A control system (56, 88) for a header for an agricultural harvesting machine such as a combine (20), providing features including an automatic reel position control operable to provide at least one selectable predetermined position combination of a cutter bar (30) and reel (34), and which can also automatically control height and/or fore and aft positions of the reel responsive to cutter bar movements, as required, for purposes such as for maintaining and/or optimizing the reel / cutter bar relationship for a particular crop and/or condition, and for avoiding interference between the tines or fingers of the reel and the sickle of the cutter bar, and possible damage to the tines and/or sickles, and slippage of the reel and/or sickle drive, that can result.
