Exhibit 23.1 INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT Board of Directors The Toro Company: We consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration statements of The Toro Company on Forms S-3 and S-8 (File Nos. 33-26268, 33-31586, 33-38308, 33-44668, 33-51563, 33-55550, 33-59563, 333-4521, and 333-20901) of our report dated June 5 , 1997, relating to our audit of the combined balance sheet of the James Hardie Irrigation Group as of December 1, 1996, and the related combined statements of operations, divisional/shareholders' equity and cash flows for the year then ended, which report appears elsewhere in this Form 8-K/A. KPMG Peat Marwick LLP Minneapolis, Minnesota June 6, 1997