Two agricultural giants are planning deep job cuts due to dropping demand for their products in the down economy. Quad Cities-based John Deere is putting nearly 370 workers at its harvester works there on indefinite layoff.
For the employees who remain, Deere plans to shut down the plant in East Moline, Illinois, for two weeks, starting September 21st. Also, Saint Louis-based Monsanto is cutting its global workforce eight-percent.
The chemical company, known for its herbicides like Round-up, now has 1,100 workers at its several facilities in Iowa, but hasn’t specified how many jobs here may be lost.