SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND CASH FLOW INFORMATION (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Jan. 31, 2013

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND CASH FLOW INFORMATION

Use of Estimates in Financial Statements

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and related disclosures.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Financing Receivables - Non-Performing, Policy

Past due balances of financing receivables represent the total balance held (principal plus accrued interest) with any payment amounts 30 days or more past the contractual payment due date.  Non-performing financing receivables represent loans for which the Company has ceased accruing finance income.  These receivables are generally 120 days delinquent and the estimated uncollectible amount, after charging the dealer’s withholding account, has been written off to the allowance for credit losses.  Finance income for non-performing receivables is recognized on a cash basis.  Accrual of finance income is resumed when the receivable becomes contractually current and collections are reasonably assured.

Financing receivables are considered impaired when it is probable the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms.

Inventory Valuation, Policy

Most inventories owned by Deere & Company and its U.S. equipment subsidiaries are valued at cost on the “last-in, first-out” (LIFO) method.

Extended Product Warranty, Policy

The premiums for extended warranties are primarily recognized in income in proportion to the costs expected to be incurred over the contract period.

Derivative Financial Instruments

It is the Company’s policy that derivative transactions are executed only to manage exposures arising in the normal course of business and not for the purpose of creating speculative positions or trading.  The Company’s financial services operations manage the relationship of the types and amounts of their funding sources to their receivable and lease portfolio in an effort to diminish risk due to interest rate and foreign currency fluctuations, while responding to favorable financing opportunities.  The Company also has foreign currency exposures at some of its foreign and domestic operations related to buying, selling and financing in currencies other than the functional currencies.

All derivatives are recorded at fair value on the balance sheet.  Each derivative is designated as a cash flow hedge, a fair value hedge, or remains undesignated.  All designated hedges are formally documented as to the relationship with the hedged item as well as the risk-management strategy.  Both at inception and on an ongoing basis the hedging instrument is assessed as to its effectiveness.  If and when a derivative is determined not to be highly effective as a hedge, or the underlying hedged transaction is no longer likely to occur, or the hedge designation is removed, or the derivative is terminated, hedge accounting is discontinued.  Any past or future changes in the derivative’s fair value, which will not be effective as an offset to the income effects of the item being hedged, are recognized currently in the income statement.