Articles Tagged: John Deere

Iowa U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson hails GOP tax-and-spending law as a “golden era” for energy, backs stricter immigration enforcement, and defends Trump tariffs and trade policies amid John Deere layoffs.

In a statement, Deere & Company attributed the layoffs to a decrease in demand and lower order volumes, saying “This is a challenging time for many farmers, growers, and producers, and directly impacts our business in the near term."

Iowa Farmers Union members who met Saturday with U.S. Federal Trade Commissioner Alvaro Bedoya, explained how consolidation in the agriculture industry has crippled their farming operations and rural communities.

Deere and Co. would have to give back money from state tax credits after it laid off workers last year under a bill in the Iowa House.

The Federal Trade Commission and attorneys general from Minnesota and Illinois are suing Deere & Co., claiming it engages in “unfair practices” relating to equipment repairs. The move follows years of advocacy and a formal complaint from National Farmers Union and locals in Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin.

The Moline-based company has announced layoffs of more than 2,800 workers companywide since October 2023 as the farm economy struggles.

The company said Wednesday about 287 employees across three Quad-Cities facilities would be without jobs as of Jan. 3, 2025. The cuts will be made to facilities in East Moline, Davenport and Moline.

Moline-based John Deere pushed back Wednesday against former President Donald Trump’s tariff threat by saying it’s not moving production to Mexico.

John Deere, the major farm equipment manufacturer based in Moline, Illinois, was fined about $10 million for a bribery scheme led by its subsidiary in Thailand, according to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Last week’s layoffs at the company included 170 in Iowa, including in Dubuque and Davenport.

Iowa records show 103 salaried employees were let go Wednesday in Waterloo and Dubuque.

As demand drops, the company has let go roughly 2,000 workers since last fall.

The move from the company known on Wall Street as Deere & Co. arrives just weeks after rural retailer Tractor Supply ended an array of its corporate diversity and climate efforts. Both announcements came after backlash piled up online from conservative activists opposed to diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, sponsorship of LGBTQ+ Pride events and climate advocacy.

“As the largest global manufacturer of agricultural equipment, John Deere, like many others in the industry, faces significant economic challenges, including rising global operational and manufacturing costs, and reduced customer demand,“ the company said in an email.

A combined 310 workers will be let go at the Iowa locations.