Myth v. Fact

6 Common Myths Debunked

MYTH #1: Farmers can no longer repair their own equipment because manufacturers won’t allow end-users access to the diagnostic tools and replacement parts needed.

FACT: Farmers and ranchers already can perform the vast majority of repairs on their equipment unless it breaks federal safety or emissions laws. Modern farm equipment has become increasingly high tech, more efficient and safer and must adhere to safety and emissions laws now that weren’t around decades ago.

Equipment manufacturers and dealers have committed to providing a comprehensive toolkit of maintenance, diagnostic, and repair information for tractors and combines by 2021 so that all equipment owners and operators can make most repairs themselves. This commitment includes access to diagnostic tools and replacement parts readily available.

A lot of these tools and information are already available today, and most repairs can be completed unless it impacts safety or emissions settings. Farmers and ranchers are supported by dealers across the nation that provide service parts, service parts expertise, and service parts availability that maximizes machine up-time.

MYTH #2: Big corporations, dealers and manufacturers are trying to monopolize the marketplace and limit competition at the expense of farmers in an increasingly squeezed industry.

FACT: No one is more supportive of farmers and ranchers than equipment manufacturers. Dealers and manufacturers have a shared incentive for farmers and ranchers to be prosperous. The industries are inextricably linked – when farms succeed, the manufacturers and dealers also succeed.

MYTH #3: Using only authorized dealers ends up costing farmers and ranchers time and money, especially during critical weather-sensitive parts in the farming cycle, such as planting or harvesting.

FACT: Thanks to more efficient designs and intelligent design, equipment is more reliable than it was in previous generations. Most repairs are able to be done by the equipment owner unless it’s related to safety or emissions. When an authorized dealer technician is needed, it ultimately saves time and money by using qualified technician rather than a cheaper third party that may fail to repair the equipment correctly.

MYTH #4: Using an authorized dealer for a repair takes much longer and will cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars, opposed to an owner making repairs themselves or using a less expensive third party.

FACT: Thanks to technology advancements, equipment today is more reliable and require less repairs today than in past generations. For example, to help reduce downtime, many modern tractors and combines can be fixed remotely by dealers. Dealers also use mobile repair trucks.

Most equipment repairs can be done by farmers or ranchers themselves. When that’s not possible, dealers have qualified technicians who can repair equipment in the most efficient, cost-effective manner possible.

MYTH #5: Right to Repair policies are helpful to the environment, as it would allow for more refurbishment and recycling of equipment instead of sending it to the landfill.

FACT: Part of the agreement between dealers and manufacturers is the proper disposal of equipment (re-using parts, remanufacturing parts and components, recycling, etc.). Correct and proper repairs will increase longevity of the equipment, reduce waste, whereas illegal tampering will be more wasteful by shortening the lifespan of equipment.