History

As the global population continues to expand, crop producers, farm managers, equipment manufacturers, dealers, and others must all work together to maximize farming efficiency and continue to harvest the land for food. Over the years, the harvesting process has evolved, and so too has the equipment that’s used to assist. John Deere is just one of many equipment manufacturers in the industry, but the iconic green and yellow machinery can be found scattered across farms both in the United States and abroad.

So, where exactly is this harvesting equipment produced? John Deere Harvester Works, located in East Moline, Illinois, is one such location.

When operating heavy machinery such as tractors or earthmoving equipment, accidents can happen. Some of the most dangerous types of accidents when using these pieces of equipment come in the form of rollovers.

While operator precautions should be taken into account at all times, rollovers are sometimes unavoidable. For this reason, John Deere and other equipment manufacturers add rollover protection structures, or “ROPS”, to their machines.

John Deere ROPS History

You may be asking yourself, “when did ROPS burst onto the scene?” Well, in June of 1966, John Deere officially announced the release of its Roll-Gard™ technology. This introduction was instrumental to showcasing the company’s commitment to the safety of all their customers.

Whether you’re out on the farm plowing, tilling, harrowing, or planting, one factor remains unchanged; you likely have a tractor mobilizing implements and doing the dirty work. However, with so many new tractor features and models hitting the market each year, it can be easy to lose track of the past.

Let’s take a look at some of the key dates and events that shaped the early history of agricultural tractor development.

1892

John Froelich, who was 43 years old at the time, successfully ran a gas-powered, vertical, single-cylinder engine on the running gear of a steam traction engine back in 1892. The machine, which is now known as the first gasoline tractor, moved forward and reverse.

The equipment John Deere produces plays a role in feeding and clothing the world’s ever-expanding population. At the heart of the equipment production process is John Deere factories and their employees.

Let’s take a closer look at one of John Deere’s many factory locations – John Deere Des Moines Works.

Early Des Moines Works History

1941

The story of what John Deere does today begins during World War II, when the government constructed the Des Moines Ordnance Plant. The plant operated throughout the war until 1945, and during that time, the plant made billions of rounds of machine gun ammunition.

For nearly a century, John Deere has been producing tractors for its customers that are now located around the world. However, a point in time more than 50 years ago is especially important in the company’s tractor production history. Yes, we’re talking about the introduction of the “New Generation of Power.”

Let’s take a closer look at this special point in time and learn about some of the features that made these pieces of equipment historical pillars for the company.

In 1967, John Deere started producing the JD570, the industry’s first articulated motor grader. During its time, this machine offered groundbreaking innovations to the construction industry.

Brief History of the JD570

Prior to the introduction of this machine, graders were straight-framed with solid rear axles; however, the JD570‘s articulated frame offered operators more efficiency than ever before.

With key features like the PowerShift transmission, articulated frame steering, hydraulic front-wheel lean and roll-over protection, both increased control and versatility were made available to operators. Not only did this motor grader allow operators to place the blade of the machine into a 90-degree bank in less than one minute, but improvements were made to the saddle so it was secured to the mainframe with a tapered pin design.

Since its inception more than 175 years ago, John Deere has become a globally recognizable brand that now has facilities and offices in more than 30 countries across the world. The wide-spanning presence allows the company to be present where their customers are located so they can meet their needs and requirements.

While it might seem as if John Deere has been a worldwide brand from the start, there were a number of key events that helped it expand beyond the American shores.

Let’s take a look at some of the key years responsible for some of John Deere’s worldwide growth.

With more than 50 years of history in producing riding mowers, John Deere has introduced hundreds of models that have played a significant role in the evolution of our lawn and garden equipment today. When looking at a John Deere riding mower, many questions arise like – What year was it produced? How did the technology evolve? Is there a larger model available? Which one is right for me?

It would certainly be difficult to address all of these questions for every riding mower model that has ever existed. However, we wanted to put together this series to help you get a better understanding of the history behind John Deere riding mowers.

From the John Deere Tractor and Engine Museum to John Deere coloring books, the company offers a number of different fun and interactive ways for kids to learn more about Deere and its equipment.

For those that are looking for yet another way to educate children about the green and yellow, there are a number of John Deere DVDs available. To help narrow down the selection process, we’ve assembled a brief list. Enjoy!

All About John Deere for Kids