A self-propelled, self-steered mechanical burley tobacco cutter has been developed utilizing an inclined gathering chain conveyor to transport the stalk-cut plants toward the operator for manual spearing onto a mechanically assisted spear. The plants are then transferred onto a conventional wooden tobacco stick and deposited on the field for wilting according to conventional practice. The average harvesting rates, including all rest time, turn around time and other down time, for the mechanical cutter and for a worker using the conventional manual method are about ten and eight plants per minute, respectively. The mechanical cutter is not a high-capacity machine; its primary value is its ability to make the work of harvesting easier and more convenient.

(Full article published with kind permission from "Tobacco International")