John Deere is still hindering farmers' ability to repair their machinery, US senator warns

In a nutshell: John Deere, the largest agriculture machinery company in the world, is actively working against the interests of US farmers. According to Senator Elizabeth Warren, the organization is performing exceptionally well while its customers are grappling with rising costs associated with repairs and part replacements.

Warren recently sent a letter to John Deere CEO John May, asserting that the company is "evading" its obligations to comply with federal laws and respect customers' rights. According to Warren, John Deere is failing to provide farmers with the necessary tools to properly repair their agricultural equipment and is allegedly violating the Clean Air Act in the process.

In January 2023, John Deere entered into an agreement with the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), making concessions to the right-to-repair movement. Under the memorandum of understanding, the company was required to provide the tools, software, documentation, and other means necessary for farmers to repair their agricultural products without going through official repair shops.

In exchange for these concessions, AFBF members agreed to halt their promotion of new right-to-repair legislation at both the federal and state levels. Now, Senator Warren is accusing John Deere of supplying "impaired tools" and inadequate documentation. She claims the company is not upholding its end of the bargain, costing farmers both time and significant amounts of money.

The cost of parts and labor required to repair agricultural equipment has nearly doubled over the past two decades, according to Warren's letter. Since 2020 alone, repair costs have surged by 41 percent, yet John Deere's business has seen record profits. The company has maintained its profit margins by overcharging for repair services, with profits soaring by 270 percent since 2020.

Warren notes that while demand for new equipment can fluctuate, John Deere is thriving despite labor strikes, supply chain issues, declining sales, and the impact of the global Covid-19 pandemic. By restricting farmers' ability to repair their machinery, John Deere may also be violating federal law, as this practice could negatively affect greenhouse gas emissions.

The Clean Air Act (CAA) mandates that manufacturers like John Deere provide all necessary information to properly maintain and repair emission control systems in "mobile" products, such as tractors and other farming equipment. Warren has called on John Deere to respond to questions about its compliance with the CAA, warning CEO John May that further scrutiny, including potential public hearings, could be forthcoming.