Deere’s Dubuque Factory Celebrates 75 Years

The John Deere Dubuque Works factory opened in 1947, and now has 3,000 employees, half in production and half in engineering, supply, and customer support.

General Manager Mark Dickson says post-World War II labor shortages forced Deere to build its new plant away from its tractor plants in Waterloo, Iowa. Dubuque welcomed the new plant, which initially made tractors, but converted to handling part of Deere’s construction and forestry business in 1970. 1.2 million machines have been produced in Dubuque since it opened.

Dickson predicts the Dubuque Works will keep its current workforce, and could grow 10% more in the next year. Equipment produced in Dubuque is mainly sold in the North American market.