Abstract: Harvesting apparatus comprising a chassis, apparatus for loosening the roots of a crop from the ground, conveyor apparatus for engaging crops and transporting them to a first location, and haulm cutting apparatus engaging the crops at the first location and being operative for separating the haulm from the remaining portion of the crops, the haulm cutting apparatus comprising a pair of cooperating, counter-rotating, generally parallel disposed augers, having screw threads formed thereon, the augers being configured to define a broadened entrance region wherein the screw threads of the pair of augers are separated from each other by a separation which exceeds the separation between the solids of rotation defined by rotation of the augers.

Abstract: A method for partial husking of an ear of corn including a first cutting step of partially cutting through the ear of corn at a first end thereof, thus separating a first end of the ear joined to a first part of the husk from the remainder of the ear; a first removing step of removing the first end of the ear together with the first part of the husk from the ear; a second cutting step of partially cutting through the ear of corn at a second end thereof; a second removing step of removing the second end of the ear together with the second part of the husk from the ear; and trimming the remaining part of the husk.