John Deere, Butterball to lay off hundreds of employees

John Deere is cutting 100 positions from its Waterloo Works plant in 2025, and Butterball will cut 200 positions in Jonesboro, Ark.

In another sign of the times, more ag companies have announced they are making cuts to navigate the economy.

John Deere has told Iowa that it is letting around 100 people go from its Waterloo Works plant come the new year. It is the latest in several layoffs by the company. During their latest earnings report, Deere said demand is down and they will continue adjusting to remain competitive.

Butterball is also handing out pink slips. The company will close its Jonesboro, Arkansas plant, putting nearly 200 people out of work. The plant will close in early February, with production transferred to another facility. Butterball’s CEO says it was a difficult decision, and they will work with afffected employees.

Related Stories
Mike Vanmaanen, president of the Livestock Marketing Association, joins us Friday on the Market Day Report for a closer look at the Heritage Act.
The Virginia Farm Bureau shows us how robotic milking technology has become a lifeline to the Commonwealth’s dairy industry, increasing production efficiency in the face of low milk prices and rising labor costs.
Keeping a close eye on Capitol Hill, farmers and ranchers wait with bated breath as President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” heads to the Senate. AFBF economist Danny Munch joins us for a closer look.
Over 94 percent of U.S. dairy farms are family-owned, carrying forward a legacy built over generations that supports three million jobs and generates more than $40 billion in wages.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

More than 100 pork producers traveled to Washington to meet with lawmakers and underscore the threat to small family farms.
Now the Senate must pass a version of the spending bill before the Sept. 30 deadline.
Corn and beef exports showed strong momentum, cotton sales surged, and soybean sales held steady, though China remains absent from the U.S. market.
Cheaper freight is helping exports move, especially corn, but weaker soybean demand looms large.
Disease risks remain a key factor to watch heading into fall.