6/07 - We originally moved in to our new place in December so we were doing too much outside as far as yard work.  I knew that when the weather turned the first thing I was going to do was buy a new mower for the tractor because we currently had belly mower which was a major PITA in every way shape and form.  I purchased a New Holland rear three point hitch 60 inch finishing mowing in early Spring and the put the belly mower in moth balls.

I have to say the NH finishing mower was a solid unit.  I mowed everything from my lawn to 12 inch high fields with it and it did a pretty decent job.  That said, mowing the lawn with it was one thing but mowing the fields was an entirely different story altogether.  Furthermore, if you add up all the loader work I needed to do around the property AND the fact that I offered to mow my neighbors fields as well, the Ford 1220 tractor and NH 60" mower just wasn't going cuttin' it.  It was time for an upgrade.

Being a true gear head I felt the need to buy something the had bags more horsepower than I really needed.  With that in mind we went from a 15hp machine to a 45 horsepower machine . . . and I don't regret it one bit.  Enter the DK45SE HST . . .

As you can see I not only bought the tractor but also a few goodies as well.  I gained two feet on my finishing mower alone.  Was it worth it?  Definitely, my mowing literally went from 6-7 hours per weekend to 2 hours for all the pastures.  My neighbors fields which I do at least once a month go much quicker now.  I only have to brush cut them once a season as well.