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LANSING – Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, as part of a coalition of five states and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) secured a settlement (PDF) with farm equipment manufacturer Deere & Company that will ensure farmers can enjoy the right to repair their own John Deere tractors and farm equipment. The settlement resolves allegations that Deere used unlawful practices to limit the ability of farmers and independent repair providers to perform repairs on Deere farm equipment. For the next 10 years, the settlement requires Deere to provide farmers and independent repair providers with the same equipment repair resources, including applicable software capabilities, that it currently provides to authorized Deere dealers.
“Our farmers work tirelessly to ensure we have food to put on our tables, and they shouldn’t have to beg a multi-billion-dollar corporation for the ability to fix their own tractors,” said Attorney General Nessel. “When a machine breaks down, the time lost directly jeopardizes their livelihood and our economy. I am proud to secure a settlement that enables our farmers and independent providers to conduct timely, affordable repairs on their own terms, while shielding them from anti-competitive practices.”
Deere makes the only software repair tools capable of performing all electronic repairs on Deere equipment. The coalition filed a lawsuit in January 2025 asserting Deere previously made such tools available only to its authorized dealers, forcing farmers to rely on authorized dealers for many necessary repairs. By withholding these repair capabilities, the complaint alleged Deere unlawfully acquired and maintained monopoly power in markets for repair services for Deere farm equipment, leading to service delays and higher costs for farmers.
Under the terms of the settlement, Deere will be required to:
- Make available to farmers and independent repair providers, on fair and reasonable terms, repair resources equivalent to those Deere now makes available to Deere dealers including:
- Reading, clearing and resetting electronic fault codes;
- Reprogramming of electronic components (including “pairing” newly installed electronic parts with equipment);
- Restarting a machine following an emissions-related shutdown (commonly referred to as “limp mode”); and
- Viewing and searching technical manuals, troubleshooting solutions (including so-called “product improvement programs” and “DTAC solutions”) and other guidance and information useful for equipment diagnosis, maintenance, repair or upgrade.
- Make available to farmers and independent repair providers any future repair resources that are similar or reasonably necessary for repairs, once Deere makes them available to over 50 percent of its authorized dealer network in the United States;
- Instruct its authorized dealers to promote the availability of these repair resources and support their use, and not to discriminate or retaliate against any farmers or independent repair providers who purchase or use such resources rather than dealer repair services; and
- Provide to the public, to Deere’s farmer and independent repair provider customers, and to its authorized dealers information about the settlement and the availability of Deere’s repair resources.
Deere will also be subject to strict reporting and oversight requirements to ensure its compliance with the settlement. The term of the agreement is 10 years and may be extended if Deere violates its terms. Attorney General Nessel encourages farmers and repair providers to report suspected violations. If you have concerns about whether Deere is complying with its obligations under the settlement, contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Team:
Consumer Protection Team
P.O. Box 30213
Lansing, MI 48909
517-335-7599
Fax: 517-241-3771
Toll-free: 877-765-8388
Online complaint form
Joining Attorney General Nessel in securing this settlement are the FTC and the attorneys general of Arizona, Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
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