A mowing machine has a frame component group； a mower component group connected to the frame component group so as to be supported by it on the field in a working and operating position； and a protection and cover component group surrounding the mower component group. The mower component group has rotatingly driven cutting members. The cutting members are arranged transverse to a traveling and working direction of the mowing machine and have a rotation body that, in the working and operating position, is close to the ground and has cutting blades at the outer periphery. An active suction unit correlated with the mower component group deflects an air flow, oriented from the mower component group in a first direction toward the still standing crop, in a second direction in which the crop is no longer loaded by the air flow.
