Deere & Co said on Tuesday it will combine its worldwide agricultural equipment division with its commercial and consumer equipment unit into a single division to reduce costs, starting on May 1.

Deere expects to take pre-tax charges of about $25 million in its fiscal fourth quarter, a sum that was not reflected in the company's February earnings forecast.

Deere's new worldwide agriculture and turf division will have two presidents, with responsibilities divided by product type and geography. Six U.S. sales branch offices will be reduced to two.

The current president of the commercial and consumer unit, James Field, will report to CEO Robert Lane in a new role as a senior vice president.

About 200 jobs will be lost through voluntary separations, the company said, adding that its construction and forestry and credit divisions were not affected by Tuesday's announcement.

(Reporting by Nick Zieminski; Editing by Derek Caney)

Manufacturing