Abstract: The subject matter of the invention is a straw-cutting machine which is disposed behind the grain separating devices of a combine harvester and whose separating devices cut up the stalks falling down from the straw walkers into short pieces. In this process, due to an innovative, special disposition of the generally conventional deflector which, under the straw walkers, deflects the stalks from falling down from these to the cutter tray at the inlet into the cutter, receiving the stalks by the cutting drum is made more secure and, on the other hand, due to an innovative, special design of the distribution hood following the cutter, ejection and distribution of the chopped up stalks over the field soil is essentially improved over existing designs.