A pre-cutter tine has a relatively wide working face which is pitched or canted relative to a plane extending vertically to an axis of rotation of a pre-cutter rotor carrying a plurality of the tines arranged helically about the axis. The pitched working face of adjacent tines acts to support the crop being cut as the pitched working faces advance the crop toward the pre-cutter knives which are spaced such that the working faces of adjacent tines pass on opposite sides of a given knife. The working faces of the tines may be pitched such as to cause the engaged crop to be conveyed inwardly as well as to the rear by the tines.