Method of operating an agricultural vehicle

A method of operating an agricultural vehicle to reduce the time taken for rotating components of the crop processing machinery driven by the vehicle engine to reach a standstill, which method comprises the steps of:

• sensing when a signal is generated responsive to a vehicle operator action to disengage a drive from the engine to the rotating components;
• reducing the engine speed in response to the sensed signal to a minimum value below a steady idling speed of the engine, the minimum value being reliant on kinetic energy of the rotating components to prevent stalling the engine;
• disengaging the drive to the rotating components after the engine speed has reached the minimum value;
• and
• increasing the engine speed to a value equal to or greater than the steady idling speed after the disengagement of the drive to the rotating components and prior to stalling the engine.