President Donald Trump threw out hats at his stop in Iowa Thursday, sporting Deere's iconic green and yellow colors, touting his plan to “Make Our Farmers Great Again."

But did the president violate Deere & Co.'s trademark protections?

Deere spokesman Ken Golden said Friday the protections do not apply to apparel.

"We're not concerned as long as it's not ag green equipment with yellow wheels," he said, adding that the Moline, Ill., maker of tractors and combines had no involvement in making the hats.

Deere, a large Iowa manufacturing employer, has aggressively fought trademark abuses.

Last fall, Deere won a lawsuit against a South Dakota ag equipment company that was permanently banned from using its green and yellow paint combination. The company said it's been its "famous trademark" since the late 1960s.

Deere said the lawsuit was part of its "ongoing and vigorous effort to protect the company’s trademarks and intellectual property."

Golden said it's nice to see Deere's green and yellow paint "recognized as the color of ag in the Midwest."

More:Iowa farmers' angst grows as tariffs mount. But many still back Trump and his allies ... for now

Trump visited a community college outside of Dubuque to talk about workforce development, but used the trip to reassure farmers hurt by tariffs with China and other trade partners.

Iowa farmers will lose at least $1 billion from retaliatory tariffs China placed on U.S. soybeans, pork and other farm goods.

Trump boasted Thursday about his verbal agreement with leaders of the European Union, (“we’re starting the documents,” Trump said as an aside), that would move toward the elimination of trade barriers.

“We just opened up Europe for you farmers,” he said. “You’re not going to be too angry with Trump, I can tell you.”

Golden said the president didn't meet with Deere executives during his trip to Iowa and Illinois.

Deere has a large plant in Dubuque, as well as operations in Ankeny, Waterloo and Ottumwa.