When farmers in Saskatchewan or Alberta buy a new tractor or combine, they automatically get a one-year warranty on the equipment.
Manitoba farmers have been getting a two-year warranty.
But a legislative committee will soon look at some proposed changes to the Farm Machinery and Equipment Act that would see the extra year of protection disappear.
“On the surface, it looks like we’re taking something away from producers,” said Randy Ozunko, the secretary of the Manitoba Farm Machinery Board, which proposed the changes.
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But Ozunko said farmers are paying for the extra year through higher prices.
Manufacturers charge Manitoba dealers 1.5 to 1.9 percent more for the extra warranty. And dealers pass the cost on to farmers.
Ozunko said the board wants to create “a more level playing field” for dealers on the Prairies, adding farmers will be able to choose whether they want to buy the longer warranty.
But some farmers in Manitoba’s Interlake region have priced equipment in the three provinces and don’t think there’s a significant difference.
Dennis Persoage of Teulon, Man., who sits on the executive of Keystone Agricultural Producers, said farmers don’t believe the costs of equipment will come down if the proposed changes go though.
“You would end up having less warranty and then having to go and pay money to get this extended warranty,” said Persoage.
“When you’re paying the kind of money that the farm machinery is nowadays, you sure would like to have some backup if there is problems due to defects.”
Don Dewar, president of KAP, said the group wants some assurance farmers will see savings.
“If we were getting a deal on the extra year’s warranty, then we’d sure hate to lose it,” he said.
The proposed changes to the act have received second reading in the legislature. Ozunko said he hopes to see them go to committee and receive third and final reading before the summer recess.
Ozunko said KAP members made the board rethink a proposal to change warranty on repair parts from one year to 90 days.
He said farmers pointed out major repairs are often done during the winter. The board wants to look at Alberta’s warranty, which is 90 days from the first day the equipment is used in a season.
Ozunko said leases will also now be included in the act.
