System and method for operating a mowing implement having sensors that track a mowing operation

A method of operating a side mower system, the method comprising:

• delivering mechanical power from a work vehicle to a side mower, the side mower having a mowing deck laterally offset from the work vehicle through a mower-to-vehicle coupler for mowing a section of ground laterally offset from the work vehicle;
• powering a data hub affixed to the side mower using electrical power from an energy storage device affixed to the side mower, the data hub being directly connected to at least one side mowing sensor via a wired power interface such that electrical power is transmitted directly from the data hub to the at least one side mowing sensor;
• communicating at least one side mower signal from the at least one side mowing sensor to the data hub, the data hub being configured as a computing device including one or more processors and associated memory;
• and
• communicating at least one data hub signal including information based on the at least one side mower signal from the data hub to an external device.

A towed mower, comprising:

• a mowing deck having a moveable mowing blade supported by the mowing deck and structured to cut vegetation;
• a mower-to-vehicle coupler used to couple the mowing deck to a work vehicle and structured to carry a towing load imparted to the mowing deck as a result of being towed behind the work vehicle;
• an implement sensor structured to generate a mowing signal related to at least one mowing parameter;
• an energy storage device affixed on the towed mower;
• and
• a data hub affixed on the towed mower and in data communication with the implement sensor, the data hub structured to collect the mowing signal to create an operating data history of the towed mower;
• wherein the data hub is configured as a computing device including one or more processors and associated memory,
• wherein the data hub is in electrical communication with the energy storage device, and
• wherein the data hub is directly connected to the implement sensor via a wired power interface such that electrical power is transmitted directly from the data hub to the implement sensor.