In a cutting unit S for agricultural machines, comprising a rotor R carrying on a base body 11 spaced apart tine arrangements with circumferential phase shifts in between adjacent tine arrangements Z, each tine arrangement Z having at least one tine W with a base 16 secured to a base body 11 of the rotor R and an outwardly protruding triangular tine tip 13, the tine tip 13 forming a conveying flank F leading in the direction 12 of rotation of the rotor R and extending from the tine end 14 to a transition 20 into the base 16, a cutting unit bottom 4 forming a lower boundary of a conveying channel 3, cutting blades 5 protruding from the cutting unit bottom 4 through the conveying channel 3 besides moving paths of the tine tips 13, and scrapers 7 placed in conveying direction 23 through the conveying channel 3 behind the rotor R, a compression surface G is provided at the base 16 of the tine W ahead of the conveying flank F in the direction of rotation of the rotor R, the compression surface G gradually ascending at least substantially up to the transition 20 into the conveying flank F.
