FTC orders Deere to provide farm-equipment repair resources for 10 years
Deere must give farmers and independent repair providers dealer-equivalent repair software and information on fair and reasonable terms for 10 years under FTC and state oversight
Change
On 8 July 2026 the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and five states secured a stipulated order requiring Deere & Company, for 10 years and under FTC and state supervision, to provide farmers and independent repair providers on fair and reasonable terms the same repair resources it gives authorized dealers — including software to read and clear fault codes, reprogram electronic components, restart emissions-related 'limp mode', and access technical manuals and diagnostic solutions.
Why it matters
Deere must make specific electronic repair capabilities and supporting documentation available to non-dealer users on fair and reasonable terms, and must extend future similar resources once it provides them to over 50 percent of its US dealers. Authorized dealers are barred from discriminating or retaliating against users of these resources, and Deere must meet strict reporting and oversight obligations for the 10-year term of the order, which may be extended if Deere violates it. The order takes effect on approval and signature by the District Court judge.
Implications
- — Deere's compliance and product/software teams must publish and provision dealer-equivalent repair resources (fault-code access, component reprogramming, emissions restart, technical manuals and diagnostic solutions) to farmers and independent repair providers on fair and reasonable terms, and must meet the order's reporting and oversight requirements for 10 years — non-compliance exposes Deere to FTC and state enforcement and possible extension of the order.
- — Deere must additionally release any future repair resources reasonably necessary for repairs to farmers and independent repair providers once it makes them available to more than 50 percent of its US authorized dealer network — a recurring obligation triggered each time new dealer resources cross that threshold.
- — Authorized Deere dealers' operations teams must promote the availability of these dealer-equivalent repair resources and must not discriminate or retaliate against farmers or independent repair providers who use them rather than dealer repair services — violations are actionable under the stipulated order.
Who is affected
- — Deere's compliance and product/software teams
- — Authorized Deere dealers' operations teams
- — Independent farm-equipment repair providers