American farmers aren’t allowed to fix their own machines
Listen to story (Canadian accent)
American farmers are facing a big problem. They say they are not allowed to fix their own farm equipment. This is causing them to spend a lot of money and lose a lot of time.
One farmer, John Boyd Jr., said that when his John Deere tractor has any problem, it stops working completely. Then, he has to wait for a repair technician to fix it. Sometimes he has to wait two weeks for an appointment. He loses a lot of valuable time waiting for the technician because he cannot work without his tractor.
Boyd Jr. says that many of these tractor problems are small and easy to fix. However, farmers do not have access to the special software for repairs. They can also lose their product warranty if they try to fix it alone.
Boyd Jr. also says that one appointment with the technician can cost around $1,000. This is a lot of money for farmers who are also paying higher costs for their farming supplies.
In 2022, a law was suggested called the Agricultural Right to Repair Act. The goal of this law is to let farmers have the tools and information they need to fix their own equipment.
John Deere, a major farm equipment company, started a new program in July. The new paid service is called Operations Center PRO Service. It gives farmers access to software and repair tools. The price starts at $195 for each machine per year.
A manager at John Deere said that this new service shows the company wants to help farmers. He said the company wants to make sure farmers have a good experience with their machines.
Vocabulary30 words
- Farmer
- a person who owns, manages or works on a farm; 🧑🌾
- Face a problem
- To have a problem you need to fix; to be in a bad situation
- Allowed
- permission to do something; it’s OK; permitted; you may; you can
- Fix
- repair; to make something work again or be better
- Farm
- the land where a farmer works; a place where vegetables and plants are grown; a place with animals like cows, chickens and goats; 🧑🌾
- Equipment
- machines; tools; gear; hardware
- Cause
- make something (usually bad) happen; create
- Tractor
- A big machine like a truck used on a farm to pull or move things
- Completely
- totally; fully; utterly; wholly; very; 100%
- Repair
- The act of fixing something; to fix something; 🛠️
- Technician
- a professional person who fixes machines
- Valuable
- worth a lot of money; very important;
- Access
- to be able to use, enter, or get near something; use a service
- Software
- Programs or applications that are installed on a computer or smartphone (e.g., Microsoft Office is software, Safari web browser is software)
- Warranty
- A promise from a company to fix a product for free if it breaks
- Alone
- by yourself; only you; no other people
- Cost
- The amount of money needed to buy or do something; price
- Supplies
- Things that are needed to do a job or task; things or tools needed to live and/or work
- Law
- a rule, regulation, or guideline set by the government
- Suggest
- propose; to put forward; to recommend; to submit; to say an idea
- Goal
- aim or purpose; objective; target; something you want to achieve or complete
- Major
- very important, big or significant
- Program
- project; initiative; a group of activities or things to be achieved; a plan with many parts
- Paid service
- a service you have to pay for; someone’s work you have to pay for them to do; something you have to pay to use
- Called
- Named; To give something a name
- Start at
- the lowest price; the cheapest price and it can become more expensive
- Manager
- the person in charge; boss; supervisor;
- Show
- to prove something or make the truth or existence of something known; confirm; demonstrate; to display; to represent
- Make sure
- To ensure or double-check that something is done correctly or as planned
- Experience
- What happens to a person; something you “go through” or are part of; something that happens to you and/or around you
Quiz
Answer key
1. It can't be used because it stops moving 2. $195 3. True
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
American _____ are facing a big problem. They say they are not _____ to fix their own farm equipment. This is causing _____ to spend a lot of money and lose a lot of _____ .
One farmer, John Boyd Jr., _____ that when his John Deere tractor has any problem, it _____ working completely. Then, he has to _____ for a repair technician to fix it. Sometimes _____ has to wait two weeks for an appointment. He _____ a lot of valuable time waiting for the technician because he _____ work without his tractor.
Boyd Jr. _____ that many of these tractor problems are small and easy to _____ . However, farmers do not have access to the _____ software for repairs. They can also lose their product warranty _____ they try to fix it alone.
Boyd Jr. _____ says that one appointment with the technician can cost around $_____ . This is a lot of money for farmers who are also _____ higher costs for their farming supplies.
In 2022, a law was _____ called the Agricultural Right to Repair Act. The goal of this law is to let _____ have the tools and information they _____ to fix their own equipment.
John Deere, a _____ farm equipment company, started a new program in _____ . The new paid service is called Operations Center PRO _____ . It gives farmers access to software and repair _____ . The price starts at $195 for each machine per year.
A _____ at John Deere said that this new service shows the _____ wants to help farmers. He said the company wants to _____ sure farmers have a good experience with their _____ .
Discussion questions
- Do you think companies like John Deere should let farmers fix their own equipment? Why or why not?
- Do you think the new John Deere program is a good solution for farmers? Why?
- In your country, is it easy or difficult for people to fix their own things, like cars or phones?
- If you bought something expensive, do you think you should have the right to fix it yourself? Why?
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