North Dakota

No, John Deere is Not Freezing Production or Stepping Away From its U.S. Factories

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 16:48:44 GMT

An online report last week claimed John Deere is shutting down ALL manufacturing in response to the ongoing tariff situation in the U.S.

But we looked into it, and we’re here to tell you: don’t take the bait — or, as the kids say, feed the trolls — because it’s simply not true.

An article authored by Kieran Schalkwyk and titled “John Deere Freezes U.S. Manufacturing in Unprecedented Shutdown” appeared on MSN.com and was aggregated by Google News feeds last week, claiming the manufacturer is “making a radical move that some might think is ‘un-American.’”

John Deere shared the following LinkedIn post Friday afternoon. You can also visit Deere.com for more information on the company’s U.S. manufacturing presence.

The MSN.com post has since been taken down and brings up an error page:

MSN.com screenshot

(MSN.com)

It’s somewhat bewildering timing for this particular misinformation ploy.

John Deere recently put out a blog post outlining its commitment to U.S. manufacturing. The statement says John Deere will invest $20 billion into its U.S. footprint over the next decade, which includes major expansion projects in Iowa, Missouri, North Carolina and Tennessee.

Today, the company has 60 manufacturing facilities in more than 16 U.S. states and employs over 30,000 American workers.

What is true is over the past 18 months, the company has been forced to lay off some employees , and it strategically slowed manufacturing at some production facilities in Iowa in response to depressed farmer demand for new tractors and combines.

Of course, John Deere is not alone navigating a treacherous global farm economy. Machinery rivals AGCO and CNH also made the tough choice to layoff factory workers over the past 12 months. CNH even completely shutdown its overseas machinery imports during the first few days of the tariff policy rollout, although that pause was only temporary.

In February, we updated our popular “Who Makes What Where” feature showing where major farm equipment is manufactured around the world.

Our analysis of John Deere’s global factory network shows that of the 60 John Deere machines relevant to U.S. farmers, 50 of them (83%) are manufactured here in North America. Of all the major farm equipment manufacturers we polled, John Deere has the largest U.S.-based manufacturing footprint other than Canadian-based Buhler Industries, which is 100% North America based.

So, it feels safe to say we can put this rumor to bed once and for all: No, John Deere is not shutting down its factories. Myth Busted. Shutdown the rumor mill.

Your Next Read - All The Details: Inside John Deere’s New F8 and F9 Forage Harvesters

Lack of Labor Remains a Serious Challenge for Farmers

Thu, 28 Dec 2023 17:47:19 GMT

A new survey from the Minneapolis Fed found ag bankers rank labor availability as a top concern for their farm clients.

The survey, which was conducted with ag bankers from the ninth district (Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin), found the issue is viewed as a “serious challenge” for 63% of respondents and a minor challenge for the majority of the remaining 37%.

“It’s becoming more and more difficult to obtain the labor needed to operate,” a Minnesota-based banker told the Minneapolis Fed.

The availability of livestock workers was seen as more limited than crop workers and those surveyed also shared that finding long-term help is more difficult than temporary help due to the seasonal nature of the ag industry.

As far as how this compares to past conditions, 39% of respondents said labor availability has gotten “much worse” over the past five years and 44% said it’s “a little worse”.

The Minneapolis Fed attributes this challenge to the region’s low influx of migrant workers and aging workforce.

According to U.S. Census Bureau data, 10% of animal production employees in the area are foreign born, compared to 18% nationally. The number is even lower for crop production with just 5% of workers being foreign born, compared to 32% nationally.

The region also has some of the lowest unemployment rates in the U.S.

At the same time, the median age of workers in the region rose from 51 to 56 in 2021. The number of workers between 45 to 54 has declined over the past decade with a small increase of those between the ages of 25 to 44 and a large increase of those over 55.

For more on labor, read:

US Treasury Dept. Moves to Limit Foreign Land Purchases Near Military Bases

Mon, 08 May 2023 20:20:32 GMT

By now, you’ve likely heard of the Chinese balloons that made their way across the U.S. in late January and early February and were eventually shot down. The spy balloons, coupled with a Chinese-owned company purchasing land 12 miles from a U.S. Air Force base in North Dakota, have sounded alarms on both state and federal levels.

To limit further foreign activity on U.S. lands, particularly the sale of land, the Treasury Department’s Office of Investment Security proposed a rule on Friday that would require foreign entities to garner U.S. government approval before they are able to purchase land within 100 miles of eight military bases.

Related story: Out-of-Country Farmland Investors: Here’s What The Numbers Show

Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) welcomed news of the proposed rule, which could have blocked the North Dakota land sale to the Fufeng Group.

