A row crop header for an agricultural machine harvesting a crop having stalks comprising: a frame; a first crop row divider mounted to the frame; a second crop row divider mounted to the frame and spaced from the first crop row divider to define a space therebetween; a row unit disposed at the space, wherein the row unit includes a deck assembly defining a gap, the deck assembly including a compliant deck (66, 68) configured to adjust the gap based on contact with the stalks of the crop, wherein the compliant deck (66, 68) includes a first compliant deck and a second compliant deck, the first compliant deck including a plurality of first overlapping plates having first sides and the second compliant deck including a plurality second overlapping plates having second sides, wherein the compliant decks (66, 68) include a first end at the front inlet, a second end at the rear outlet, and an intermediate portion between the first end and the second end, wherein the intermediate portion defines a moveable edge configured to move responsively to contact with the stalks of the crop and wherein each of the overlapping plates is moveable with respect to an adjacent overlapping plate, and each of the overlapping plates includes the side defining the moveable edge, wherein said row unit further includes a stalk roll assembly disposed adjacently to the deck assembly, wherein the stalk roll assembly is configured to receive stalks of the crop and to separate the ears from the stalks based on contact of the crop with the overlapping plates, characterized in that the plates of the compliant decks are coupled to drive belts or to chain links (76, 82) of a gathering chain assembly (75, 80), the belts or chain links (76, 82) entrained around sprockets that are configured to rotate each of the compliant decks (66, 68) in opposite directions such that a portion of the first compliant deck and a portion of the second compliant deck disposed at the gap are configured to move in phase from the first end to the second end. a frame; a first crop row divider mounted to the frame; a second crop row divider mounted to the frame and spaced from the first crop row divider to define a space therebetween; a row unit disposed at the space, wherein the row unit includes a deck assembly defining a gap, the deck assembly including a compliant deck (66, 68) configured to adjust the gap based on contact with the stalks of the crop, wherein the compliant deck (66, 68) includes a first compliant deck and a second compliant deck, the first compliant deck including a plurality of first overlapping plates having first sides and the second compliant deck including a plurality second overlapping plates having second sides, wherein the compliant decks (66, 68) include a first end at the front inlet, a second end at the rear outlet, and an intermediate portion between the first end and the second end, wherein the intermediate portion defines a moveable edge configured to move responsively to contact with the stalks of the crop and wherein each of the overlapping plates is moveable with respect to an adjacent overlapping plate, and each of the overlapping plates includes the side defining the moveable edge, wherein said row unit further includes a stalk roll assembly disposed adjacently to the deck assembly, wherein the stalk roll assembly is configured to receive stalks of the crop and to separate the ears from the stalks based on contact of the crop with the overlapping plates, characterized in that the plates of the compliant decks are coupled to drive belts or to chain links (76, 82) of a gathering chain assembly (75, 80), the belts or chain links (76, 82) entrained around sprockets that are configured to rotate each of the compliant decks (66, 68) in opposite directions such that a portion of the first compliant deck and a portion of the second compliant deck disposed at the gap are configured to move in phase from the first end to the second end.