Massey Ferguson Des Moines Assembly Plant Production Timeline:

1965 - The plant opens for production; primary work is assembling machinery and implements

1969 - Massey shifts production of "recreational" equipment to the Des Moines plant, including snowmobiles and lawn and garden tractors

1974 - Last of the SkiWhiz snowmobiles produced here; lawn and garden tractors are built here, along with dump carts, rotary tiller, and combine corn harvesting heads assembled in Des Moines.
4WD tractors, including the 1505 and 1805 are produced in Des Moines.

1978 - 285 workers laid off when lawn and garden tractor production is sold and discontinued.  4WD tractors and disc tillage equipment continue to be produced.

1979 - Industrial backhoes and loader production moved from Akron, Ohio to Des Moines, allowing the 285 laid off workers to be recalled to work.   Plant at almost 700 worker high capacity.

1980 - Massey' debt load and corporate restructuring, along with the worldwide Farm Crisis, results in layoff of 300 workers at Des Moines plant, cutting production staff in half.

1981 - Massey cannot overcome corporate challenges, and plant in Des Moines fully closed.  4WD tractor production in Des Moines shifted to Detroit and Brantford, Ontario.