FARM Act Mandates Right to Repair for Tractors, Combines: OEMs Must Share Tools and Data on 'Fair Terms'

The newly introduced Freedom for Agricultural Repair and Maintenance Act (FARM Act) is a big deal for anyone who owns or leases heavy farm machinery—think tractors, combines, and sprayers. This bill is essentially the 'Right to Repair' movement coming to the agricultural sector, and it aims to put diagnostic tools, parts, and crucial software back into the hands of farmers and independent mechanics.

What the FARM Act Actually Does

Simply put, the FARM Act requires Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs)—the companies that build the equipment—to provide documentation, parts, software, and tools needed for diagnosis, maintenance, and repair to any owner or independent repair provider. They have to do this under what the bill calls “fair and reasonable terms” (Sec. 3). For farmers, this means no more driving hundreds of miles or waiting weeks for an authorized dealer to fix a simple sensor issue just because the OEM locked down the diagnostic software.

The bill gets specific about what “fair and reasonable” means. For instance, if an OEM makes a specialized tool available to its authorized dealers, it must offer that same tool to independent shops and owners on the most favorable terms (Sec. 2). If the tool is a physical item, the manufacturer can only charge for preparation and shipping costs. Crucially, the bill prohibits manufacturers from requiring parts to be “registered, paired, or approved” before they work, effectively cutting out a major roadblock many farmers currently face when trying to install replacement components.

Cutting the Digital Red Tape

One of the most significant changes deals with the digital locks on modern farm equipment. These machines are essentially computers on wheels, and manufacturers often use technological protection measures (TPMs) and copyright law to prevent access to the internal software. The FARM Act steps in and explicitly allows owners and independent providers to bypass these digital locks if the purpose is to diagnose, maintain, upgrade, or repair the equipment (Sec. 3). This is a massive legal clarification that prioritizes repairability over proprietary software control.

For the farmer whose combine is down during a critical harvest window, this means a local mechanic could legally use the necessary software tools to fix the problem immediately, rather than waiting for an OEM technician. However, the bill is careful: it does not allow any action that would permanently violate safety or emissions laws, nor does it require OEMs to share genuine trade secrets unless absolutely necessary to provide the repair access (Sec. 6). It’s a measured approach aimed at repair, not unrestricted modification.

Who Enforces This and What’s the Penalty?

This isn't just a friendly suggestion; the bill has teeth. Enforcement falls to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which will treat violations as unfair or deceptive practices under the Federal Trade Commission Act (Sec. 4). For manufacturers who fail to make necessary parts, documentation, or tools commonly available, the penalties escalate quickly: $1,000 per day for the first violation, $2,000 per day for the second, and $5,000 per day for the third and subsequent violations (Sec. 4). This structure is designed to heavily penalize manufacturers who try to stonewall the new requirements.

Because the definition of “fair and reasonable terms” is still somewhat vague, the FTC is tasked with creating the necessary rules to implement the Act. This rulemaking phase will be crucial, as it will determine the actual costs and logistics for farmers and independent shops. While the intent is clear—lower costs and faster repairs—the real-world impact will depend on how strictly the FTC defines those terms and enforces the escalating daily fines.