John Deere to lay off production workers from Ankeny plant. Here's how many are affected:

About 150 workers at John Deere's campus in Ankeny are getting laid off.

Factory leadership informed some production workers at the John Deere Des Moines Works campus in Ankeny on Friday that they will be indefinitely laid off in April and May, according to a company statement.

"Each John Deere factory balances the size of its production workforce with the needs of the individual factory to optimize the workforce at each facility," the statement said.

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Deere spokesperson Dustin Lemmon said in an email that the company had no additional comment. Justin Limke, president of the UAW Local 450 union representing workers at the Ankeny plant, did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.

The Ankeny site, 825 S.W. Irvinedale Drive, has about 1,700 employees, including 1,136 in production and maintenance. Workers at the campus manufacture heavy agricultural equipment, including sprayers and cotton pickers.

A 139,000-square-foot expansion of the plant's sprayer facility is expected to be completed this year. Deere also has presented plans to Ankeny city officials for a new 20,000-square-foot lab building.

More: Tyson Foods says it's permanently closing 1,276-employee Perry plant

Tyson Foods announced March 11 that it will permanently close its pork packing plant in Perry, leaving nearly 1,300 workers without a job. The plant is expected to shut down June 28. Tyson is Perry's largest employer.

Chris Higgins covers the eastern and northern suburbs for the Register. Reach him at chiggins@registermedia.com or 515-423-5146 and follow him on Twitter @chris_higgins_.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: John Deere announces layoffs at Des Moines Works plant in Ankeny