Deere & Company plans to buy a small tractor manufacturing plant in China to begin offering low-horsepower tractors to Chinese farmers. Deere recently announced the purchase of Ningbo Benye Tractor & Automobile Manufacture Co. Ltd. From Ningbo in southern China.

The Benye tractor plant builds tractors in the 20- to 50-hp range, which Deere will continue building. Deere says the small tractor in China is growing because of more mechanization by rice farmers.

Deere operates two other manufacturing plants including a wholly-owned facility located at Jiamusi where combines and tractors are built. Deere also builds 60- to 120-hp tractors in a factory located in Tianjin. This factory is in a joint venture.