TimberWest - March/April 2018

EASTSIDE CHALLENGES

Kriege Logging Prinveville, Oregon

SUCCESS IN THE RESIDUALS MARKET 2018 OLC PICTORIAL REVIEW SAWMILL TRAINING

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Gem Shavings Shelton, Washington

A LEGACY GOING STRONG

Brown Brothers Logging Emmett, Idaho

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ON THE COVER

March/April 2018 Vol. 43 No. 03-04

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Lindsay Mohlere captures a John Deere 2154 working in an Idaho forest.

A Legacy Going Strong Starting out as far back as Idaho statehood, the Brown family has carried the logging tradition into the fifth generation.

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A Legacy Going Strong

Finding Success in the Residuals Market

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Wood shavings may be regarded as a waste product, but for Gem Shavings, supplying animal bedding has proven to be a successful business model.

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Eastside Challenges of Modern Day Logging Kreige Logging understands that overcoming challenges is part of running a successful business.

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Sawmill Training Takes a Seat in the Classroom Five wood products manufacturing companies have teamed up with North Idaho College and Lewis-Clark State College to gather $482,582 for sawmill training.

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The Fix Is in! ... Or Is It? Congress passed a $1.3 trillion omnibus budget that has solved the “fire borrowing” conundrum that has plagued the Forest Service for years.

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Finding Success in the Residuals Market

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Eastside Challenges of Modern Day Logging

Focus on Building Leadership

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Intermountain Logging Conference review.

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2018 OLC Pictorial Review A look at the highlights of the recent conference.

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Guest Column: Forestry’s Best Days are Yet to Come. Here’s Why. Nick Smith of Healthy Forests, Healthy Communities explains what lays ahead for the industry.

DEPARTMENTS

Page 4 .............................................................In the News Page 26 ..................................................... Machinery Row Page 38 ................................................. Association News Page 52 ........................................................ New Products Page 53 ............ Advertiser’s Index/Classified Section Page 53 .................... Calendar of Events/Subscription

Sawmill Training Takes a Seat in the Classroom

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Oregon Forest Practices Act had no adverse impacts on coastal cutthroat trout and coho salmon populations or movements, Oregon State University reported.

In studies of logging practices prior to passage of the act in 1971, changes to fish habitat were documented from the use of stream channels as transportation corridors for logs and from other changes to riparian areas adjacent to streams.

The results were published March 1 in a professional journal, Forest Ecology and Management.

Interior Announces 2017 Drone Mission Report

With a fleet of 312 unmanned aircraft, the Department of the Interior’s (DOI) Office of Aviation Service flew nearly 5,000 missions in 2017 to support everything from fighting wildfires to monitoring dams and spillways and mapping wildlife. The accomplishments of its unmanned aerial systems (UAS), or drone program, can be found in a recent report by DOI that summarizes flights made by more than 200 certified pilots in 32 states nationwide.

Drone flight to support natural resource management across DOI, including support to firefighters suppressing wildfires, increased 82 percent from 2016 to 2017. The report breaks down the flights for more than 1,000 projects by agency, geographic area, and missions for wildfire and non-wildfire purposes.

“Interior is committed to preventing the spread of catastrophic wildfires through smarter and more aggressive practices and tactics,” said U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke. “After seeing the capabilities, I know it will continue to make a big difference in firefighting. Coupled with more aggressive fuels management, this technology will help prevent and control catastrophic wildfires.”

This past fire season, DOI conducted 707 drone missions on 71 individual wildfires.

Drones were used by firefighters to gain a tactical advantage on wildfires by allowing them to improve their surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. The data and information gathered during these flights was used to support strategic planning for fighting wildfires. These advancements support the safety of our firefighters and the public through the detection of hotspots, improved mapping, and advanced monitoring of wildfires.

Coast Range Trout Thrive After Logging

A decade-long study of cutthroat trout in the Oregon Coast Range has found that logging practices conducted in accord with the 4

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DNR Revenue Forecast

Lumber and Log Prices. Prices for the typical DNR log were markedly higher in 2017 than previous years, averaging $611/ mbf for the year. The typical DNR log averaged $521/mbf in 2015, having fallen from an average of $591/mbf in 2014. The average price for 2016 was slightly higher at $536/ mbf. The increase in prices through 2017 was primarily due to increased lumber demand.

Prices are expected to remain high through early 2018, though are unlikely to increase significantly.

Timber Sales Volume. Given current timber sales plans, the sales volume forecast for FY 18 is unchanged at 500 mmbf. Sales plans in outlying years have not changed, so absent a new sustainable harvest calculation, sales volume forecasts in those years also remain at 500 mmbf.

Timber Sales Prices. FY 17 auction prices averaged $345/mbf. To date, auction prices for FY 18 have averaged $444/mbf with slightly over 50 percent of the forecast volume sold. The sales price forecast for FY 18 is increased to $403/mbf due to the strong auction prices to date and high expected prices for logs and lumber for the remainder of the fiscal year. The sales price forecasts for outlying years are unchanged.

Timber Removal Volume and Prices. Accounting for changes to purchaser plans, the timing of contract expirations, and the likely average monthly harvest possible, FY 18 harvest volume expectations are lowered by 51 mmbf to 539 mmbf. The FY 19 harvest volume forecast is decreased by 12 mmbf to 585 mmbf. Harvest volume forecasts for FY 20 and 21 are increased by 9 mmbf and 36 mmf, respectively.

