The American Farm Bureau Federation signed a memorandum of understanding with both Kubota and AGCO, further expanding the Farm Bureau’s initiative to empower farmers and ranchers to make timely, cost-effective repairs on their own equipment.
Following agreements with John Deere and CNH Industrial Brands earlier this year, the AFBF has signed agreements with about 70 percent of agricultural machinery sold in the states.
AFBF President Zippy Duvall expressed his enthusiasm about the recent developments, stating, “Farmers and ranchers urged us to find a private sector solution to the challenges of repairing their own equipment. These agreements represent ongoing efforts to ensure farmers have access to the tools necessary to keep their equipment running and to keep food on the table for families across America.”
The MOUs between AFBF, AGCO, and Kubota were negotiated independently with each manufacturer. Both companies committed to supporting farmers’ right to repair their equipment while respecting the manufacturers’ intellectual property rights.
Under the agreements, farmers and independent repair facilities in all 50 states and Puerto Rico will have access to both AGCO and Kubota manuals, tools, product guides, and information that will allow them to diagnose and repair machines independently.
AGCO Vice President of Customer Support, Barry O’Shea, highlighted the company’s dedication to farmers’ needs, stating, “AGCO’s farmer-first focus guides us in everything we do, and we support farmers’ ability to repair the equipment they own. We are dedicated to being their most trusted partner for smart farming solutions, and this MOU with Farm Bureau is an outcome of that commitment. We appreciate the American Farm Bureau’s diligence, and we will continue delivering tools farmers can use to diagnose, maintain, and repair their AGCO machinery.”
Todd Stucke, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Kubota Tractor Corporation, echoed these sentiments, saying, “Kubota is pleased to join the AFBF in signing a memorandum of understanding to ensure our customers are empowered with the information and tools needed to safely maintain, diagnose, and make repairs on their own equipment. We strive to ensure that our equipment is manufactured to the highest engineering standards to maximize performance for our customers, and this agreement is a good step toward further protecting their safety while operating, maintaining, and repairing it.”
With these new agreements in place, the AFBF says that they remain committed to addressing the concerns of farmers and ranchers across the country, providing them with the resources necessary to maintain and repair their vital farm equipment.
Right-to-repair agreements provide farmers with the resources, information, and control to repair and maintain their agricultural equipment independently. These agreements promote cost savings, timely maintenance, adaptability, rural resilience, and sustainability, ultimately benefiting farmers and ensuring the efficiency and productivity of the agricultural sector.
