The plough and the tractor
In 1836, John Deere established himself as a blacksmith in Grand Detour, Illinois. Not entirely voluntarily, as bankruptcy was hanging over him in Vermont. Nevertheless, this man would make an invention that would radically change agriculture.
Deere developed a plough made of steel in 1837. This rock-solid plough suddenly made the heavy soils of the central and western United States interesting as farming country. A veritable migration to these areas was the result. Before Deere’s invention, most farmers used ploughs made of wood or iron. Which allowed only light soil to be worked.
In 1912, the company again brought advances in agriculture. It developed a motorised &‘tractor’. This tractor could replace the use of horses in agriculture. Convinced of the huge opportunities that a motorised tractor offered for agriculture, the company acquired Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company in Iowa. A good move in hindsight, because from then on the company would grow into the largest manufacturer of agricultural machinery in the world.
Moline, Illinois, USA
John Deere is headquartered in Moline, Illinois. The John Deere brand is listed on the NYSE. In 2014, the company employs about 67,000 people worldwide. John Deere is the largest producer of agricultural machinery worldwide.
Marine
John Deere specialises in marine diesel engines and marine generator drives with power ratings from 56 kW to 559 kW (75 hp to 750 hp). John Deere also supplies parts and drivelines.