Deere Announces Closure of Two Iowa Plants

The agriculture equipment manufacturer recently announced it plans to shutter its Ottumwa factory by the end of fiscal year 2028. Windrower production will move to the Des Moines Works location by the end of fiscal year 2027, the company said, and round baler production will follow by fiscal year 2028.

Additionally, production of Hagie STS sprayers will move from Clarion to a factory in Louisiana.

“As a result, Deere intends to end manufacturing operations at the Hagie factory in Clarion, Iowa, by fiscal year 2029,” the company announced.

The company also said small planter production from the Moline, Illinois, plant will move to John Deere’s facility in Paton.

“The changes reaffirm Deere’s commitment to U.S. manufacturing by aligning production capacity with regional customer demand and advanced manufacturing capabilities,” the company’s press release reads. “By concentrating investments in modern, high-use facilities, Deere intends to preserve and expand critical U.S. manufacturing capabilities, enhance competitiveness, support American manufacturing jobs, and maintain its ability to invest through business cycles while continuing to serve customers well into the future.”

Last week, Deere announced it was calling back 275 workers to its Waterloo operations and had plans to hire 400 more people across factories in eastern Iowa.

Source: KCCI.com