What does the sickle tool do?

[adamkkool]

Maybe I am just dumb but I have not noticed any difference between using a sickle to harvest crops and grass vs using my hands. Does it actually make a difference?

[Michael]

It increases the amount that you harvest per plant. You also need it to harvest fibers from higher level plants, because you can't do that by hand at all.

[Wonko486]

It doesn't show up much with the crude scythe, but you absolutely see it with the better versions.

[Bored Peon]

There also seems to be a bug with the scythe that sometimes the scythe bonus is not included. I noticed this in the desert, so may be the biome or umbrella causing the issue?