The FARM Act requires farm equipment manufacturers to provide farmers and independent repair shops with access to parts, tools, software, and repair documentation on fair and reasonable terms. This applies to equipment like tractors, combines, sprayers, and other farm machinery. The bill aims to prevent manufacturers from restricting repairs to their authorized dealers by requiring them to supply repair materials at costs comparable to what authorized repair providers receive, without imposing registration requirements or conditions that force farmers to use specific repair channels. The Federal Trade Commission will enforce the law by treating violations as unfair business practices, with escalating daily penalties starting at $1,000 for the first violation, $2,000 for the second, and $5,000 for subsequent violations related to discontinuing repair resources. The legislation also clarifies that farmers and repair providers can legally circumvent software locks on equipment for legitimate repair purposes, though manufacturers are not required to reveal trade secrets or allow modifications that disable safety systems or violate emissions laws.
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