Deere shareholders mow down anti-DEI efforts

At its yearly shareholder meeting on Feb. 26, 98% of Deere & Co. shareholders voted against an anti-diversity proposal, which called on Deere to generate a report on statistical differences in hiring across race and gender “to prove it does not practice discrimination.” It came from the National Legal and Policy Center, a conservative Washington-based think tank. The action is the latest sign of investor resistance to conservative efforts to end DEI practices.

“If the Company discriminates, it will be obvious in its hiring numbers,” the group said in Deere’s proxy statement last month. “Deere should report on statistical differences in hiring across race and gender to prove it does not practice discrimination.” The group, in that filing, expressed suspicions that corporations were discriminating against white job applicants.

Two other resolutions aimed at restricting social action by Deere won similarly low levels of support. Deere’s meeting was closely watched because in July it became one of the first major U.S. companies to back away from supporting programs such as LGBTQ+ pride events.

Reporting by MarketWatch.com said that Apple Inc. shareholders voted by a wide margin against a proposal from a conservative group requesting an end to its DEI efforts. That followed a similar vote from shareholders of Costco Wholesale Corp. Meanwhile, some activists have called for boycotts against Target. Deere and other companies withdrew from DEI programs last year after pressure from right-wing influencer Robby Starbuck.

Before the meeting, Deere recommended that shareholders vote against the conservative group’s proposal. “Preparing a report on the statistical differences in hiring across race and gender globally would not provide a meaningful benefit to Deere or its shareholders,” it said in the proxy.

“Rather, it would require us to dedicate valuable financial and human resources to provide data that is largely duplicative of the extensive workforce demographic data we already publish in our Business Impact Report and its accompanying appendices in service of advancing the political and social views of the proponent,” the company continued.

Deere has publicly stated, “We fundamentally believe that a diverse workforce enables us to best meet our customers’ needs and because of that we will continue to track and advance the diversity of our organization. We believe our employees’ unique perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences contribute to innovation and our ability to create value for our customers. We also believe that a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve is essential to our long-term success. Deere is committed to treating our employees, who propel us toward achieving our business ambitions, fairly and inclusively.”