John Deere hasn't reversed or slow walked their plans to launch an autonomous tractor by 2030, completely eliminating the farmer from needing to operate the machine. Although National Black Farmers Association leader John W. Boyd, Jr. agrees that farmers need access to new technology, he believes that John Deere continues to move in the wrong direction in regards to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). 

So much for “Made In America” for John Deere. Just weeks ago, Deere announced it will lay off an additional 600 workers in Illinois and Iowa ahead of its expansion to Mexico. In June 2022, Deere announced plans to move tractor cab production from its Waterloo, Iowa plant to Mexico, with the transition slated for completion in 2024. By June 2024, Deere had also announced that it will be moving production of skid steer loaders and compact track loaders from its facility in Dubuque, Iowa to Mexico by the end of 2026.

Also, on Tuesday, John Deere announced on social media platform X it would no longer support “social or cultural awareness” events in response to customer feedback.

Deere’s decision on DEI comes just one month after it agreed to pay $1.1 million in back wages and interest to 277 Black and Hispanic job applicants after the Department of Labor alleged that it found systemic hiring discrimination at the company.

According to John C. May, Deere CEO, “A company is only as healthy as its reputation and only as good as its word. Ultimately, a company is judged by its actions. At John Deere, we rely on our core values, a set of shared beliefs, to guide our behaviors. These values show that how we do business and treat others matters. The Code of Business Conduct is foundational to how we interact with the world around us and to all we do as an enterprise. It provides specific guidance that applies to each of us, regardless of region, department, or facility. The Code also reflects our company’s higher purpose of building a better way of life for people everywhere.”

However, the National Black Farmers Association maintains that Awards Deere won for its inclusiveness and the names of employee resource groups devoted to women, veterans and people with disabilities no longer appears on the company website. We will continue to see more companies downplay diversity goals and scale back DEI programs created to encourage the advancement of marginalized groups.

John Deere is one of the largest debt holders for farmers, right beside the banks. Since the NBFA's foundation nearly 40 years ago, John Deere has failed to show its support for the organization and Black farmers. 

Just as we have called for the resignation for Hal Lawton at Tractor Supply, we also call for the resignation of John C. May and boycott of John Deere.

"Just as we have called for the resignation of Hal Lawton at Tractor Supply, we are also calling for the resignation of John C. May and a boycott of John Deere. It is the farmer, not the machine, who will take care of the crop and ensure its growth. I challenge John Deere to serve all farmers in America, including black farmers," said the leader of black American farmers.

Previous Statements regarding John Deere can also be found here:

John Deere Has Lied For Years Press Release