diagnostic equipment to farmers.
Hansen says they’re backing similar legislation in Nebraska, LB 543, which has passed out of committee in the Nebraska Unicameral.
State legislation has been introduced in at least other 32 states, and Hansen says coming at the issue with state and federal legislation will increase the chance for passage.
Tester’s bill would also give the Federal Trade Commission authority to go after companies that don’t comply with the right to repair law. Plus, it would return farm data ownership to farmers and not allow manufacturers to sell the information.
