iv. Iowa’s Right to Repair Act™
New Manufacturing Jobs Coming to Iowa!
Uplifting Restaurants and Farmers
by Sondra Wilson. Updated July 30, 2025.

 

🌿♻️🔧🚜Biofuel Mechanics™

manufactures diesel engines designed to run on recycled fryer grease from restaurants — aka “greasel“. This proven technique can be done to nearly any diesel engine in order to have it running on grease in no time. Biofuel Mechanics will also manufacture farm equipment designed to be fixed by farmers. Instead of locking farmers out from being able to fix their own equipment, Iowa will lead the country in building user-friendly farm equipment — exactly what farmers want in their fields.

Read About BioFuel Mechanics™

🍟🚜Iowa FryerForce™

Purchases used fryer grease from restaurants, purifies it using a centrifuge, and sells it to farmers cheaper than gasoline.

Read About Iowa FryerForce™

🔧 Guaranteed Right to Repair

Empowering Iowa’s farmers and citizens to fix their own equipment—cutting costs, restoring independence, and breaking corporate monopolies.

When Iowa farmers purchase equipment, they deserve the freedom to repair it—without being locked out by software or forced to pay inflated dealership fees. Our Right to Repair Act restores that freedom by requiring manufacturers to make repairs accessible, affordable, and legal.

🛠 What the Law Guarantees

  1. Standardized Repair Access All equipment and devices must be designed to allow repair via a clear, accessible sequence of steps.
  2. Open Access to Parts & Tools Manufacturers must make repair parts and tools available to everyone—not just certified dealers.
  3. Mechanical Override Option Any device that performs a mechanical task must include a manual override that cannot be disabled by software or digital failure.
  4. Transparent Documentation Manuals and schematics must be freely available, visually friendly, and included with products where reasonably expected.
  5. Regulation of Planned Obsolescence Products with limited lifespans must be clearly labeled. Manufacturers must offer long-lifespan alternatives in good faith.

🤝 Building Camaraderie & Community

  • Strengthens trust between farmers and equipment suppliers by removing barriers to collaboration and innovation.
  • Encourages local partnerships for repair services, parts distribution, and training programs.
  • Fosters mutual respect as suppliers become allies in productivity—not gatekeepers of proprietary systems.

🚜 Avoiding Expensive Towing & Downtime

  • Farmers often face towing bills exceeding $1,000 just to haul broken equipment to distant dealerships.
  • With local repair access, farmers can fix issues on-site, saving time and avoiding crop delays.
  • Mobile repair units and community co-ops will be supported to bring tools and expertise directly to the field.

🏭 Bringing Manufacturing Home to Iowa

  • We’ll build repairable equipment right here in Iowa, using local labor and materials.
  • Iowa-based manufacturers like Northstar Power LLC and Cummins Manufacturing already produce diesel components and precision parts.
  • Our equipment will run on diesel engines optimized for Iowa FryForce biodiesel, a clean-burning fuel made from recycled cooking oil.
  • This initiative will create jobs, revitalize rural economies, and position Iowa as a national leader in sustainable ag-tech manufacturing.

💬 Why It Matters

  • Farmers are locked out of their own tractors, combines, and tools by proprietary software and restrictive licensing agreements.
  • Repair costs skyrocket when farmers are forced to use dealership services—sometimes exceeding $150/hour.
  • Legacy equipment becomes unusable when manufacturers stop supporting older software.
  • Young farmers face barriers to entry due to unaffordable repair and upgrade costs.

🧱 Counterarguments & Our Response

🧱 Manufacturers claim Right to Repair threatens emissions compliance. ✅ The EPA has confirmed that independent repair does not violate the Clean Air Act or facilitate emissions tampering.

🧱 Opponents say it risks safety and intellectual property. ✅ The auto industry already shares repair tools and data with independent shops under a voluntary agreement. If you can fix your car, you should be able to fix your tractor.

💼 Economic Impact

  • Saves farmers millions in repair costs and downtime.
  • Stimulates local economies by empowering independent repair shops.
  • Reduces waste by extending the lifespan of equipment and appliances.
  • Creates manufacturing jobs in Iowa through in-state production of repairable equipment.

📚 References

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