If you’ve ever listened to even one episode of this show, then you know I can’t stand monopolization.
It doesn’t matter what industry I’m talking about, it always seems to rear it’s ugly head.
We’ve talked about egg prices not once, but twice during this “cost of living crisis” and the fact that 20% of eggs come from one company that has seen it’s profits increase by over 200%.
We’ve talked about hedge funds buying up apartment buildings in bulk, resulting in sky high rent prices, which ultimately have an impact on the cost to OWN a home.
We’ve talked about consolidation in the fire truck industry.
We’ve talked about consolidation in the beef industry.
We’ve talked about consolidation in the defense contractor industry.
We’ve talked about consolidation in Hollywood.
I think you get the point.
Every time I bring a guest on to discuss one of these topics, it’s more of a FYI kind of segment. A call your Senators and demand action kind of segment.
I’m happy to report that today I spoke to a guest that’s actually trying to crack down on this practice in the agricultural industry.
“Right to repair” laws are something that most people outside of the ag industry may be unfamiliar with, but people that deal with it everyday know just how harmful this practice is to small farms.
As the farm equipment industry continues to consolidate, options to repair these high tech pieces of equipment dwindle as well, and sometimes, not by choice.
That’s what the Wisconsin Attorney General’s office is alleging, at least.
I took some time to speak with AG Josh Kaul about the lawsuit his office is bringing against Deere & Co, and the claims that they are operating as a monopoly in this industry, costing the farmers of Wisconsin (and several other states) both time and money as they wait for repairs.
Click the player at the top of the article to give it a listen.
Conversation starts at 1:05:00.
[Spreaker: Outside the Box]
