Ag equipment maker Deere spent $374,000 in 3Q to express concerns about GPS, farm regulations

Deere & Co. spent $374,000 to lobby Congress and federal officials during the third quarter to protect the signal for GPS systems and express concerns about farming regulations.

The Moline, Ill., company is the world's largest maker of agricultural equipment. Its third-quarter lobbying spending was 7 percent more than the $350,000 it spent a year earlier and 40 percent more than the $250,000 it spent in this year's second quarter, according to quarterly reports it has filed with the House clerk's office.

Deere said in a report filed Oct. 20 that it lobbied Congress, the Risk Management Agency and the Federal Communications Commission about the use of spectrum rights for communication because it is worried that LightSquared's proposed new nationwide Internet network could threaten the GPS signals many Deere tractors use.

Deere also said it lobbied on financial reforms, crop insurance and efficient water use standards.