FTC, two states sue Deere alleging ‘monopoly’ for repairs

The Federal Trade Commission, along with the Illinois and Minnesota Attorneys General, sued Deere (DE) “over its use of unfair practices that have driven up equipment repair costs for farmers while also depriving farmers of the ability to make timely repairs on critical farming equipment, including tractors.” The FTC’s complaint alleges that, for decades, Deere’s “unlawful practices have limited the ability of farmers and independent repair providers to repair Deere equipment, forcing farmers to instead rely on Deere’s network of authorized dealers for necessary repairs.” The agency said, “This unfair steering practice has boosted Deere’s multi-billion-dollar profits on agricultural equipment and parts, growing its repair parts business while burdening farmers with higher repair costs, the FTC’s complaint alleges.”