Rep. Victoria Spartz, who represents Indiana’s 5th district in the U.S. Congress, has introduced a series of bills aimed at reducing costs for farmers and consumers, as well as improving equipment safety and transparency in agricultural programs. The announcement comes ahead of the upcoming Farm Bill reauthorization.
One of the proposed measures, the Farm Freedom to Repair Act, seeks to give farmers the right to repair their own digital agricultural equipment. This bill is intended to help reduce delays and lower dependence on manufacturers for basic repairs.
Another bill, the Farm Equipment Safety Act, would exempt off-road farm equipment from certain emissions regulations. According to Spartz’s office, these regulations have raised operational costs and increased complexity for producers. The exemption is designed to make it easier and more affordable for farmers to maintain essential machinery.
A third measure, called the Checkoff Transparency Act, would require the U.S. Department of Agriculture to publish audits, budgets, and activities related to commodity checkoff programs on its website. These programs are funded by mandatory fees that Congress requires farmers to pay.
Spartz stated: “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.”
Victoria Spartz began serving in Congress representing Indiana’s 5th District in 2021 after replacing Susan Brooks. She previously served in the Indiana Senate from 2017 through 2020. Born in Nosivka, Ukraine in 1978, she moved to Noblesville where she currently resides. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Kyiv National Economic University in 2000.
Legislative text for each bill has been made available online.
