Deere & Company, the tractor and farm machinery manufacturer, was hit with an antitrust class action Monday in Florida Northern District Court challenging the company's repair and maintenance policies for high-end agricultural equipment. The suit, brought by Paul S. Rothstein PA on behalf of Colvin Farms, accuses Deere and its authorized dealerships of using monopoly power to prevent farmers from seeking lower-cost repair services for tractors that are outfitted with electronic control units and proprietary software.

The suit further contends that the Deere repair services market is three to six times more profitable than the original sales equipment market. Counsel have not yet appeared for the defendant. The case is 1:22-cv-00126, Colvin Farms v. Deere & Company.