CropSphere: Right to Repair Becoming An Issue For U-S Farmers

Jan 07, 2019

The technology involved in farm equipment is growing at a rapid rate.

Right now, in the United States, there is a battle over the rights of farmers to fix their own machinery.

Rules that apply to Apple, etc are now being brought over to farm equipment to protect patented technology.

Nebraska farmer Tom Schwarz is active in the Right to Repair movement in the U-S and is one of the presenters during the CropSphere.

“The problem is when they apply rules that they're using to protect that. To us in a lot of cases, they remove the ability of a third party to work on equipment, whether that’s ourselves or a small town mechanic shop. We’ve got to be able to work this out with Deere and these other companies so that you know that technology is available. It can be done in a good manner and a safe manner.”

When a piece of equipment is down timing can be a key issue and a farmer’s ability to fix their own equipment is being compromised by the technology involved as well as the potential legal implications.

Schwarz is just one of many presenters to take the stage during this year’s CropSphere event January 14-16 in Saskatoon.

More information on CropSphere is available here.

CropSphere runs in conjunction with Crop Production Week and the Western Canadian Crop Production Show

Source : Discoverestevan

Video: A Farm Song (Busy) | Parody of A Bar Song (Tipsy) by Shaboozey

Lyrics:

My days begin with workin’, Alarm’s at 5 o’clock,
I Fill 5 gallon buckets, The feeders and the troughs,
This five to nine ain’t workin’, why the heck do I work so hard?,
I can’t worry ‘bout health problems, I can sleep in when I’m gone,

One, here comes the two to the three to the four,
Tell em’ ‘buy another cow, we need plenty more’,
Blue jeans are gettin’ dirty, what else could I ask for,
Oh my, more chores

Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history,
There’s another flock of sheep that still needs feed,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

I’ve been working pretty stressed but,
I ain’t changing for some cash,
Lord knows that I’m very blessed (More chores),
But I gotta say it’s hard,
Workin’ outside gettin’ charred,
Living out here on the farm, (more chores)

One, here comes the two to the three to the four,
Tell em’ ‘buy another cow, we need plenty more’,
Blue jeans are gettin’ dirty, what else could I ask for,
Oh my, more chores

Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history
There’s another 20 chickens that still need feed,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

Everybody on the farm getting’ busy,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

Fun, here on ranch that’s what you can’t ignore,
Might be pretty hard but I love it to its core,
Flannel’s gettin’ dirty, what else could I ask for,
Oh my, more chores (Tell ‘em sing with me)

Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history,
There’s another flock of sheep that still needs feed,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history,
Watching cattle in the dark, don’t miss me,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
(Yeeeeeehaw)
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
It’s the best bro, go get yourself a farm