A row insensitive plant harvesting system for tall stalky plants and canes to be carried on a mobile frame includes at least one rotary base cutter carrying knives on a lower end to cut plants from the ground across a swath defined by forwardly disposed plant dividing or separating apparatus. The base cutters and associated aspects of the system then transition the cut plants to a laid down orientation and propel them in a continuous manner while largely maintaining integrity of the stalks or canes for moisture retention to a conveyor for further processing or handling typically a billet cutter. The at least one base cutter is pivotally supported to allow adjusting a height of cut while maintaining a desired relationship to the conveyor to reduce loss of or damage to the cut plants.
