Deere expands training center amid contentious workforce cuts

Last week, John Deere announced a major expansion of its Agriculture & Turf training center and field site near Orlando, Florida.

The tractor and construction machinery giant says that the expansions aim to strengthen dealer training and enhance customer support. The expanded facilities will focus on service and sales training, providing virtual and in-person sessions to increase dealer accessibility to new skills and product information across North America.

“We know just how important our dealers are to enabling customer success,” said Stephanie Johnson, John Deere’s Training Manager for the U.S. and Canada. “This project is the latest example of John Deere’s dedication to supporting our dealer network and our customers through investments in training. With more opportunities to learn about the latest innovations, our dealers will be well-positioned to serve our customers with improved expertise.”

The location in Orange County, the locality around Orlando, is especially beneficial due to its favorable year-round climate, allowing uninterrupted outdoor field activities. This facility currently serves dealers from across the U.S. and Canada, focusing on a variety of equipment, including agriculture, turf, and compact construction machinery. The expansion is anticipated to complete by spring 2025.

In a separate project, Deere also revealed plans to add 120,000 square feet to its Reman Core Center facility in Strafford, Missouri, beginning in mid-2025. This $13.5 million investment will increase the facility’s total area to 400,000 square feet and reflects the company’s investment in remanufacturing practices, which provide customers with refurbished components at a lower cost and with reduced environmental impact.

However, these investments come amid mixed signals from Deere. Earlier this summer, the company announced the layoff of hundreds of employees from production plants in Illinois and Iowa and confirmed plans to relocate the manufacturing of skid steer and compact track loaders from Dubuque, Iowa, to Mexico by the end of 2026.

The move has raised concerns among workers and community leaders, who worry about job security and economic impacts in regions affected by the job cuts.

After rumors that Deere would be reducing U.S. jobs to move production to Mexico, the company pushed back on rumors in a statement posted to its website in July.

“Despite the current reduction in customer demand, John Deere is steadfast in its commitment to U.S.-based manufacturing. The company currently employs over 30,000 people in more than 60 U.S.-based facilities across more than a dozen states,” the company wrote.