The average timber removal price for FY 18 is increased to $334/mbf, due to increased auction prices and an increase in the value of remaining inventory. Timber removal prices for FY 19-21 are projected to be about $353 (+$12), $348 (-$2), and $344 (+$1) per mbf.

These removal prices reflect changes in both the sales prices and removal timing. (continued on page 6)

Editor: Diane Mettler, diane@forestnet.com Copy Editor: Beth Szyperski Contributing Editors: Barbara Coyner, Lindsay Mohlere, Nick Smith, Andrea Watts ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Sales Mgr: James Booth – jbooth@forestnet.com Phone: (604) 506-8631 Director: Rob Stanhope – stanhope@forestnet.com Assoc. Publisher: Anthony Robinson –robinson@forestnet.com Sales Contact Information: Phone: (604) 990-9970 • Fax: (604) 990-9971 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Publisher & Production Manager: Sheila Ringdahl – sringdahl@forestnet.com Accounting Manager: Shelina Jessa – accounting@forestnet.com Corporate Office Information: Phone: (425) 778-3388 Fax: (425) 771-3623 timberwest@forestnet.com www.forestnet.com Send all materials - Insertion Orders, Contracts, Copy, Photos, Disks to: TImberWest Publications, LLC P.O. Box 610 (300 Admiral Way, Suite 105) Edmonds, WA 98020-0610 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Send both OLD and NEW Circulation information to: TimberWest Magazine Attn: Subscriptions P.O. Box 610, Edmonds, WA 98020 Fax: (425) 771-3623 • subscribetw@forestnet.com ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Advertising created by TimberWest Publications, LLC is the sole property of TimberWest Publications, LLC and may not be copied or reproduced without the express written permission of the publisher.

PUBLISHER’S EDITORIAL STATEMENT: TimberWest reports on the logging and lumber segment of the forest industry in the Western United States with emphasis on the states of AK, WA, OR, ID, MT and CA, providing current information on timber harvesting techniques, sawmill operations, news, legislation, events, people and products pertinent to this market.

TIMBERWEST (USPS #024858) is published bi-monthly (Jan/Feb, Mar/Apr, May/Jun, Jul/Aug, Sept/Oct, Nov/Dec) by TimberWest Publications, LLC, 300 Admiral Way, Suite 105, Edmonds, WA, 98020. Periodicals postage paid at Edmonds, WA and at additional mailing offices. Copyright 2018. All rights reserved. Subscription rates to qualified subscribers are Free and all non-qualified subscriptions in U.S. are $22 per year payable in advance. Canada $35 (U.S.). Other $40 (U.S.). Single copies paid in advance $4. Company affiliation, title, date and signature must appear on subscription forms.

Publisher reserves the right to refuse non-industry subscriptions and advertising. All other advertising is accepted at the discretion of the publisher. Publisher does not assume any responsibility for the contents of any advertisement and all representations or warranties made in such advertising are those of the advertiser and not of the publisher. Back issues, if available, $4 each. Directory and Calendar issue $10 each.

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(continued from page 4) Timber Revenue. The above changes to timber sales prices, sales volumes, and harvest timing have shifted projected revenue in all forecast years. Revenues for the 2017-2019 biennium are forecast to total $387 million, down around one percent ($2 million) from September’s forecast. Forecast revenues for the 2019-2021 biennium are increased by five percent ($17 million) to $378 million.

Total Revenues. Total revenues for the 2017-2019 biennium (FY 18 and 19)

are unchanged at $533 million. Revenues for the 2019-2021 biennium (FY 20 and 21) are raised by $16 million to $517 million.

For the full forecast, visit https:// www.dnr.wa.gov/about/f iscal-reports/ quarterly-economic-and-revenue-forecasts.

Pacific Northwest Senators Gain Reforms for Wildfire Funding in Spending Bill

The Seattle Times reported that Washington Sen. Maria Cantwell (D), working with a bipartisan coalition of Pacific

Northwest senators, was able to “notch a significant win this past week in the years’ long effort to change the system for funding Forest Service wildfire fighting.”

Instead of siphoning funds to pay for wildfires, the measure, tucked inside the spending bill, creates a new fund to provide — in severe fire years — more than $2 billion for Forest Service efforts to combat the blazes.

The money will be available through 2027.

“Everyone in our region was pretty much on the same page,’’ said Cantwell, ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. “We kind of knew what we wanted to do and that had a big impact on the negotiations.”

Washington to Include Mass Timber in Building Codes

Mass timber has made more headway in the construction world. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has signed a law requiring the state’s building code council to begin developing rules for the use of mass timber

in commercial and residential construction, according to the Architect’s Newspaper. This could pave the way for state and local building departments to start including mass timber in their building codes.

The new law mandates that Washington officials must consider upcoming changes to the International Building Code (IBC) dealing with mass timber buildings of up to 18 stories. The IBC Ad Hoc Committee on Tall Wood Buildings will begin hearing public comment on the revisions next month.

Constructiondrive.com reported that Washington lawmakers are also working on legislation that would require cross-laminated timber be used in any public building 12 stories or less. If passed, it would be the first law in the U.S. requiring the use of mass timber in construction projects.

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ContractorProfile

A Legacy Going Strong Brown Brothers Logging, Emmett, Idaho Lindsay R. Mohlere

N

early 10 years ago, when TimberWest first checked in on one of Idaho’s premier logging outfits, Brown Brothers Construction and Logging Inc. of Emmett, Idaho, we found a legacy logging business thriving in the central Idaho forests.

Starting out as far back as Idaho statehood, the Brown family has carried the

Above: a John Deere 648.

