John Deere & Co., one of the world’s largest manufacturers of farm equipment, has agreed to allow its US customers the right to fix their equipment and machinery, according to a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed with the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF).
While announcing the agreement, AFBF President Zippy Duvall said that the move would allow farmers to access tools, information, repair codes, and operator resources while protecting John Deere’s intellectual property rights and ensuring equipment safety.
Previously, farmers could only purchase parts and repairs through authorized dealers, without access to alternative inexpensive repair options.
This move is part of a “grassroots right-to-repair” mobilization that has been putting pressure on manufacturers to allow customers and independent repair shops to fix their devices.
Dave Gilmore, Vice President at Deere & Co., said, “The company will work together with the AFBF and its customers in the coming months and years to ensure farmers and dealers continue to have the tools they require to diagnose, maintain or make repairs to their equipment whenever possible and also to resolve any technical issues as they may arise.”
However, under the new agreement, it is worth noting that the equipment owners and independent technicians are barred from “divulging any trade secrets of the company, adjusting agricultural equipment power levels or overriding safety features.”
This move follows similar actions taken by other companies. In 2022, Apple launched a “self-service repair” scheme, allowing customers to replace their iPhone batteries, screens, and cameras.
In addition, the European Union and the UK have developed policies requiring manufacturers to send spare parts to local shops where customers and independent companies can access the parts easily.
In 2021, President Biden signed an executive order calling on the Federal Trade Commission to come up with a national policy allowing consumers to repair their products, particularly in the technology and agriculture sectors.