A method for operating an agricultural vehicle , comprising: providing a feeder housing configured for pivotally connecting to the agricultural vehicle , a header configured for connecting to the feeder housing and moving between a header work position for harvesting a crop material and a header raised position, the header comprising a frame and at least one row unit connected to the frame , the at least one row unit comprising a pair of deck plates moveably connected to the frame , and a deck plate adjustment system comprising at least one actuator connected to the deck plates , an electronic control unit operably connected to the at least one actuator , and at least one sensor connected to the feeder housing or the header and operably connected to the electronic control unit ; pivoting the feeder housing to raise the header to the header raised position; sending, by the at least one sensor , a signal to the electronic control unit upon raising the header to the header raised position; and cycling the deck plates , by the electronic control unit actuating the at least one actuator to move the deck plates , upon receiving the signal from the at least one sensor for removing a buildup of material on the deck plates ; characterized in that the deck plates of the at least one row unit are separated from one another by a gap (SD), the deck plates are positionable in a deck plate operating position, and wherein cycling the deck plates comprises: opening the deck plates to widen the gap (SD) between the deck plates and/or closing the deck plates to narrow the gap (SD) between the deck plates ; and resetting the deck plates to the deck plate operating position. providing a feeder housing configured for pivotally connecting to the agricultural vehicle , a header configured for connecting to the feeder housing and moving between a header work position for harvesting a crop material and a header raised position, the header comprising a frame and at least one row unit connected to the frame , the at least one row unit comprising a pair of deck plates moveably connected to the frame , and a deck plate adjustment system comprising at least one actuator connected to the deck plates , an electronic control unit operably connected to the at least one actuator , and at least one sensor connected to the feeder housing or the header and operably connected to the electronic control unit ; pivoting the feeder housing to raise the header to the header raised position; sending, by the at least one sensor , a signal to the electronic control unit upon raising the header to the header raised position; and cycling the deck plates , by the electronic control unit actuating the at least one actuator to move the deck plates , upon receiving the signal from the at least one sensor for removing a buildup of material on the deck plates ; characterized in that the deck plates of the at least one row unit are separated from one another by a gap (SD), the deck plates are positionable in a deck plate operating position, and wherein cycling the deck plates comprises: opening the deck plates to widen the gap (SD) between the deck plates and/or closing the deck plates to narrow the gap (SD) between the deck plates ; and resetting the deck plates to the deck plate operating position. characterized in that the deck plates of the at least one row unit are separated from one another by a gap (SD), the deck plates are positionable in a deck plate operating position, and wherein cycling the deck plates comprises: opening the deck plates to widen the gap (SD) between the deck plates and/or closing the deck plates to narrow the gap (SD) between the deck plates ; and <EOS>