Right to Repair Provisions in NDAA Remain a Threat to Equipment Dealers

Jul 31, 2025

Traditionally, Associated Equipment Distributors (AED) and the broader equipment industry wouldn’t focus much attention on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The NDAA sets military and defense priorities and policies, authorizes funding levels, and is one of the few bills that Congress passes year-after-year. Since 1961, Congress has passed an NDAA every year.

AED’s awareness was heightened last year, when Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and others attempted to include “right to repair” mandates under the guise of military preparedness. While unsuccessful, due in part to the efforts of AED, in the current Congress, right to repair amendments have been attached to both the House and Senate versions of NDAA. AED remains opposed to the current language in both NDAA’s and we encourage equipment dealers to join our efforts.

Earlier this month, the House Armed Services Committee adopted an amendment by Rep. Maggie Goodlander (D-N.H.) prohibiting the Department of Defense from entering into major weapon systems contracts unless, “the contractor agrees in writing to provide fair and reasonable access to all the repair materials, including parts, tools, and information, used by the manufacturer or provider or their authorized repair providers to diagnose, analyze, maintain, or repair the good or service.” The “fair and reasonable” language will be familiar to anyone encountering right to repair legislation at the state level. In fact, the amendment’s definition of “fair and reasonable access” imitates the awful language attempting to impose right to repair mandates on agriculture equipment and other machinery.

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Video: Will the 2025 USDA December Crop Report Be a Market Mover/Surprise?

Historically, the USDA December crop report is a non-event or another dud report as the USDA reserves any final supply changes to the final report in January of the following year in this case 2026. But after the longest U.S. government shutdown in history at 43 days and no October crop report will they provide more data/surprise and make an exception?
Our China U.S. soybean purchase tracker is now at 26.6% or a total of 3.2 mmt but for traders it’s taking too long to unfold.
The final Stats Canada production report was bearish canola and wheat projection a record crop in both (it adds to the global glut of supplies) and bullish local corn and soybean prices in Ontario/Quebec thanks to a drought. It will not help the fund flow short-term, the USDA may need to offset it?
A U.S. Fed interest rate cut of another 25-basis point next Wednesday (probability 87.1%) could help fund flow and sentiment in stock and ag commodities into year end.
More inflows into Bitcoin this past week saw prices rebound back above 90,000 with support at 82,000 and resistance at 96,000.
A V-shaped bottom in cattle suggest the lows are in after Mexico reported another new world screwworm case. Lower weights, seasonal demand and higher U.S. beef select/choice values with a continued closure of the Mexican border to cattle will result in a resumption of higher cattle futures into yearend.
Australia is expected to produce its 3rd largest wheat crop ever at 36 mmt adding to the global glut of supplies.
Reports of ASF in hogs in Spain the largest pork exporter in Europe could see the U.S. win more pork export business long-term.
If the rains verify into next week of 3-5 inches for Brazil it would go a long way to fixing the dry regions from the last 2-months, but the European weather model has been wrong for the past 2-months!
Natural gas futures are surging to the 3rd price count as frigid hold temps set in.
CDN $ is also surging to end the week on a very resilient economy and better employment numbers suggesting no interest rate cuts next week.
Finally, the CFTC report showed funds were net buyers of soybeans but sellers of corn, canola and wheat. In real time the funds have gone back to selling as they take some profits.