MN Farmers Win Right to Repair Settlement

(Learfield News/St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota is among five states that have reached a settlement with farm equipment manufacturer John Deere over farmers’ right to repair their own machinery.

The agreement requires Deere to give farmers and independent repair shops access to the same diagnostic tools and repair information used by its authorized dealers for the next 10 years.

State and federal regulators alleged the company’s repair restrictions limited competition and increased costs for farmers.

Deere denies any wrongdoing but says the settlement reflects its commitment to expanding customer access and repair options.

The agreement still must be approved by a federal judge.