That farmers should be able to fix their tractors seems so obvious that companies like John Deere telling their customers they can’t is shocking and outrageous. The right of anyone to repair, modify or simply access their own machines (whether mobiles, cars or even washing machines) seems basic, but it is something that companies have destroyed in the shadows, trying to monopolize the lucrative repair market.
And of course, consumers have begun to realize the importance of these rights, which is why we have recently seen a boom in legislative initiatives that address the issue. Farmers: the most affected sector. Now they are fighting back against John Deere.
The era of Big Data (and being held hostage by companies). The more modern farm equipment becomes, the greater the implications for farmer independence. Banning farmers from repairing their machines is simply a manifestation of increased systemic control. Agriculture has entered the age of Big Data, this means that any new farm equipment is designed to be interconnected and to collect data wherever possible.
In fact, John Deere’s software license, which a farmer accepts automatically by turning a key on his tractor, not only prohibits repair and modification, but also protects the company against lawsuits for “loss of crops, profits, or profits.” equipment use”.
dependence on the great. But these dependencies are not just about software adoption. Deere precision machines can cost upwards of $500,000 and very few farmers own them outright. The tenant is usually Deere itself, as the company has become the fifth largest agricultural lender in the industry. A “vicious circle” that the farmers themselves wonder if it is worth it.
In the age of planned obsolescence, it’s not just a possibility that these high-tech tractors will go out of business in a few years, something we’ve learned from the iPhone. Even if they still work, the company can simply stop updating the software, forcing the farmer to sign a new contract.
No right to repair. An executive order signed by US President Joe Biden a few months ago called on the Federal Trade Commission to change anti-competitive practices to make it easier and cheaper for consumers to repair items they own by limiting the ability of manufacturers to prohibit their own or third-party repairs of their products. But while the right to redress affects many products, it is seen more in agricultural markets.
This forces them to pay dealer fees for repairs that a farmer or third-party shop could have done cheaper.
A new bill. In fact, Senator Jon Tester introduced the Farm Right to Repair Act that would guarantee farmers the right to repair their own equipment and end current restrictions. The bill would require equipment manufacturers to make available any parts, tools, software and documentation owners need to repair, diagnose and maintain their own equipment. Suffice it to say that this year alone there have been three lawsuits against John Deere for the right to repair.
The role of companies. John Deere said in a statement that it supports the customer’s right to “safely maintain, diagnose and repair” equipment and provides the tools, parts and information for farmers to work on the machines. They do not, however, endorse the right to modify computer software, citing safety, emissions compliance, and engine performance risks.
Apple more of the same. Being a major player in the right to repair movement, he announced a new self-service repair program that allows customers to purchase parts and tools to repair their phones, tablets and laptops through Apple Self Service Repair Online. Something that is a far cry from true third-party support for the right to repair.
hacks are welcome. Initiatives such as Open Source Ecology and Farm Hack exist, and open source software is being developed, but they have yet to be commercially viable. Many of these tools rely on the ingenuity of individual farmers to build and implement them. In fact, one of the reasons why the issue of the right to repair has become such a dangerous issue is that they lead farmers to use illegal Ukrainian software to hack their tractors, as we tell in this article.
Without being able to touch our cars. In Xataka a few days ago we also told how a year ago the Mercedes EQS was presented and, to the surprise of customers, its hood could not be opened. The question also arose: why do we want to open the hood? What do we want to repair? The truth is that, every time, we care less about what is inside our car. And Mercedes is not the only brand that does not allow the hood to be raised, but also BMW in some of its models.
Brands have been putting real impediments to access the car engine for a long time. The number of components that are already impossible to change in a roadside assistance, or very difficult to attack, for more than two decades, is increasing. A motivation to go to the companies when a problem arises in the vehicle system. In the end, an excuse to continue scratching our pockets.