Montana Farmers Union Skeptical of $99M John Deere Settlement

April 14, 2026

The ongoing debate over “right to repair” continues to gain momentum, as leaders with the Montana Farmers Union say a proposed $99 million settlement involving John Deere does little to address the real challenges facing farmers and ranchers.

Montana Farmers Union President Walter Schweitzer says the financial impact of limited repair access remains significant—and the proposed settlement doesn’t come close to making producers whole.

According to Schweitzer, when the settlement is broken down across the number of affected farmers, the compensation would fall far short of even a single repair.

“Each individual farmer wouldn’t even get the cost of one repair—the labor for one repair,” Schweitzer said. “It doesn’t even cover the cost for a trip to the farm and ranch.”

At the heart of the issue is farmers’ ability to access the tools, software, and diagnostic information needed to repair their own equipment—something many say has been restricted by manufacturers in recent years.

Schweitzer says that lack of access continues to create costly delays during critical times in the production cycle, especially during planting and harvest.

Despite the proposed agreement, Schweitzer made it clear the Montana Farmers Union and other right to repair advocates are not backing down.

“We’re not going to quit until it’s fixed. That’s all there is to it,” he said. “And it’s a long ways from being fixed.”

As the case moves forward, right to repair supporters are pushing for stronger, more enforceable protections to ensure farmers have the ability to fix their own equipment in a timely and affordable manner.

Meanwhile, John Deere says it remains committed to improving customer access to tools and support, as the broader conversation around right to repair continues across the agricultural industry.

Western Ag Network