Deere & Co. has agreed to a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission and five states that would require the company to give equipment owners and repair providers access to tools and software used by John Deere dealers.
The parties filed the agreement July 8 in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. U.S. District Judge Iain D. Johnston must approve the order. Deere agreed to comply with the terms while the court considers the agreement. The FTC lists the case as pending.
The attorneys general of Arizona, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin joined the FTC in the case.
The FTC and the states sued Deere in January 2025. Their complaint alleged Deere withheld software capabilities from farmers and repair providers, requiring them to use Deere dealers for repairs involving equipment electronics. The complaint alleged the restrictions gave Deere monopoly power in markets for the repair of Deere equipment and caused costs and service delays.
Deere denied the allegations. The settlement does not constitute an admission that Deere violated the law or that the allegations are true.
Under the agreement, Deere would have to provide farmers and repair providers with repair resources equal to those it provides to its dealers. The requirement would cover software, tools and information used to diagnose, maintain, update and repair farm equipment.
Deere could offer the resources through a license, subscription or purchase. The terms must meet a standard of fairness and reasonableness. The agreement requires Deere to consider whether farmers and repair providers can afford the tools when setting the terms. Access would not transfer ownership of Deere’s intellectual property.
The resources would include functions that allow users to read, clear and reset fault codes; program or reprogram components; pair parts with equipment; and restart machines after shutdowns tied to emission systems.
Users would gain access to manuals, diagrams, troubleshooting information, product improvement programs and solutions from Deere’s Dealer Technical Assistance Center. The agreement also covers software functions used to perform diagnostics and reprogramming without an internet connection.
The rollout schedule includes deadlines of Aug. 1 and Dec. 31 for portions of the access. Deere has agreed to provide the remaining capabilities by the end of 2026.
The requirement would apply to tractors, combines, planters, balers, harvesting equipment and other Deere products used in agriculture that contain digital electronics.
The order would also cover tools and software Deere develops during the settlement period. Deere would have to offer a resource to farmers and repair providers after making it available to more than half of its dealer locations in the United States.
Deere would have to instruct its dealers to promote and support the repair resources. Dealers could not retaliate against equipment owners or repair providers who use the tools instead of purchasing repair services from a Deere dealer.
The company would have to notify customers and dealers about the order and the availability of the repair resources. It would also have to post notice of the order on its website.
Deere would submit compliance reports 30 days after the court enters the order and every 60 days until the rollout ends. The company would then submit reports each year during the remainder of the 10-year term. The FTC and the states could seek a contempt finding if Deere fails to comply.
The agreement would require Deere to pay $1 million to the five states for costs and attorney fees. The order states that the payment is not a penalty.
Deere said the agreement supports access to diagnostic and repair tools. The company has introduced Operations Center PRO Service, which provides functions for diagnosis, repair and reprogramming.
