The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued new guidance clarifying that equipment manufacturers can no longer cite the Clean Air Act as justification for restricting farmers’ access to repair tools and software.

The ruling, announced Monday, marks a significant victory for agricultural producers who have long faced costly delays and limited options when their equipment breaks down during critical planting and harvest seasons.​

For years, major agricultural equipment manufacturers like Deere have interpreted the Clean Air Act’s anti-tampering provisions to mean they cannot provide repair tools or diagnostic software to farmers and independent repair shops.

This interpretation forced equipment owners to haul broken tractors and other machinery to manufacturer-authorized dealers, often resulting in thousands of dollars in additional costs and productivity losses during time-sensitive farming operations.

The EPA’s guidance directly addresses this issue by clarifying that temporary overrides of emission control systems are legally permitted when performed for repair purposes, provided the equipment is returned to its certified configuration afterward. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin emphasized that manufacturers have misinterpreted the law, stating, “The Clean Air Act was written to ensure clean air for all Americans, not to lock farmers into expensive repairs”.

The Clean Air Act Controversy

Section 203(a)(3) of the Clean Air Act makes it unlawful to remove or render inoperative any emission control device installed in compliance with environmental regulations.

Manufacturers argued this provision prevented them from providing access to tools that could temporarily disable emission controls, even during legitimate repairs. However, the EPA now clarifies that these anti-tampering rules do not apply when equipment requires maintenance or restoration to proper functioning.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins welcomed the guidance, noting that “this is expected to save our farmers thousands in unnecessary repairs” . The ruling applies to all nonroad diesel equipment with advanced emission control technologies, including systems that use diesel exhaust fluid.​

Legal Battles and State Legislation

The EPA guidance comes amid escalating legal pressure on equipment manufacturers, particularly John Deere & Co. The Federal Trade Commission filed an antitrust lawsuit against Deere in January 2025, alleging the company violated the Sherman Antitrust Act by monopolizing the repair market and forcing farmers to use authorized dealers with exclusive access to diagnostic software.

A federal judge ruled in June 2025 that Deere must face the lawsuit, which was joined by attorneys general from Arizona, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.

Colorado became the first state to pass agricultural equipment-specific right-to-repair legislation when it enacted the Consumer Right to Repair Agricultural Equipment Act in April 2023, which took effect January 1, 2024.

The law requires original manufacturers to provide owners and independent repair providers with parts, embedded software, firmware, tools, and repair guides.

Industry Response and Future Legislation

The EPA issued its guidance in direct response to a request from Deere seeking clarity on Clean Air Act provisions submitted in June 2025 . Despite the ruling, Deere, CNH, and AGCO—the major tractor manufacturers—did not respond to requests for comment .

Nathan Proctor, Senior Right to Repair Campaign Director at the Public Interest Research Group, called the guidance definitive and stated, “It’s clear that farmers and other Americans accessing what they need to fix their stuff isn’t an environmental threat” .

He urged manufacturers to “stop stalling and grant all of us access to the required parts, tools and information” .

Federal lawmakers introduced the Farm Act in October 2025, which would mandate that manufacturers make documentation, parts, software, and tools widely available to farmers and operators . The bill is currently awaiting further action in Congress.

Critics have pointed out that a 2023 memorandum of understanding negotiated between the American Farm Bureau Federation and major tractor manufacturers was legally unenforceable and failed to provide full access to diagnostic tools .

The EPA’s new guidance provides a more concrete legal framework supporting farmers’ ability to perform their own repairs while maintaining environmental compliance.

Sources

1. https://www.manufacturingdive.com/news/us-epa-manufacturers-clean-air-act-limit-repair-tools-software/811209/

2. https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-advances-farmers-right-repair-their-own-equipment-saving-repair-costs-and

3. https://www.agweb.com/news/machinery/epa-backs-farmers-affirms-right-repair-equipment

4. https://www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/web/ag/equipment/article/2026/02/02/trump-epa-declares-farmers-can

5. https://sorghumgrowers.com/2026/02/02/epa-clarifies-farmers-right-to-repair-equipment-cutting-costs-and-downtime-for-growers/

6. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/energy-and-environment/4442901/epa-guidance-farmers-right-to-repair/

7. https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/deere-must-face-ftcs-antitrust-lawsuit-over-repair-costs-us-judge-rules-2025-06-10/

8. https://nocoattorneys.com/colorados-agricultural-equipment-right-to-repair-law-in-effect/

9. https://www.manufacturingdive.com/news/deere-must-face-ftc-right-to-repair-lawsuit-judge-rules/750781/

10. https://www.forvismazars.us/forsights/2024/03/colorado-s-new-right-to-repair-act

Moe Bedard

I am the CEO of Big Equipment Pros. We provide equipment industry news, data, and insights to help professionals make smart decisions and grow their businesses. We also work with equipment vendors and finance professionals to help them attract customers and expand through strategic marketing partnerships.