Farmers take machinery issue to appeal tribunal

Farmers Rick and Matt Rutley of Berwick are taking issues they have with Dan R. Equipment of Winchester to a public hearing before the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Appeal Tribunal.

The tribunal has booked space at the Ramada Hotel and Conference Centre, 805 Brookdale Avenue, Cornwall, for hearings on April 4, 5 and 6 in the Ontario Room and April 12 and 13 in the Dundas Room.

Given the time set aside for the hearing, I'm guessing that the issue might be warranty policies and performance and that the real fight will be with the machinery manufacturers, not Dan R. Equipment.

A few years ago there were marathon hearings and the nub of the issue was warranties with all of the farm machinery companies lining up to keep from having to spend more money to satisfy farmers.