An agricultural harvester (20) with crop residue spreaders (42) distributing crop residue laterally. Each crop residue spreader (42) has a plurality of radially extending bats (46) rotatable within a housing (64) for directing residue from an axially directed inlet (76) radially outward through an outer outlet (72). The housing (64) has an outer wall (68) with a height that increases axially in a uniform fashion around the periphery to minimize if not eliminate recirculation of residue to the inlet (76).