By Audrey Jackson
The New York Times’ Emmett Lindner reported that, “for decades, American farmers dealing with malfunctioning John Deere equipment were left with few options for repairs. The company allowed only authorized dealers to make fixes, withholding necessary tools from independent repair shops and individuals, driving up costs and wait times.”
“A settlement this week with the Federal Trade Commission will change that,” Lindner reported. “The commission on Wednesday secured a right-to-repair settlement with John Deere as part of a lawsuit filed in January 2025.”
“The settlement ‘enables farmers to do what they’ve done for generations — fix their own tractors and other farm equipment — without having to pay an authorized John Deere dealer to do it for them,’ Daniel Guarnera, the director of the F.T.C.’s Bureau of Competition, said in a statement on Wednesday,” Lindner reported.
“Under the terms of the settlement, Deere will be subject to additional federal oversight, be required to make available any future repair resources and instruct authorized dealers to promote the availability of the tools,” Lindner reported.
Source : illinois.edu