A Kinze planter.

A Kinze planter.

An eastern Iowa based maker of farm equipment is blaming the downturn in the ag economy for the layoffs of 215 employees. Kinze Manufacturing employs about 850 people, primarily at the company headquarters near Williamsburg.

In announcing the 215 layoffs Wednesday, company officials blamed sluggish sales and the sharp decline in corn and soybean prices.

Earlier this year, Kinze cut its work-week to 30 hours in order to retain employees. The company reports the sales are not supporting the current workforce, but the remaining employees will return to a full-time work-week.