- Deere & Company has settled an antitrust lawsuit with the FTC and five states, agreeing to share repair resources for the next 10 years.
- The settlement requires Deere to provide farmers and independent repair providers with the same equipment repair resources that it currently provides to authorized dealers.
- Farmers will now have more options for repairs, as the settlement prevents Deere from requiring them to use authorized dealers exclusively.
- Deere will also pay $1 million to cover the states' legal fees and will be subject to strict compliance oversight for the next decade.
- The FTC alleged that Deere engaged in unfair practices that limited farmers' ability to repair their own equipment, leading to higher costs and service delays.
- The Wisconsin Department of Justice and four other states joined the FTC in the lawsuit, which was part of a broader effort to enhance farmers' right to repair.
- The FTC stated that the settlement reflects its commitment to reducing costs for American farmers and consumers who buy Deere products.
Deere & Company has reached a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and five states, resolving allegations of antitrust violations that restricted farmers' ability to repair their own equipment. The settlement mandates that for the next 10 years, Deere must provide farmers and independent repair providers with the same repair resources available to authorized dealers.1234
The FTC accused Deere of unlawfully maintaining monopoly power over repair services, leading to service delays and increased costs for farmers. Under the agreement, Deere will also be required to make future repair resources available once more than 50% of its authorized dealer network has access to them. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes stated, “For too long, Arizona farmers and independent mechanics have been at the mercy of Deere’s monopoly over repair tools.”5
The settlement includes a $1 million payment to cover legal fees for the states involved and imposes strict compliance oversight on Deere. FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson emphasized the importance of competition in agriculture, stating, “This settlement protects those that (former President Thomas) Jefferson designated as the nation’s most valuable and virtuous citizens.”
Deere has not admitted to any wrongdoing but expressed its commitment to enhancing customer access and repair flexibility. The settlement awaits approval from U.S. District Judge Iain Johnston in Rockford, Illinois.
The lawsuit, filed in January 2025, is part of a broader initiative by the Biden administration to address anti-competitive practices in agriculture.
“Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes said farmers had been “at the mercy of Deere’s monopoly,” as the settlement also requires Deere to pay $1 million to cover states' legal fees. The agreement must still be approved by a federal judge in Illinois.”
AP News
