Deere & Co. Chief Executive Officer John May will add chairman of the board to his list of duties as the giant tractor maker unifies the two roles again with the retirement of Samuel Allen.

May, who took over from Allen as CEO last year, has been chosen to replace him as chairman effective May 1, the Moline, Illinois-based company said Monday in a statement. Allen is retiring after a 45-year career, including a decade as CEO.

Deere is taking another step in its leadership transition amid early signs of stabilization in the U.S. farm sector after years of low prices and trade and weather disruptions that made farmers cautious on replacing large equipment. Still, the coronavirus outbreak is set to delay China’s return to U.S. agricultural markets as laid out in the first phase of a trade deal.

The company’s shares were up 0.7 per cent at 9:56 a.m. in New York Monday. The stock has slumped 9 per cent this year.