“By making this tool available only to Deere dealers, Deere forces farmers to turn to Deere dealers for critical repairs rather than complete the repairs themselves or choose an independent repair provider that may be cheaper, closer, faster, or more trusted,” the complaint states. “Deere’s unlawful business practices have inflated farmers’ repair costs and degraded their ability to obtain timely repairs, which is especially critical in times of planting and harvesting.”
This legal action follows a series of class actions filed by farmers, which were consolidated in the same federal courthouse in 2022. In 2023, U.S. District Judge Iain D. Johnston denied Deere’s motion for judgment on the pleadings, ruling that the plaintiffs had sufficiently pled a monopoly. The case is currently in discovery.
The FTC and state attorneys general emphasize the importance of timely, cost-effective repairs in the agricultural sector, where specific tasks need to be completed during narrow windows in the planting and harvesting seasons. In rural areas, accessibility is crucial, but Deere’s repair monopoly forces farmers to either transport equipment long distances or incur additional charges for on-site repairs by dealers.
