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.

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.

When using a cross auger assembly on a crop harvesting header with a flexible frame having end frame sections pivotal relative to a centre frame section, mounting devices are coupled between the bearing housings at opposing ends of the cross auger assembly and the outer ends of the end frame sections. Each mounting device includes a first mounting structure fixed relative to the outer end of the end frame section, a second mounting structure fixed to a portion of the respective bearing housing, and a flexible mounting arrangement between the mounting structures to accommodate variation in lateral positioning of the bearing housings relative to the ends of the flexible frame as the flexible frame flexes over varying ground contours without requiring a telescoping shaft arrangement on the cross auger assembly.

When using a cross auger assembly on a crop harvesting header with a flexible frame having end frame sections pivotal relative to a centre frame section, mounting devices are coupled between the bearing housings at opposing ends of the cross auger assembly and the outer ends of the end frame sections. Each mounting device includes a first mounting structure fixed relative to the outer end of the end frame section, a second mounting structure fixed to a portion of the respective bearing housing, and a flexible mounting arrangement between the mounting structures to accommodate variation in lateral positioning of the bearing housings relative to the ends of the flexible frame as the flexible frame flexes over varying ground contours without requiring a telescoping shaft arrangement on the cross auger assembly.

A plant processing system may include a plant stripping apparatus with a frame and a plurality of stripping fingers including at least two groups of the stripping fingers being movable relative to each other. Each group of fingers may extend from a respective working surface, and the working surfaces may be oriented in substantial opposition to each other with a gap being formed between the first and second working surfaces to provide a pathway for movement of plant materials between an input and an output of the stripping apparatus.

A plant processing system may include a plant stripping apparatus with a frame and a plurality of stripping fingers including at least two groups of the stripping fingers being movable relative to each other. Each group of fingers may extend from a respective working surface, and the working surfaces may be oriented in substantial opposition to each other with a gap being formed between the first and second working surfaces to provide a pathway for movement of plant materials between an input and an output of the stripping apparatus.

When using a cross auger assembly on a crop harvesting header with a flexible frame having end frame sections pivotal relative to a centre frame section, mounting devices are coupled between the bearing housings at opposing ends of the cross auger assembly and the outer ends of the end frame sections. Each mounting device includes a first mounting structure fixed relative to the outer end of the end frame section, a second mounting structure fixed to a portion of the respective bearing housing, and a flexible mounting arrangement between the mounting structures to accommodate variation in lateral positioning of the bearing housings relative to the ends of the flexible frame as the flexible frame flexes over varying ground contours without requiring a telescoping shaft arrangement on the cross auger assembly.

When using a cross auger assembly on a crop harvesting header with a flexible frame having end frame sections pivotal relative to a centre frame section, mounting devices are coupled between the bearing housings at opposing ends of the cross auger assembly and the outer ends of the end frame sections. Each mounting device includes a first mounting structure fixed relative to the outer end of the end frame section, a second mounting structure fixed to a portion of the respective bearing housing, and a flexible mounting arrangement between the mounting structures to accommodate variation in lateral positioning of the bearing housings relative to the ends of the flexible frame as the flexible frame flexes over varying ground contours without requiring a telescoping shaft arrangement on the cross auger assembly.