FOOD & AGRICULTURE QUARTERLY | SEPTEMBER 2026
FTC and private plaintiffs reach settlements with Deere over right-to-repair restrictions
JAY LEVINE
Special thanks to summer associate Regina Loayza for her work on this article.
Deere & Company’ s long-running dispute over agricultural equipment repairs reached a significant milestone in July 2026, when both private plaintiffs and federal and state regulators reached settlements aimed at expanding farmers’ ability to repair Deere equipment. Taken together, the agreements represent one of the most significant developments to date in the broader“ right-to-repair” movement affecting the agricultural sector.
The litigation stemmed from allegations that Deere maintained control over the repair of its tractors, combines, planters, and other agricultural equipment by restricting access to critical diagnostic software, repair tools, and embedded software capabilities. Farmers and independent repair providers argued that these restrictions forced equipment owners to rely on Deere’ s authorized dealer network for many repairs, increasing costs and creating delays during critical planting and harvesting seasons.
Two cases, one core issue
The first action, In re Deere & Company Repair Services Antitrust Litigation, was filed by farmers and other private plaintiffs in 2022 and consolidated as multidistrict litigation in the Northern District of Illinois. The plaintiffs alleged that Deere violated federal antitrust laws by designing agricultural equipment in a manner that required Deerecontrolled software and equipment to diagnose and complete various
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