There's a fight happening over something that used to be obvious: if you own a machine, you should be able to fix it. For most of history, farmers were some of the best mechanics around out of pure necessity. But modern equipment — especially large tractors and combines — increasingly runs on proprietary software, and manufacturers have used that software to lock owners out of their own repairs. This is what the 'right to repair' movement is about.
What changed
Today's high-end farm equipment is as much computer as machine. Many repairs — even simple ones — require proprietary diagnostic software and authorization codes to complete. A farmer can physically replace a part and the machine still won't run until a manufacturer-authorized technician connects and unlocks it. That can mean waiting days for a dealer tech during a narrow harvest window where every hour counts, and paying dealer rates for what used to be a do-it-yourself job.
Why farmers are pushing back
- Downtime costs money — a machine down during harvest can cost more per day than the repair itself.
- Dealer dependence — fewer rural dealers means longer waits and less leverage.
- It's their property — owners argue they have the right to fix what they paid for.
- It revives old equipment — part of why decades-old tractors without software locks now sell at a premium.
Where it stands
Right-to-repair has become a genuine national issue. Some manufacturers have signed memorandums of understanding pledging to make tools, manuals, and diagnostics available to owners and independent shops. Several states have passed or proposed right-to-repair legislation, some specifically covering agricultural equipment. The details and enforcement are still being worked out, and it remains an active legal and political fight. If you farm with modern equipment, it's worth following — and worth factoring into what you buy.
What you can do
Favor equipment you can actually service. Buy manuals and learn your machines. Support independent repair shops, which keep the whole ecosystem honest. And if it matters to you, pay attention to right-to-repair legislation in your state — farmer voices have driven much of the progress so far. The principle is simple and old: ownership should include the right to repair.
Written by Jordan Polasek, founder of Texas Roots, from his greenhouse in El Campo, Texas. Free to share. If this helped, the best thanks is to grow something or pass it along.