Life on the Road: Inside America’s Custom Harvesting Industry

Sep 11

Introduction

When you think about harvest, you might picture a farmer running a combine on their own land. But across America, there’s an entire industry of custom harvesters who spend months on the road, moving from Texas to Montana—or Georgia to Michigan—bringing in crops for others. In this special two-part Farm4Profit Podcast episode, we sit down with Paul Paplow of Paplow Harvesting & Trucking and David Orrson of Orrson Custom Farming LTD to learn what it takes to keep America’s grain moving.

👉 Listen now on Apple Podcasts.

Part One: Paplow Harvesting & Trucking

Paul Paplow’s story begins in 1992 with a modest two-combine family operation. Today, Paplow Harvesting & Trucking runs a 10-machine fleet covering thousands of miles each season. His crews follow the wheat harvest north, a route known throughout agriculture for its high-stakes pace and tight logistics.

Regulations & Labor – Paul shares how the J-1 Visa Program helps bring international workers to the U.S. for harvest runs, while navigating evolving rules and paperwork.
Leadership – As a representative for the U.S. Custom Harvesters, Inc. (USCHI), Paul has advocated in Washington, D.C. and at Commodity Classic to ensure harvester voices are heard.
Scaling Up – Managing crews across multiple states requires constant adaptation to technology, safety standards, and rising costs.

This segment shines a light on how entrepreneurial thinking and strong leadership keep custom harvesting viable in today’s agricultural landscape.

Part Two: Orrson Custom Farming LTD

The Orrson family’s story goes back to 1946, when David’s grandfather began custom harvesting. Now in its third generation, Orrson Custom Farming runs from Georgia to Michigan, employing 16 crew members and harvesting nearly year-round.

Safety First – David emphasizes rigorous farm safety protocols and hands-on crew training, recognizing the high risks of long days on the road.
Family Legacy – With 700 acres of their own production back home in Ohio, Orrson Custom Farming balances customer service with maintaining their own operation.
Generational Resilience – With the fourth generation now active, the Orrsons embody the adaptability required to thrive through decades of change in agriculture.

This conversation highlights how family businesses evolve while keeping core values intact—dedication, safety, and service.

Why Custom Harvesting Matters

Custom harvesters play an essential role in the U.S. grain supply chain. They enable farmers without enough labor or equipment to get crops out of the field on time, protecting yield quality and keeping markets supplied.

Without these crews, bottlenecks in harvesting could ripple through everything from grain elevators to global exports. It’s a side of agriculture that often goes unnoticed, but it’s vital to feeding the world.

Conclusion

Life on the road as a custom harvester is demanding, unpredictable, and rewarding. From the Paplows’ advocacy in D.C. to the Orrsons’ 75-year family tradition, this Farm4Profit Podcast episode reveals how dedication, grit, and community make custom harvesting possible.

Whether you’re a farmer, ag enthusiast, or simply curious about where your food begins its journey, this episode pulls back the curtain on one of agriculture’s hardest-working groups.

👉 Don’t miss it: Listen to the full episode now.

Farm4Profit Podcast https://www.farm4profit.com