Farm Bureau, John Deere Sign Right-to-Repair Pact
The agreement commits Deere to fair-terms access to repair tools and documentation for farmers and independent shops.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Agriculture
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The American Farm Bureau Federation signed a memorandum of understanding with John Deere on right-to-repair issues during its annual convention in Puerto Rico. Under the agreement, Deere will provide farmers and independent repair facilities electronic access to tools, software, and documentation on "fair and reasonable" terms.
Why it matters
The deal addresses long-running farmer frustration over repairing equipment without relying on manufacturer data access. It also signals that the Farm Bureau is pursuing negotiated solutions with manufacturers rather than backing right-to-repair legislation in state capitals.
The memorandum calls for the parties to meet at least twice per year to review its terms. The agreement does not include published pricing or access-fee figures, and how "fair and reasonable" will be measured has not been specified.
The players
American Farm Bureau Federation
The American Farm Bureau Federation is a national agricultural advocacy organization that represents farmers and ranchers across the United States in policy matters.
John Deere
John Deere is a major American manufacturer of agricultural machinery and a leading supplier of farm equipment worldwide.
The details
John Deere will ensure farmers or their representatives have electronic access to its tools, specialty tools, software, and documentation, along with access to a customer service advisor. The American Farm Bureau Federation will encourage state-level Farm Bureaus to recognize these commitments and to refrain from promoting right-to-repair legislation; the memorandum also distinguishes between right to repair and right to modify.
Timeline
2019: Discussions that led to the memorandum began.
November 3, 2026: The memorandum was announced at the American Farm Bureau Federation's annual convention in Puerto Rico.
Market Landscape
The agreement offers an alternative to state-by-state right-to-repair legislation, a route farm advocates have pursued in several capitals. It positions Deere as a negotiating partner on repair access while the Farm Bureau steers its state affiliates away from legislative pushes.
Farmers who rely on Deere equipment may gain more practical options for repairs through authorized electronic access and independent shops. Whether those options translate into lower repair costs will depend on how the "fair and reasonable" terms are applied in practice.
The takeaway
Farm equipment owners should watch whether the access commitments in this agreement are applied consistently across repair channels. Tracking how the twice-yearly reviews are reported may show whether the terms hold up.
Further reading
For broader context on farm policy and equipment costs, explore more Agriculture coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Farm Progress.
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