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Farm Equipment Dealers oppose ‘Right to Repair’

A new survey finds more than half of farm equipment dealers are against permanent right-to-repair legislation.

After a June U.S. Copyright Office report recommended Congress approve legislation for consumers to have the right to repair technology, Farm-Equipment.com polled visitors to see if they were for or against permanent action.

More than 60 percent of respondents disagreed with right-to-repair legislation, while more than a quarter were in favor of it.

Proponents of the right-to-repair legislation say manufacturers are limiting farmer’s ability to fix equipment themselves, and that a decline in rural dealerships has led to longer wait times for repairs. Opponents say unrestricted service of ag equipment could lead to safety and liability threats.

Right-to-repair legislation has been introduced in 11 state legislatures this year including Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska.