October 25, 2023
Michigan Based Media Contact:
Michigan Farmers Union President Bob Thompson (989) 289-4051 MIFarmersUnion@gmail.com
National Media Contact: press@nfudc.org
LANSING – Today, the Michigan House Agriculture Committee passed the “Agricultural Equipment Repair Act” (HB 4673).
The bill will ensure farmers and ranchers in the state of Michigan have the right to access the parts, tools, and information they need to repair their own farm equipment, and this bill moving forward is a win for farmers and ranchers everywhere.
“Michigan Farmers Union was proud to have worked closely in developing this bill and will continue to fight for its passage,” said Michigan Farmers Union President Bob Thompson. “I want to thank agriculture committee Chair Reggie Miller for standing with farmers in support of our Right to Repair our farm equipment. Farmers Union will continue to advocate for fair and robust access to equipment repair for family farmers in Michigan and across the country.”
Right to Repair is an issue being looked at across all levels of government, from state houses to the White House. Just this week, the White House National Economic Council held a briefing to discuss the issue which included a presentation from a Farmers Union member.
Momentum is building across the country to ensure farmers and ranchers have fair and affordable access to repair. Earlier this year, Colorado became the first state in the country to enact Right to Repair legislation for agricultural equipment. Similar bills have also been proposed in at least 16 states across the country, and today’s action in Michigan is a step in the right direction.
Right to Repair is a key issue in National Farmers Union and Michigan Farmers Union’s Fairness for Farmers campaign, which aims to build fairer and more competitive agricultural markets, and to address the monopoly crisis in agriculture.
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