The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reached a settlement with John Deere this past week, resolving a lawsuit filed in January 2025 by the FTC and attorneys general from Arizona, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. The lawsuit alleged that Deere had illegally restricted farmers and independent shops from repairing equipment, like tractors. Under the settlement, Deere must make diagnostic and repair tools available to equipment owners and independent repair shops rather than limiting access to its authorized dealer network. Dealers are also barred from retaliating against owners or shops that choose to self-repair or use independent service. Deere will pay $1 million collectively to the five states for enforcement costs and will be subject to compliance oversight for the next 10 years, pending approval from Judge Iain D. Johnston.

This marks Deere’s second right-to-repair settlement this year, following a separate $99 million class-action settlement with farmers in April. John Deere said in a statement that the agreement reinforces its ongoing commitment to expanding repair access and transparency for customers.

Read more on the settlement and what it means for farmers.