Deere & Co hops from Joliet to Chicago Midway as ag cycle bottom nears

Deere & Co flew from Lewis University Airport in Romeoville, Illinois—home to a major John Deere parts distribution center—to Chicago Midway International Airport on June 11, a trip of just 12 minutes in its Gulfstream G280. The brief hop suggests a meeting or transfer in the city rather than a routine plant shuttle.

The flight arrives as Deere & Co continues to execute its strategy through a downturn in large agriculture, with second-quarter net income of $1.773 billion reported on May 21, per a PRNewswire release. The company also recorded a $272 million recovery from IEEPA tariff refunds, which lifted margins, and noted robust construction equipment demand tied to data center buildouts, as covered by Supply Chain Dive.

Recent flights show Deere & Co’s aircraft moving between Moline, Illinois, and Saltillo, Mexico—where the company operates a manufacturing plant—before this quick Chicago leg. With CFO Brent Norwood stating on the earnings call that 2026 likely represents the bottom of the ag cycle, the trip may involve discussions on production adjustments or dealer strategy as the company prepares for a recovery.