Mahindra USA, Inc. has announced the winners of its 2011-12 scholarship program benefiting young women studying agriculture, the Mahindra Tractors “Women in Ag” Scholarships.

“From almost 8,000 applicants, these four outstanding women were selected to receive merit-based college scholarships from Mahindra USA for use during the 2012 school year,” Mahindra USA says in a release.”

When we think of tractors, race cars rarely come to mind. However, Husqvarna recently decided to partner up with the NASCAR Hall of Fame to unveil the aptly named Fast Tractor.

According to Husqvarna, the Fast Tractor it’s the fastest tractor in its class, able to reach top speeds of 7-8 mph. Not quite quick enough to turn laps at Daytona, but plenty fast to get your grass cut in record time.

“The Fast Tractor is designed to fit the needs of consumers who demand all-around high performance and high quality,” says John Marchionda, vice president of marketing for Husqvarna. “Consumers want the peace of mind that comes with knowing they are making a good investment. We’ve created a quality product that allows you to mow through yard work with precision and comfort – and the Fast Tractor reduces time spent mowing, which frees up valuable time to spend doing other things you really enjoy!”

John Deere has introduced its K-Series Backhoe Loaders, eight models (310K EP, 310K, 310SK, 310SK TC, 315SK, 410K, 410K TC, 710K) designed to build on the success of the popular J-Series. Two economical tractor loader models (210K EP, 210K) round out the K-Series.

“Our customers are a diverse group that use backhoe loaders and tractor loaders for a variety of applications on the jobsite,” says Louann Hausner, product marketing manager for backhoe loaders, John Deere Construction & Forestry. “The new K-Series provides North American contractors a variety of options that are powerful, versatile, productive and economical. John Deere is committed to matching the right machine to the right customer.”

Hydro-Gear, in cooperation with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), has recalled approximately 2,700 lawn tractors due to an issue with the hydrostatic transaxle.

According to the recall notice, the hydrostatic transaxle can fail causing brake failure, which poses a crash hazard to consumers. No incidents or injuries have been reported.

This recall involves Cub Cadet, MTD Gold and Troy-Bilt lawn tractors sold with Hydro-Gear model 618-0319 and 618-04270B transaxles. Cub Cadet and Troy-Bilt tractors included in this recall have dates of manufacture (DOM) ranging from December 2010 through March 2011. The DOM can be found on a label on the underside of the seat. MTD Gold can be identified by serial numbers starting with 1L15 or 1L16. Affected transaxles have serial numbers with the first four digits ranging between 0333 and 0348. Transaxle model and serial numbers are printed on a label on the transaxle.

Kioti Tractor has entered the subcompact tractor market with the launch of its CS2410 model tractor.

“This new tractor model exponentially increases sales opportunities for Kioti Tractor dealers throughout North America,” Kioti says in a release. “Prior to the launch of the Kioti CS2410, Kioti primarily targeted homeowners with 5+ acres of land. The CS2410 subcompact tractor is appropriate for those homeowners with property sizes ranging from just under an acre up to five acres, possibly more.”

While subcompact tractors are a relatively new tractor category, they are designed for and perfect for residential use.

We always enjoy it when the latest joke-laden press release from the U.S. Lawn Mower Racing Association finds its way into our inbox. This time, the USLMRA promotes its upcoming race season while having a little fun at the NFL’s expense.

As the NFL deals with the bounty scandal, the USLMRA boasts that its STA-BIL Lawn and Garden Mower Racing Series participants only compete for “trophies, lemonade and bragging rights” and have avoided any hint of scandal after 20 years of “cutting edge competition.”

“We’re a family of racers who compete fair and square, a real slice of Americana, featuring American ingenuity and true-blue sportsmanship. There’s no place for bounties in the STA-BIL Lawn and Garden Mower Racing Series,” says U.S. Lawn Mower Racing Association Founder and President Bruce ‘Mr. Mow It All’ Kaufman. “Well, we’re ‘virtually’ scandal-free. I’m still trying to find the racer who stole my beer at the driver’s party after the 1998 STA-BIL Nationals in Rockford, Illinois. Rumor has it either Sodzilla or Mudweiser is the culprit.”

John Deere is off to a good start in 2012, reporting first-quarter (ending Jan. 31, 2012) equipment sales and revenues of $6.767 billion, an increase of 11 percent compared to the same period last year.

Equipment net sales in the United States and Canada increased five percent for the quarter. Outside the U.S. and Canada, net sales were up 21 percent.

John Deere’s sales success led to record first-quarter earnings of $532.9 million.

“By completing another quarter of record performance, John Deere has started 2012 on a strong note,” says Samuel R. Allen, chairman and chief executive officer. “These results are evidence of the skillful execution of our operating and marketing plans. They also reflect an enthusiastic response by customers worldwide to our advanced lines of equipment. Maintaining such a high level of execution is especially noteworthy as we move ahead with major new-product launches and significantly expand our global market presence.”

It never ceases to amaze us what talented people can accomplish when they put their minds to it. In this case, it’s a video that was produced to honor a tractor that had been flooding the ice for 40 years at a hockey rink western Canada.

What makes this video interesting is that the story is told from the perspective of the tractor and tells of its journey from Braselton, England to Rossland, British Columbia in search of work. It’s clever, funny and well-produced. Not only that, but the video also saved the tractor. It was scheduled to be replaced by a more modern zamboni, but this video went viral and the locals decided to keep the tractor in service.

To celebrate its 20th Anniversary, the U.S. Lawn Mower Racing Association (USLMRA) has declared Feb. 1 “Hedgehog Day.”

The pun-happy organization says it will “mark the mowmentous occasion” by the unveiling of Mike “Hedgehog” Miller’s 80-mph racing lawn mower for the 20th STA-BIL Lawn and Garden Mower Racing Series.

“On Hedgehog Day, Miller will bring his souped up, 80-mph Factory Experimental race mower out its burrow,” the USLMRA says in a release. “If the Hedgehog does not become scared by his shadow, he will leave his burrow and his lawn mower racing season will begin on April Fool’s Day on the 20th Anniversary of the U.S. Lawn Mower Racing Association. If the Hedgehog sees his shadow, he will return to his garage to tinker and make adjustments for the season, making his racing debut June 23, under the warm summer sun at the 4th Annual STA-BIL Land of Lincoln Regionals, at Nostalgia Days in Zion, Illinois.”

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“Just like the famous furry rodent from Pennsylvania, I fully expect to be correct in my prediction of the coming lawn mower racing season,” says Miller. “And also like my Keystone State counterpart, I will not share my prediction with anyone in advance, not even with the lawn mower racing inner circle: ‘Mr. Mow It All’, ‘Turfinator’, ‘Sodzilla’ or ‘Ace of Blades’.”

On the occasion of this year’s Agritechnica, the world largest indoor farm equipment show (held Nov. 15 – 19 in Germany), the John Deere tractor 7280R (max. power 310 hp with IPM) was selected as “Tractor of the Year 2012” by a jury of editors of 20 European farm equipment journals.

Chosen from a group of seven finalists, the 7280R represents state-of-the-art tractor technology. In addition to featuring fuel-efficient stage III B Diesel-only engines, the 7280R is also available with ActiveCommand Steering. The ActiveCommand Steering system automatically adapts the steering force for optimum control and manoeuvrability in the field and on the road. Other features include the CommandView II cab with CommandArm operator console, GreenStar 3 CommandCenter display and optionally available ActiveSeat.