John Deere plans to close two factories in Iowa, at Ottumwa and Clarion, after moving their production to other plants, the company announced as part of what it called a reaffirmed commitment to US manufacturing.
Windrower production will move from Ottumwa Works to Des Moines Works by the end of fiscal year 2027, which Deere put down to changes in customer demand and available manufacturing capacity. Round baler production is planned to follow by the end of fiscal 2028, and once the transfer is complete Deere intends to close the Ottumwa factory.
From fiscal 2028, production of Hagie STS sprayers will move to Deere's factory in Thibodaux, Louisiana, and the company intends to end manufacturing at the Hagie factory in Clarion, Iowa, by fiscal 2029.
Thibodaux will in turn lose its sugar cane harvesters. In fiscal 2029 their production will be consolidated in Catalão, Brazil, where Deere already builds the machines, closer to the largest concentration of buyers in South America. Thibodaux currently makes around 35 of them a year for the US market. Separately, small planter production will move in fiscal 2027 from John Deere Seeding in Moline, Illinois, to the company's facility in Paton, Iowa, and the Construction and Forestry division is reviewing its sourcing.
Deere said it is concentrating investment in modern, high-use plants to keep manufacturing in the United States competitive, and expects to keep serving customers without disruption through the moves. The company said it recognises the impact on employees and communities, will engage with employees, union representatives where applicable and local leaders, and is committed to finding the best future use for the Ottumwa and Clarion sites. The announcement did not say how many jobs are affected.
Photo: Bob Adams / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Source: Precision Farming Dealer
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