Center: Brown Brothers use a 2154 with tong thrower, and right a Kenworth truck pulling logs from the site.

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logging tradition into the fifth generation.

Now, a decade later, Brown Brothers Logging continues to face the turbulent storms of the timber business with vigor and resolve. When the economy tanked in 2008, timber was one of the hardest hit industries, and many logging operations fell by the wayside. Like everyone else, Brown Brothers was not immune to the effects of the crumbling economy the country faced. However, with the strength and determination of its

ContractorProfile five-generation, 100-year-old legacy, they slugged it out through the tough times to become stronger, more efficient and, ultimately, more successful than ever before.

Tim Brown, company president, explained that the company’s philosophy helped guide them through the turbulence.

“We did it with tenacity. We bulled our neck, tightened up, and reduced our debt and squeezed through,” he says. “Our philosophy is to do it better than anyone else can.

And do it more efficiently at a lower cost.

Somehow, we were lucky enough to survive.”

And survive they did.

but they also do work for Evergreen Forest Products and Idaho Forest Group.

Luke runs the skyline side, Jake manages a tractor/mechanical side that can be split into two outfits, and oldest son Matt handles the trucking and maintenance side, fielding eight Peterbilt trucks, along with contracting several gyppo contractors. Tim oversees the road building operations.

Brown Brothers employs around 50 people depending upon the time of year,

with many of them long-time employees.

However, the company also faces the challenge of not being able to find qualified people.

“We’re extremely fortunate in the core people we have. They’ve stuck with us without much turnover. It’s allowed us to move forward,” says Tim. Crews usually work 10-and-a-half months (shutting down mid-February through March) and turn out an average

Running Four Sides

Currently, Brown Brothers operates four sides overseen by Tim and his three sons, Matt, Luke, and Jake. Like before, the main workload comes from Boise Cascade,

annual harvest of about 35 MMBF. “We keep our key employees busy during the offseason working in the shop. You know, pulling the belly-pans, cleaning the machines, and fixing what needs to be fixed,” Tim says.

Tim added that the company works within a radius of a couple hundred miles, bidding on jobs in central and southern Idaho, eastern Oregon, and Washington.

“We go where we have to go to find work.”

Salvage Specialists

In addition to logging and thinning jobs for the state, Brown Brothers Logging gets heavily involved with salvage projects. Their latest salvage job will take them to the remains of Idaho’s Pioneer Fire.

The fire, which started on July 18, 2016 in the Boise National Forest and torched nearly 200,000 acres, was the largest wildfire on Forest Service lands of 2016. More than 1800 firefighters representing local, state, federal, and tribal agencies were on the scene at various times during the blaze. The Forest Service Incident Information System estimates total suppression costs to exceed $97.5 million.

Last summer, Boise Cascade purchased most of the salvage contract and assigned Brown Brothers as its lead contractor.

Since time is of the essence in salvage work, Brown Brothers applied a full-court press to begin the estimated 20 MMBF project. (continued on page 10)

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ContractorProfile (continued from page 9) Nearly all of Brown’s equipment stable is being used on the assignment.

“Our CAT side was finishing up on a state sale that Evergreen Forest Products owns, and they were good enough to let us out of some of our contract to help Boise out,” says Tim. “We’ve pulled equipment out of the bone pile and tried to find people to run it. We’re hitting it hard and heavy. We’re going full bore.”

On the project, Brown will field their skyline side with a Thunderbird TSY 355 swing yarder, bought new in 1990, a Caterpillar 522 feller buncher, and three 623 Waratah dangle-heads paired on two John Deere 2454 and a Cat 324. Also joining the action are Brown’s two CAT sides and one 2154 John Deere and one Cat 320 forest machine converted to tong throwers. “We’ve also got our road building side in there with two excavators, mostly just building temp roads and doing reconstruction work, putting pipe in, and cleaning,” he says.

Working with Restrictions

One of the biggest hurdles Brown Brothers has to face during salvage operations is the particular restrictions placed on

the sale by the Forest Service.

“The biggest challenges are the restrictions from the Forest Service — the goshawks and flammulated owls. We need to leave seven trees per acre, of which four of the seven have to be in the class over 26 inches,” explains Tim. The Forest Service will list units that have a possibility of bird activity and then they survey the unit. If they see birds, the Forest Service will levy the restrictions.

“They’ve got over 187,000 acres that burned, and they’re still leaving dead trees standing within the logging units,” Tim says.

“Some of the units are hazard tree removal.

Those units, logged on both sides to 200 feet from the side of the road, don’t have leave trees in them because they [Forest Service] don’t want their roads closed because of fallen trees. In the regular units, skyline and tractor-jammer units, we have to leave seven per acre.”

Another requirement in the salvage contract is the remediation of roads and skid trails. “We will build temporary roads, which means once they’re used they have to be put back. Restored so you can’t tell they were there,” says Tim. “All the skid trails have to be put back with an excavator and covered with slash so you can’t tell they were there.”

Brown Brothers use a variety of Caterpillar machines, includng a 522 feller buncher, a 324 paired with a Waratah 623 head and a 320 forest machine.

A Lengthy Commitment

Tim Brown expects the Pioneer salvage project to keep his crews busy for quite some time. The work commenced in August of 2017 and may continue through this year.

“It depends on the winter. From early spring till May, we can do activity, if it’s an early year. But we run into the bird problem again.

From May until the middle of August, the Forest Service has restrictions in place, and you can’t log or get around those units that have the birds in them.”

