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Federal Court Gives Preliminary Approval to John Deere Right-to-Repair Settlement

By  |  May 19, 2026

A federal judge has granted preliminary approval to a proposed antitrust settlement between John Deere and farmers who accused the agricultural equipment manufacturer of restricting access to repair tools and services.

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    According to a statement filed in federal court, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois approved the preliminary terms of Deere’s proposed $99 million settlement tied to multiple right-to-repair lawsuits brought by farmers in 2022. The lawsuits alleged Deere monopolized the repair market for its agricultural equipment by limiting owners’ access to diagnostic software and repair tools needed to service their machinery.

    Todd Neeley of Progressive Farmer first reported that the court’s decision allows the settlement process to move forward, while farmers covered under the proposed agreement will have until September 2026 to file objections.

    The court said the proposed agreement satisfies the legal standards required for preliminary approval and is likely to receive final approval at a later stage, according to a statement included in the court filing.

    Related: Deere Must Face Antitrust Lawsuit Over Repair Restrictions, Judge Rules

    Reuters previously reported in April that Deere agreed to place $99 million into a settlement fund for farms and farmers involved in the class-action litigation over repair access and associated costs. Per statement details contained in court documents, the settlement applies to eligible plaintiffs who paid Deere-authorized dealers for repairs on large agricultural equipment beginning in January 2018.

    The lawsuits are part of a broader national debate surrounding right-to-repair practices in the United States. Regulators, consumer advocates, and plaintiffs have argued that some manufacturers restrict competition by controlling access to repair software, diagnostic systems, and specialized tools.

    According to a statement filed with the federal court in Chicago, Deere also agreed to provide farmers with access for 10 years to “the digital tools required for the maintenance, diagnosis, and repair” of large agricultural equipment. The agreement covers machinery including tractors, combines, and sugarcane harvesters.

    The proposed settlement still requires final court approval before taking effect.

    Source: Farmers Advance