How many acres can I mow per hour?

[dieselscout80]

The charts / mowing calculators I’ve found to include the above picture are all pretty accurate.

I wouldn’t say they have to 100%, but they provide a planning factor.

One thing I have learned to speed up mowing times is mowing in a circle starting at the center of the field.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

The charts / mowing calculators I’ve found to include the above picture are all pretty accurate.

I wouldn’t say they have to 100%, but they provide a planning factor.

One thing I have learned to speed up mowing times is mowing in a circle starting at the center of the field.

Thanks, you get it, sometimes the little things can make a considerable difference.

 

[ericm979]

One thing I have learned to speed up mowing times is mowing in a circle starting at the center of the field.

Why is that faster? Do you need the exact center so there's no cleanup on the edges, or is being sort of close still faster?

 

[bigtiller]

I owned an empty 150' square lot in town for a few years that I mowed in a circler pattern with a 62" mmm deck on a JD garden tractor. It was a fun way to mow.

I don't remember it being faster, maybe it was, but I do remember it being easier. But saving the corners for last got frustrating with all the turnarounds and short runs.

 

[deserteagle71]

Why is that faster? Do you need the exact center so there's no cleanup on the edges, or is being sort of close still faster?

Probably because when mowing in a straight line from one end of the field to the other you spend a LOT of time turning round at each end, at which time the mower is not doing anything. Going round and round you never stop or turn around.

 

[dieselscout80]

Why is that faster? Do you need the exact center so there's no cleanup on the edges, or is being sort of close still faster?

Less wasted time turning when you might not be cutting a full cut.

You still have clean up cutting as the corners are left. I make about two perimeter rounds at the start then go to as near the center and start cutting in a circle.

I can’t use this technique in one of my pastures due to the shape of it and lots of trees.

On a side note with my pull type Woods C114 (9.5’ wide) I think it may be easier on my PTO joints as I don’t make as many tight turns (not relevant if you have a 3pt mounted cutter).

 

[RjCorazza]

I find the various calculators and charts to provide reasonable estimates as long as they include overlap and efficiency penalties.
Where they get particularly inaccurate in the real world is when people think they can maintain unrealistic speeds. My mower is capable of mowing at 10 mph, but on (16) 2 acre lots I can only AVERAGE about 4 mph mowing as fast as I can. My wide open 4 acre field I can average closer to 5 mph.

 

[ssgp2]

Like others here, I do a good amount of mowing, and these charts are indeed pretty accurate. But you do have to use just a little bit of common sense, and some just don't have that or the natural skill. I sometimes have someone else running one while I'm on another. One guy is a natural, the other, while safe and respectful with the equipment, just doesn't have "the touch".

 

[oosik]

I'm retired. So how fast I mow is of little concern. I mow at a speed that is - 1) enjoyable and 2) doesn't throw me off the mower.

Nuff said.........

 

[deserteagle71]

I'm retired. So how fast I mow is of little concern. I mow at a speed that is - 1) enjoyable and 2) doesn't throw me off the mower.

Nuff said.........

I wish I could post a video on here of how my tractor tosses and turns as I mow my desert acres. Much of the time I have to hold on to a grab handle just to stay in the seat. When I had only my old John Deere to mow with I used to stand up and use my knees as shock absorbers - just as I would when riding a dirt bike over rough terrain. But I can't stand up in the Kubota's cab!

 

[oosik]

I DO have a couple areas that are of concern to me. Mowing across a slope just isn't that much fun any more. I've never been thrown off or tipped over BUT I've had my JD 570 mmm up on two wheels.

I would really like a Rhino TW25 or TW35 rotary mower. For the meadows and fields that I mow. But the ever escalating cost - it's like riding a rocket ship.

 

[bigtiller]

I'm retired. So how fast I mow is of little concern. I mow at a speed that is - 1) enjoyable and 2) doesn't throw me off the mower.

Nuff said.........

That's the way I do it also.
When the fun turns into work, I quit.
I usually spread the mowing into 2 days and I mow only 3~ acres.
The 41" tall tires on the 3039r and air-ride seat help a lot.

 

[chim]

3-1/2 acres with buildings, trees, creek mowing with 7-1/2' RFM, L4240, liquid-filled rears, no loader when mowing:

Has been done in a teensy bit less than one hour but that borders on abuse of the equipment (and me). Pattern was start on the outside edge of the property and then mow increasingly smaller. Pattern was anticlockwise (as they say on the other side of the pond). Not that direction matters with a rear discharge deck.

I usually go a lot slower and mow a different pattern each time. This takes around 1-1/2 hours and is more enjoyable.