I feel like the solution here should be simple: more options for farmers to buy from different companies, if there aren't enough already. If Deere is being sneaky about repair/maintenance costs in the back end that can also be handled via existing laws/regulations on consumer protection, false marketing, etc.(though of course the fines are almost always never high enough). Maybe there's are some transparency regulations that could be put in to place to make it very clear the nature of the transaction people are getting in to when they buy/lease such equipment. (Like how airlines have to show the ~total price of the ticket up front.)
Disclosure: used to work in a group that made the chips that would do the locking down in applications like this.
Between safety standards, emissions standards, and all sorts of other requirements that apply to heavy machinery in the US there are plenty of options for the domestic manufacturers to sneak in a little good ol' regulatory capture masquerading as something else.
Disclosure: used to work in a group that made the chips that would do the locking down in applications like this.