Ariz. joins lawsuit against John Deere over repair restrictions

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has joined the Federal Trade Commission and four other state attorneys general in a lawsuit against Deere & Company, alleging the agricultural equipment manufacturer has unlawfully monopolized key segments of the agricultural equipment repair market. The lawsuit claims that Deere’s restrictions on repairs have led to inflated costs and unnecessary delays for farmers.

“Arizona farmers deserve the right to repair their own equipment without being held hostage by a corporate monopoly,” Mayes stated. “John Deere’s unlawful restrictions not only drive up costs but also create unnecessary delays that hurt Arizona’s farmers. My office is committed to fighting against practices that stifle competition and hurt farmers.”

The lawsuit asserts that Deere has deliberately limited access to the specialized software required to diagnose and repair electronic issues in its equipment. By restricting this technology to authorized dealers, Deere is accused of forcing farmers to rely on its network for essential repairs, even when independent repair providers or the farmers themselves could handle the issues more efficiently and affordably.

Mayes contends that Deere’s business practices violate the Arizona Uniform State Antitrust Act by unlawfully maintaining its monopoly over repairs for its large tractors and combines. The lawsuit seeks to end these restrictions and restore competition in the repair market.

Mayes alleges Deere’s actions violate the Arizona Uniform State Antitrust Act. Deere unlawfully maintained and used its monopoly power in the market for restricted repairs for Deere Large Tractors and Combines, which constitutes a violation of A.R.S. § 44-1403 and corresponding federal law.

Arizona joins Michigan and Wisconsin in the latest legal challenge against Deere. The FTC, along with Illinois and Minnesota, originally filed the lawsuit last month.

Deere posted an official response to the lawsuit when it was first announced, saying that the lawsuit is “based on flagrant misrepresentations of the facts and fatally flawed legal theories, and it punishes innovation and procompetitive product design. John Deere will vigorously defend itself against this baseless lawsuit.”

The broader “right-to-repair” movement, which advocates for farmers and independent mechanics to have access to the tools and software necessary to fix modern agricultural equipment without relying on manufacturers’ costly and often slow service networks. The outcome of this lawsuit could have significant implications for agricultural producers nationwide.