Iowa farmers are leading the fight for repair
a day ago
- #Right to Repair
- #Agriculture
- #John Deere
- Iowa House Agriculture Committee advanced HSB 751, a Right to Repair bill for agriculture, with an 18-5 vote.
- Right to Repair laws have passed in Colorado for agriculture and in eight states for electronics, with 55 bills currently in 20 state legislatures.
- Modern farm equipment relies on proprietary software, making repairs difficult without dealer access, leading to downtime and food supply disruptions.
- Colorado's 2023 agricultural Right to Repair law requires manufacturers to provide manuals, tools, and parts to farmers on fair terms.
- John Deere has resisted full repair access, offering limited solutions while keeping critical tools restricted.
- Iowa's bill, supported by farmer Rep. Derek Wulf, aims for 'fair and reasonable' access to repair tools, with amendments to address dealer concerns.
- Iowa's corn and soybean groups testified neutral on HSB 751, a significant shift from previous opposition to similar bills.
- Deere's strategy of using allies to block repair laws is weakening as more states push for Right to Repair legislation.
- The bill now moves to the Iowa House floor, with a strong chance of passing, supported by farmers and advocacy groups.