"The decision to open this facility is consistent with our strategy to build a manufacturing presence in Russia," says David C. Everitt, president of the Deere & Co.'s agricultural division for Europe, Africa and South America.

According to Deere, establishing the assembly operation in Russia will allow the company to lower its logistics cost and improve order fulfillment for customers in the region. In December, the company announced that Deere Credit Inc. and Rosagroleasing of the Russian Federation had created a credit facility agreement guaranteed by the Export-Import Bank of the United States. This agreement provides up to $25 million for Russian customers to lease U.S.-built John Deere agricultural equipment.