"Farmers who use tractors to plant, cultivate, and harvest crops often need to repair their equipment while they work. Waiting for manufacturer approval to get something fixed, or taking the time to bring the equipment to an approved dealership, can cause delays, frustration, and missed opportunities to harvest crops."
"This isn't just a blue state thing; this isn't just a Colorado activist thing. Its real. Farmers have trouble repairing their equipment and want change."
"Farmers and their tractors have long been a focal point of the right-to-repair movement, the ever-growing global effort to let product owners fix their own devices and equipment without manufacturer approval."
Iowa's House File 2709 would grant farmers the right to repair their own agricultural equipment, including tractors, combines, and balers, without manufacturer approval. The bill represents the first of nearly 57 state-level right-to-repair bills supported by advocates nationwide in 2026, with similar legislation pending in Oklahoma, Wyoming, Delaware, and West Virginia. Farmers require timely equipment repairs during planting and harvest seasons, and delays from manufacturer restrictions or dealership visits cause significant operational losses. A successful passage in Iowa, the second-largest agricultural state by revenue, could strengthen broader right-to-repair efforts for phones, cars, and consumer devices. Manufacturers would be required to provide owners with technical documentation and necessary data.
Read at WIRED
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