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ContractorProfile

Like all salvage jobs, the underlying challenge of getting the trees out before they lose any redeeming value is always a timesensitive endeavor. Unfortunately, the Forest Service has its hands tied by a drawn-out process usually impacted by restrictions and legal challenges to move on salvage projects in a timely manner. The Pioneer Fire salvage project has taken over a year to get the go-ahead.

“Right now, the subalpine fir and Lodgepole is almost worthless. The Doug

fir and pine will hold the moisture a little bit longer. By the end of this year, most of what’s left, except the Doug fir, will be junk,” he says. “If it had been state land, they would have been laying out the timber sale while the smoke was still coming off the fire. It is what it is.”

It’s this flexibility to adjust to industry, regulation, and technology that has kept Brown Brothers Logging in operation for over a century.

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ByproductSpotlight

Finding Success in the Residuals Market Gem Shavings, Shelton, Washington

By Andrea Watts

T

hree times a day, a residual

hauler from Sierra Pacific, Interstate Wood Products, or Veneer Chip Transport visits Gem Shavings’ new Shelton facility to deliver an average of 175 cubic yards of wood shavings.

Usually a couple days later, these wood shavings leave Gem Shavings either as bales or in bulk, and are en route to feed stores in the Pacific Northwest or Thoroughbred farms in California and around the world.

The byproduct of dimensional lumber, wood shavings may be regarded as a waste product, but for Jamie Murray, owner of Gem Shavings and the third generation of his family to work in the forest products industry, supplying animal bedding has proven to be a successful business model.

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Animal Bedding Business

The animal bedding industry may not make the headlines, but in fact, “the industry has been around for quite a while,” Murray says. Gem Shavings opened its first processing plant in Auburn in the early 1990s, and he acquired the business in 1999.

Throughout his ownership, Murray has seen the industry evolve.

Horse owners used to purchase unscreened wood shavings, which was often a smaller, dustier product, and there was no guarantee how the material was stored before delivery from local bulk haulers. Now customers have a diverse range of products to choose from.

Gem Shavings offers six to seven different wood shaving products to accommodate everyone’s preferred tree species and size of wood shavings. Douglas-fir and western

ByproductSpotlight hemlock wood shavings are a popular request because these species are hypoallergenic with low levels of phenols, which makes them a better source of bedding material for horses.

Kiln dried or green Douglas-fir wood shavings are also available, and the latter type results in a fluffier material that provides a better cushion.

“Horses really like our product,” Murray says. And another bonus for stable managers is that Douglas-fir and western hemlock wood shavings also compost in a quarter of the time that it takes pine or western red cedar to decompose.

Educating California

It took time to educate potential customers, particularly those in California, that there was a better animal bedding product available.

“In California, everyone’s used to pine because that’s what grows there,” Murray explains. But Murray’s educational efforts have paid off. Gem Shavings’ bales are purchased by some of the top Thoroughbred facilities in southern California.

“Thor’s Echo [a recent Breeder’s Cup winner] bedded on our shavings,” Murray says proudly.

Settling on Shelton

This past year, Gem Shavings opened a facility in Shelton. One of the reasons why (continued on page 16)

Three times a day, a residual hauler from Sierra Pacific, Interstate Wood Products, or Veneer Chip Transport visits Gem Shavings’ new Shelton facility to deliver an average of 175 cubic yards of wood shavings.

Gem Shaving uses a Hyundai HL 760-7 to move material that will be primarily used for animal bedding.

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ByproductSpotlight (continued from page 15) Murray wanted a second facility further south was proximity to the mills he contracts with, which include Sierra Pacific, Interfor, and Weyerhaeuser.

Although he scouted a Port of Shelton site on John’s Prairie, the site of Simpson Lumber’s former Mill No. 5 became available.

“I remember that when I first toured the building, it was difficult to envision the space with all the sawmill equipment filling it, but

once it was removed I could see its potential,” Murray says.

After a year’s worth of negotiation, a seven-year lease was secured. Of the opening of the new Shelton facility, Murray says, “Everyone’s been really supportive.”

The plant manager of the Shelton facility is Don Dahman, who Murray says had to “immediately cut his teeth on this industry.”

Efficient and minimalistic is an apt way to describe the interior of the facility. One portion of the building is devoted to storing the bulk wood shavings while the other

side of the building is where the sorting and baling happens. After the trailer empties its load, the wood shavings are moved into one of several bays that, when full, resemble massive snow drifts. The wood shavings are then fed into a hopper where they are screened by a BM&M orbital shaker screen to remove any wood chunks and the fine material. And when you pick up a handful of the wood shavings, there is indeed no dust.

The screened shavings are conveyed into a buffer bin, which then is fed into a bailing system where they are compacted into a white plastic bag emblazoned with the company name and then sealed and put on a pallet to await pickup. Every hour, two hundred bales come off the line.

“One of the things about this business is we turn over the inventory about twice a month; everything is gone,” Murray says.

“The working capital works very hard.”

Just as wood shavings used to be considered a waste product, so too is the dust.

There are buyers for this product, from dairy farms to landscape materials companies. The success of Gem Shavings means the future that the U.S. Forest Service Forest Products Laboratory envisioned in their November 1969 report, Uses for Sawdust, Savings, and Waste Chips, didn’t occur.

