Deere & Co. to expand in Louisiana

Agricultural and construction equipment manufacturer Deere & Co. has announced plans to invest $29.8 million to expand operations at its Thibodaux, La., facility. The project will create 70 jobs.

The expansion involves the development and installation of a new production line and upgraded equipment, which will allow the facility to begin producing medium-chassis cotton harvesting models that will replace existing models currently built in China.

The Thibodaux site currently serves as a design center for sugar-harvesting and earthmoving scraper equipment, as well as a manufacturing facility for a variety of agriculture and construction products. The company expects production of the new cotton harvesters to begin within the next two years and to reach full capacity by 2025.