The US Federal Trade Commission, joined by five states, has announced a settlement with Deere & Company, the maker of John Deere farm equipment, over allegations that it unfairly restricted farmers' ability to repair their own machinery. The regulator sued Deere last year, arguing that its policies forced equipment owners and independent repair providers to pay higher prices for servicing. The outcome is a notable win for the wider right-to-repair movement, extending the debate beyond consumer electronics into agriculture.

Under the settlement, Deere must, for the next 10 years, give farmers and independent repairers the same repair resources — including relevant software capabilities — that it currently provides to its authorised dealers. The company will also face reporting and oversight requirements, and the agreement could be extended if Deere breaches its terms. US PIRG's Nathan Proctor welcomed the result as a win for farmers and for anyone wanting "a more fixable world", adding that his group would continue to monitor compliance.