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Deere agrees to FTC settlement over limits on farm equipment repairs
The deal runs 10 years and gives farmers and independent repair providers access to Deere diagnostic and repair resources, with Deere paying $1 million for states legal fees.
Deere agreed to settle a lawsuit brought by the Federal Trade Commission and five U.S. states over alleged restrictions on how customers can repair its farm equipment, according to Insurance Journal. The FTC accused Deere of illegally requiring farmers to use its network of authorized dealers rather than independent service providers or self repairs.
Under the settlement agreed July 8, Deere must provide farmers and independent providers access to the same equipment diagnostic and other repair resources available to authorized dealers for 10 years. Deere also will provide access to new repair resources once more than 50% of authorized dealers have those resources, and it will instruct authorized dealers to share the resources with customers and independent providers.
Deere will pay $1 million to cover the states’ legal fees and costs, and the company said it does not admit or deny wrongdoing. The settlement requires approval by U.S. District Judge Iain Johnston in Rockford, Illinois.
The FTC said Deere amassed monopoly power over repairs, which it linked to service delays, higher prices, and greater profits. Insurance Journal also notes Deere agreed in April to pay $99 million to settle related private class-action litigation, and the case began on January 15, 2025, amid antitrust efforts during the Biden administration.