A topper for a stalk plant harvester for cutting tops from stalk-like plants includes a frame, a pair of cutting blades carried by the frame, and a deflector vane pivotal ly coupled with the frame. The cutting blades are spaced apart from each other relative to a travel direction, with each cutting blade rotating about a respective generally vertical axis. The deflector vane is selectively movable between a first position for directing cut tops to one side of the topper and a second position for directing cut tops to an opposite side of the topper.