#agriculture

80 Acres Farms is ceasing operations at its Anderson County facility. The company cited an inability to secure necessary funding as the reason for closure. A deal with a prospective acquirer recently fell through. This decision will result in the layoff of 73 employees. The facility is expected to close by August 17th.

https://www.independentmail.com/story/money/business/2026/08/12/layoffs-anderson-sc-80-acres-farms-shuts-down-operations/91270693007/

Anderson, South Carolina

80 Acres Agriculture has closed its Forest Park location. This closure resulted in the layoff of 110 employees. The company cited unforeseen business circumstances as the reason for the closure. An anticipated acquisition did not materialize, contributing to the decision. The company did not provide further details on the business circumstances.

Forest Park, Georgia

https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2026/08/07/80-acres-forest-park-layoffs.html

Agricultural science firm FMC Corp. is reducing its workforce by 41 employees at its Mobile County facility. This decision comes as the company experiences a decline in revenue. The layoffs are scheduled to take effect at the end of October. FMC Corp. is a Philadelphia-based company that manufactures agricultural chemicals. The company's financial performance has led to discussions about a potential sale.

Mobile, Alabama

https://www.al.com/business/2026/08/philadelphia-based-agricultural-science-laying-off-41-in-mobile-county-as-revenue-falls.html

Revol Greens is planning to lay off approximately 89 workers at its Minnesota greenhouse facility. This action is contingent on the company not being sold or securing additional funding by October. The company's first facility, located near Owatonna, faces permanent closure if these conditions are not met. Revol Greens has experienced challenges in the lettuce growing industry, including a recent drop in consumer demand. The company previously closed a farm in California last year.

Owatonna, Minnesota

https://www.startribune.com/lettuce-grower-revol-greens-faces-hardship-planning-layoffs-at-minnesota-greenhouse/601875919

The vertical farming company 80 Acres Farms has implemented layoffs. This action follows the failure of a potential acquisition deal. The company was unable to secure additional capital. The acquisition fell through on August 2. These layoffs are a direct consequence of this financial setback.

Hamilton, Ohio

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2026/08/05/80-acres-closure-layoffs-acquirer-indoor-farm.html

Bayer plans to lay off approximately 76 employees in Hawaii. This move is part of operational changes and consolidation of farm activities. The company aims to better align its resources with future needs in plant breeding and agricultural technology. Bayer will continue operations on Oahu, Maui, and Molokai. Affected employees will receive severance packages and support services.

https://www.staradvertiser.com/2026/07/24/hawaii-news/crop-seed-producer-bayer-announces-layoffs/

The Spur Startup Sandbox Validation Program has launched in Nebraska. It connects international agtech startups with University of Nebraska-Lincoln researchers. The program aims to validate new agricultural technologies. Four international companies are participating in the 2026-27 cohort. Ankit Chandra, founder of Spur Ventures, created this initiative.

https://siliconprairienews.com/2026/06/global-agtech-startups-choose-nebraska-in-new-spur-startup-sandbox-validation-program/

RDO Equipment announced layoffs for dozens of employees this week. The company cited challenging market and economic conditions. These conditions have impacted the agricultural sector for the past year. At least 36 team members were affected by this force reduction. RDO Equipment also cut two percent of its employees in early August.

Fargo, ND

https://www.dakotanewsnetwork.com/2025/09/12/rdo-announces-dozens-of-layoffs-amid-decline/

California's wine industry is experiencing significant economic and market pressures. U.S. wine revenue and production both declined in 2025. Factors include changing consumer preferences, overproduction, and trade barriers. Several wineries and related businesses have announced closures or layoffs. Constellation Brands and Gallo are among the companies affected by these industry shifts.

https://patch.com/california/healdsburg/why-layoffs-are-spreading-california-wine-country

John Deere has initiated a recall for some of its workers who were previously laid off. This move signifies a potential recovery or increased demand for the agricultural machinery manufacturer. The recall directly impacts employees who had faced job reductions in the recent past. This development specifically pertains to John Deere operations located within Iowa. The company is bringing staff back, suggesting a positive shift in its workforce strategy.

https://kiowacountypress.net/content/iowa-john-deere-workers-recalled-after-layoffs#google_vignette

The federal government’s plan to reduce the size of the public service is expected to affect employees at the Brandon Research and Development Centre, Agriculture Union’s president told the Sun.

https://www.brandonsun.com/local/2026/01/26/layoffs-expected-at-brandon-research-centre

https://www.insideindianabusiness.com/articles/inari-agriculture-to-lay-off-64-workers-at-west-lafayette-facility

According to the notice, Inari Agriculture will conduct a mass layoff affecting 64 employees at the West Lafayette location. The layoff process is expected to begin on January 20, 2026, with separations continuing through February 6, 2026. The company indicated that the layoffs are expected to be permanent.

https://clintoncountydailynews.com/inari-agriculture-announces-layoff-at-west-lafayette-facility/

Monarch Tractor is preparing for layoffs and has warned employees it may have to shut down without additional funding.

The ag tech startup’s capital intensive hardware model has become harder to sustain in the current funding environment.

Just curious

Stemilt will lay off more than 1,500 seasonal workers.
The WARN notice lists 1,561 jobs. Layoffs start Nov. 21, 2025. These are H2A seasonal roles. Contracts end after harvest.

Year round warehouse and shipping jobs are not affected.
Stemilt says most H2A workers return.
The company expects operations to continue normally.
Headquarters is at the Fresh Center in Wenatchee.
Packing sites are in Wenatchee and Stockton, California.

• Stemilt Ag Services LLC is laying off 1,561 workers, impacting its fruit packaging and shipment operations.
• The Wenatchee-based company is known for its high-elevation orchards producing apples, pears, and cherries.
• The reason for the layoffs is not specified, with separations starting November 21.

https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/wa-fruit-company-1500-layoffs

What an odd bunch of businesses….. lots of M&A activity in the feed industry; Cargill is completely absent; not surprising given performance in the past few years.

BioIndustrials continues “coasting”……..

Salt? Well; if we get a good winter is a good year
Any insights on who will be the first to be sold from that “portfolio “???

This feels like slow bleeding. Seems like it’s time to start looking hard at other options, if only to be prepared.

• John Deere is laying off 141 employees at its Waterloo and Ankeny plants due to decreased demand for agricultural equipment.
• These layoffs are in addition to previous workforce reductions in Waterloo and Illinois announced in August.
• The company has laid off about 2,200 employees in Iowa since April 2024 amid a struggling farm economy.

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/local/2025/09/17/john-deere-layoffs-ankeny-waterloo/86203753007/

According to a letter sent by director of operations Colby Rigg, a total of 293 employees will be laid off.

https://www.14news.com/2025/09/05/perdue-farms-reports-upcoming-mass-layoff-washington-facility/

John Deere is facing a crossroads as the company continues to see weaker demand in the agricultural sector even while it has committed to investing millions in U.S. manufacturing and promised a brighter road ahead.

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/22/john-deere-demand-layoffs.html

It’s not just that our manufacturing could take a hit. Agriculture is already struggling, demand has been going down steadily, and purchasing power is clearly slipping. A lot of folks are holding off on buying or investing simply because there’s so much uncertainty. All of that is bound to affect us down the line. And that likely means more cuts, more layoffs, and more of us out there looking for work. It feels like we’re sliding into a vicious cycle, and I’m worried about what all that will mean for our jobs.