The Pennsylvania Senate has passed S.B. 1169, sponsored by Sen. Mike Waugh, R-York, which amends the Pennsylvania Fair Dealership Law to provide free-market protections for small agricultural equipment dealers selling agriculture equipment in Pennsylvania.

Under the bill, agriculture equipment dealers would be afforded the same protections and legal rights that automobile dealers are afforded in Pa., specifically the ability to carry and sell multiple lines of equipment at the same facility.

The bill will move to the House of Representatives for further consideration.

Farm Bureau Applauds

The Pennsylvania Farm Bureau (PFB) praised the state Senate for passing the legislation.

“Pennsylvania farm families will have better access to farm equipment sales and service if the legislation becomes a law,” said PFB President Carl T. Shaffer.

“Disparities in bargaining power between farm equipment dealers and manufacturers can make it difficult for dealers to operate profitably.”

Farmers are concerned about the declining number of Pennsylvania equipment dealers, Shaffer said, because when local farm equipment dealers go out of business, “farmers lose out because they are forced to spend more time and money traveling longer distances for purchases.”

Not having access to local repair service and parts can also be critical for farmers during harvest seasons, Shaffer added.