History of John Deere in Timeline

Deere & Company, known as John Deere, is an American corporation specializing in manufacturing agricultural machinery, heavy equipment, forestry machinery, diesel engines, and drivetrains for various equipment types, including lawn care. Beyond manufacturing, John Deere provides financial services and other related activities. The company is a major player in the agricultural and construction equipment industries.

1907: Charles Deere death

In 1907, Charles Deere passed away, leading to William Butterworth (Charles' son-in-law) to take over as the president of Deere & Company.

1912: Expansion into tractor business

In 1912, Deere & Company president William Butterworth initiated the company's expansion into the tractor business.

1918: Acquisition of Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company

In 1918, Deere & Company acquired the Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company, the manufacturer of the popular Waterloo Boy tractor, to further its foray into the tractor business.

1918: Focus on two-cylinder machines

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

1923: Introduction of John Deere Model D

In 1923, Deere & Company introduced the John Deere Model D tractor, succeeding the Waterloo Boy tractor.

1927: First combine harvester production

In 1927, the company produced its first combine harvester, the John Deere No. 2, which featured improvements and modifications to Model D, such as higher power level due to increased cylinder bore.

1929: New lighter-weight harvesters

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

1944: Charles Deere Wiman directs War Production Board

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

1947: Introduction of 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 acquired the German tractor manufacturer, Heinrich Lanz AG, known for Lanz Bulldog.

1958: Factory construction in Argentina

In the last months of 1958, John Deere constructed a factory in northern Rosario, Argentina, managed by Agar Cross & Co.

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 from around the world converged on Dallas, Texas, for a product showcase called "Deere Day in Dallas," introducing the "New Generation of Power" with modern four-cylinder and six-cylinder tractors.

1960: Introduction of '10' series John Deere tractors

In 1960, John Deere introduced the '10' series tractors, including the 4010, which became the most popular model, with more than 58,000 units sold. These models featured significantly higher horsepower-to-weight ratio, advanced hydraulics, and more convenient operator stations compared to older models.

1960: Horsepower rating of the 4010 tractor

In 1960, the 4010 was rated at 80 horsepower, but tested at 84 horsepower during testing trials.

1962: Workforce total in Illinois

In 1962, John Deere claimed a total workforce of 35,000, of which 9,000 were in Illinois, according to the Illinois Manufacturers Directory.

1962: John Deere Vermilion Works Location

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

1963: End of 4010 production

From 1960 to 1963, over 58,000 units of the 4010 were sold.

1964: Introduction of the 4020

By 1964, John Deere had reached a 34% market share becoming the top manufacturer of farm equipment in the United States with the introduction of the 4020.

1969: Introduction of new generation combines

In 1969, John Deere introduced its New Generation of combines, including the 3300, 4400, 6600, and 7700, which were the first to come with Quik-Tatch header mounting capabilities as standard equipment.

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 an optional integrated operator's cab.

1977: Replacement of 30 Series Tractors

In 1977, the 30 Series tractors were replaced by Deere's 'Iron Horses' series.

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

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

November 1984: Green Magazine Publication Started

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

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 featured 10 black-and-white pages with articles on tractors, letters from readers, and advertisements. The magazine was published bimonthly, written in Lincoln, Nebraska, and mailed from the Bee post office.

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 and Induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame

In 1989, Deere replaced the 6620, 7720, and 8820 with a new line of 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 became a monthly publication due to public demand. Circulation continued to increase to about 30,000. The magazine now contains 88 full-color pages and is perfect bound. It is now printed in Michigan and mailed from several post offices throughout the country.

1994: End of production in Baigorria, Argentina

In 1994, the Argentinian plant in Baigorria stopped production of the serie 50 tractors.

1997: 50 years 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 combines

In 1998, the 9410, 9510, and 9610 were introduced as upgrades to the previous models.

1999: Introduction of the 50 series Maximizer combines

In 1999, Deere introduced the 50 series Maximizer combines featuring cosmetic upgrades and, for the larger models, a rotary design.

1999: Introduction of Single-Tine Separation 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.

2006: Timberjack was no longer a subsidiary of John Deere

From 2000 to 2006, Timberjack was a subsidiary of John Deere.

2011: Return to tractor assembly in Argentina

Seventeen years later, in 2011, the Argentinian plant returned to assembling tractors.

