Hinrichsen: The right to repair
If you can’t repair your own equipment, do you really own it? I would argue you don’t.
For decades, if a farmer’s tractor broke down, they could fix it themselves, take it to a repair shop, or go to the dealership. Folks had options to best suit their needs, and a market competing for their business.
That was then. Today, critical farming equipment like tractors and harvesters are brimming with technology - and manufacturers restrict access to tools like software and repair manuals needed to fix broken farm equipment leaving farmers out in the cold, forced to rely on dealerships to fix their equipment.
Too often that leads to lengthy delays and sky-high repair bills. Farmers work on a strict schedule dictated by Mother Nature, and don't have time for weeks of lost productivity. Colorado’s farmers and ranchers deserve choices on how to repair their equipment in ways that best suits their business. That’s why I’m championing bipartisan legislation that will give farmers the right to repair their equipment.
Currently, if a piece of farming equipment breaks down, folks have to schedule a time for a dealership “authorized” technician to come fix the part. This is the case even if the problem is solved as simply as putting in a five digit code. I’ve heard firsthand from farmers and ranchers who’ve had to wait weeks to get a technician out to their farm. Other folks have needed to travel over two hours to find a technician who can service their tractors, or even have specialists fly in from as far away as Idaho.
In agriculture, time is money. With fields to be plowed, planted, and harvested, farmers don’t always have time to wait for a dealer and risk losing income that can impact their livelihoods.
To make matters worse, authorized technicians can cost anywhere between $500 and $1,800 per visit. Dale McCall, President of the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, recently discussed how he had to spend $6,000 for a technician to enter a code to get his two broken-down balers back up and running.
Giving farmers autonomy over their property is one part of the solution. This legislation treats farm equipment the same way we treat cars. When your car breaks down, you have options: you can fix it yourself, you can take it to the dealership, or you can go to an independent mechanic. Our Right-to-Repair bill expands the marketplace for third-parties which benefits our small businesses and independent contractors – not just dealerships.
Farmers are the beating heart of America. They have to contend with drought, disease, and other hardships while working countless hours in the fields to feed our state and country. The last thing a grower needs is to face the burden of extra costs and lost time while waiting for someone else to fix their equipment.
Our Right-to-Repair bill is supported by the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association, the National Federation of Independent Business, the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, the Colorado Growers Associations of corn, wool, wheat, fruit and vegetables, and folks on both sides of the aisle. It’s time for Colorado’s family farming and ranching community to have full ownership, independence, and freedom over their property and fix their equipment in ways they choose.
I’m committed to doing everything I can to support Colorado’s hard working farmers, and HB23-1011 is a key part of my work. I’m confident this bill will give Colorado farmers a leg up by saving them time and money so they can focus on their important job of feeding the world.
Sen. Nick Hinrichsen is the state Senator for Colorado Senate District 3, which covers Pueblo County
This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Hinrichsen: The right to repair
