Great Lakes Wire

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has aligned with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and attorneys general from four states in a lawsuit against Deere & Company. The agricultural equipment manufacturer is accused of monopolizing significant segments of the market and engaging in unfair competition practices.

"Deere has deliberately designed a system that forces Michigan farmers to depend on the company to fix essential equipment," stated Nessel. She further claimed, "By illegally restricting access to necessary tools and software, Deere drives up costs for farmers and consumers to boost its own profits." Nessel emphasized the need for farmers to have access to affordable repairs, stating her office's commitment to working with the FTC and other attorneys general to protect farmers from what she described as Deere’s unfair practices.

The legal action asserts that Deere restricts both farmers and independent repair providers from fixing their equipment. This compels reliance on Deere's authorized dealers for repairs. According to the lawsuit, specialized software required for diagnosing and repairing electronic issues is controlled by Deere, limiting its availability solely to authorized dealers. The lawsuit contends this practice inflates repair costs and leads to delays.

Attorney General Nessel claims these actions breach the Michigan Antitrust Reform Act by maintaining monopoly power over Michigan’s repair market, resulting in high prices for farmers. The lawsuit seeks an immediate cessation of these alleged business practices.

Joining this legal challenge alongside Attorney General Nessel are the attorneys general from Arizona, Minnesota, Illinois, and Wisconsin. The FTC, along with Illinois and Minnesota, initiated the lawsuit last month.