FTC forces John Deere to give farmers right to repair, Montana Farmers Union cheers ruling

Under the settlement, John Deere must provide farmers and independent repair providers the same repair resources that includes software and tools needed to read and clear fault codes, reprogram electronic parts, restart machines after emissions-related shutdowns and search technical repair guidance.

The FTC said John Deere must also provide future repair resources once they’re available to more than 50 percent of its authorized dealer network in the United States. The agency said Deere’s dealers have been instructed not to retaliate against farmers or independent repair providers who chose these tools instead of dealer repair services.

“Today’s 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,” said FTC Bureau of Competition Director Daniel Guarnera. “The settlement with Deere will help lower costs for American farmers. The FTC will continue fighting against anticompetitive restrictions on American consumers’ right to repair.”

Montana Farmers Union said it supported the lawsuit and called the outcome a major step for producers.

“The announcement made by the FTC establishing the farmer's right to repair their own equipment is monumental,” said MFU President Walter Schweitzer. “Farmers Union has been advocating for over a decade to require equipment manufacturers to provide the necessary tools to diagnose and repair their own equipment. The FTC rules now require John Deere to provide these tools at a reasonable cost.”

Montana Farmers Union had pushed agricultural right-to-repair proposals in the Montana Legislature in 2021, 2023 and 2025. The group also pointed to a 2023 U.S. PIRG study that found American farmers could save as much as $1.2 billion a year if manufacturers stopped restricting repairs.