Abstract: An agricultural harvesting machine includes a first gathering element adapted to be driven by a first drive mechanism so as to gather crop and feed the crop in a direction substantially opposite to a direction of motion of the harvesting machine. A second gathering element is adapted to receive the crop from the first gathering element and is further adapted to be driven so as to transfer the crop in a direction substantially transverse to the direction of motion. Intake elements are adapted to receive the crop from the second gathering element. The second gathering element and intake elements are adapted to be driven at related rates. The first gathering element is driveable at a rate independent from a driven rate of the second gathering element and the intake elements.