WILLIAMSBURG, Iowa (KCRG) – Kinze Manufacturing, Inc., is laying off 53 employees from its operation in Williamsburg, the company confirmed Wednesday. In the announcement, the company cited ongoing economic challenges in the agricultural sector. The January layoffs, which impact 53 of its 550 employees in Williamsburg, come after nearly 200 employees were laid off there in August 2024.

“Kinze has a fantastic workforce and this was an incredibly difficult decision,” said Susanne Veatch, President of Kinze. “Unfortunately, the continued downturn in the agricultural market necessitated this workforce adjustment.”

Kinze is a global manufacturer of planters, grain carts, and high-speed tillage equipment.

In other unemployment news, more than two dozen people are losing their jobs at a central Iowa company. According to Iowa Warn, IES Communications in Altoona is laying off 28 people. The business is not closing completely. The layoffs are taking effect immediately.