Text size:

Deere to eliminate 325 jobs in Iowa

By James P. Miller | Tribune staff reporter

2:57 PM CST, March 6, 2009

Deere & Co. disclosed Friday afternoon that the company's construction and forestry equipment segment is placing 325 employees on indefinite leave later this month, in response to what the Moline manufacturing concern called "depressed market conditions."

The jobs being eliminated are at the company's plants in the Iowa cities of Dubuque and Davenport.

While best known as the nation's largest manufacturer of tractors, combines and other agricultural equipment, Deere is also a substantial player in the market for construction equipment, as well as machinery used in the logging process.

Deere noted last month, when it reported fiscal first-quarter results, that construction and forestry sales had weakened more than officials had previously forecast.

The company, which last month placed 200 workers at its Davenport works on indefinite layoff, said the 325 jobs announced Friday are in addition to earlier-announced reductions.

Effective March 30, Deere said, 220 employees at its Dubuque facility and 105 employees at the Davenport plant will be laid off, based on seniority.