What the Deere settlement actually gives you, and what it does not

It has been two months since Deere & Company settled the Federal Trade Commission's right-to-repair case, and the questions we keep hearing are practical ones: what can I actually do now that I could not before, and what will it cost me?

The terms

The settlement, announced July 8 with Illinois, Arizona, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin joining as co-plaintiffs, runs for ten years and can be extended if Deere violates it. Deere is required to make repair resources available to farmers and independent repair shops on "fair and reasonable terms" that match what authorized dealers get. Specifically:

• Reading, clearing, and resetting electronic fault codes
• Reprogramming electronic components and "pairing" a newly installed part so the machine accepts it
• Restarting a machine after an emissions-related shutdown, the derate-and-limp-home problem that has stranded more combines at harvest than any mechanical failure
• Access to technical manuals and troubleshooting solutions

Any future repair tool that Deere makes available to more than half of its dealer network has to be offered to you as well. Deere must tell its dealers not to discriminate against customers who do their own work or use an independent shop, and it must publicize the availability of these tools.

What it does not do

It does not make the tools free. "Fair and reasonable terms" means a subscription, and the price Deere sets for Customer Service ADVISOR and the associated licensing is what independent shops are watching most closely. Farm Equipment magazine's ongoing coverage of the dealer side is worth following if you run a shop.

It does not cover other manufacturers. Case IH, AGCO, CNH, and Kubota signed memoranda of understanding with Farm Bureau back in 2023, but those are voluntary and have no enforcement mechanism. The FTC order is enforceable against Deere alone.

It does not touch warranty. Doing your own work is legal under Magnuson-Moss regardless, but a dealer can still deny a warranty claim if they can show your repair caused the failure.

Practical advice

1. If you have a Deere machine under a derate right now, call the dealer and ask for the emissions reset procedure under the settlement terms. They are required to provide it.
2. Get a written quote for the diagnostic software subscription before harvest, not during it.
3. If a dealer refuses or stalls, document it. The settlement has reporting requirements and the FTC has said it wants to hear about non-compliance. Complaints go through reportfraud.ftc.gov.

Colorado's 2023 right-to-repair law and the Deere order together are the strongest position equipment owners have been in since electronic controls came to the tractor. It is worth knowing what you are entitled to before something breaks.