Lawmakers in the Iowa House have passed a bill that would allow farmers to make their own repairs to ag equipment.
Hudson Republican Derek Wulf says the legislation addresses maintenance on machinery with diesel exhaust fluid systems, known as DEF.
“This bill is simple,” Wulf said. “It gives farmers and ranchers the ability to repair and alter their equipment that they own as they see fit and remove the diesel control systems if they so choose.”
The Iowa legislation follows the U.S. EPA’s recently issued right to repair guidance, which reaffirmed the Clean Air Act states that farmers and equipment owners are allowed to temporarily override emissions systems when it’s for the purpose of repair, and as long as the repair returns the equipment to compliance.
Representative Wulf says the Iowa House bill would require manufacturers to provide no-cost diagnostic information and software for DEF systems. The proposal would also mandate that companies sell repair tools and replacement parts at reduced prices.
“Every day this country faces 63 more farmers going out of business,” Wulf said. “Folks, we have to do everything we can to help reduce additional costs to farmers who have to pay the penalty with their livelihoods because of environmentalists’ interests.”
Waukee Democrat Kenan Judge said he has concerns about the risks tied to permanently disabling diesel exhaust systems.
“If you have your tractor under warranty and you go to take this system off, all of a sudden now if you take your tractor back into the dealership and this modification has hurt the engine, you lose your warranty,” Judge said.
The legislation passed the House by a 57-33 vote.