“This is a good first step to bolster reviews and mitigate threats similar to what we saw with Fufeng,” Cramer said in a statement on Thursday.

The Office of Investment Security is responsible for screening foreign business dealings in the U.S. and has the authority to block or force term changes in sales in order to protect national security.

Backstory on Fufeng Group’s North Dakota Purchase

Fufeng Group says it plans to use the land to build a $700 million corn milling plant, which would create at least 200 jobs, as well as residual opportunities for logistics, trucking and other services.

Many North Dakotans made their sentiments on the sale known, which led to a review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States. However, the committee’s review found no issue with the sale.

Related story: China’s Latest Land Purchase Could Pose Major U.S. Security Risk

“More needs to be done to ensure the U.S. food supply chain is secure and independent,” says Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.). “If we do not prevent these land grabs, we are failing to protect our farmers, our families and our country.”

In September, Newhouse, along with 50 other members of Congress, asked USDA and other agencies to take effective action in addressing the potential national security risks that appear to arise from this transaction.

Instead of waiting on the government, some states are taking legislative action on their own.

Missouri Puts Up a Foreign Land Ownership Wall

The Missouri Senate made moves on the issue in April when it backed a plan to amend the state’s foreign land ownership threshold from 1% to 0.5%. The bill also includes a provision that would limit foreign countries — including China, Russia, Iran and North Korea — from acquiring farmland in Missouri by Sept. 1.

“We’re not going to allow for foreign ownership in the state of Missouri,” said Sen. Rick Brattin (R-31). “We have to draw a line in the sand today. It protects our sovereignty as a nation.”

Related story: Missouri Moves to Tighten Reins On Foreign Land Ownership

According to the Missouri Department of Agriculture, foreign land ownership in Missouri accounts for 0.36%, just shy of the 0.5% proposed limit. In total, the department says China owns roughly 42,596 acres in Missouri.

North Dakota State University Corn Silage Meeting Set

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:20:06 GMT

Producers will have an opportunity to learn more about growing corn for silage and feeding corn silage to cattle during a program North Dakota State University Extension is hosting Jan. 30 at NDSU’s North Central Research Extension Center (NCREC) near Minot.

“As corn production has expanded in the state, so has corn silage for cattle feed,” says John Dhuyvetter, Extension livestock systems specialist at the center. “With larger operations with bigger herds, declining hay production and improved corn yields, silage is a growing trend.”

The two-hour program will start at 10:30 a.m. Presenters will cover several key aspects of silage, including growing a good corn crop, harvesting and storing corn silage, feeding silage to cattle and the economics of corn silage production.

“This information will be helpful for new producers or those interested in adding silage to their feeding program,” says Paige Brummund, an NDSU Extension agent in Ward County.

Presenters will include Joel Ransom, Extension agronomist; Karl Hoppe, Extension livestock systems specialist at NDSU’s Carrington Research Extension Center; Dhuyvetter; Brummund; and Lynsey Aberle, Farm Business Management instructor at the NCREC.

The meeting is free of charge. For more information, contact Brummund at 701-857-6444 or paige.f.brummund@ndsu.edu , or Dhuyvetter at 701-857-7682 or john.dhuyvetter@ndsu.edu .

Drop in North Dakota Dairy Farms Discouraging to Many

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 02:51:03 GMT

A drop in the number of North Dakota dairy farms — from 350 in 2000 to 91 today — has led to scrutiny of a state law that allows only family members to form farming corporations.

While the rule protects family owned enterprises from corporate entities, farm numbers have dropped so low that the viability of milk-processing facilities in the state has become endangered, according to Doug Goehring, the state’s commissioner of agriculture.

Some producers say they would like to follow South Dakota’s lead to allow corporate farming in an effort to lure more dairy operators into the state.

“Our dairy industry is hurting terribly,” Goehring said.

As a result, Goehring proposed to allow exceptions to North Dakota’s non-corporate farming law for dairies, swine operations and feedlots to a full room of legislators during the first week of the legislative session, The Bismarck Tribune reported .

“If the legislature wants to take this up and the ag community wants to push it, then I would think it probably would happen (this session),” said Goehring, adding producers need to own the issue in order to facilitate the change.

In 2000, there were about 49,000 dairy cows. Now, there are about 16,000 dairy cattle, according to Goehring. For swine operations, the headcount has decreased from 18,500 pigs in 2000 to 13,900. Beef cattle numbers have remained more stable, and a new slaughter plant scheduled to come online in Aberdeen, South Dakota, next year has more ranchers interested in starting feedlots.

“Dairy has probably been the one that has been the most hurt and in more dire need. We just continue to see declines,” said Goehring, adding that out-of-state producers see benefits to moving their operations to North Dakota, but they would need to corporate to make it financially feasible.

