History of John Deere in Timeline

John Deere, officially Deere & Company, is a prominent American corporation specializing in the manufacture of agricultural machinery, heavy equipment, forestry machinery, diesel engines, and drivetrains. Beyond manufacturing, the company extends its services to include financial solutions and related activities. John Deere is a major player in the agricultural and construction sectors worldwide.

1907: Charles Deere death

In 1907, Charles Deere passed away and was replaced by his son-in-law, William Butterworth, as president of Deere & Company.

1912: Expansion into the tractor business

In 1912, William Butterworth, the president of Deere & Company, began the company's expansion into the tractor business, replacing Charles Deere who had died in 1907.

1918: Acquisition of Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company

In 1918, Deere & Company purchased the Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company, which manufactured the popular Waterloo Boy tractor, continuing its expansion into the tractor business.

1918: Entering the tractor business

Since entering the tractor business in 1918, John Deere had focused on two-cylinder machines.

1923: Introduction of the John Deere Model D

In 1923, the John Deere Model D was introduced, marking a transition from selling tractors under the Waterloo Boy name.

1927: First combine harvester production

In 1927, John Deere produced its first combine harvester, the John Deere No. 2, featuring improvements and modifications to Model D.

1929: Replacement of No. 1 and No. 2 Harvesters

By 1929, the No. 1 and No. 2 harvesters were replaced by newer, lighter-weight harvesters.

1944: Charles Deere Wiman returns to work

In late 1944, Charles Deere Wiman returned to work at John Deere after directing the farm machinery and equipment division of the War Production Board.

1947: Introduction of the first self-propelled combine

In 1947, John Deere introduced its first self-propelled combine, model 55.

1956: Acquisition of Heinrich Lanz AG

In 1956, Deere & Company bought-out the German tractor manufacturer, Heinrich Lanz AG.

1958: Construction of factory in Argentina

In the last months of 1958, John Deere constructed a factory in northern Rosario, Argentina.

1959: John Deere market share

In 1959, John Deere had a 23% market share.

August 30, 1960: Deere Day in Dallas

On August 30, 1960, John Deere dealers gathered in Dallas, Texas, for Deere Day in Dallas, introducing the 'New Generation of Power' with modern four-cylinder and six-cylinder tractors, marking a significant advancement in the company's product line.

1960: 4010 rated at 80 horsepower

In 1960, the 4010 was rated at 80 horsepower, but tested at 84 horsepower during testing trials, making it one of the most powerful two-wheel-drive farm tractors at that time.

1960: Introduction of '10' series John Deere tractors

Of the "10" series John Deere tractors introduced in 1960, the 4010 was by far the most popular.

1962: John Deere Vermilion Works Details

In 1962, the John Deere Vermilion Works was located at North Sixth Ave., Hoopeston, Illinois, where 140 employees were listed as making iron work and implement parts.

1962: Illinois Manufacturers Directory listing

In the 1962 Illinois Manufacturers Directory, John Deere, listed as Deere and Company, claimed a total workforce of 35,000, of which 9,000 were in Illinois.

1963: End of 4010 tractor sales

More than 58,000 units of 4010 were sold from 1960 to 1963.

1964: John Deere market share

By 1964, John Deere had a 34% market share, making it the top manufacturer of farm equipment in the United States.

1969: New Generation of combines

In 1969, John Deere followed its New Generation tractors of the 1960s with a New Generation of combines. These included the 3300, 4400, 6600, and 7700.

1972: Introduction of Generation II 'Sound Idea Tractors'

In 1972, Deere introduced its new Generation II 'Sound Idea Tractors', including the 4030, 4230, 4430, and 4630, featuring redesigned sheet metal and the optional Sound Gard body.

1977: Replacement of 30 Series tractors

In 1977, the 30 Series tractors were replaced by Deere's 'Iron Horses' series that included the 90-hp 4040, 110-hp 4240, 130-hp 4440, 150-HP 4640, and 180-hp 4840.

1983: Introduction of 4050, 4250, 4450, 4650, and 4850

In 1983, Deere introduced the 4050, 4250, 4450, 4650, and 4850 tractors, offering a new 15-speed PowerShift transmission.

