Overview
- The agreement announced Wednesday, July 8, 2026 was filed in federal court in Illinois and must be approved by U.S. District Judge Iain D. Johnston before it takes effect.
- Under the settlement Deere must provide farmers and independent repair providers the same diagnostic software, technical manuals and repair resources its authorized dealers receive for the next ten years.
- The order bars Deere and its dealers from discriminating or retaliating against customers or independent shops that use non‑dealer repair resources and requires dealers to promote and support those tools.
- Deere will pay $1 million to the five participating states to cover enforcement costs and the FTC and state attorneys general will require regular compliance reports and monitoring of availability and pricing.
- The deal resolves a January 2025 antitrust case and follows Deere’s April 2026 $99 million class‑action settlement, but advocates warn real relief will depend on how Deere distributes software, sets ‘fair and reasonable’ terms, and implements the rule that future tools be shared once a majority of dealers have access.