John Deere owners will have greater access to repair tools under a new settlement with the Federal Trade Commission.
The FTC and five states reached an agreement with Deere & Company that requires the equipment manufacturer to make repair tools and information available to farmers and independent repair providers, the same resources currently available to authorized Deere dealers.
The settlement stems from a lawsuit filed in 2025 that accused Deere of limiting access to diagnostic software and other repair tools, forcing some farmers to rely on dealers for certain repairs.
Under the agreement, Deere must provide access to tools that allow users to read and clear electronic fault codes, reprogram electronic components, restart machines after emissions-related shutdowns, and access technical manuals and troubleshooting information.
The FTC says those restrictions contributed to longer wait times and higher repair costs for farmers.
The new requirements will apply to Deere equipment owners and independent repair providers nationwide, including Nebraska farmers.
Deere will also be required to notify customers about available repair resources, ensure dealers support farmers’ use of those tools, and provide access to future repair capabilities once they are widely available through the company’s dealer network.
The agreement will be monitored by the FTC and remains in place for 10 years.
The settlement follows a separate $99 million proposed class-action settlement involving Deere that received preliminary approval earlier this year. That case focused on farmers who paid for dealer repairs between 2018 and 2026, with payments tied to alleged repair labor overcharges.