Agricultural-equipment manufacturer John Deere released a statement distancing itself from DEI and affirming that it will no longer support “external social or cultural awareness” events, despite previously describing DEI as one of its “highest-priority topics.”
John Deere released a statement on Tuesday saying the company is committed to “auditing all company-mandated training materials and policies to ensure the absence of socially motivated messages” while complying with the law. Still, the document titled “Support of Human Rights in Our Business Practices” currently available on the company’s website states that “John Deere is known for its commitment to social responsibility, both as an employer and in how we conduct our business.”
The company affirmed in its statement on Tuesday that “diversity quotas and pronoun identification” have never been part of the company’s policies, but added that “we will continue to track and advance the diversity of our organization.”
Although John Deere’s “Global Policy Against Discrimination and Harassment” does not include any explicit mention of pronouns, examples of harassment prohibited by the company include 1) “comments or ‘jokes’, kidding, or teasing based on a person’s sex, gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression,” 2) “sex-related or gender-related language or offensive comments that reflect sex or gender stereotypes,” and 3) “any other offensive or unwelcome conduct based on sex, gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression.”
In a 2022 annual report, John Deere listed “Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion” as one of its “highest-priority topics” and its “priorities” include “embedding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) principles into all aspects of how we run.” The company’s board of directors is 36 percent female and nearly 20 percent African American.
“In 2022, John Deere introduced new ‘How We Work’ expectations. . . that define the standards of how employees collaborate with each other to deliver for those who depend on us. These new expectations embed DEI into every aspect of how John Deere does business by requiring everyone — from senior leaders to early career hires — to fully engage with and participate in activities that cultivate a culture where every voice is heard,” reads the annual report. “DEI is the only global behavioral performance metric upon which all salaried employees are evaluated.”
John Deere launched a “supplier diversity strategy” in 2021 with the goal to reach $1 billion USD in “Women-owned business sourcing” and $500 million USD in “minority-owned business sourcing.” The company further noted a commitment to “grow relationships” with “disadvantaged business enterprises,” such as those “owned by veterans, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and individuals with disabilities.”
In 2020, the company launched the Legislation, Education, Advocacy and Production Systems (LEAP) coalition with the National Black Growers Council and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund with the aim to “help eliminate barriers created by heirs’ property and provide resources to advance the lives and livelihoods of Black farmers.”
“By 1910 Black Americans had amassed 60 million acres of farmland. In 2023, that number has dropped to 3.9 million acres,” reads John Deere’s website. “Violence, eminent domain and government discrimination – all had an impact. But it’s a little-known issue, heirs’ property, which devastated Black land ownership.”
According to its website, John Deere has 82,000 employees globally and its net income for the fiscal year of 2024 is projected to be roughly $7 billion.
John Deere’s decision comes shortly after one of its competitors, Tractor Supply, announced the end of its DEI initiatives and emission-reduction goals. Tractor Supply also confirmed in its June 27 statement that it severed its ties with the Human Rights Campaign, which issues a “corporate equality index” that scores companies in part on their compliance with progressive policies, such as providing “affirmative transgender-inclusive healthcare benefits” for employees.