Kinze Manufacturing to lay off 121

WILLIAMSBURG - A second year of low grain prices has led Kinze Manufacturing in Williamsburg to again plan a reduction to its workforce, the company announced Tuesday.

Kinze, which makes planters for row-crop production and grain auger carts, will lay off 121 employees in June. In June 2015, low corn and soybean prices pushed the company to lay off 215 people.

'Ag equipment manufacturers have been especially negatively impacted, as farmers continue to control costs, including large capital investments,” the company said in a statement.

The company has taken several actions to prevent layoffs, it said, including implementing a 30-hour workweek and undergoing marketing campaigns to help dealers reduce inventories of new and used Kinze equipment, so they would be in a better position to purchase new Kinze products.

'Despite our efforts, the current demand for agriculture equipment does not support our present staffing level,” the company said. The layoffs 'will reduce the Kinze office and factory workforce to a level that supports our forecast demand. It also will allow the company to invest in product innovations that will help drive sales when the market improves.”

Staff reductions will go into effect June 18, the company said, and affected employees will retain company-sponsored insurance coverage through the end of June.

Kinze also will host a career fair for impacted employees as well as work with area employers to help transition employees.