A seed pan apparatus has an elongated seed pan plate with parallel right and left edges, a curved configuration and a pointed front end. An engagement mechanism attaches the plate to a harvester cutting header such that the plate is above two adjacent guard fingers, such that an open slot is defined between the right edge of one plate and the left edge of an adjacent plate and the edges of the slot are in proximity to the outer edges of the guard fingers under the adjacent plates. The point is offset to make one front tapering edge forming the point longer than the other, and smooths the passage of stalks into the slot. The inclination, height, and fore and aft position of the seed pan plate can be adjusted to suit varying conditions of crop, moisture, soil, and the like or to suit different harvesting machines.
