(NAPSA)—For acreage and farm owners, mowing and upkeep of their property often represents a significant time investment. Every day, more and moreof these property owners are turning to the new generation of commercialgrade zero-turning-radius mowers to increase the beauty of their property, while decreasing their time commitmentto lawncare. “T can honestly say that when I completed my 3.4 hourjob this past Sunday, I was disappointed the job was over—that I didn’t have more to do,” said Ray Eller, a 56-year-old acreage owner. He says that his zero-turn mower not only cuts grass much faster than the lawn tractor he used previously, but the increased control and comfort his new mower gives him makes his mowing time much more enjoyable. Eller’s experience is not uncommon. The mowers, which can “turn on a dime,” allow homeown- ers to maneuver more easily around trees and landscaping. Plus, the more powerful engines, larger cutting decks and higherquality cutting blades of commercial models further enhance speed and quality of cut, relative to consumer-quality models. Farmstead owner Paul MclIntosh says that the 60-inch cutting deck and enhanced maneuverability of the Exmark Lazer Z com- mercial zero-turn mower he now uses cut his mowing time by more than half compared to the garden tractor he previously used. “It takes less than 1% hoursto cut what used to take more than four hours with my 46-inch garden tractor. It cuts so level—my yard looks better than it ever has.” Owners also cite increased comfort as another significant advantage of commercial-grade mowers. Lawn care expert John Cloutier says that, because the Zero-turning-radius riding mowers are a great option for people with a lot of land to care for. mowers are designed for use by lawncare professionals, who often spend more than 12 hours at a time using the machines, commercial models offer comfort-enhancing features such as suspended operator seats, integrated cup holders and ergonomically placed operator controls. These features combine to make today’s commercial zero-turn mower a comfortable, powerful and durable option for care of a farm or acreage. A number of the industry’s largest mower manufacturers, including industry leader Exmark Manufacturing, have elected to include a standard Roll-Over Protection System (ROPS) on their 2004 zero-turn mower models. The ROPS, when combined with a safety belt, is designed to protect the operator in the event of a mower rollover. Exmark also offers a low-cost, dealer-installed ROPS for its existing (pre-2004) models, and encourages owners of those models to consult their local dealer to have ROPSinstalled. For more information about professional-quality zero-turn mowers, visit www.exmark.com or call 800-667-5296.
