ADAPTIVE ENGINE SPEED CONTROL METHOD

An adaptive engine speed control system (100) for a grass mowing machine (102) having an internal combustion engine (104), a hydrostatic traction drive circuit (106) and a hydraulic mowing circuit (108) for operating a plurality of cutting units. A controller provides a traction feedback output signal (202) if the grass mowing machine is moving at an actual ground speed that is below a pedal based desired ground speed, and uses the traction feedback output signal to command the internal combustion engine to an increased speed above a pedal based engine speed (204) control range.