“Economical disposal of sawdust and shavings is a problem of growing concern to the wood industries. Enormous quantities of sawdust are produced annually by sawmills…

Planing and machining of lumber and other manufacture from wood leads to further residues. A planer mill produces about 600 pounds of dry residue per thousand board feet. Thus, the total amount of air-dry wood fines originating in U.S. industries alone exceeds 15 million tons a year—enough to make a (triangular cross section) pile 50 feet high, 100 feet wide, and over 150 miles long!”

In Demand

Wood shavings being bagged for sale. The facility works one four-person shift.

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Nearly 50 years after this report, wood shavings are in demand. In previous years, Murray had to compete with the particle board market, which took the largest percentage of the residual market. Although sawmills cut back on production during the recession, Murray was able to maintain production thanks to his relationship with Commencement Bay. He says, “We’ve been able to compete and secure regular suppliers.”

The Shelton facility currently operates just one four-person shift, but Murray anticipates increasing his crew to 15 or more and adding a second line.

“Things are rolling along pretty well.

Early fall and winter is when California gets busy,” he says. “We hope to add a second shift and double everything.”

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ContractorProfile

Eastside Challenges of Modern Day Logging Kriege Logging, Prinveville, Oregon Lindsay R. Mohlere

N Top: Link-Belt 240LX equipped with a 623 Waratah head. Above: Rick Kriege, president of Kriege Logging, with his son R. J. 18

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o one said running a logging operation is easy.

For those who work federal lands, as most eastside loggers do, the lack of suitable employee prospects, long distances to and from mills, and the possibility of environmental litigation on almost every project turns up the heat on the normal daily challenges they encounter.

Leaning against his pickup amid the swirling dust kicked out by the Caterpillar 525B dragging a load of trees to the processor, Rick Kriege, president of Kriege Logging Inc. of Prineville, Oregon, acknowledges the difficulties of overcoming these challenges, while running a successful business.

ContractorProfile Eastern Challenges

Working in the eastern Oregon forests comes with different weather obstacles than the west side of the state. “Most guys want to stay over in the valley, which has a little advantage over the east side. They work yearround. If we land some jobs around Bend, Oregon, we can work all year. If not, we’re in the Ochoco and Malheur forests about ten and a half months. Last winter we had so much snow, we shut down for almost three months.”

Another hurdle Kriege faces in finding help is telling them they have to camp out for the summer. “We do try to make it so they have at least two and a half, sometimes

three days off a week,” he says. “It’s tough.

This generation wants to be home every night. Not start until 8 or 9 a.m.”

On the Road Again

Another huge challenge for eastside loggers is the distance between job sites and mills. While Kriege has worked sales in the Deschutes and Umpqua National Forests, his two sides usually operate in the Ochoco and Malheur forests.

“When I came back to Prineville from Prairie City, there were four sawmills (continued on page 20)

Finding New Blood

“As a business, my biggest fear is finding enough help. There’s work out there if you can find the help,” Kriege says. He’d like to see more young people get into the business, adding, “When I started out, everybody wanted to work in the woods. But now I can’t find anyone.”

“We need to get the wages up,” Kriege continues. “That might be part of the problem, but there’s only so much of the pie to cut.”

Kriege explains that the lack of suitable employees is an industry-wide problem and has been addressed by all the various timber organizations. “I think we’re headed in the right direction and at some point, we’ll get more people out and about.”

As the 2018 President of the Oregon Logging Conference, Kriege’s platform has been to get more young people into the industry. “We’ve got an aging workforce, and it’s important that we begin reaching out to them.”

Currently, Kriege runs two sides and employs a crew of 15, including his son R.J., when they are at full capacity. He recently posted five jobs on the state employment board and had gotten only two responses.

One was an individual without experience and the other was very particular about what he wanted to do. “I needed a loader operator worse than I needed a processor operator.”

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ContractorProfile His iron lineup now consists of four skidders, two of which are John Deere and two are CAT. He runs three log loaders, a John Deere, a CAT, and a new Link-Belt 210.

Along with fielding two Link-Belt processors, one paired with a 623 Waratah and the other with a 622, Kriege also has a Pierce delimber as back up. “I prefer the dangle head processor,” he says, noting that he is generally restricted to 100-foot landings.

“Once we went to the dangle heads, there was no question. They’re much more productive. They’re fast, never letting go of the log, and safer,” says Kriege.

One of Kriege’s most essential tools is the 830 Tigercat feller buncher. “They’re so productive, it’s unbelievable,” he said. “If we’ve got two sides fairly close, the Tigercat can take care of both pretty easy.”

Komatsu 430L equipped with a Quadco head. (continued from page 19) running good and strong. Now there’s not one,” he says. To do the work, people have to be willing to travel. Currently, because of the lack of nearby mills, Kriege’s five Kenworth log trucks eat up heavy miles from the landing to the yard. “We don’t have a haul that’s under 100 miles,” he says.

The options Kriege has are determined by projects. He can take logs back to Malheur Lumber in John Day or to Interfor in Gilchrist. High Cascade bought a sale he was working, and he has to truck logs from that sale to Stevenson, Washington.

“We can get two loads to Malheur and two loads to Interfor in a day. High Cascades has a mill in Parkdale and one in Carson, Washington. Only one load per day gets there.”

Kriege Logging’s average harvest is around 15 MMBF each year. “It takes a lot of trucks to keep your wood moving,” he says. “There used to be gyppo trucks all over, but now you don’t see many of them. Along with our own trucks, we contract other haulers. We also contract cutters when our sides are so far apart.”

The Thinning Life

Kriege’s two sides are strictly groundbased thinning operations. “We do whole tree yarding,” he says. “There’s not much cutto-length near here, most contracts call for whole trees into the landing.”

