FTC Settlement With John Deere Is Biggest Win For Reform Group

Wednesday, a US Federal Trade Commission announced the termination and tractor manufacturer John Deere on a 2025 case which accused the company of having “unlawfully acquired and maintained monopoly power in the markets for Deere’s agricultural equipment.”

The full review has established a John Deere maintenance mandate, which requires the company to provide farmers and other dealerships with the same equipment and maintenance it provides to John Deere dealers. This includes software skills, such as reading and re-installing codes and connecting to other programs, which customers have limited access to, creating delays in identifying equipment problems. Delayed preparation can mean delayed harvest, which many farmers see as a major threat to their livelihoods.

Under the agreement, John Deere will be required to provide access, equipment, and services for the next 10 years, subject to FTC supervision.

“After many years of fighting right to editthis system is giving farmers real hope,” Willie Cade, a board member of the organization promoting the improvement repair.orghe wrote in an email to WIRED. “But the promises on paper should be tools in the hands of farmers, and we will be seeing them all come true.”

Farmers have been struggling with John Deere’s maintenance methods more than ten yearsbut the FTC started its fight in 2021, led by the chairman Lina Khan under the leadership of Biden. In April, John Deere agreed to pay $99 million in another lawsuit against the company in 2022. Organizers and consumers say the FTC’s settlement does more to help farmers than pay.

John Deere also said it has power resource planning for its customers, including service books and medical equipment. In a John Deere press release, the company says the settlement is consistent with its long-standing commitment, saying “this agreement strengthens Deere’s ability to continue to innovate, with an emphasis on accessibility and transparency for customers. It establishes Deere’s continued commitment to expanding access to inspection and maintenance equipment.”

The US consumer advocacy group PIRG issued a words of termination, mention of organization 2022 public complaint to the FCC regarding John Deere maintenance procedures.

“We need to fix our stuff,” wrote PIRG’s Right to Repair campaign director, Nathan Proctor. “This settlement from the FTC gives farmers better ways to maintain their equipment. It’s a win for farmers and all of us who want a sustainable world.”