John Deere to close its Ottumwa factory

OTTUMWA, Iowa (KYOU) – John Deere is making major changes to its manufacturing sites, including closing its Ottumwa and Clarion plants.

Windrower production will be from Ottumwa to Des Moines by the end of fiscal 2027. Round baler production will follow by the end of fiscal 2028. When that is done, Deere says it will close its Ottumwa plant.

This comes after Deere announced it would be hiring at its Ottumwa plant. It says the closure is due to changes in customer demand and available manufacturing capacity.

Deere will also end operations at its Hagie plant in Clarion by fiscal 2029.

Additionally, it is moving its small planter production from Moline, Illinois to Paton in central Iowa.

It says the changes are “intended to strengthen its U.S. manufacturing operations and continue to position the company for long-term growth.”

It also said it was evaluating “strategic sourcing opportunities” in its construction and forestry division, which would include the Dubuque Works facility.

The assessment would “strengthen competitiveness, increase flexibility, manage costs and increase investments in critical capabilities, including product development, technology, field sales and customer support,” according to Deere.

Deere recently reported a profit of $1.3 billion, an increase of $100 million from last year.