Three Weeks Left to Tell the FTC and USDA About Dealer Territories, Repair Limits and Retaliation: How to Comment by Dec. 7

If you have ever been told you can’t buy a tractor from a dealer two counties over, waited weeks for a part, or been pushed back to the dealership for a repair you could have done yourself, federal regulators want to hear about it, and the window is closing.

On Oct. 7, the Federal Trade Commission teamed up with USDA to open a joint request for information about farm equipment manufacturing and distribution markets. The deadline to respond is Monday, Dec. 7, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern, according to the agencies’ notice. With harvest winding down, the next three weeks are the practical time for farmers, mechanics and dealership employees to weigh in.

What the agencies are asking

The notice poses 13 numbered questions in two groups. Plain-language versions:

Dealer networks and territories

• Do manufacturers impose territorial sales or service limits on dealers, and do dealers agree among themselves to limit which customers they serve?
• Are buyers told about those limits, and are there price penalties or lost discounts when a farmer buys outside a home territory?
• How do manufacturers or dealers track where a customer comes from?
• Has dealer consolidation, either closed locations or fewer owners, changed prices, service quality or parts availability?
• Is access to repairs or parts tied to buying equipment from a specific dealer?
• How do U.S. terms of sale compare with the terms the same companies offer in other countries?

Retaliation

• Have farmers, independent repair providers, dealers or dealer employees been threatened or penalized for opposing manufacturer or dealer policies? The notice counts blacklisting, being denied equipment or parts, being moved to the back of the line and getting worse commercial terms as retaliation.

The agencies ask commenters to describe specific policies or contract terms, supply data such as price comparisons, share firsthand experiences and explain the effects on prices, competition and rural communities.

Why regulators are looking now

USDA said it has received a growing number of complaints from farmers about barriers to buying equipment and getting the service needed to keep it running. The notice ties the inquiry to a broader push on farm input costs, including the FTC’s 2025 lawsuit against Deere over repair restrictions. That case ended in a July 2026 order requiring Deere to give farmers and independent shops repair resources equal to what its dealers get, for 10 years, the notice said. The FTC also cited a September settlement with Corteva over pesticide loyalty programs and a fertilizer price investigation opened in May.

“They shouldn’t have to overcome artificial service barriers to keep their farm machinery running, or pay inflated prices for critical equipment,” FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson said, according to Michigan Farm News.

Investors noticed. Deere shares fell about 5% on the day of the announcement, AGCO 5.9% and CNH Industrial 5.7%, Farm Equipment magazine reported, citing market data. The magazine noted the request does not itself allege wrongdoing by any company.

How to comment

• Public comment: Go to Regulations.gov, search docket FTC-2026-1585 and use the online form. Comments must be received by 11:59 p.m. ET on Dec. 7.
• Keep private data out: The notice says public comments are posted online and asks people not to include Social Security numbers, birth dates, driver’s license numbers, financial account information, health information or competitively sensitive business information.
• Confidential option: To submit something non-public, email it to [email protected], attention Office of the Secretary, with a request for confidential treatment that cites the docket number. The FTC’s general counsel reviews those requests. If one is denied, the submitter gets 10 business days to withdraw the comment, the notice said.

Make your comment count

The notice asks for specifics, so a short, documented account beats a general complaint. Before you write, gather:

• Dates, dealer locations and the machine involved.
• Quotes or invoices showing price differences between dealers or territories.
• Repair records showing downtime or work you were told only a dealer could do.
• Any written policy, email or contract term you were given.

Stick to facts you can back up, and leave out anything you would not want posted publicly unless you use the confidential route.

Related: what Deere’s longer parts warranty changes for owners and October tractor and combine sales.

Frequently asked questions

When is the FTC farm equipment comment deadline?

Comments must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern on Monday, Dec. 7, 2026, through Regulations.gov under docket FTC-2026-1585.

Will my comment be public?

Comments filed through Regulations.gov are posted online. To request confidential treatment, email the comment to [email protected] with a justification, citing the docket number.

Who can comment?

Anyone. The agencies singled out farmers, independent mechanics and repair shops, and people who work or once worked for equipment makers and dealers.