A control system for use on a peanut harvester using a conveyor to elevate and relocate the peanut pods and attached plant material. The control system inputs the ground speed in the direction of travel and the conveyor speed, and outputs to an electronic flow control valve that is part of a hydraulic circuit between a hydraulic motor that drives the conveyor and a connection point that provides hydraulic power to the hydraulic motor. The control system uses an algorithm that compares the ground speed and the conveyor speed and varies the output to the flow control valve so that the conveyor speed is maintained at a defined percentage of ground speed. The defined percentage of ground speed is a user-controlled variable that can be adjusted on the go through the user interface portion of the control system.

A method is provided for controlling the operation of a machine for harvesting root crop. At least one optical image-capturing unit captures at least one test image of harvested material comprising root crop which is moved along relative to a machine frame by means of at least one conveyor element. A conveying speed of the conveyor element is set on the basis of a test data set which is generated using the test image or formed by means of the latter. An evaluation device generates, on the basis of the test data set, a conveying speed signal, independent of a speed of the harvested material, for setting the conveying speed.

A method is provided for controlling the operation of a machine for harvesting root crop. At least one optical image-capturing unit captures at least one test image of harvested material comprising root crop which is moved along relative to a machine frame by means of at least one conveyor element. A conveying speed of the conveyor element is set on the basis of a test data set which is generated using the test image or formed by means of the latter. An evaluation device generates, on the basis of the test data set, a conveying speed signal, independent of a speed of the harvested material, for setting the conveying speed.