22 March 2001 John Deere to cut back production _BY FWI STAFF_ GIANT US farm equipment manufacturer John Deere has announced production cutbacks in the face of slowing sales, reports the

_Financial Times_. The group, which did not specify the scale of cutbacks, said that it will probably report a second quarter earnings fall. Cutbacks are expected to affect its construction

equipment, grounds-care and large tractor operations. In its agricultural sector, sales of row-crop tractors in North America has been flat, although hay, seeding and tillage equipment sales

had been higher. Analysts have suggested that foot-and-mouth disease and BSE in Europe could depress incomes and hit demand for farm equipment. * Financial Times, 22 March, 2001, page 32