When Kriege bought the company from his partner in 1994, he had a Caterpillar, a skidder, and an old 410 log loader. Since then, he has weathered the fickle storms of the logging business but has continued to expand.

Using a variety of equipment like this Caterpillar 525B, Kriege Logging harvests around 15 MMBF a year.

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A Job Well Done

Along with thinning, Kriege does quite a bit of salvage work. “It’s the only time we get to cut wood over 21 inches,” he says, referencing the eastside agreement that limits cutting trees to a maximum of 20.9 inches.

A recent project was a salvage project cleaning up a 250-acre section on the Maury fire. They specifically targeted roadside hazards a tree length and a half from the road.

“Good thing about that job was they put it up right away. It’s good, bright wood,” he says.

Kriege’s operation also takes on a lot of watershed and stewardship restoration projects.

“We’re moving back to a project over in the Bend area. It’s a stewardship for Interfor, and I had logged that area after a fire several years ago. Then there were no houses back in that country, but now it’s full of houses right up against the federal forest. We’re doing the right thing, going back in and thinning it.

Noting that many stewardship projects are heavily litigated, Kriege indicates that there had not been much pushback from area coalitions.

“There’s been a little pushback. Today they have bike trails and all that stuff back in there. Some of the residents have a problem with us being in there, but for the most part, we’re going in and fire-proofing the area west of Bend. It’s called the West Bend Project.”

Kriege’s crews will go in and thin it out. In addition, they’ll bring in those big mowers and mow all the brush down. “It will look like a park when we’re done,” he says.

No one will argue that the industry is full of challenges and hurdles, but Kriege Logging is facing them down each day and making it work.

TW

EducationSpotlight

Sawmill Training Takes a Seat in the Classroom

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EducationSpotlight

By Barbara Coyner

“

T

his isn’t your daddy’s sawmill anymore,” has become a cliché comment among mill workers, given the technology currently at work in many Northwest lumber mills. Today, the proverbial “daddy” has either retired or is ready to retire, oftentimes leaving a major gap in experienced industry personnel — and valuable knowledge.

Who is the next millwright? Who knows how to administer air quality readings in the boiler? And who knows about the PLCs (programmable logic controls, the highly technical computer aspects that keep modern mills running)? In many mills, gone are the days of pulling on a green chain or standing for hours grading board quality.

The new millworker must often be a techie, as well as one who is willing to keep learning new things.

College Training

Northern Idaho sawmills, long known for innovation, have once again stepped up to deal with an industry that keeps reinventing.

This time, five wood products manufacturing companies have teamed up with North Idaho College (NIC) and Lewis-Clark State College (LCSC) to gather $482,582

Direct training at mills addresses the areas that need employees. in grant monies from the Idaho Department of Labor.

The workforce training grant, a combination of grant funds and industry cash and in-kind match, goes toward addressing skill gaps for high-wage and high-demand occupations in the sawmills. Direct training in boiler operation, industrial mechanics/ millwright expertise, kiln operation, power fluids and hydraulics training, structured on the job training, and PLC training are the targeted areas.

Idaho Forest Group (IFG), Potlatch,

Stimson Lumber, Empire Lumber, and Plummer Forest Products are all putting their money where their mouth is, representing a total of 11 mills. The industry match adds up to $141,883, with in-kind donations of $54,255, and an actual cash match of $87,627. Given an overall participant cost of $2,255.06, the trainee can expect good steady employment with wages from $15 to $25 and employee-assisted medical benefits, a nice trade-off for going back to school, (continued on page 24)

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EducationSpotlight (continued from page 23) albeit schooling that seldom involves endless hours at a desk.

Investment in the Future

“This is short-term noncredit training, less than a semester,” said Dr. Linda Stricklin, Workforce Training Director at LCSC’s north Lewiston campus.

Stricklin’s counterpart and the principal writer of the grant, Marie Price, functions as Workforce Training Director at the NIC Post Falls campus, which encompasses the NIC Wood Products Center of Excellence.

The Center will be expanding as part of the grant.

“In round one of the grant, IFG, Potlatch, and Stimson saw a common need as a number of long-term employees were getting ready to retire,” said Price. “They wanted to pass the knowledge on and so they came to us, asking how they could set it up. This represented an opportunity to have a repository for curriculum, skill standards, certifications, and apprenticeships.”

The success of the first grant from 2014 to 2016 set up a chance for a new grant, with Empire Lumber and Plummer Forest Products joining the movement. All recognized that few younger people were wanting

“IFG, Potlatch, and Stimson saw a common need as a number of long-term employees were getting ready to retire," says Dr. Linda Stricklin, Workforce Training Director at LCSC's north Lewiston campus. to work in a sawmill, and old-timers were quickly exiting. Thanks to the grant-funded program, there was opportunity for 35 participants in the Boiler Operator Registered Apprenticeship Program, plus further space for 30 participants in the Industrial Mechanic/ Millwright Apprenticeship Program over the two-year grant period.

Additionally, the program furnishes space for 214 already-employed participants over the next two years, offering industry recognized credentials and job advancement.

Overall, an estimated economic impact of up to $2,340,916 can be realized from the innovative partnership. This amounts to real dollars and real career security for real workers already in the timber industry, or those wanting to join.

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As Marie Price steers the program into phase two of the grant initiatives, she notes that 22 individuals are already enrolled in the steam training, representing eight mills.

Apprenticeship programs are all going forward as curriculums are enhanced or developed, using real-world guidance from the mills.

