June 9 (Reuters) - Agriculture equipment giant Deere

must face a lawsuit by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission

accusing the company of forcing farmers to use its authorized

dealer network and driving up their costs for parts and repairs,

a U.S. judge has ruled.

U.S. District Judge Iain Johnston in the federal court in

Rockford, Illinois on Monday ruled for now to reject Deere's

effort to end the lawsuit, which was filed at the end of

Democratic President Joe Biden's administration in January.

The lawsuit alleges Deere is violating federal antitrust law

by controlling too tightly where and how farmers can get their

equipment repaired, allowing the Illinois-based company to

charge artificially higher prices. The FTC was joined in its

lawsuit by Michigan, Wisconsin and three other U.S. states.

Deere did not immediately respond to a request for comment,

and the FTC declined to comment. Deere has denied any

wrongdoing.

The ruling adds to Deere's legal woes over repair services.

Johnson ruled in 2023 that the company must face similar claims

from crop farms and farmers that it illegally restricted

maintenance and repair services through the use of authorized

dealers.

The FTC and states, like the private plaintiffs, contend

that Deere is abusing its market power, allowing the company to

control prices and minimize competition.

Deere is blocking farmers from acquiring the "tools and

information necessary to repair their equipment in a timely and

cost-effective manner," the FTC had said in a court filing in

April.

Deere countered that it does not compete in the market for

repair services. The government plaintiffs filed their lawsuit

"with two vague federal antitrust claims that hide the ball and

have no basis in law," Deere told the court.

The company also challenged the lawfulness of the structure

of the FTC, an independent, bipartisan board that enforces

antitrust and consumer protection laws. Deere alleged that

restrictions against removing FTC commissioners illegally bar

the president from exercising lawful oversight.

Johnston said Deere failed to show how it was harmed by the

FTC's removal procedures.

The case is Federal Trade Commission et al v. Deere & Co ( DE ),

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, No.

3:25-cv-50017.

For FTC: Laura Hall and Joseph Baker of the FTC

For Deere: Sean Berkowitz, Amanda Reeves and Belinda Lee of

Latham & Watkins, and John Majoras, Lin Kahn and Tiffany

Lipscomb-Jackson of Jones Day

Read more:

US FTC sues Deere over equipment repair restrictions

Deere must face US farmers' 'right-to-repair' lawsuits,

judge rules