2012: Combine Harvesters Assembly

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

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: John Deere's plough design named by Smithsonian

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

2016: Experimentation with electric farm tractor

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

September 2017: Deere & Company Acquires 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 enables 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 has expanded to non-equipment loans, making it the leading division with a $2 billion loan portfolio, accounting for a third of John Deere's income.

2017: John Deere Base Year For Emissions Reduction

John Deere used 2017 as the base year for their emissions reduction targets.

2018: Deere & Company employee count

As of 2018, Deere & Company employed about 67,000 people worldwide and is the largest agriculture machinery company in the world.

August 29, 2019: Samuel R. Allen to Step Down as CEO of John Deere

On August 29, 2019, it was announced that Samuel R. Allen would step down as CEO and president of John Deere. He would be replaced by John May in November 2019.

November 2019: John May to Replace Samuel R. Allen

In November 2019, John May replaced Samuel R. Allen as CEO and president of John Deere.

September 2020: John Deere Reports CO2e Emissions for Twelve Months Ending September 2020

John Deere reported total CO2e emissions (direct and indirect) for the twelve months ending 30 September 2020 at 766 Kt (−155/−16.8% y-o-y).

October 2021: United Auto Workers Strike at John Deere

In October 2021, approximately 10,000 John Deere employees, represented by the United Auto Workers union, initiated a strike due to a deadlock in contract negotiations.

January 2022: John Deere Introduces Self-Driving Tractor at CES

In January 2022, John Deere unveiled a self-driving tractor at the Consumer Electronics Show. This tractor is designed for large-scale farming and represents an effort to develop smart machines that enhance farming efficiency through software and reduced reliance on human labor. The company also announced plans 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 Own Repairs

In February 2022, the US Senate introduced a bill aimed at enabling farmers to perform their own repairs on John Deere equipment. This followed criticism of John Deere's software license and claims that user repair is forbidden by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

April 2022: Right-to-Repair Bills Introduced in 26 States

As of April 2022, right-to-repair bills had been introduced in 26 states in response to restrictions on farmers repairing their own equipment.

June 2022: Lawsuits Against John Deere Consolidated in Federal Court

In June 2022, 13 lawsuits from farms and farmers were consolidated in federal court in Illinois, 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.

June 2022: Deere to Cease Production of Model 3710 Moldboard Plow

In June 2022, Deere announced it would discontinue the production of its model 3710 moldboard plow, but would continue to offer its model 995 reversible plow.

2022: Criticism over John Deere Farm Equipment Repair Restrictions

In 2022, John Deere farm equipment was criticized for repair restrictions, limiting servicing to John Deere due to inaccessible computer code and non-John-Deere parts rejection, making equipment unusable without John Deere's involvement. It was also reported 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: Fortune 500 Ranking

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

2022: John Deere Plan to Reduce Emissions 15% by 2022

John Deere 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 Right to Repair

On January 9, 2023, John Deere signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), agreeing to provide farmers and independent repair shops access to John Deere software, manuals, and other information needed to fix John Deere equipment. However, the Montana Farmers Union expressed skepticism, noting the lack of legal enforcement and the potential for the company to withdraw if right-to-repair legislation is enacted. The AFBF also agreed to encourage state farm bureaus to "refrain from introducing, promoting, or supporting federal or state 'Right to Repair' legislation that imposes obligations beyond the commitments in this MOU."

February 2023: Justice Department Opposes John Deere Motion to Dismiss Repair Lawsuit

In February 2023, the United States Department of Justice filed a "statement of interest" in the case opposing a motion by John Deere to dismiss the case, arguing that restrictions on repair can harm both consumers and the public.

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 repair lawsuit, finding sufficient factual allegations that "Deere has the ultimate control of the repair services market" for John Deere equipment.

July 2024: Deere Announces Layoffs and Potential Production Shift to Mexico

In July 2024, Deere announced that it would lay off 600 employees in its Midwest facilities and was considering moving the production of some components to Mexico, drawing criticism and a threat of tariffs from Donald Trump.

November 2024: Treasurers Entered into 10-year Intergovernmental Agreement

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 Sues Deere Over Restrictive Repair Policies

In January 2025, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed suit against Deere over the company's restrictive repair policies, arguing that Deere inflated repair costs for farmers by preventing independent shops from repairing Deere equipment.