The FTC sued Deere, alleging that a ‘monopoly’ on equipment repair drove up costs for farmers.

The Federal Trade Commission has filed a lawsuit against a major agricultural equipment company. Deer & CoArguing that it has a monopoly on repair services that increases costs and creates delays for farmers, the agency announced Wednesday.

gave The case Deere alleges that for decades consumers have been hampered in their ability to repair their equipment, including tractors and combines, forcing them to rely on the company’s network of authorized repair providers. The FTC alleges that a dairy software tool called “Service ADVISOR,” available only to more expensive authorized dealers, is required to fully repair equipment, leaving farmers and independent repair providers to do it themselves. Unable to work.

Authorized dealers often use Dairy-branded parts instead of less expensive generic parts for repair work, increasing Dairy’s profits, the FTC said.

“Sanctions on illegal repairs can be devastating to farmers, who rely on affordable and timely repairs to harvest their crops and earn their income,” FTC Chair Leena Khan said in a news release. “The FTC’s action today seeks to ensure that farmers across the United States are free to repair their equipment themselves or use the repair shops of their choice—reducing costs, preventing catastrophic delays, and promote fair competition for independent repair shops.”

The states of Illinois and Minnesota are also plaintiffs in the lawsuit.

The lawsuit seeks to make service advisors and other necessary repair resources available to Deere customers and independent repair providers. The FTC said other manufacturing companies in the trucking and auto industries provide information required of generic repair tool developers.

In a statement, Denver Caldwell, Deere’s vice president of aftermarket and customer support, said it is “extremely disappointing that three FTC commissioners chose to file meritless lawsuits as they transition into new administration.”

Caldwell added, “Our recent discussions with the Commission revealed that the agency still lacks basic knowledge of the industry and John Deere’s business practices and confirmed that the agency Relying on misinformation and assumptions.”

The company said it has “introduced several new innovations, tools, and resources to better equip customers and independent repair technicians with their equipment maintenance and repair needs.”

Shares of Deere fell less than 1 percent Wednesday afternoon.

The case comes in the final days of President Joe Biden’s term in the White House and Khan’s tenure at the FTC, during which the agency has taken an aggressive approach to antitrust. It is unclear whether President-elect Donald Trump’s administration will continue to pursue the lawsuit against Deere.