JobsThursday, November 5
Deere plans to close two Iowa factories and move windrower production to Des Moines Works
The Daily West Des Moines team
If you work at or near a Deere plant, this one's big. John Deere announced Wednesday that it plans to close its Ottumwa plant and hopes to end manufacturing in Clarion, part of a restructuring of its U.S. manufacturing. Windrower production will move from Ottumwa Works to Des Moines Works by the end of fiscal year 2027, and Deere intends to close Ottumwa once the transition is complete. It also intends to end manufacturing at the Hagie factory in Clarion by fiscal year 2029.
Deere's moves roll out from fiscal year 2027 through 2029
- FY 2027Windrower production moves from Ottumwa Works to Des Moines Works.
- FY 2027Small planter production moves from Moline, Illinois, to Paton.
- FY 2028Round baler production follows to Des Moines Works.
- FY 2028Hagie STS sprayer production begins moving to Thibodaux, Louisiana.
- FY 2029Deere intends to end manufacturing at the Hagie factory in Clarion.
Ottumwa will feel it most. The city estimates about 400 jobs will be lost, and union representatives say about 700 people work at the plant. Deere didn't say how many jobs are affected. Mayor Benjamin Foote, whose daughter and son-in-law work at Deere, said, "It's almost like you're losing a family member."
Ottumwa Works marked 100 years last month and now faces closure
- 400
- jobs the closure would cost, by the city's estimate
- 700
- people at the plant now, by union representatives' count
- 100
- years of operation the Ottumwa plant celebrated last month
Sources: WHO13.com, KTVO, Ottumwa Courier
- Deere's fiscal year ends near the end of October
- Customers: Deere expects no disruption during the changes
- Ottumwa and Clarion sites: Deere says it will seek a future use
Sources: KIMT, WHO13.com, KTVO, KCCI, Ottumwa Courier, The Gazette