John Deere is letting 650 people go this year. Here's a timeline of the layoffs
John Deere has issued three mass layoffs across the state of Iowa since the start of 2024 that will leave 650 people without work.
What led up to John Deere's layoffs?
Net sales for the company's production and precision agriculture segment have dropped by more than $6 billion. This is a 16% drop compared to last year's second quarter, according to the Des Moines Register.
Farm income is also to drop by 25% in comparison to 2023. Prices for equipment have been discounted or sold at lower prices as a result of farmer feeling the heat of high interest rates. The economic climate has forced Deere and other companies to cut back on production, according to the Des Moines Register.
More: Deere announces more Iowa layoffs as sales slow amid gloomy farm income forecast
So when did the Deere layoffs start this year and which Iowa towns have to fill the workforce hole? Here's a timeline of the John Deere layoffs of 2024.
Mid-March: John Deere announces layoffs of 150 employees in Ankeny
In mid-March, John Deere Des Moines Works announced a mass layoff of 150 people.
At the time of the layoff, 1,700 employees at the Ankeny site on 825 SW. Irvinedale Drive. Of those, 1,136 people worked in production and maintenance. The facility manufactures heavy agricultural equipment such as sprayers and cotton pickers.
"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 company said in a statement.
More: John Deere to lay off production workers from Ankeny plant. Here's how many are affected:
Late-March: John Deere lays off 308 people in Waterloo
In late March, John Deere Waterloo Works announced 308 people would be laid off by April 26. The Waterloo facility has around 5,500 employees including roughly 3,600 in the production and maintenance sector.
After the layoff, the company issued a statement that said, “John Deere informed members of the workforce at its Waterloo Operations in Waterloo, Iowa, on Tuesday, March 26, that 308 production employees will be placed on indefinite layoff effective April 29. Employees were told of the layoffs by factory leadership in meetings today. 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.”
More: Earnings forecast down, Deere announces layoffs in Waterloo. How many will lose jobs?
May: John Deere plans to lay off another 192 workers in Waterloo
The John Deere site in Waterloo took another hit in May when the company announced another 192 people will be laid off. The mass lay offs are effective June 22.
"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 company said in a statement to KWWL-TV in Waterloo. It repeats messaging the company has used during each layoff.
More: Deere announces more Iowa layoffs as sales slow amid gloomy farm income forecast
Kate Kealey is a general assignment reporter for the Register. Reach her at kkealey@registermedia.com or follow her on Twitter at @Kkealey17.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: How many Deere workers have been laid off in Iowa in 2024?
