The memorandum of understanding came into force on March 9
By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com
Two farm equipment manufacturers have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF).
The MOU between Case IH, New Holland and the AFBF, which came into force on March 9, gives farmers and ranchers the right to repair their own equipment.
“Farmers and ranchers are more dependent on technology than ever before, so it’s critical they have access to the tools to keep things running on the farm so the food supply chain keeps running, too,” Zippy Duvall, president of the AFBF, said in a statement.
Duvall, along with Kurt Coffey and Sally Johnson, vice presidents of North America for Case IH Agriculture and New Holland Agriculture, respectively, signed the MOU.
This recent MOU follows one the AFBF signed in January with John Deere.
Under this agreement, Case IH and New Holland are obligated to provide farmers and independent repair shops with access to tools, specialty tools, software and documentation.
This includes the CNH Industrial Electronic Service Tool and manuals.
The intellectual property of the manufacturers is protected, the MOU states.
The AFBF also has commitments to the manufacturers under the MOU.
It will encourage other organizations to recognize the MOU and “refrain from introducing, promoting, or supporting federal or state “Right to Repair” legislation that imposes obligations beyond the commitments in this MOU.”
And one section of the agreement pertains to cooperation between the two sides.
Part of that section states the two parties work together to come up with a way of educating farmers and independent repair shops about the tools, software and other materials required to repair and maintain ag equipment.