A method for automatically controlling a cut height of a header (12) of an agricultural harvester (10). The method includes positioning the header to a predetermined cut height set point, measuring a ground speed of the agricultural harvester, measuring a height of the header relative to a ground surface at a plurality of positions along a length of the header. The method further includes lowering the header towards a first adjusted cut height threshold if a measured height of one of the plurality of positions is above the predetermined cut height set point and the measured ground speed is less than a first predetermined ground speed. The subject application allows the automatic header height control software on an agricultural harvester to automatically deviate from the predetermined cut height set point. This allows better control of the header at higher speeds and allows more crop to be gathered without manual intervention.