System and method for controlling the base cutter height of a sugar cane harvester

A system, and the method of operation and use thereof, for controlling and adjusting the height of a base cutter of a sugar cane harvester, during a harvesting operation, and without the necessity for continuous user intervention and adjustment, to maintain the height of the cut at approximately a desired height, including a control system that has a processor unit which is operable under program control during a harvesting operation, following initiation of program operation by a machine operator, to simultaneously monitor both the detected base cutter height and the detected cutting resistance encountered by the harvester as it traverses a particular ground track, and, based upon such detected conditions, to automatedly control the adjustment of the height of the harvester chassis above the ground surface so that the cutting apparatus of the base cutter unit is continuously adjusted to cut at approximately the desired cutting height, within an acceptable vertical movement range or bandwidth, during the course of the harvesting cut operation.