Why EPA Guidance Matters for Farmers and Equipment Owners
Equipment uptime is critical for customers. A missed window in the field or a delayed repair can quickly turn into lost productivity. That reality is top of mind for farmers and equipment owners, and it’s why John Deere has long supported offering customers choice in how their equipment is repaired.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Guidance
Recent guidance from the EPA updates the agency’s position stated in prior guidance and brings clarity to manufacturers and customers. The latest guidance states that temporary overrides of certain emission control systems are allowed when they are needed for the purpose of repair.
Why This Clarity Matters
This clarification directly responds to a formal request we made to the EPA in June 2025.
“John Deere asked the EPA to allow farmers to override final inducement for purposes of repair so Deere could increase its customers’ repair capabilities,” explained Kyle Gilley, Vice President, Government Affairs, John Deere. “The EPA approved our request and we support this direction.”
Our goal was clear: expand emission systems repair options for customers and alternative service providers, while continuing to meet emissions requirements.
“We appreciate the EPA and the Administration’s leadership to provide clarity that removes longstanding limitations to ensure the Clean Air Act is applied as intended,” explained Pierre Guyot, Senior Vice President, John Deere Power Systems. “This is a win for our customers and their ability to keep modern equipment operating in the field.”
What This Guidance Does — and Does Not — Change
It’s important to be clear about what this EPA guidance means. Nothing in the guidance rolls back or otherwise changes the underlying Tier 4 emission standards or removes the requirement to use advanced emission control systems, including DEF systems, on modern equipment to meet the applicable emission standards. John Deere will continue to design, build, and certify engines that meet all applicable EPA emissions requirements.
EPA’s new guidance signals a change from prior guidance—a change that Deere welcomes. It clarifies that during a repair, temporary inducement overrides can now be used to get equipment running again when doing so is required to properly fix and return equipment to full emissions compliance.
Expanding Access to Repair Tools
With the EPA guidance now in place, we are continuing to expand access to repair capabilities. In March, a temporary inducement override capability will be made available through John Deere Operations Center™ PRO Service. This enhanced digital repair tool provides diagnostic, repair, and reprogramming capabilities designed to support efficient repairs while remaining compliant with EPA requirements.
“EPA has made clear we can now offer repair tools that allow our customers to temporarily override inducements to get a machine running again and return it to full emissions compliance,” said Denver Caldwell, Vice President, Aftermarket & Customer Support. “It’s exactly what we had hoped we could provide with our digital service tools.”
“This clarification also helps us further maximize customer uptime while aligning our industry around the same understanding of regulatory compliance,” Caldwell added. “It supports customers, alternative service providers, and dealers by helping clarify how to maintain equipment in a way that complies with EPA requirements.”