Sugar beet is an important industrial crop, which, in addition to sugar, contains vitamins, organic acids, microelements, fiber, fructose, etc. Processed products such as pulp and molasses are widely used in animal husbandry. An analysis of long-term observations showed that in dry years, with a decrease in soil moisture by 3-8%, its hardness increases to 47%. At the same time, the shift output of combines decreases, and the average specific fuel consumption per hectare increases and there is an increased wear of the digging working bodies. We studied the effect of loosening the soil before the operation of beet harvesters on the force of extracting root crops, increasing the productivity of combines and reducing specific fuel consumption. In a search experiment to identify the ability of a needle disk to loosen the soil layer and possibly reduce its ability to hold root crops, a prototype soil cultivator was developed. In order to identify the most efficient operation of the ripper, the number of teeth (needles) was changed: 8 - 10 - 12 and the depth of the teeth from 5 to 15 cm in increments of 5 cm. extraction force. During the search experiment, indicators characterizing the physical and mechanical properties of the soil were taken. An analysis of the working bodies of soil rippers was carried out and a model sample of a needle disc ripper was developed. The conducted field tests have shown a decrease in the force of retaining root crops by the soil after the passage of the developed cultivator, which in turn can help reduce the resistance to the work of diggers and, as a result, increase the efficiency of beet harvesters.