County Farm Bureau advocates for ‘Fair Repair Act’
NORWICH – The Chenango County Farm Bureau is throwing support behind a statewide proposal that could make it easier for farmers to repair modern, high-tech farming equipment.
The Fair Repair Act is sponsored by several upstate legislators, including 52nd Senate District Republican Fred Akshar. It would require manufacturers of digital electronic parts to include with their products clear repair information – such as manuals and software – that consumers would need to fix broken equipment.
As it stands, repair manuals and other information is offered only to the manufacturer’s repair channel, or certified technicians who specialize with specific brands, making it difficult for individuals to make their own repairs.
But by providing repair information to consumers, advocates say there would be a tremendous cost savings, especially to farmers who often rely on making their own repairs to farm machinery to cut overhead.
“There seems to be a fair amount of resistance from manufacturers,” said Chenango County Farm Bureau President Bradd Vickers, “but from a farming point of view and do-it-youselfers, it’s certainly cost effective.”
Vickers said that while the NYS legislature doesn’t return to session until January, he hopes to see the proposal picked up again next year.
“Most farmers have to be somewhat of a mechanic,” he added. “If there were a manual that would at least describe some of the basic issues they might run into with equipment, it would be beneficial to the ag industry.”
Supporters have started a digital platform that they hope will help the bill gain traction in the legislature. The website newyork.repair.org encourages supporters to write letters to their state representatives favoring the bill.
“It’s not going to be easy,” the website states. “Manufacturers are standing in the way. When your stuff breaks, they want to be the only people allowed to fix it. So far, they’ve managed to stop Fair Repair legislation before you representatives get a chance to vote on it.”
The bill made it to committee before legislators braked for session in June.
Although this proposal does not apply to motor vehicles, similar legislation for motor vehicles was passed in 2014.
The Fair Repair Act is sponsored by several upstate legislators, including 52nd Senate District Republican Fred Akshar. It would require manufacturers of digital electronic parts to include with their products clear repair information – such as manuals and software – that consumers would need to fix broken equipment.
As it stands, repair manuals and other information is offered only to the manufacturer’s repair channel, or certified technicians who specialize with specific brands, making it difficult for individuals to make their own repairs.
But by providing repair information to consumers, advocates say there would be a tremendous cost savings, especially to farmers who often rely on making their own repairs to farm machinery to cut overhead.
“There seems to be a fair amount of resistance from manufacturers,” said Chenango County Farm Bureau President Bradd Vickers, “but from a farming point of view and do-it-youselfers, it’s certainly cost effective.”
Vickers said that while the NYS legislature doesn’t return to session until January, he hopes to see the proposal picked up again next year.
“Most farmers have to be somewhat of a mechanic,” he added. “If there were a manual that would at least describe some of the basic issues they might run into with equipment, it would be beneficial to the ag industry.”
Supporters have started a digital platform that they hope will help the bill gain traction in the legislature. The website newyork.repair.org encourages supporters to write letters to their state representatives favoring the bill.
“It’s not going to be easy,” the website states. “Manufacturers are standing in the way. When your stuff breaks, they want to be the only people allowed to fix it. So far, they’ve managed to stop Fair Repair legislation before you representatives get a chance to vote on it.”
The bill made it to committee before legislators braked for session in June.
Although this proposal does not apply to motor vehicles, similar legislation for motor vehicles was passed in 2014.
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