As employees such as 30-year-old Jeremy Lozano-Keays preside over multi-milliondollar computers, scanners, and saws at IFG’s Chilco sawmill, the industry hopes to land more similar employees, paying them between $25 and $34 per hour, plus benefits.

Retaining a savvy workforce is key to cranking out enough lumber in an hour to frame six to eight homes, and mill owners know it. Educators such as Price and Stricklin also know the partnership between industry and academia has two sides, one for actual hands-on training and one for the administrative role of developing that repository of skills, apprenticeships, and certifications.

“Our students are working in the mills, and we are training the trainers in the mills,” said Stricklin, whose father once ran the head-rig in a sawmill. “It’s great because the mills are very involved.”

TW

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Killgore Takes Helm at Timber Products Co.

In February, longtime local wood products executive Steve Killgore was named CEO of Timber Products Co., a nearly 100-year-old Springfield-based diversified wood products company.

Killgore has more than 40 years of experience in the industry, most recently at Springfield-based Roseburg Forest Products, where he was responsible for lumber, plywood, and engineered wood products.

Komatsu America Completes 100,000th Service Interval

Komatsu America Corp. and its distributor, Komatsu Northeast, announced the

completion of Komatsu CARE’s 100,000th service interval. Komatsu America pioneered complimentary maintenance for Tier 4 machines in the construction industry with the launch of Komatsu CARE in 2011, the company said.

The 100,000th interval was completed on a Komatsu PC228USLC-10. A service certificate was presented to machine owner and Komatsu Northeast customer J. Fletcher Creamer & Son, at a ceremony to celebrate the milestone.

13,000th Ponsse Machine and Expansion Celebration

Ponsse recently celebrated two important milestones — the biggest expansion project in the company’s history reached the topping-out phase, and the factory produced the 13,000th forest machine made in the Vieremä facility in Finland.

The current production facility investment is the biggest in Ponsse’s history; the factory will expand from the current 2.7 hectares (6.7 acres) to 4 hectares (almost 10 acres). Most importantly, the investment will contribute to ongoing improvement and development of quality, flexibility, safety, and productivity of Ponsse’s operations.

2017 Kenworth Dealer of the Year Award

MHC Kenworth – Colorado received the prestigious 2017 Kenworth Dealer of the Year Award for the United States and Canada at the annual Kenworth Dealer Meeting.

Said Mike Murphy, CEO of MHC Kenworth, which operates 68 Kenworth dealerships in 16 states, “This award was earned by our dedicated employees, who are committed to providing Whatever It Takes support in every facet of our business.

We appreciate this award and thank our customers for their continued business.”

Rotochopper University Attracts Machine Owners

Rotochopper owners and operators gathered at Rotochopper’s manufacturing facility in St. Martin, Minnesota, for training the last two weeks of February. The customer service department hosts Rotochopper University annually for companies that have purchased Rotochopper grinders the past year. This year the company hosted nearly 70 students from 38 companies across the U.S. and Canada.

The two-day class included a manufacturing facility tour, equipment operation best practice training, a hands-on demonstration, and plenty of networking opportunities allowing machine owners to

learn from each other as well. This year the education focused on how to properly feed your grinder, how to perform preventative maintenance, and how to troubleshoot. The hands-on demonstration showed attendees how to install B-Loc keyless bushings on a Rotochopper grinder.

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29

FireColumn

The Fix Is in! ... Or Is It?

O

n March 22, Congress passed

the $1.3 trillion omnibus budget that not only averted a government shutdown and funded the military, it also solved the “fire borrowing” conundrum that has plagued the Forest Service for years. The bill sets up a contingency account for wildfire fighting funded with up to $2 billion a year for a decade. Now, instead of looting the Forest Service’s management budget when suppression costs exceed the regular fire budget, wildfire fighting costs will be paid for much like other disasters.

The bipartisan bill has been praised by many different groups, and(no surprise here) dissed by others.

Tom Martin, who heads the American Forest Foundation, said, “The great bipartisan work on a fire funding fix shows what can happen when diverse constituents — from landowners to industry to conservationists — and a diverse coalition in Congress work together toward a common cause.” The foundation is part of a coalition of over 100

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recreational, timber, conservation, indigenous, and hunting groups that pushed for the dedicated firefighting money.

The spending bill also increases to 20 years the top-end length of wildland stewardship contracts for areas of high fire risk and reduces some environmental review requirements that have tied up thinning and fuel reduction projects for years. And this is where growling gets good. On both sides.

Many environmental groups argue that the “categorical exclusion,” which streamlines approval for logging and fuels reduction efforts on federal land parcels under 3000 acres, will bury public input and sound science. “We are concerned that some parts of the fire-funding deal will make it harder for the public to have a meaningful role in the decision-making process,” said Mike Anderson, senior policy analyst for the Wilderness Society.

Expect these litigation-happy specialists to start throwing spitballs in the very near future.

Don’t Hold Your Breath

I’m glad to see the end of fire borrowing.

It has been long sought after and thanks to our congressional leaders. Amazingly, they finally got off the dime and made something happen rather than going through their silly dysfunctional motions and bumping their gums.

However, the funding fix might be in, but don’t expect to see anything change until 2020. We’ll only see $500 million this year for fighting wildfires and $40 million for management projects. The Republicans wanted to stay within 2018-2019 discretionary spending caps, thus setting back full funding until fiscal year 2020.