November 1984: Green Magazine was begun

In November 1984 Green Magazine, a publication devoted to John Deere enthusiasts, was started by Richard and Carol Hain of Bee, Nebraska.

November 1984: First issue of Green Magazine mailed

In early November 1984, the first issue of Green Magazine was mailed to 135 paid subscribers. It contained 10 black-and-white pages with features on tractors, letters from readers, and advertisements.

1984: Discontinuation of the 4420

In 1984, the 4420 was discontinued and replaced by the 4425 combines imported from Germany.

1989: Introduction of 'Maximizer' combines

In 1989, Deere replaced the 6620, 7720, and 8820 with a new line of completely redesigned 'Maximizer' combines that included the 9400, 9500, and 9600 walker combines. Also in 1989, Deere was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.

1990: Green Magazine becomes a monthly publication

In 1990, Green Magazine transitioned from a bimonthly publication to a monthly publication due to high public demand.

1994: End of production in Baigorria

Production of the 50 series like 2850, 3350, 3550 models of tractors in Baigorria, Argentina ended in 1994.

1997: 50th anniversary of self-propelled combine production

In 1997, Deere celebrated 50 years of self-propelled combine production, and the 1997 models featured a 50th-anniversary decal.

1998: Introduction of the 9410, 9510, and 9610

In 1998, the 9410, 9510, and 9610 were introduced, which were essentially the same machines, but with minor upgrades.

1999: Introduction of the 50 series Maximizer combines

In 1999, Deere introduced the 50 series Maximizer combines, featuring significant cosmetic upgrades and improved ergonomics in the cab.

1999: Introduction of Single-Tine Separation (STS) system

In 1999, John Deere introduced the Single-Tine Separation (STS) system on its 9550, 9650, and 9750 combines, representing a step forward in rotary combine technology.

2000: Timberjack became a subsidiary of John Deere

In 2000, Timberjack became a subsidiary of John Deere, expanding John Deere's forestry machinery offerings.

2006: Timberjack no longer a subsidiary of John Deere

In 2006, Timberjack was no longer a subsidiary of John Deere.

2010: Mention of models of John Deere tractors

The models 1010, 2010, 3010, and 4010 John Deere tractors were mentioned in 2010.

2011: Return to tractor assembly in Argentina

Seventeen years later, in 2011, the Argentinian plant returns the assembly of tractors with several models.

2012: Assembly of combine harvesters

In 2012, combine harvesters 9570 STS Serie 70, 9470 STS, 9670 STS and 9770 STS were added in SKD/CKD format for assembly.

August 2014: Layoffs announced

In August 2014, Deere & Company announced it was indefinitely laying off 600 of its workers at plants in Illinois, Iowa, and Kansas due to less demand for its products.

2014: Recognition by Smithsonian Museum

In 2014, the Smithsonian Museum named John Deere's original plough design as one of the objects that changed American history.

2016: Experiments with an electric farm tractor

As of 2016, the company experiments with an electric farm tractor.

September 2017: Deere & Company to acquire Blue River Technology

In September 2017, Deere & Company finalized an agreement to acquire Blue River Technology, a California-based company specializing in applying machine learning to agriculture. Blue River's technology enabled the reduction of herbicide use by precisely targeting weeds with computer vision and machine learning.

2017: John Deere leasing expands to non-equipment loans

As of 2017, John Deere leasing had expanded to non-equipment loans, becoming the leading division and accounting for a third of John Deere's income with a $2 billion loan portfolio.

2017: John Deere uses 2017 as base year

John Deere used 2017 as a base year to reduce emissions by 15% by 2022.

2018: Deere & Company employment statistics

As of 2018, Deere & Company employed about 67,000 people worldwide, of which half are in the United States and Canada, and is the largest agriculture machinery company in the world.

August 29, 2019: Samuel R. Allen to step down as CEO and president of John Deere

On August 29, 2019, it was announced that Samuel R. Allen would be stepping down from his position as CEO and president of John Deere.

November 2019: John May to replace Samuel R. Allen as CEO and president

In November 2019, John May, the president of the Worldwide Agriculture and Turf and Integrated Solutions divisions, succeeded Samuel R. Allen as the new CEO and president of John Deere.

