Every year, a fleet of farm machinery begins a journey that follows the grain harvest from South to North. But custom harvesting is about more than just cutting wheat or corn. It’s a logistics game. And it involves cutting-edge data, complex labor laws, and a constant battle against the elements. Paul Paplow is the president of U.S. Custom Harvesters. He’s based out of Northwest Iowa, but he covers national ground. He reflects on a busy year. He explains that while the equipment is getting smarter and the data is getting more precise, the heart of custom harvesting still lies in the people.