A shaker mechanism used in an agricultural machine, such as sugarcane harvesters and sweet sorghum harvesters. The shaker mechanism is configured for removing mud, dirt and plant remains accumulated in a lower protective tarpaulin of a mounting chassis of conveyor rollers and choppers of the agricultural machine. The shaker mechanism includes at least a bar having ends which are fastened on rotary support bearings. The bar is configured to stand at least partially out from an edge of the bearings forming at least a spare surface for contact with a protective tarpaulin positioned on the chassis of the machine.

A shaker mechanism used in an agricultural machine, such as sugarcane harvesters and sweet sorghum harvesters. The shaker mechanism is configured for removing mud, dirt and plant remains accumulated in a lower protective tarpaulin of a mounting chassis of conveyor rollers and choppers of the agricultural machine. The shaker mechanism includes at least a bar having ends which are fastened on rotary support bearings. The bar is configured to stand at least partially out from an edge of the bearings forming at least a spare surface for contact with a protective tarpaulin positioned on the chassis of the machine.

A method for promoting germination of underground buds and growth of new-born root systems of ratoon sugarcane is to cut stubbles based on a depth survey of the stubbles of the ratoon sugarcane, particularly including steps of: for a ratoon sugarcane field after mechanical harvesting, cutting the stubbles with a sugarcane stubble cutting machine, and remaining underground stubbles of 5-7 cm after cutting; for a ratoon sugarcane field with manual harvesting, cutting the sugarcane with a hoe, and remaining underground stubbles of 10-12 cm after cutting, so as to realize sugarcane cutting and stubble cutting in one step; thereafter, applying fertilizers and pesticides, and hilling up, wherein the underground buds of the stubbles are controlled to be distributed 10-15 cm below ground after hilling up; and finally conducting whole film mulching. The present invention is advanced and practical, and easily used and promoted.

A chopper system and method for cutting crop material with a rotating first drum having first blades and a counter-rotating second drums having second blades. Blade pairs with one first blade and one second blade contact one another and cut the crop material. The blades of each blade pair contact one another for at least ten degrees of rotation. The blades can have beveled cutting edges, and the blade pairs can make bevel to bevel contact. The initial contact of the blade pairs during each rotation can form a swipe angle of 15 degrees or less. The initial contact of the blade pairs during each rotation can have the acute end of the first blade contact the second blade near the middle of the beveled edge. During each rotation, the acute end of the second blade can contact the back of the first blade.

A chopper system and method for cutting crop material with a rotating first drum having first blades and a counter-rotating second drums having second blades. Blade pairs with one first blade and one second blade contact one another and cut the crop material. The blades of each blade pair contact one another for at least ten degrees of rotation. The blades can have beveled cutting edges, and the blade pairs can make bevel to bevel contact. The initial contact of the blade pairs during each rotation can form a swipe angle of 15 degrees or less. The initial contact of the blade pairs during each rotation can have the acute end of the first blade contact the second blade near the middle of the beveled edge. During each rotation, the acute end of the second blade can contact the back of the first blade.

An extractor for a sugarcane harvester that chops stalks of sugarcane into billets. The extractor comprises a fan, a leaf shredder, and a hub. The fan comprises fan blades to induce a flow of air to separate leaves from billets. The leaf shredder comprises shredding blades to cut leaves prior to their ejection from the extractor. The hub is rotatably driven about an axis of rotation. The fan blades and the cutting blades are coupled to the hub for rotation together with the hub about the axis of rotation.

An extractor for a sugarcane harvester that chops stalks of sugarcane into billets. The extractor comprises a fan, a leaf shredder, and a hub. The fan comprises fan blades to induce a flow of air to separate leaves from billets. The leaf shredder comprises shredding blades to cut leaves prior to their ejection from the extractor. The hub is rotatably driven about an axis of rotation. The fan blades and the cutting blades are coupled to the hub for rotation together with the hub about the axis of rotation.

Methods of producing sugar cane transplant units that includes planting a sugar cane propagation material in a planting container that has a volume of 10 to 200 cubic centimeters; growing the sugar plant to an age of at least 4 months; harvesting the stalks of the sugar cane plant when the stalks have a length of 10 to 50 centimeters; cutting the harvested stalks into stalk segments, wherein the stalk segments are cut to a length of 1 to 5 centimeters; and planting one or more of the stalk segments into a planting container that has a volume from 10 to 200 cubic centimeters.

Methods of producing sugar cane transplant units that includes planting a sugar cane propagation material in a planting container that has a volume of 10 to 200 cubic centimeters; growing the sugar plant to an age of at least 4 months; harvesting the stalks of the sugar cane plant when the stalks have a length of 10 to 50 centimeters; cutting the harvested stalks into stalk segments, wherein the stalk segments are cut to a length of 1 to 5 centimeters; and planting one or more of the stalk segments into a planting container that has a volume from 10 to 200 cubic centimeters.

A system for operating a harvester may include an elevator extending between a proximal end and a distal end, with the elevator being configured to carry harvested crops between its proximal and distal ends. The system may also include a storage hopper positioned adjacent to the distal end of the elevator, with the storage hopper defining a volume configured to receive the harvested crops discharged from the distal end of the elevator. In addition, the system may include a rotary spreader positioned within the storage hopper. The rotary spreader may be configured to be rotated within the storage hopper to disperse the harvested crops received from the elevator across at least a portion of the volume.