The case is part of broader scrutiny in the U.S. over so-called right-to-repair practices, with regulators and plaintiffs arguing that some manufacturers limit competition by controlling access to repair tools and software.

What does the settlement cover?

The settlement fund covers eligible plaintiffs who paid Deere’s authorized dealers for repairs to large agricultural equipment from January 2018, according to a document filed on Monday in the federal court in Chicago, Illinois.

In the settlement, Deere also agreed to make available to farmers for 10 years “the digital tools required for the maintenance, diagnosis, and repair” of large agricultural equipment, including tractors, combines, and sugarcane harvesters, the filing showed.

The proposed accord requires a judge’s approval.

“This settlement addresses the issues raised in the 2022 complaint and brings this case to an end with no finding of wrongdoing,” Deere said in a separate statement.

Deere faces FTC suit

Deere also faces a separate lawsuit brought by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. A U.S. judge ruled in 2025 that Deere must face that lawsuit, which accused the company of forcing farmers to use its authorized dealer network and driving up their costs for parts and repairs.

Deere is blocking farmers from acquiring the “tools and information necessary to repair their equipment in a timely and cost-effective manner,” the FTC had said in a court filing in April. Deere has denied the wrongdoing.

— Reporting by Carlos Méndez, Mrinmay Dey in Mexico City and Mike Scarcella in Washington

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“I want John Deere and Case and all of – they’re great companies, Caterpillar… I want these companies to give it to you in the form of lower tractor and equipment costs,” Trump told hundreds of farmers and ranchers gathered under drizzle at an event on the South Lawn of the White House.

Deere & Co shares dropped two per cent after the statement. Case IH manufacturer CNH Industrial fell one per cent while Caterpillar Inc was down nearly 1.2 per cent in late-session trading.

The three companies could not immediately be reached for comment.

Trump seeks support from struggling farmers

Trump called for lower prices in an aside during a speech that otherwise focused on shoring up support among the Republican president’s loyal constituency of rural voters, who have backed Trump in all three of the last presidential races.

For the fourth straight year, U.S. crop producers are facing tight margins, high production costs and low commodity prices – and are struggling financially – despite near-record government payments.

The Trump administration is distributing $12 billion (C$16.7 billion) in aid to U.S. farmers — a move that farm trade groups and agricultural economists have said is helpful in the short-term but will not fully compensate farmers for financial losses that have topped $30 billion in recent years.

On Friday, Trump said he would seek even more such aid for farmers from Congress. More than 50 farm-interest groups, such as the American Farm Bureau Federation, are urging Congress to approve additional aid in a military funding package.

Trump pledges new loan guarantees

The event happened as the administration finalized new biofuel blending mandates for U.S. oil refiners, requiring them to mix more of the fuels made from corn and other agricultural products into the nation’s gasoline and diesel than initially proposed, in an apparent win for farmers.

Trump also said the U.S. Small Business Administration would open up new loan guarantees for farmers and food suppliers.

Farmers are entering the critical spring planting season under a cloud of uncertainty as the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran disrupts global trade, causing fertilizer and diesel costs to spike.

The long-term U.S. trade relationship with China also remains unclear amid the ongoing trade war launched by Trump’s administration with the country, the world’s top soy importer.

Rural voters constitute a fifth of the U.S. electorate, and they favored Trump by a two-to-one margin over Democrat Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.

— Additional reporting by Bhargav Acharya

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Year-to-date sales of tractors were down 0.3 per cent compared to 2024, while combine sales were up 1.6 per cent.

Total four-wheel drive tractors sales fell by 22.5 per cent. Total two-wheel drive tractor sales rose by 0.8 per cent.

In November, sales of two-wheel drive tractors under 40 horsepower were down 10.2 per cent compared to November of 2024 while sales of tractors with more than 100 horsepower were down 18.6 per cent. Sales of tractors with between 40 and 100 horsepower were up 11.8 per cent compared to the same month last year.

Four-wheel drive tractor sales fell by 50.6 per cent compared to last November. Combine sales were up 25.6 per cent.

Canadian equipment sales fared better than U.S. sales. At the end of November, year-to-date sales of all tractors were down 9.7 per cent in the U.S. Combine sales were down 38.3 per cent.

Downward trend continues

Overall, farm equipment sales in both countries have been trending down in recent years.

In late 2023, Farm Credit Canada warned that the year’s robust sales were unlikely to continue. The farm lender said sales had been strong thanks to the resolution of pandemic-era supply chain issues and strong farm cash receipts. However, drought in Western Canada and softening commodity prices were likely to take their toll.

