Deere & Co stock faces Iowa plant closures before labor talks
Published on 11/06/2026 at 13:22 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSFactory closures reset labor outlook
- Deere plans to close its Ottumwa Works factory and end production at its Clarion sprayer plant.
- Production will move to other Deere sites in Iowa, Louisiana and Brazil through fiscal 2029.
- The closures come before Deere's contract with the United Auto Workers expires on October 31, 2027.
Deere & Company plans to close its Ottumwa Works factory in Iowa and end production at its Hagie sprayer plant in Clarion, according to a World Socialist Web Site report published Friday, November 6. Deere announced the measures on Wednesday, November 4, as the equipment maker adjusts its manufacturing footprint ahead of future labor negotiations.
The company plans to move windrower production from Ottumwa to its Des Moines Works factory by the end of fiscal 2027, which ends October 31, 2027. Round baler production is scheduled to remain at Ottumwa until the end of fiscal 2028 before the plant closes. Production of Hagie sprayers is set to move to Thibodaux, Louisiana, beginning in fiscal 2028, with the Clarion factory due to close by fiscal 2029.
Production shifts across three regions
The report said Ottumwa employs more than 300 workers and Clarion more than 200, citing statements Deere gave to the agricultural news service DTN. Deere is also moving sugar cane harvester production from Louisiana to Catalão, Brazil. Its Construction and Forestry division is evaluating further strategic sourcing opportunities, according to the report.
The plant decisions follow Deere's recent efforts to rebuild staffing at several Midwestern factories. More than 275 laid-off workers were called back in Waterloo, Iowa, while Deere announced plans to hire more than 400 people at other facilities. That combination points to a sharper allocation of production rather than a broad return to prior staffing levels.
Workers at Ottumwa, Dubuque and Des Moines are covered by the United Auto Workers contract, which covers about 10,000 Deere workers in Iowa, Illinois and Kansas. The agreement expires on October 31, 2027. The timing leaves production plans and plant-level employment as potential issues in the run-up to negotiations.
For investors, the closures underline the trade-off between lower agricultural demand and Deere's need to keep its network competitive. Moving products to other facilities may reduce fixed-cost pressure over time, but it also creates execution, relocation and labor risks. The announcement does not by itself establish a change to Deere's earnings outlook.
Deere & Co stock traded at 588.10 euros on Lang & Schwarz at 13:10 CET on Friday, November 6, 2.24 percent below the Xetra close of Thursday, November 5. The real-time quote of Deere & Co stock is available separately.
Deere & Company stock facts
- Company: Deere & Company
- ISIN: US2441991054
- Home exchange: New York Stock Exchange
- Lang & Schwarz quote: 588.10 euros, Friday, November 6, 2026, 13:10 CET
- Change: 2.24 percent below the Xetra close of November 5, 2026
- Xetra close: 601.60 euros, Thursday, November 5, 2026
The broader US market is covered through current S&P 500 market coverage.
More news and analyses on Deere & Co stock will track the plant transfers, labor negotiations and Deere's next earnings release, scheduled for November 25.
