After a challenging year that saw hundreds of Iowa manufacturing workers laid off, John Deere is recalling nearly 250 employees to facilities across the state as customer demand strengthens in both its construction and agricultural equipment segments.
The company confirmed that 245 previously laid-off workers will return to plants in Davenport, Dubuque, and Waterloo over the coming weeks.
A company spokesperson said 99 team members have been called back to work at Deere’s construction and forestry plants in Davenport and Dubuque, with those employees expected to return in mid-February.
“As demand increases, these callbacks help ensure we have skilled teams in place to support production across our construction and forestry operations,” said Mark Dickson, vice president, construction and forestry manufacturing operations.
Eastern Iowa facilities recall 99 workers
At Davenport Works, 75 employees will return to support production and utility-class assembly, articulated dump truck assembly, and a range of fabrication, machining, welding, painting, and material-handling roles.
In Dubuque, 24 employees are being recalled to assist with production-class dozer assembly along with fabrication, assembly, and material handling.
The returns mark a notable shift after widespread layoffs in 2025. According to Iowa Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification data, John Deere laid off nearly 600 workers last year across four facilities: Des Moines Works, Waterloo Works, Ottumwa Works, and Davenport Works.
146 more returning to Waterloo
In addition to the eastern Iowa callbacks, Deere announced that 146 employees will return in early March to its Waterloo Tractor Operations.
“These callbacks at Waterloo Tractor Operations reflect the production needs driven by increased customer demand,” said Fabio Castro, Waterloo Works vice president and factory manager. “We’re excited to recall experienced employees to support our factories.”
Waterloo employees will support 8R tractor production in assembly, machining, logistics, and foundry operations — key functions within Deere’s large ag equipment lineup.
The recalls come amid ongoing volatility in the farm economy. While commodity prices have softened from recent highs, equipment demand can be influenced by replacement cycles, infrastructure projects, and improving sentiment in certain sectors.
For Iowa communities heavily tied to agricultural and construction manufacturing, the return of nearly 250 jobs provides a welcome boost. The callbacks not only restore paychecks for affected families but also signal improved short-term production outlooks at some of the state’s largest manufacturing hubs.
As Dickson noted, ensuring experienced workers are back in place is critical as orders rebound: “These callbacks help ensure we have skilled teams in place.”
For now, Deere’s latest move suggests that, at least in parts of its portfolio, demand is strong enough to put laid-off employees back on the factory floor — a development many in Iowa’s ag manufacturing sector will be watching closely.
