Story perspectives

John Deere Grants 10-Year Tool Access in $1 M Settlement

7/13/2026

Summary

John Deere Opens

On July 12, 2026, John Deere agreed to let owners and independent repair shops access its diagnostic and repair tools for 10 years.
The settlement requires John Deere to provide all repair resources, bar dealer retaliation, and pay $1 million to the five states for antitrust costs.
The Federal Trade Commission and the five state attorneys general will oversee compliance, with Wisconsin AG Josh Kaul saying the deal could lower repair costs.

Summary

Blubaugh Hails Settlement

AFR Cooperative president Scott Blubaugh hailed the FTC settlement as a step forward in the group’s multi-year right-to-repair fight for farm equipment.
Founded in 1905 as the Oklahoma Farmers Union, AFR acts as a watchdog for family farms and offers programs that unite producers with non-farmers supporting its principles.
AFR’s lobbying seeks permanent, nationwide right-to-repair legislation to reduce farmers’ dependence on a limited dealer network.

History

Historical Context

Since the 1990 Clean Air Act amendments required manufacturers to give independent shops emissions data, early-2000s voluntary agreements and the 2001 federal Right-to-Repair bills pushed for broader diagnostic access. Massachusetts codified the principle in 2012 with 86% voter approval, later expanding to telematics. The FTC-led John Deere settlement extends that two-decade trajectory to agricultural equipment.

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John Deere Opens

On July 12, 2026, John Deere agreed to let owners and independent repair shops access its diagnostic and repair tools for 10 years.
The settlement requires John Deere to provide all repair resources, bar dealer retaliation, and pay $1 million to the five states for antitrust costs.
The Federal Trade Commission and the five state attorneys general will oversee compliance, with Wisconsin AG Josh Kaul saying the deal could lower repair costs.

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