Deere and Co. posted a profit of...

Deere and Co. posted a profit of $25.5 million for the third quarter, in contrast with a loss of $33.8 million a year ago. The nation’s largest farm equipment maker attributed the gain to higher sales and production volumes, better pricing and improved operating efficiency in North America. However, the Moline, Ill.-based company said it lost $131.8 million for the nine-month period because of a strike that shut down the company’s factories during 1986 and the early part of 1987. Deere lost $89.5 million in the same nine-month period a year ago.