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Abstract. Cane loss is one of the most important indices with which to evaluate the performance of sugarcane harvesters. In this study, a series of extracting test were conducted to explore the influences of harvester parameters on cane losses. Statistical analyses showed that the fan speed, cane feeding rate, and the length of billet had significant effects on cane losses. Tests result showed that increasing fan speed would increase the cane loss; however, increasing the feeding rate and length of billet could reduce the cane loss. In addition, when the feeding rate was low (1 kg/s), the influence of fan speed and length of billet on the loss was more significant; when the feeding rate was increased to the intermediate level (2 kg/s), the influences of the fan speed and length of billet weakened; and there existed a negative linear relationship between the length of billet and cane loss with any fan speeds. In addition, a CFD method was used to simulate the sugarcane mixture extraction process. The simulation resultanlyzed the moving trajectories of the billet fragments in the air flow field. Finally, optimal machine parameter settings were suggested for reducing cane losses.