This First Individual article is the expertise of Jason Jackson, a farmer close to Olds, Alta. For extra details about CBC’s First Individual tales, please see the FAQ.
My favorite farm machine is my previous mix, a Case IH 1688. It is 30 years previous and I’ve racked up numerous hours within the cab harvesting barley, wheat, oats, peas, faba beans and canola.
Utilizing older farm equipment helps maintain prices down at my small central Alberta farm, however repairing this older equipment is getting tough.
That is why my poll field challenge is right-to-repair laws. I need our subsequent authorities to truly perceive the complexity of the problems going through Canadian farmers, and right-to-repair laws is a major instance.
Proper-to-repair is essential to serving to farmers survive. Nevertheless it’s not simply to assist out farmers. Preserving our prices down can assist maintain grocery costs decrease for all Canadians, and defend Canada’s meals sovereignty.
Rising prices on my farm
I develop grain and hay on about 1,300 acres close to Olds, Alta., which is roughly an hour drive north of Calgary. I am the fifth era of my household to farm this land and, like many smaller farmers, I work off-farm as properly to assist complement my revenue by instructing French immersion part-time in a close-by highschool.
My previous mix may be very price efficient to function. It might solely fetch about $10,000 at an public sale, however a brand new one would cost more than $1 million. That is capital that I might reasonably deploy elsewhere.
Plus, my dad and two uncles, all of their 70s now, can proceed to function this previous mix with out losing time studying a brand new know-how. Our trusty previous mix would not have almost the capability of a more moderen harvester, nevertheless it chugs alongside every fall at eight to 10 acres an hour, serving to us get the harvest in forward of the prairie winter.
For smaller farms like mine, used gear is crucial for profitability and the survival of our companies. However these older machines are solely efficient if we will maintain them operating.
In 2022, one of many few digital parts on my previous mix failed. It was a small metallic dice housing two printed circuit boards that managed the header pace. With out it, the entrance of my mix would not feed crop into the separator.
A mechanic discovered the issue. Then I checked the manufacturer’s website to find the part. This shortly introduced up a hideous listing worth of $1,400 and a few bland gray letters that merely advised me the half was “now not out there.”
I ultimately sourced a used half from one of many 4 equipment recyclers saved in my cellphone contacts. It was just below $700 and got here with no assure that it nonetheless labored, a lot much less a guaranty. However once I had it put in, my 1688 roared again to life.
My previous mix has soldiered on by way of two extra harvests since.
In principle, trendy applied sciences, comparable to 3D printing and CNC machining, ought to make repairing these older machines simpler, cheaper and sooner. However gear dealerships have been usually hostile to the fitting‑to‑restore motion.
For newer machines with extra digital parts, diagnostic software program is a vital instrument for repairs. Nonetheless, dealerships fastidiously guard entry to most software program. Repairs have gotten slower, costlier and sometimes now not a do-it-yourself job.
John Deere is without doubt one of the largest producers of agricultural equipment. The vast majority of its dealerships in Alberta and Saskatchewan belong to only two companies. For 2 different common manufacturers, a chain carrying the model of my mix, Case IH, in addition to New Holland operates a minimum of 43 sellers throughout the Prairies. Below this oligopoly, there’s little must compete by providing higher restore companies. A scarcity of components for gear like my Case lH 1688 will finally drive farmers like me to purchase newer machines at excessive prices.
Motion the federal authorities may take
If federal politicians actually perceive agriculture and need to help small farms like mine, they might change the regulatory framework round repairs.
For instance, they might mandate that if agricultural gear producers select to now not supply components to help machines, they might be obliged to promote a downloadable schematic so a alternative half could be shortly manufactured by machining or 3D printing.
They may additionally mandate that full diagnostic software program be made out there to supply aggressive repairs.
I am not the one one considering this fashion.
In January, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission sued John Deere over this very challenge. Canadian politicians must be standing up for farmers extra forcefully as properly. A private member’s bill passed over the last parliament amended the Copyright Act to cease producers from stopping repairs. It didn’t, nonetheless, enhance farmers’ entry to schematics or restore components. Stronger motion may cut back prices for farmers, enhance the Canadian economic system by encouraging the native manufacturing of restore components and forestall extra of those machines from ending up on the scrap pile prematurely.
Throughout federal election campaigns, agriculture typically appears to be an afterthought — one thing to speak about solely after a drought or commerce disruption. A few of the most urgent issues going through farmers are deeper and extra structural in nature. Farmers want severe, nuanced, considerate coverage to assist us maintain feeding the nation.
CBC is asking Canadians from coast to coast to coast what their prime priorities are for this federal election. We requested attendees on the Agriculture Expo in Lethbridge what matters matter probably the most to them.
So this marketing campaign, I can be on the lookout for a celebration that I feel really understands deeper structural points going through the agriculture business. A technique a celebration can present this deeper understanding is by supporting complete “proper‑to‑restore” laws.
What is the one challenge that issues probably the most to you on this federal election? CBC Information will publish a spread of views from voters who share the non-public expertise shaping their selection on the poll field. Read more First Person columns related to the election here.
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