Agricultural giant Deere & Co has announced layoffs among its salaried workforce.
The decision comes amid an ongoing downturn in the agriculture sector.
The company, headquartered in Moline, Illinois, did not specify the total number of employees affected.
However, it confirmed 103 workers in Iowa, 34 in Dubuque, and 69 in Waterloo were immediately laid off.
Deere cited projections indicating a 20 to 25 percent decline in large farm equipment sales this year compared to last.
The company said: “As the largest global manufacturer of agricultural equipment, John Deere, like many others in our industry, faces significant economic challenges, rising operational and manufacturing costs, and reduced customer demand.”
These challenges have led to difficult decisions, including workforce reductions at production facilities and among global salaried employees.
So far in 2023, Deere has cut about 1,830 positions across its Iowa and Illinois locations.
These include Ankeny, Dubuque, Ottumwa, Urbandale, Waterloo, and the Quad Cities, along with an Urbandale research center.
At the start of the year, Deere employed around 22,600 salaried and production workers in these regions.
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Deere offers up to 12 months of severance pay, pro-rated cash incentives, and payment for unused vacations for laid-off employees.
Those affected will also receive continued health and wellness benefits and a year of professional job placement services.
Despite the layoffs, Deere reaffirmed its commitment to US manufacturing.
Since 2019, the company has invested $2 billion in its American facilities.
It includes new production lines at its Ankeny and Waterloo plants and a combined assembly line at its East Moline Harvester Works plant.
