John Deere is accused of illegally restricting farmers’ ability to repair tractors and other equipment in a lawsuit filed by the Federal Trade Commission along with two states. Seth Perlman/AP
Seth Perlman/AP
Tractor maker John Deere faces a federal lawsuit that accuses the company of illegally forcing farmers to use only authorized dealers for critical repairs, boosting its multibillion-dollar profits.
The lawsuit — filed on Wednesday by the Federal Trade Commission along with Illinois and Minnesota — escalates a long-running battle over farmers’ right to repair their own agricultural equipment and parts.
As tractors and combines have gotten more