Agriculture giant John Deere has agreed to pay $99 million into a settlement fund to resolve a class-action lawsuit involving farmers who claimed the company made it too difficult and expensive to fix their own equipment.
The settlement, filed Monday in a Chicago federal court, aims to compensate eligible farmers who paid authorized Deere dealers for repairs on large machinery, dating back to January 2018.
Beyond the payout, Deere committed to providing farmers with the digital tools, software, and manuals needed to diagnose and repair their own equipment for the next 10 years. The move addresses “right-to-repair” concerns from customers, who argue that manufacturers should not force them to use only authorized dealerships for basic maintenance.
The settlement is likely to have an impact on local farmers.
For years, many growers have complained that being unable to fix their own tractors during busy harvest or planting seasons caused costly delays. Having direct access to repair tools could lower operating costs and keep equipment in the field longer.
According to a report by Reuters, Attorneys for John Deere emphasized that the settlement ends the case “with no finding of wrongdoing.”
The $99 million agreement will require final approval from a federal judge before any payments are sent to farmers.
The company still faces a separate lawsuit from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, which alleges Deere illegally pressured farmers into using its repair network.