John Deere has not reversed or slow walked their plans to launch an autonomous tractor by 2030, completely eliminating the farmer from needing to operate the machine. Although Boyd 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” at John Deere. The company announced it would lay off 600 more workers inĀ IllinoisĀ andĀ IowaĀ in order to expand toĀ Mexico. Deere announced inĀ June 2022, itsĀ Waterloo, IowaĀ tractor cab plant will move toĀ MexicoĀ by 2024. Now Deere will move its skid steer loader and compact track loader production fromĀ Dubuque, IowaĀ toĀ MexicoĀ by 2026.
On Tuesday,Ā John Deere announced on social media platform XĀ 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 payĀ $1.1 millionĀ in back wages and interest to 277 Black and Hispanic job applicants after the Department of LaborĀ allegedĀ that it found systemic hiring discrimination at the company.
According toĀ 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. ”
Boyd and the NBFA are concerned more companies will downplay diversity goals and scale back DEI programs created to encourage the advancement of marginalized groups because little was done by CEO May to address decades of discrimination at Deere. John Deere is one of the largest debt holders for farmers, right beside the banks. Boyd has officially requested a meeting with CEO John C May to no avail to discuss concerns of NBFA Members for years.
Just as we have called for the resignation of Tractor Supply CEO,Ā Hal Lawton,Ā we also call for the resignation of Mr. May and boycott of John Deere.
“It is the farmer, not the machine that will take care of the crop and ensure it grows. I challenge John Deere to service all of America’s farmers, including Black farmers” –Ā John W. Boyd, Jr.
ContactĀ John Boyd, President atĀ JohnWesleyBoydJR@gmail.comĀ or 434-210-2286
