Deere & Co. (NYSE: DE) today announced it will reduce the size of its manufacturing workforce at some agricultural equipment factories in response to current market demand for its products. The action will place more than 600 employees at four locations on indefinite layoff.

In addition, Deere is implementing seasonal and inventory adjustment shutdowns and temporary layoffs at several of the affected factories. When Deere announced third quarter earnings on Wednesday, the company said it planned to reduce agricultural equipment production in the company's fourth quarter.

Employees have been informed at the affected facilities, which include John Deere Harvester Works, East Moline, Ill.; John Deere Seeding and Cylinder, Moline, Ill.; John Deere Des Moines Works, Ankeny, Iowa; and John Deere Coffeyville, Coffeyville, Kan. No other locations are included in today's layoff announcement.

Deere has consistently said that to remain globally competitive, the company must align the size of its manufacturing workforce with market demand for products. Deere had hired several hundred manufacturing employees in recent years to meet increased demand for products manufactured in its Midwest U.S. factories.

In July, Deere informed employees at its Ankeny facility of an extended shutdown affecting most manufacturing employees at that location. Today's announcement at that facility places some of the employees on indefinite layoff. Deere also has implemented a seasonal shutdown affecting most of the manufacturing workforce at the John Deere Ottumwa Works, Ottumwa, Iowa.