September 2020: John Deere reports CO2e emissions

In September 2020, John Deere reported total CO2e emissions (direct and indirect) for the twelve months ending at 766 Kt (−155/−16.8% y-o-y).

October 2021: UAW workers strike at John Deere

In October 2021, approximately 10,000 employees, unionized with the United Auto Workers, initiated a strike due to an impasse in contract negotiations with John Deere.

January 2022: John Deere unveils self-driving tractor

In January 2022, at the annual Consumer Electronics Show, John Deere introduced a self-driving tractor designed for large-scale farming. This innovation was part of a broader strategy to develop smart machines and enhance farming efficiency, aiming to connect 1.5 million machines and half a billion acres to its cloud-based John Deere Operations Center.

February 2022: US Senate introduces bill to allow farmers to perform their own repairs

In February 2022, the US Senate introduced a bill to allow farmers to perform their own repairs on John Deere equipment, as John Deere's license covering the internal software on tractor control computers does not allow users or independent mechanics to modify the software.

April 2022: Right-to-repair bills introduced in 26 states

By April 2022, right-to-repair bills had been introduced in 26 states, addressing concerns over John Deere's restrictions on user repairs and the company's claims under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

June 2022: Lawsuits against John Deere consolidated in federal court

In June 2022, 13 lawsuits from farms and farmers, alleging that John Deere and its affiliated dealerships had unlawfully conspired to monopolize and restrain the market for repair and maintenance services of John Deere equipment, were consolidated in federal court in Illinois.

June 2022: Deere to cease production of its model 3710 moldboard plow

In June 2022, Deere & Company announced it would discontinue the production of its model 3710 moldboard plow. However, the company stated that it would continue to offer its model 995 reversible plow.

2022: Fortune 500 ranking

In 2022, John Deere ranked No. 84 in the Fortune 500 list of the largest United States corporations.

2022: Criticism of John Deere farm equipment repair restrictions

In 2022, Late-model John Deere farm equipment faced criticism for repair restrictions, limiting servicing to John Deere due to exclusive access to computer code and non-John-Deere replacement parts acceptance. There were also reports that during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine Russian troops stole Ukrainian farm equipment and took it back to Russia, but that the dealers who owned the equipment locked it remotely.

2022: John Deere plans to reduce emissions 15% by 2022

John Deere reported plans to reduce emissions 15% by 2022 from a 2017 base year.

January 9, 2023: John Deere signs MOU with American Farm Bureau Federation

On January 9, 2023, John Deere signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), agreeing to allow farmers and independent repair shops to purchase access to John Deere software, manuals, and other information needed to fix John Deere equipment. However, there was skepticism about the agreement.

February 2023: Department of Justice files statement of interest in John Deere repair lawsuit

In February 2023, the United States Department of Justice filed a "statement of interest" in the lawsuit against John Deere, opposing a motion by John Deere to dismiss the case.

November 2023: Judge denies John Deere's motion to dismiss repair lawsuit

In November 2023, U.S. District Judge Iain Johnston denied John Deere's motion to dismiss the case, finding that the plaintiffs' complaint "is chock-full of factual allegations to support" the conclusion that "Deere has the ultimate control of the repair services market" for John Deere equipment.

July 2024: Deere announces layoffs and potential shift of production to Mexico

In July 2024, Deere revealed plans to lay off 600 employees in its Midwest facilities and considered relocating the production of some components to Mexico. In response, Donald Trump threatened to impose 200% tariffs on equipment made in Mexico.

November 2024: Australia's treasurers to deliver broader 'right to repair' reforms

In November 2024, Australia's federal and state treasurers entered into a 10-year intergovernmental agreement on national competition policy that the federal treasurer, Jim Chalmers, has said was "an important first step towards delivering broader 'right to repair' reforms ... especially in agriculture and farming".

January 2025: FTC files antitrust lawsuit against Deere

In January 2025, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed an antitrust lawsuit against Deere over the company's restrictive repair policies. The FTC argued that Deere inflated repair costs for farmers by preventing independent shops from repairing Deere equipment and was joined in its lawsuit by five US states including Michigan and Wisconsin.