Deere & Company (DE) — ESG & Values Scores

Environment story

Deere discloses that Scope 3 emissions constitute over 99% of its total GHG footprint (fiscal 2024), with Scope 1&2 under 1%. The company has set 2030 interim reduction targets (30% for Scope 3 categories 1 and 11; 50% for Scope 1&2, vs. a 2021 baseline) but has not disclosed a formal net-zero target year. Manufacturing water dependency and legacy site remediation are identified as ongoing environmental risk factors. Investments in hybrid-electric and battery-electric construction/forestry equipment and precision-agriculture input-reduction technology represent physical decarbonization-adjacent R&D, though renewable electricity percentage is undisclosed. This is descriptive research output and does not constitute investment advice.

Criticisms on file

Manufacturing processes are water-dependent; water scarcity, competition for water resources, and regulatory restrictions identified as risk factors that could disrupt operations.
Source: DE_10k.txt
Company continually evaluates, cleans up, or conducts corrective action at a limited number of contaminated sites.
Source: DE_10k.txt

Disclosed initiatives

Leap Ambitions GHG Reduction Goals

Targets to reduce Scope 1&2 CO2e emissions 50% and Scope 3 (categories 1 and 11) CO2e emissions 30% by 2030, using 2021 as baseline.

Interim operational and product-use emissions reduction targets; not a net-zero commitment
Hybrid-Electric and Battery-Electric Equipment Development

Construction & Forestry segment plans to deliver hybrid-electric and battery-electric equipment to reduce tailpipe emissions.

Physical infrastructure/technology investment, not offset-based
Precision Agriculture Input Optimization

John Deere Operations Center, guidance, and automation technologies designed to help customers reduce input use (fuel, chemicals) and improve efficiency.

Potential downstream Scope 3 reduction via customer input efficiency

Social story

Deere reports a voluntary turnover rate of 5.6% (FY2024) and a total recordable incident rate of 1.45 with a lost-time frequency rate of 0.61 in FY2025. Approximately 77% of U.S. production and maintenance employees are unionized, including ~7,600 covered by a UAW agreement expiring November 2027; no strikes are documented within the last 24 months in the reviewed filings, though the company identifies potential future union-related disruption as a risk factor. Executive/board diversity percentages and CEO-to-median-worker pay ratio were not disclosed in the reviewed excerpts. The company has faced negative social-media attention regarding its diversity and inclusion approach, right-to-repair policies, and workforce reductions. This is descriptive research output and does not constitute investment advice.

Criticisms on file

Company has experienced negative social media campaigns related to its approach to diversity and inclusion, customers' right to repair equipment, workforce reductions, and production relocation.
Source: DE_10k.txt
Shareholder proposal (Proposal 06, 2026 proxy) raised concerns regarding treatment of faith-based business resource groups and religious discrimination law compliance; Board opposed producing a report.
Source: DE_proxy.txt

Disclosed initiatives

Global Performance Management (GPM) Program

Framework for continuous feedback and performance improvement embedded in core values.

Employee engagement and development
Health and Safety Management System

Safety balanced scorecard tracking leading/lagging indicators including TRIR (1.45) and lost-time frequency rate (0.61) in FY2025.

Workplace safety monitoring
Training and Development Programs

Upskill training, career planning, and leadership development tailored by region and job function.

Workforce capability building

Governance story

Deere's board consists of 10 director nominees for the 2026 annual meeting, with only the CEO (John C. May) serving in a non-independent capacity; all board committees other than the Executive Committee (chaired by the CEO) are composed solely of independent directors. No dual-class share structure was identified. The company adopted a new SEC/NYSE-compliant clawback (Incentive Compensation Recovery) policy in 2025. Three shareholder proposals (emissions ROI reporting, written consent rights, faith-based business resource group reporting) are on the 2026 ballot, each opposed by the Board. No material antitrust, consumer-fraud, or SEC consent decree proceedings were identified in the reviewed filings. This is descriptive research output and does not constitute investment advice.

Criticisms on file

Board recommended shareholders vote against three 2026 shareholder proposals: (1) report on ROI of emission reduction goals, (2) shareholder right to act by written consent, and (3) report on faith-based business resource groups — indicating contested governance/ESG topics among shareholder base.
Source: DE_proxy.txt

Disclosed initiatives

Incentive Compensation Recovery (Clawback) Policy

Adopted in 2025 in accordance with SEC rules and NYSE listing standards.

Enhanced executive accountability
Shareholder Outreach Program

Engaged with shareholders representing more than 40% of outstanding shares in fiscal 2025 on governance, sustainability, and compensation topics.

Ongoing investor dialogue
Voluntary Political Contributions Disclosure

Company and PAC political contributions voluntarily disclosed on corporate website.

Transparency on political spending, though specific dollar figures were not included in reviewed filings

These are Missionomics' own editorial scores — directional signals built from disclosed facts under a published method, not certifications or definitive ratings of Deere & Company. Coverage and confidence vary by data point, and figures can lag real-world changes. Read the full Methodology for sourcing, scoring, and correction details — or open Deere & Company in the app for interactive charts and portfolio building.

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