Harvesting machine with crop detection and harvesting width detection

A harvesting machine comprising:

• a harvesting part that is provided forward of a machine body, and harvests crops in a farm field;
• a threshing apparatus that threshes the crops harvested by the harvesting part;
• a harvesting width detector that detects a harvesting width corresponding to crops harvested through harvesting work that has actually been performed, included in a workable width within which harvesting work can be performed by the harvesting part;
• a travel transmission unit that changes the travel speed of the machine body;
• and
• a speed controller that shifts the travel transmission unit to a lower speed as the harvesting width increases in order to decrease the load that is applied to the threshing apparatus, and shifts the travel transmission unit to a higher speed as the harvesting width decreases, based on the result of detection performed by the harvesting width detector;
• wherein crop sensors that detect the presence of crops upon coming into contact with the crops are included in the harvesting width detector.