Abstract: In a field harvester and trimmer for root crops having foliage tops growing from the crowns of the crop to be harvested and trimmed, such as large bulbous onions, turnips, parsnips and rutabagas, consisting of a movable vehicle having at least a forward mounted severing and lifting mechanism and trimmer, the improvement comprising a series of rotating and caged flail drum sub-assemblies for trimming the foliage tops and roots of the gathered crop the results of which is a surprisingly enhanced trimmed state. In accordance with the invention, the series of caged, rotating flail drum sub-assemblies of the invention each includes independently rotating dissectable cylindrical cage circumferenential of a series of transverse knives mounted on a central, independently driven shaft. The cylindrical cage includes a side wall preferably provided with a plurality of slots defining major axes of symmetry substantially transverse to axis of rotation of the central driven shaft.

Abstract: A vine cutter for cutting entangled vines of potato plants in front of a potato harvester so that the vines do not become entangled and accumulated upon a front portion of the potato harvester. The inventive device includes a frame having a pair of upper members and a pair of opposing lower members, a first disc journaled to the frame, a second disc journaled to the frame below the first disc and having a ground engaging rim attached coaxially, and a motor mechanically connected to the first and second discs. The first disc and the second disc are vertically orientated, and a portion of the discs overlap and are juxtaposed to one another. The pair of discs preferably include a plurality of notches projecting into their respective outer perimeters. The discs rotate at a differential to one another from 1.2 to 2.5 depending upon the type of vines being cut. The ground engaging ring attached to the second disc determines the depth of penetration by the second disc into the ground.