Laid off from John Deere.
Deere's cuts have hit the same two states over and over, Iowa and Illinois, as production shifted toward Mexico while farm equipment demand fell. The salaried packages were decent. The fight over the hourly jobs got loud.
At a glance
What's been reported about John Deere severance packages
- 2,700+ · Jobs cut in Iowa and Illinois since late 2023
- Up to 12 months · Reported salaried severance, by service
- 60 days · Additional compensation reported in 2024 cuts
- About 300 · Salaried roles cut at Moline headquarters, July 2024
The latest
The Iowa and Illinois reductions keep accumulating
Deere has cut more than 2,700 jobs across Iowa and Illinois since late 2023, continuing into 2025 with smaller rounds like 119 at Ankeny, as equipment demand fell about 20% and some production moved to Mexico, drawing public fire from the UAW.
Previous rounds
How John Deere has handled layoffs in the past
Deere's reduction has been geographically concentrated in a way tech layoffs never are. More than 2,700 jobs gone from Iowa and Illinois since late 2023, spread across Waterloo, Ankeny, Moline, and East Moline, driven by a roughly 20 percent sales decline and a decision to move some production to Mexico. When an employer dominates a region's payrolls, each round hits the same housing markets and the same families twice.
The salaried terms that surfaced were genuinely strong for heavy industry. Sixty additional days of compensation, severance running up to 12 months by years of service, and pro-rated incentive payouts, reported around the July 2024 cuts. Production workers run on the UAW contract instead, and the union's response to the outsourcing turned Deere into a national argument about cutting U.S. jobs while forecasting billions in profit.
Some laid-off Deere workers explored legal action over how the cuts were handled, a reminder that WARN compliance and release terms get scrutinized after industrial layoffs in ways worth knowing before you sign anything. Iowa and Illinois unemployment systems differ meaningfully in weekly maximums and duration, and which side of the Mississippi you worked on, not lived on, decides which state pays your claim.
Recent John Deere layoffs
2025 · Continued smaller cuts, including 119 workers at the Ankeny, Iowa plant
Terms consistent with the 2024 structure reported for salaried staff.
July 2024 · More than 300 salaried roles in Illinois, including about 298 at the Moline world headquarters, plus 590 production roles across three plants
Salaried employees were reported receiving 60 additional days of compensation, severance of up to 12 months based on years of service, and pro-rated short-term and long-term incentive payouts. Production workers' terms followed the UAW contract.
Quick answers
What severance has John Deere paid?
Reporting on the 2024 salaried cuts described 60 additional days of compensation, severance up to 12 months based on years of service, and pro-rated incentive payouts. Production workers' terms come from the UAW contract instead, and no company-wide formula has been published.
Which state do I file in after a Deere layoff?
The state where you worked. Deere's cuts have straddled Iowa and Illinois, whose unemployment systems pay differently, so a Moline worker and a Waterloo worker with identical jobs file in different states for different amounts. Both state guides are linked below.
What severance has John Deere given laid-off employees?
2,700+ (jobs cut in iowa and illinois since late 2023). Terms consistent with the 2024 structure reported for salaried staff. Packages change between rounds, and your separation agreement is the only version that counts.
Where do I file for unemployment after a John Deere layoff?
In the state where you worked, not where the company is headquartered. John Deere's biggest U.S. hubs are Iowa, Illinois. Severance usually doesn't block you from filing, and benefits run from your filing date, so file the same week.
Should I sign the severance agreement right away?
Not on the spot. First pin down how much review time you actually have. If you're 40 or older, federal law gives you 21 days to consider an agreement that waives age claims, 45 in a group layoff, and a waiver signed under a shorter deadline can be invalid. If you're under 40, no federal window applies and the deadline in your packet may be real, so confirm it in writing and ask for more time if you need it. Use whatever window you have to read the release terms, especially non-disparagement and no-lawsuit clauses, and don't stall past a real deadline, because offers can be withdrawn.
Can I collect unemployment if I got severance from John Deere?
Usually yes, though some states delay benefits until severance pay periods end, and lump sums are treated differently than salary continuation. Check your state's rules on our state benefit pages, and file immediately either way so your claim date is locked in.
Help for people recently laid off from John Deere
- File for unemployment in the state where you worked. Benefits run from your filing date, and severance usually doesn't block you. John Deere's biggest hubs: Iowa, Illinois. Somewhere else? Every state is here.
- Don't sign the severance agreement on the spot. Find out in writing how long you have to review it. At 40 or older, federal law guarantees 21 days, 45 in group layoffs. Under 40, the packet's deadline may be real, so ask for time rather than assume. Read our severance breakdown first. The clauses matter more than the number.
- Mind the health insurance window. Losing coverage opens a 60-day special enrollment period, and an ACA plan usually beats unsubsidized COBRA. Compare your options before the employer coverage lapses.
- Get your real runway number. Severance plus savings divided by reality. The calculator takes five minutes.
- Know which clocks are already running. Severance review windows, COBRA election, visa grace periods, and 401(k) rollovers all run on federal deadlines that started at termination. All five deadlines are here.