- ------------------------------------------------------------- SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 _________ FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Date of Report: January 9, 2001 (Date of earliest event reported) D E E R E & C O M P A N Y (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter) DELAWARE (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) 1-4121 (Commission File Number) 36-2382580 (IRS Employer Identification No.) One John Deere Place Moline, Illinois 61265 (Address of principal executive offices and zip code) (309)765-8000 (Registrant's telephone number, including area code) _______________________________________ (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.) - -------------------------------------------------------------- Item 9. FD Regulation. DEERE TO RELEASE MONTHLY RETAIL-SALES COMMENT AFTER EMI REPORT Deere & Company today announced that it will release commentary on December 2000 retail sales after the monthly announcement of industry sales by the Equipment Manufacturers Institute. The EMI data, covering North American farm- machinery retail sales, is normally disclosed between the tenth and 12th days of the month. The company's remarks will be posted on the Deere web site. As in prior months, Deere's statement will provide comment on the EMI data and other information concerning company retail sales of farm machinery, construction equipment and commercial and consumer equipment. The company's comments may be accessed on the Internet at www.deere.com and will be available for about two weeks. Other information regarding developments at Deere may also be posted on the company web site from time to time. Page 2 SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereto duly authorized. DEERE & COMPANY By: /s/ MICHAEL A. HARRING ------------------------- Michael A. Harring, Secretary Dated: January 9, 2001 Page 3