
The Federal Trade Commission, along with the Attorneys General from Illinois and Minnesota, are suing John Deere’s parent company for what they allege are unfair practices. According to a Jan. 15 FTC complaint, those illegal practices have driven up equipment repair costs while depriving farmers of the ability to make timely repairs.
The lawsuit accuses Deere & Company of making its software repair tool only available to authorized Deere dealers. This, according to the FTC complaint, allowed Deere to unlawfully acquire and maintain monopoly power for certain repair services.
“Illegal repair restrictions can be devastating for farmers, who rely on affordable and timely repairs to harvest their crops and earn their income,” FTC Chair Lina M. Khan said in a statement announcing the lawsuit. “The FTC’s action today seeks to ensure that farmers across America are free to repair their own equipment or use repair shops of their choice — lowering costs, preventing ruinous delays and promoting fair competition for independent repair shops.”
Deere officials were quick to rebut the allegations. In a Jan. 15 public response, the company claims the lawsuit ignores its long-standing commitment to customer self-repair as well as the “consistent progress and innovation” it has made over time.
“The complaint is based on flagrant misrepresentations of the facts and fatally flawed legal theories, and it punishes innovation and procompetitive product design,” Deer & Company officials say. “John Deere will vigorously defend itself against this baseless lawsuit.”
Deere was not alone in condemning the lawsuit. FTC Commissioners Andrew Ferguson and Melissa Holyoak voted against the complaint and issued dissenting statements. According to Ferguson, the lawsuit “appears to be the result of brazen bipartisanship.” He accused committee members of intentionally filing the lawsuit “in haste” so that it would come before Donald Trump becomes president.
National Farmers Union officials disagree with that assessment. The NFU, which filed a formal complaint with the FTC, has long argued that John Deere’s repair policies have prevented farmers from fixing their own equipment. This, the NFU argues, has led to exorbitant costs and significant operational delays. NFU officials cite a 2023 study by the US Public Interest Research Group that concluded famers could save up to $1.2 billion if companies like Deere stopped imposing repair restrictions.
“Today’s lawsuits mark a key victory in this fight for family farmers and ranchers, recognizing that monopolies should not stop farmers from being able to repair their own equipment,” NFU President Rob Larew said in a Jan. 15 public statement. “When we prevail, farmers will have the power and freedom to fix their equipment faster and at a lower cost.”
It remains unclear how the Trump administration plans to proceed with the lawsuit. Trump has nominated Ferguson chair the FTC. Lina Kahn will continue to lead the commission until the Senate confirms her successor.
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