Hunter
04/29/26
The Iowa House passed a “right to repair” bill that allows farmers to more easily work on their equipment.
Iowa Capital Dispatch reports the bill requires manufacturers of agricultural equipment to make parts, software, and tools used to repair or maintain the equipment available to independent repair facilities or to the equipment owners themselves at a fair and reasonable cost.
Farmers often have to go to dealerships to repair their equipment, because certain tools or software are required to make those repairs.
Farmers joined with the Federal Trade Commission and brought legal challenges to Deere and Company over the issue, saying the technology to repair equipment is only available to licensed dealers.
Representative JD Scholten said the bill is about opening up competition, comparing the situation to car owners’ freedom to have their vehicles repaired at dealerships, independent shops, or making their own repairs.
The bill, if signed into law, would allow farmers to work on their own equipment and not have to depend on dealerships.