John Deere settles antitrust suit, allows farmers to fix equipment at independent shops

Independent repair shops will have access to proprietary John Deere tools for the next 10 years under a settlement between five states and the farm equipment giant, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced on Tuesday.

Ellison, whose office filed an antitrust suit against John Deere last year, celebrated the settlement as “an important win for farmers’ right to repair.”

Arizona, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and the Federal Trade Commission joined Minnesota in the court action.

RELATED: AG Ellison sues to break up John Deere’s ‘monopoly’ on farm equipment repairs

“John Deere’s illegal practice of preventing farmers from repairing their own equipment or choice in who repairs their equipment has been driving up farmers’ costs, hurting independent small businesses, and making it harder for Minnesotans to afford their lives in rural communities and every part of our state,” Ellison said in a statement.

The 2025 lawsuit alleged John Deere illegally drove up costs for farmers by forcing them to service equipment at authorized John Deere dealers, which had exclusive access to a software used for diagnostics and repairs.

As part of the settlement, John Deere must make its current and future repair resources available to independent repair shops for the next decade. The agreement could be extended for another 10 years should the company violate its terms.

John Deere provided the following statement to 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS:

“Today, John Deere announced an agreement with the Federal Trade Commission and five participating states regarding access to diagnostic and repair tools. The agreement reinforces commitments Deere has been continually innovating for years to expand customer access, transparency, and repair flexibility. Importantly, the agreement includes ongoing oversight that allows FTC and five participating states to verify Deere’s compliance over time. We believe this outcome benefits customers, supports independent repair providers and dealers, and allows Deere to continue focusing on innovation, equipment safety, and agricultural productivity.”
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