Although China purchased a record amount of U.S. farm exports over the past two years, it wasn’t...
John Deere has recalled approximately 164,700 compact utility tractors across the U.S. and Canada due to a potential safety issue. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced that the recall involves the front bell crank in the brake linkage, which could fail and cause a crash hazard.
So far, there have been three reported incidents linked to this defect, including two injuries and minor property damage. The recall covers John Deere’s 1023E, 1025R, and 2025R compact utility tractors sold between November 2017 and July 2024 for prices ranging from $12,700 to $21,000.
Image by CPSC
In the midst of this recall, John Deere is also facing heightened scrutiny from former President Donald Trump, who recently proposed a 200 percent tariff on John Deere’s imports if the company moves forward with its plan to relocate some production to Mexico.
The Illinois-based agricultural equipment manufacturer has decided to shift lower-skill operations, such as cab assembly, to Mexico, while laying off workers in U.S. facilities, including those in Iowa. Trump’s proposed tariff is intended to protect American jobs.
John Deere defends its decision to move part of its production to Mexico, citing global competitiveness and challenging market conditions as the primary reasons. While some lower-skill production is being relocated, the company asserts its continued investment in U.S. manufacturing.
EDITOR’S TAKE:
It is unfortunate whenever a company is forced to recall products, but it is always the correct decision to protect the health and safety of those using the product. As for the proposed tariff by former President Trump, while it may not be fair to single out Deere, the idea of maintaining manufacturing and manufacturing jobs in our country seems like a solid idea in light of geo-political tensions and the desire to boost our economy. Speaking of keeping America first, be sure to keep farmers/ranchers at the top of your customer prospect list. With Section 176 depreciation winding down and uncertainty of what our future tax structure might look like, farmers/ranchers will be looking for every dollar saving action they can muster.
