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The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is currently looking into Deere & Co. to determine if the company’s equipment repair policies are in violation of consumer protection laws. The investigation, which began in 2021, is focusing on restrictions placed on equipment hardware and software. Deere has stated that they are cooperating with the investigation and are unable to provide further comment at this time.

Deere has faced criticism and legal challenges over their repair policies, with farmers expressing frustration over having to rely on dealerships for costly repairs, even when they have the ability to fix the equipment themselves. While there is a growing movement to establish farmers’ right to repair laws, an agreement between Deere and the American Farm Bureau Federation has slowed progress on both state and federal levels.

Despite efforts to address concerns, reports have found that repair materials provided to farmers may still lack the necessary information to complete repairs independently. Last year, a court ruled against Deere in a lawsuit regarding their right-to-repair policies, and Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren is also investigating potential violations of the Clean Air Act.

The FTC investigation is exploring whether Deere may have violated consumer protection laws by restricting repair options for farmers. PIRG has expressed support for the investigation, highlighting the importance of farmers having timely access to necessary repairs to prevent disruptions to their work.

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