Abstract: A ground-crop harvester for potatoes and the like has two unique control features that enhance the productivity of the device and the quality of the harvested ground-crop (e.g., less bruising). The harvester preferably includes an excavator arranged to scrape up a layer of soil and ground-crop and a primary conveyor configured to receive the soil and ground-crop scraped up by the excavator and to separate soil from the ground-crop. A downstream conveyor is arranged downstream of the primary conveyor (e.g., directly downstream therefrom or after a secondary conveyor and/or other conveyors) to receive the separated ground-crop. A primary conveyor adjustable speed drive mechanism is provided for the primary conveyor. A downstream conveyor adjustable speed drive mechanism is provided for the downstream conveyor. A speed measurer or sensor is provided for sensing the forward speed of the harvester and for emitting signals representative of the speed. An amount sensor (e.g.

Abstract: An improvement is presented in an apparatus for processing soil for planting wherein a separator are provided for initially separating rocks and other large objects from soil prior to crushing thereof, the separator comprising a plurality of respectively upwardly and downwardly directed pins which cooperate in the removal of said rocks and other large objects from the soil. Also provided is a vertical rotatable power driven shaft centrally located in said apparatus wherein a plurality of radially extending arms are fixed thereto and are rotatable with the shaft. Some of said separating pins are fixed to the arms and some cooperating separating pins are fixed to a disc plate also mounted about said power driven shaft. A rotating plurality of discs crush said soil to reduce large particles and destroy weed seeds, insects, and larvae.