AFBF SIGNS RIGHT TO REPAIR MOU WITH CASE IH AND NEW HOLLAND

The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) and CNH Industrial brands, Case IH and New Holland, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) March 9 that provides farmers and ranchers the right to repair their own farm equipment. The MOU follows a similar agreement AFBF entered into with John Deere earlier this year.

The MOU sets a framework for farmers and independent repair facilities in all 50 U.S. states and Puerto Rico to access CNH Industrial brand manuals, tools, product guides and information to self-diagnose and self-repair machines, as well as support from CNH Industrial brands to directly purchase diagnostic tools and order products and parts.

The MOU respects intellectual property rights and recognizes the need to ensure safety controls and emission systems are not altered. CNH Industrial and AFBF will meet semiannually to review the agreement and address ongoing concerns.

The AFBF board of directors unanimously approved the MOU with CNH Industrial brands Case IH and New Holland.

Read the MOU online.

The National Ag Law center is hosting a webinar April 26 at 11 a.m. covering the USDA's Emergency Relief Program (ERP) Phase 2.

USDA opened enrollment for a disaster program to help agricultural producers offset the impacts of natural disasters in 2020 and 2021. Eligible crops include both traditional insurable commodities and specialty crops that are produced in the United States as part of a farming operation and are intended to be commercially marketed. USDA will accept signups for this program until June 2, 2023.

The webinar will focus on the ERP Phase 2 rules, which are especially notable for the extent to which underserved farmers who are often left out of disaster programs are eligible for assistance.

More information and registration can be found online.