Sales declined in 2024 as predicted, and in November 2024, FCC again predicted a slump in 2025 as farmers faced low commodity prices and high equipment costs.

Tariff impacts

This was before U.S. President Donald Trump took office and announced sweeping tariffs — including on the imported steel and aluminum needed to build machinery.

In late November, farm equipment manufacturer Deere & Co said it expected tariff impacts on the company to come in around US$600 million (C$826.1 million). It predicted a pre-tax tariff hit of around US$1.2 billion (C$1.65 billion) in 2026.

Low crop prices and high production costs were prompting American farmers to put off purchases or opt for used equipment. Deere has considered production shifts, higher prices and widening its portfolio to used equipment.

CFRA Research analyst Jonathan Sakraida said he does not expect Deere to recover until fiscal 2027, adding that the company struggled to offset tariff impacts.

—With files from Reuters

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The HighPower category is limited to tractors over 300 horsepower. Claas’ Axion 9.450 comes in at 450 horsepower.

“Tractor of the year, it’s really, really huge honour for us,” said Vasily Badya, Claas product manager for Axion tractors. “It’s all brand new class tractor with a completely new design.

Badya also pointed out that operator comfort was a main focus when designing the Axion. For example, noise levels inside the cab come in at a mere 65 decibels.

Read: More Agritechnica coverage with the Western Producer.

“It’s really, really going to be the benchmark,” said Badya.

Tractor of the Year is an international award ‘recognizing excellence in agricultural mechanization,’ showcasing the best tractors on the European market.

Related: Check out the CLAAS AXION 9.450 Tractor Specifications on AgDealer.com

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Read: More coverage of Agritechnica with the Western Producer.

The new Optum tractor series comes in three models: the 440, 390 and 360. The new Optums are rated at 435, 390 and 360 horsepower, respectively.

Case’s new Optums come equipped with the new Cursor 9 engine and a CVXDrive transmission, allowing it to travel at faster road speeds of up to 60 km-h.

The new Case IH Optum tractors are also designed to work in tight spaces and have a tight turning radius of 6.1 metres, while Adaptive Steering Control reduces the effort it takes to maneuver the tractors when in the field.

Related: Check out the Case IH OPTUM 440 Tractor Specifications on AgDealer.com

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“With a dedicated presence in Ottawa, AEM will be a more effective advocate and convener, ensuring equipment manufacturers get a seat at the table during critical policy discussions about the future of the Canadian economy,” said the association’s president and CEO Megan Tanel in a news release this week.

The association has hired Alexandre Mattard-Michaud as director of government affairs in Canada. Mattard-Michaud will be responsible for representing association members and industry interests to lawmakers.

A presence in Ottawa will help the association advocate for “pro-growth policies that help the Canadian men and women of the equipment manufacturing industry better build, power, and feed the world,” as Parliament looks at long-term economic and industrial policy, it said.

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The company which specializes in farm robots won first prize with its Monarch MK-V electric tractor in the Equipment category at the Innovation Program Awards ceremony on the eve of the 2025 Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show.

The Monarch is a 4WD, fully electric, 70 horsepower tractor that also offers autonomous features.

Jeff Pettit, sales manager with Haggerty AgRobotics, says with labour shortages on the farm and the rapid pace of technology it was a “no brainer” to introduce an electric tractor into the equipment market.

From an operator perspective, sitting in the seat of the Monarch is very similar to a conventional diesel-powered tractor, but with a catch.

“The biggest thing is that you don’t get the feedback that you would from a normal diesel tractor,” said Pettit. “It’s quite quiet and the feedback on the pedals is a little bit different. But overall, it feels and operates like a regular tractor.”

When it comes to battery life, Pettit said that operators can expect about eight hours of working time. The battery is rated for 14 hours, but battery life largely depends on what the tractor is pulling.

Pettit said it takes about five to six hours to fully charge the Monarch’s battery plugged into a 220 volt outlet and approximately eight to ten hours to charge the battery using a 110 volt outlet.

As far as what type of work the Monarch is suited for on the farm?

“We’ve got a bunch of different uses for it,” said Pettit. “We have a dairy case where it has a feed pusher on it and operates autonomously through the barn.”

Pettit also added that the Monarch is a good fit for use orchards and vineyards.

For more coverage of Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show 2025, visit Farmtario’s landing page.

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U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs have impacted companies across sectors, especially the manufacturing and industrial firms.

Farmers increasingly cautious

This has added to the woes of farm-equipment makers who were already grappling with slow demand due to a slump in crop prices for wheat, corn and soybeans in North America and farmers opting to rent machinery instead of buying.

“Tariff uncertainty and deflated commodity prices have made farmers increasingly cautious in spending decisions and more hesitant to accept higher machinery prices,” said CFRA Research analyst Jonathan Sakraida.

