“Farmers need the Right to Repair. We face all sorts of challenges, and the freedom to repair our own equipment shouldn’t be an issue,” said NFU President Rob Larew. “We’re glad to join in this specific effort to push for Right to Repair through the EPA’s enforcement mechanisms and we will continue to push broadly for all legal and legislative avenues to secure that right.”  

The petition, filed by Right to Repair advocate Willie Cade, asks the court to issue a writ of mandamus compelling the EPA to take action requiring John Deere to comply with the CAA.  

n the highly consolidated farm equipment industry – where just four companies control over 95% of the market – Right to Repair has become an increasingly important issue as companies wield their market power to restrict access to diagnostics and repair of their equipment. Past broken promises by equipment manufacturers underscore the need for farmers to have certainty.  

As part of the , NFU is pushing for legislative, regulatory, and legal fixes on Right to Repair, market consolidation, and other issues impacting farmers’ ability to operate in a fair market. 

Source: Willie Cade

The lawsuit, expected to be filed by repair advocate Willie Cade, specifically aims at John Deere & Company, one of the world’s largest tractor and farm equipment manufacturers, claiming that it is illegally restricting the repair of its engine emissions systems to only authorized dealerships.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia, represents a novel approach to the issue through environmental law, advocates say. Cade is asking the court to require the EPA to act through an unusual legal route known as a mandamus order, which is an extraordinary remedy that is only granted if the petitioner has tried every other option available to them.

Source: