a method and apparatus for selectively harvesting multiple components of a plant material . a grain component is separated from the plant material such as by processing the plant material through a primary threshing and separating mechanism . at least one additional component of the plant material is selectively harvested such as by subjecting the plant material to a secondary threshing and separating mechanism . for example , the stems of a plant material may be broken at a location adjacent one or more nodes thereof with the nodes and the internodal stem portions being subsequently separated for harvesting . the at least one additional component may then be consolidated and packaged for subsequent use or processing . the harvesting of the grain and of the at least one additional component may occur within a single harvesting machine , for example , during a single pass over a crop field .