Despite the gloomy demand environment, Deere CEO John May said the company was able to manage its inventory levels to help production match retail demand.

The company’s cost-saving measures also helped it top analyst estimates for third-quarter profit and revenue.

Peer CNH Industrial also topped second-quarter earnings estimates earlier this month, but warned that its annual sales could drop below last year’s levels.

Lower margins

Third-quarter operating profit from two of Deere’s largest units, which produce tractors, combines and construction equipment, roughly halved from a year earlier.

The company cut the higher end of its annual profit forecast to $5.25 billion (C$7.24 billion) from $5.50 billion, but kept the lower end intact at $4.75 billion.

In May, Deere said it expected tariffs to cost over $500 million (C$689.7 million) in 2025 before taxes, and that it was prepared to invest $20 billion in the U.S. over the next decade.

Global companies that reported between July 16 and August 8 projected a combined financial hit of $13.6 billion to $15.2 billion for the full year, a Reuters’ tariff tracker shows.

Trump has said the tariffs are a response to persistent U.S. trade imbalances and declining manufacturing power, and that the moves will bring jobs and investment to the nation.

Deere’s net income in the third quarter came in at $1.29 billion (C$1.78 billion), or $4.75 per share, compared with $1.73 billion, or $6.29 per share, a year earlier.

Analysts on average had expected the company to report a quarterly profit of $4.63 per share, according to data compiled by LSEG.

The company’s net sales fell about nine per cent to $10.36 billion (C$14.29 billion) from a year ago, more than analysts’ estimates of $10.31 billion.

— Reporting by Nathan Gomes in Bengaluru

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The Basildon, UK-based company has been producing tractors and combines below retail demand to reduce excess dealer inventories, as it manages through a cyclical period of lower sales – a strategy also adopted by peers Deere, AGCO and Caterpillar.

CNH expects 2025 sales to drop below last year’s levels and warns that, combined with reduced production, this will likely put further pressure on its margins. However, its efforts to reduce costs will partially mitigate the erosion.

Demand for new equipment has taken a hit from a prolonged weakness in farmer income and weak commodity prices, prompting manufacturers to scale back production as farmers postpone or reassess major purchase decisions.

Shares of the company, famous for its Case IH and New Holland brands, rose 1.6 per cent in pre-market trading. They have risen more than 14 per cent since the start of the year.

CNH reported an adjusted profit of 17 cents per share for the quarter ended June 30, above analysts’ expectations of 14 cents per share, according to data complied by LSEG.

Its total costs and expenses in the reported quarter dropped to $4.43 billion (C$6.10 billion), from $5.03 billion last year.

Quarterly revenue fell 14 per cent to $4.71 billion (C$6.49 billion), but was above analysts’ estimates of $4.17 billion.

The company reaffirmed its full-year outlook, but cautioned that ongoing uncertainty surrounding U.S. trade policy, potential responses from global trading partners, and their broader impacts could influence its projections.

— Reporting by Abhinav Parmar in Bengaluru

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U.S. District Judge Iain Johnston in the federal court in Rockford, Illinois on Monday ruled for now to reject Deere’s effort to end the lawsuit, which was filed at the end of Democratic President Joe Biden’s administration in January.

The lawsuit alleges Deere is violating federal antitrust law by controlling too tightly where and how farmers can get their equipment repaired, allowing the Illinois-based company to charge artificially higher prices. The FTC was joined in its lawsuit by Michigan, Wisconsin and three other U.S. states.

Deere did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and the FTC declined to comment. Deere has denied any wrongdoing.

Ruling adds to legal woes

The ruling adds to Deere’s legal woes over repair services. Johnson ruled in 2023 that the company must face similar claims from crop farms and farmers that it illegally restricted maintenance and repair services through the use of authorized dealers.

The FTC and states, like the private plaintiffs, contend that Deere is abusing its market power, allowing the company to control prices and minimize competition.

Deere is blocking farmers from acquiring the “tools and information necessary to repair their equipment in a timely and cost-effective manner,” the FTC had said in a court filing in April.

‘No basis in law’

Deere countered that it does not compete in the market for repair services. The government plaintiffs filed their lawsuit “with two vague federal antitrust claims that hide the ball and have no basis in law,” Deere told the court.

The company also challenged the lawfulness of the structure of the FTC, an independent, bipartisan board that enforces antitrust and consumer protection laws. Deere alleged that restrictions against removing FTC commissioners illegally bar the president from exercising lawful oversight.

Johnston said Deere failed to show how it was harmed by the FTC’s removal procedures.

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