business
John Deere settles antitrust suit, allows farmers to fix equipment at independent shops
By Kyle Brown at KSTP 5 Eyewitness News (ABC)
· July 8, 2026
· 2 min read
Independent repair shops will have access to proprietary John Deere tools for the next 10 years under a settlement between five states and the farm equipment giant, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced on Tuesday.
Ellison, whose office filed an antitrust suit against John Deere l...
Key takeaway John Deere provided the following statement to 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS: “Today, John Deere announced an agreement with the Federal Trade Commission and five participating states regarding access to diagnostic and repair tools.
Why this matters in The Minneapolis
This settlement has significant implications for Minnesota's rural communities, where farmers often rely on timely and affordable equipment repairs to maintain their operations. By allowing independent repair shops to access John Deere's proprietary tools, farmers will have more choices for servicing their equipment, potentially reducing costs and downtime. This development could also provide a boost to independent small businesses in the state, which have been hurt by John Deere's previous practices. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison's role in filing the antitrust suit and negotiating the settlement demonstrates the state's commitment to protecting the interests of its rural residents and promoting fair competition in the farm equipment market. As the settlement is implemented, it will be worth watching how it affects the state's agricultural industry and whether it leads to similar agreements with other equipment manufacturers.
About this story
Original reporting by KSTP 5 Eyewitness News (ABC) . The Minneapolis surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
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Category: business ·
Published: July 8, 2026 ·
Source: KSTP 5 Eyewitness News (ABC) ·
Reading time: 2 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Independent repair shops will have access to proprietary John Deere tools for the next 10 years under a settlement between five states and the farm equipment giant, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced on Tuesday.
Ellison, whose office filed an antitrust suit against John Deere l...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 8, 2026 by KSTP 5 Eyewitness News (ABC) and curated for The Minneapolis readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Kyle Brown at KSTP 5 Eyewitness News (ABC). To learn more about how The Minneapolis selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more business coverage from The Minneapolis, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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