An auto-follow row mechanism was designed. A three-dimensional model of the auto-follow row mechanism was built under the application of UG, and then imported to the mechanical system dynamics simulation software ADAMS to build a virtual prototype model. Taking beet as harvest object, the simulation of the auto-follow row movement in ADAMS / View environment was conducted by setting the model parameters, adding constraints and drive. Taking the return spring stiffness, reset spring preload and operating forward speed of the auto-follow row mechanism as influencing factors, and taking the angular velocity of the angle sensor as the objective function to characterize auto-follow row sensitivity and drain digging rate, a virtual orthogonal test of parameters was performed, which affected auto-follow row movement. A field verification test was also carried out and the results showed that the effect of the return spring stiffness was not significant. When the return spring preload force was 200 N, the forward operating speed was 1.5 m/s, and the drain dug loss rate was minimum.