John Deere Adds Hundreds of Hires as Farm Equipment Demand Stays Weak

John Deere plans to hire more than 400 workers at Midwest facilities and recall over 275 laid-off employees to its Waterloo, Iowa, operations, bringing callbacks since 2024 to about 1,000. The company says all previously laid-off workers in Waterloo, the Quad Cities, Ottumwa and Dubuque have been asked to return, while about 125 employees remain laid off in the Des Moines area. Deere is rebuilding staffing unevenly as construction-equipment orders rise but demand for large agricultural equipment remains weak amid farmers’ cost pressures and market uncertainty. The company says added staffing will help it serve customers and prepare for future labor negotiations; UAW members rejected a proposed contract extension, and negotiations are expected ahead of the current agreement’s expiration in 2027.