A sugar beet defoliator and top saver having a frame, removable cover, conveyor extending laterally across the frame, steel flails disposed about a first rotating shaft situated between a front end of the frame and the conveyor, rubber flails disposed about a second rotating shaft situated within the frame rearward of the conveyor, ground wheels situated rearward of the frame, and scalper blades arranged transversely relative to the frame and situated rearwardly of the ground wheels. An interior shroud is situated between the steel flails and a front end of the frame, and a crank arm is configured to move a deflector plate from a first position to a second position. When the deflector plate is in the first position, it extends horizontally parallel with a top end of the shroud. When the deflector plate is in the second position, it is situated between the steel flails and the conveyor.

The beet head trimming apparatus for a beet-harvesting machine comprises a frame, two flail hubs rotatable about an axis, flails, which are designed in order to remove leaves from beets remaining in the ground, and a drive in order to drive the flail hubs with respect to the frame. The drive comprises a motor and a gearbox and the flails are movably attached to the flail hubs. The motor and the gearbox are attached to the frame. The frame of the beet head trimming apparatus is coupled with a beet-harvesting machine. The beet head trimming apparatus couples the motor with an electrical and/or hydraulic energy source. The beet head trimming apparatus is a module that can be handled separately from the beet-harvesting machine.

The beet head trimming apparatus for a beet-harvesting machine comprises a frame, two flail hubs rotatable about an axis, flails, which are designed in order to remove leaves from beets remaining in the ground, and a drive in order to drive the flail hubs with respect to the frame. The drive comprises a motor and a gearbox and the flails are movably attached to the flail hubs. The motor and the gearbox are attached to the frame. The frame has mechanical coupling means for coupling the frame with the beet-harvesting machine. The beet head trimming apparatus has electrical and/or hydraulic coupling means for coupling the motor with an electrical and/or hydraulic energy source. The beet head trimming apparatus is a module that can be handled separately from the beet-harvesting machine.