The Federal Trade Commission and the U.S. Department of Agriculture launched a joint public inquiry regarding issues affecting agricultural equipment manufacturing and distribution markets, including potential anticompetitive conduct.
The joint request for information is a part of the FTC’s ongoing work to preserve competition in the agricultural sector. This work includes the FTC’s recent settlement, joined by twelve states, enjoining Corteva Inc.’s alleged anticompetitive conduct in pesticides markets, as well as the FTC’s settlement, joined by five states of an antitrust action challenging repair restrictions imposed by farm equipment manufacturer Deere & Company. The settlement with Deere ensures that farmers can enjoy the right to repair their own John Deere tractors and farm equipment.
The joint RFI pertaining to agricultural equipment manufacturing and distribution markets seeks to address the growing number of complaints received by USDA that farmers across the country face other barriers to acquiring agricultural equipment and the services required to keep equipment operating.
The FTC and the USDA encourage members of the public, including farmers, independent repair providers, and current and former employees of agricultural equipment manufacturers and dealers, to comment on any issues or concerns that are relevant to this topic, including:
- Any relevant business models, policies, agreements, or contractual terms
- Any firsthand experiences or documented cases of restrictions, penalties, or retaliation
- Broader competitive implications, how these practices may impact pricing, market entry, innovation, farmer welfare, or rural economic resilience
This information will help both the FTC and USDA ensure that the marketplace for agricultural equipment remains fair and that farmers can continue to put food on the table of the Americans.