<p>
</p>
<p>When I first read of Deere & Company’s <a title=”AutoConnect” href=”http://www.deere.com/en_US/homeowners/products_equipment/utility_tractors/autoconnect/autoconnect.html” target=”_blank”>
<span style=”color: #0000ff;”>AutoConnect</span>
</a> mid-mount mowing deck, designed for the 3000 Twenty-series compact utility tractors, I was pleasantly surprised. When I got to experience the technology down in Sarasota, Florida, last week, my pleasant surprise turned into complete excitement. This new design, coupled with some mid-mount hitch innovation, reduces a once vexing, knuckle-busting task to a relaxing walk in the park.</p>
<p>
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</p>
<p>Hard as it is to believe, the AutoConnect feature automatically connects the mower deck to the tractor and hooks up the difficult to reach PTO shaft when the operator drives over the top of the mower. This means you can install your mower deck in seconds without leaving the tractor seat. You need only leave the tractor seat to set the gauge wheels and then the machine is ready for mowing. Removing the mower deck is just as simple.</p>
<p>
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</p>
<p>Right now, 60-inch cut Model 60D and 72-inch cut 72D decks are available, and they are matched to John Deere’s 3120, 3320, 3520 and 3720 tractors. The folks at Deere who are responsible for creating products to fit the rural lifestyle say we should look for several other ease-of-use innovations this fall.</p>
<p>For more on mowing machines of all kinds, click <a title=”here” href=”http://www.grit.com/tools/mowing-machine-mania.aspx” target=”_blank”>
<span style=”color: #0000ff;”>here</span>
</a>.</p>
<p>
<hr />
</p>
<p>
<a href=”http://www.grit.com/biographies/oscar-h-will” target=_self>Hank Will</a>
<em> raises hair sheep, heritage cattle and many varieties of open-pollinated corn with his wife, Karen, on their rural Osage County, Kansas farm. His home life is a perfect complement to his professional life as editor in chief at GRIT and Capper’s Farmer magazines. Connect with him on </em>
<a title=Google+ href=”https://plus.google.com/u/0/117459637128204205101/posts” target=_blank rel=author>Google+</a>.</p>
</p>
<p>Hard as it is to believe, the AutoConnect feature automatically connects the mower deck to the tractor and hooks up the difficult to reach PTO shaft when the operator drives over the top of the mower. This means you can install your mower deck in seconds without leaving the tractor seat. You need only leave the tractor seat to set the gauge wheels and then the machine is ready for mowing. Removing the mower deck is just as simple.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Right now, 60-inch cut Model 60D and 72-inch cut 72D decks are available, and they are matched to John Deere’s 3120, 3320, 3520 and 3720 tractors. The folks at Deere who are responsible for creating products to fit the rural lifestyle say we should look for several other ease-of-use innovations this fall.</p>
<p>For more on mowing machines of all kinds, click <a title=”here” href=”http://www.grit.com/tools/mowing-machine-mania.aspx” target=”_blank”>
<span style=”color: #0000ff;”>here</span>
</a>.</p>
<p>
<hr />
</p>
<p>
<a href=”http://www.grit.com/biographies/oscar-h-will” target=_self>Hank Will</a>
<em> raises hair sheep, heritage cattle and many varieties of open-pollinated corn with his wife, Karen, on their rural Osage County, Kansas farm. His home life is a perfect complement to his professional life as editor in chief at GRIT and Capper’s Farmer magazines. Connect with him on </em>
<a title=Google+ href=”https://plus.google.com/u/0/117459637128204205101/posts” target=_blank rel=author>Google+</a>.</p>
