Deere & Company has agreed to a $99 million settlement over the so-called right to repair.
Deere has denied any wrongdoing in the case. In a statement, the company said the agreement “allows us to move forward and remain focused on what matters most – serving our customers.”
If approved, the settlement would compensate farmers who paid for certain equipment repairs dating back to 2018 and require Deere to expand access to diagnostic tools and repair resources. The case has become a focal point in the broader national debate over “right to repair,” which centers on whether equipment owners should have the ability to fix complex machinery without manufacturer restrictions.
Some right‑to‑repair advocates argue the settlement does little to address what they see as the underlying issue.
“We’re talking about the equivalent of about 79 cents an acre,” said Willie Cade, a longtime right‑to‑repair advocate who has closely followed the case. Cade said he calculated the settlement across an estimated 200,000 eligible farmers over an eight‑year period.
“For what they’ve been doing for basically the last decade, 79 cents an acre is not even a parking ticket,” Cade said, adding that he believes legislative action is still needed to address repair access more broadly.
Cade also questioned whether the settlement meaningfully changes how software and diagnostic information will be shared in the future, arguing that farmers and independent repair shops should have access to the same repair information as authorized dealers.
Deere has said the settlement does not mean it violated the law and that it plans to expand access to diagnostic tools under the agreement.
The right‑to‑repair debate extends beyond equipment repairs and into questions about data ownership as modern farm machinery collects and transmits large amounts of information.
In Nebraska, lawmakers are advancing legislation aimed at clarifying who owns agricultural data generated on the farm. The Agricultural Data Privacy Act would establish that farmers retain ownership of their data rather than equipment manufacturers, service providers or technology platforms.
The bill has advanced in the Nebraska Legislature without opposition and was placed on final reading this week. Sen. Mike Jacobson of North Platte has spearheaded the legislative effort on behalf of Gov. Jim Pillen.
Custer County corn grower Guy Mills, who farms near Ansley, said the proposal addresses a growing concern among producers.
“I’m extremely grateful for the efforts that Senator Jacobson has done in bringing forth this bill of data ownership,” Mills said. “It is very needed in agriculture, and I’m extremely appreciative of his efforts.”
Sen. Jacobson has told the Rural Radio Network that LB525 is an initial step, noting that further legislative work may be needed as agricultural technology continues to evolve.
Deere, meanwhile, has emphasized that the right‑to‑repair settlement is intended to resolve the class action lawsuit and allow the company to focus on its customers. The agreement must still be approved by a federal judge before it can take effect.
