Spartz introduces bills aimed at reducing costs for farmers & consumers

Submitted by Office of Rep. Victoria Spartz

Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.-05) introduced a set of bills on Thursday, March 5 ahead of the upcoming Farm Bill reauthorization aimed at lowering costs for farmers and consumers, improving equipment safety, and increasing transparency.

• The Farm Freedom to Repair Act would ensure farmers have the right to repair the digital agricultural equipment they own, helping reduce costly delays and dependence on manufacturers for basic repairs.
• The Farm Equipment Safety Act would exempt off-road farm equipment from burdensome emissions regulations that have increased costs and complexity for producers, making it easier and more affordable for farmers to operate and maintain the equipment essential to their work.
• The Checkoff Transparency Act would require the U.S. Department of Agriculture to publish audits, budgets, and activities of commodity checkoff programs on its website, increasing transparency and accountability for programs funded by fees farmers are forced by Congress to pay.

“We have been losing small farm operations at a rapid pace, with more and more market power accumulating in the hands of a few oligopolies which, in some sectors like meat processing, are even using farmers’ own money – such as checkoff fees – to lobby against smaller farmers,” Spartz said. “Unreasonable government regulations add further burdens, especially on smaller farmers and consumers. We have to start applying some common sense.”