Jerry Messer, who raises dairy cattle on Beaver Creek Ranch in Richardton, said that when South Dakota tweaked its laws to allow multiple dairy investors instead of just one family, the state became successful at recruiting dairies.

A vibrant dairy industry also benefits corn growers by allowing them to diversify and make more money, according to Messer.

“In North Dakota, corn goes to two places: It either goes to the ethanol plants or on a train to another market,” said Goehring, adding that grain farmers want another option for their grain. “For every 3,300 bushels of feed that is consumed by a cow or pig, that means one less rail car going out of the state.”

One milk processing facility in central North Dakota has been operating at a 600-cow-a-day deficit, forcing it to import milk into the state.

“When operations have to start doing that, plants start closing doors,” Goehring said. “We don’t have enough cows in central North Dakota anymore.”

Goehring gave the example of a 25-partner outfit along the border. Farmers partnered with a dairy operation, providing feed while the one family operated the dairy. The dairy wasn’t in competition with the farmers for land because it was content to allow others to grow feed while it did what it does best — manage the animals.

“I think it’s those type of structures that seem appealing and seem to be working,” Goehring said.

Kenton Holle, of Northern Lights Dairy of Mandan, agreed there is room for expansion of the industry.

“I think that there’s a real possibility in North Dakota to see some livestock industries expand,” said Holle, adding the adoption of current laws governing corporate farming would help.

Holle said he did not know of any dairy processing plants importing out-of-state milk. He said he thinks milk produced in the state now is adequate to keep them running.

“I think that’s the key to it right there,” Holle said of partnerships between dairies and farmers growing feed crops. If a law change were to be proposed, he says there should be a clause prohibiting large producers from buying up large amounts of land to plant their feed.

Producers need the ability to pool resources because dairy operations cost so much, according to Goehring, who said an operation often needs to be milking 600 to 800 cows to break even and a 1,600-head dairy operation takes several million dollars to start.

“Most farmers don’t have that kind of money sitting around,” he said, and many banks won’t lend it to a single investor.

“Because our state has been primarily grain production . lenders are not very familiar with animal agriculture. It’s hard for them to understand the ebbs and flows that exist in the livestock industry, and they have more apprehension about lending,” he said.

Messer, who is chairman of the Midwest Dairy Association and a member of the North Dakota Dairy Promotion Commission, said, with much of its new oil wealth, North Dakota is in a good position to recruit more dairies.

He suggested creating an investment fund for those with oil royalties who want to support North Dakota agriculture. He said the investors would get tax write-offs and the fund would supplement the programs offered by the Bank of North Dakota for starting and growing farmers.

Officials Hope to Boost Dairies in North Dakota

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 02:46:09 GMT

Officials are trying to boost the number of dairy farms in North Dakota.

Members of the North Dakota Dairy Coalition recently met with representatives of crop commodity groups. State Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring says rebuilding the state’s dairy industry will give crop and forage producers more local markets. He says it also will ensure that North Dakota is not dependent on outside sources for its milk supply.

The number of dairy farms in North Dakota has fallen below 100.

Second Robotic Rotary Parlor in U.S. Built in North Dakota

Thu, 12 Nov 2020 05:54:11 GMT

Unlike traditional robotic dairies and rotary parlors, Qual Dairy in Libson, N.D., took a different approach to dairy farming and capitalized on new technology. Installing a robotic rotary parlor, the operation is now the fourth parlor of its kind to be installed in North America and only the 15thin the world.

Construction on the multi-million-dollar facility was completed in April, each stall in the 60-stall rotary can be customized to each animal. The sensor-driven technology milks approximately 220 cows per hour using information gathered from the cow’s neck tag along with a 3-dimensional digital camera serving as the “eye’s” for the robot. Currently, Qual Dairy is milk 1,100 cows.

During milking, workers monitor two dashboards to make sure everything is running smoothly. If a problem occurs, the system will alert the employee letting them know exactly which animal needs attention. These statistics can also be analyzed on the farmer’s smartphone.

No stranger to taking advantage of the innovative technology offered today, the Qual family houses their animals in a state-of-the-art freestall barn equipped with robotic feed pushers and a neck tag system to monitor heats, movement and feed consumption.

“It’s kind of a legacy move on our part,” said Rodney Qual. “We’ve done several budgets and I think it should work.”

A similar 40-cow robotic rotary parlor was recently built in Peshtigo, Wis.

Hoffman’s Happy Holsteins, a 550-cow dairy has been milking with this system for only seven months but hopes to pay for it by reducing labor. Hoffman also saw the benefits of technology and was the first dairy farmer in the U.S. to begin using this form of robotics.

For more on this, visit https://www.milkbusiness.com/rotaryrobot