At least we have something to look forward to in a couple years. Unfortunately, the 3000-acre categorical exclusion provision falls short. As Bob Bishop (R.Utah), the chairman of the House Natural Resources (continued on page 32)

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FireColumn

(continued from page 30) Committee, has said, “This bill does very little to restore the health of our nation’s forests.”

We finally got the funding right, but the rest is a Band-Aid.

The Case for Mechanized Wildfire Fighting

One of the surprising things that came

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out of Fire Season 2017 was the use of a steep slope harvesting combo to battle the Whitewater Fire near Detroit, Oregon, in the Mount Jefferson Wilderness.

The fire erupted on Sunday, July 23, as a result of lightning strikes in the Whitewater drainage. As the blaze devoured acre upon acre of forest, it began moving toward private land owned by Freres Lumber Company.

Todd Parker, timber manager for Freres,

called one of their logging contractors, Siegmund Excavation and Construction, and asked Andrew Seigmund if he could bring his steep slope equipment to help cut a fire line across some extremely steep terrain. Hand crews were on the scene, but they wouldn’t be able to clear the line before the fire overtook them. (continued on page 34)

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FireColumn (continued from page 32)

A Simple Answer not so Easy

In less than three days, they had cut the line, possibly weeks ahead of what a hand crew could have accomplished.

It was the first time a tethered feller buncher had been used in fighting a wildfire in the U.S. It also raised a huge question. How come the Forest Service, state agencies, BIA and the rest don’t partner with loggers to use their machines to fight more fires? Mechanized ops on wildfires are few and far between. To me, it doesn’t make sense.

ONE MACHINE. DUAL PURPOSE. IT’S A GRAPPLE. IT’S A PROCESSOR.

In the last 40 years, most of the logging industry has switched to mechanized ops because it’s safer and faster.

I would think that the Forest Service and all the other agencies would have noticed, but it seems they haven’t a clue.

According to one longtime advocate of using heavy equipment to fight wildfires, Stephen “Obie” O’Brien, Logging Engineer, HETS, Forest Operations Engineering, LLC, most fire people these days are not aware of the advantages forest machines could bring to the firefighting table.

“We’re talking a lack of understanding, and the problem is that understanding was never a problem. In the past, everybody in the Forest Service and most federal and state agencies, was a firefighter first,” he said.

Along with introducing fire managers to the capabilities of forest machines, the biggest hurdles to overcome are governmental bureaucratic roadblocks and fiefdoms. No easy task. Still, advocates like O’Brian and several others keep slapping away trying to wake the minions. Maybe some of the omnibus big bucks coming to the Forest Service will open the door for mechanized firefighting.

For a closer look at what a mechanized wildfire fighting operation looks like, check out a recent post from James Steele, owner of Jocko Consulting, Arlee, Montana, at www. forestoperationsmt.com. It’s a good one.

TW

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What’s Burning Now! Fire season forecasts for the Northwest region show quite a difference between Oregon and Washington. The only thing burning now are prescribed fires.

Washington’s snow pack is about normal, but Oregon’s is way below, with some areas experiencing drought conditions already. Some folks have predicted Oregon has the potential for many severe fires, much like 2015.

We’ll soon find out. Fire season is just around the corner.

That’s a wrap. Stay safe out there!

(Talkback - TWfirecolumn@gmail.com) (Source: InciWeb, ODF, WA/DNR, NWCC, USFS, AP, NIFC, Thomson Reuters Foundation, forestoperationsmt.com) Photo credit: U.S. Department of Agriculture/USFS

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ConferenceReview

Focus on Building Leadership

By Barbara Coyner

T

here was a definite upbeat flavor

to the 80th Annual Intermountain Logging Conference, and conference coordinator Julie Schwanz said the numbers showed it. “We were thrilled with the participation this year,” she said of the Spokane event held in early April. “Vendor and attendee numbers were both up, and more contractors brought their whole crew. We hadn’t seen that in a long time. And vendors brought more equipment.

There was a lot of iron out there.”

Indeed, there was a lot of iron at the show. The space reserved was overflowing. And there was also a Northwest debut — the TimberPro D-Series, which features the 338 HP Cummins L9 Performance Series engine.

While contractors brought their crews and equipment dream sheets, one vendor was actually looking to hire loggers. According to Schwanz, Bonneville Power Administration asked to be at the conference in hopes of recruiting logging contractors to work on restoration projects. BPA representatives told of such projects as the Columbia River Gorge needing rehab work after the Eagle Creek Fire did major damage to forestlands there last summer. Power line right-of-ways were especially impacted.

Addressing the conference theme “Leading for Success,” keynote speaker Wendy Ferrand stressed, “You have to prime each employee with confidence,” to encourage leadership. The Maine businesswoman

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and writer added, “Confidence is taking control in circumstances rather than being dragged along by them.” She emphasized that a non-engaged employee can often be the most dangerous employee on the payroll, compromising crew safety and business interests.

Amplifying on the leadership theme, the conference cited attendee and vendor Shawn Keough, whose steady leadership in the Idaho legislature played a crucial role in promoting legislation helpful to the timber industry. Keough was elected in 1996, and served for 22 years, making her the longest

serving woman in the legislature. She chose to step down after the recent session, and will now focus all her attention on the Associated Logging Contractors, which she has directed for several years.

Schwanz says a huge “thank you” goes out to the amazing sponsors. Because of their participation and support, the 80th Intermountain Logging Conference was success.

It was a great conference on all levels and the ILC is already looking toward 2019!

TW

Todd Davis to Serve as 54th NTEA President

Todd Davis, vice president of Phenix Truck Bodies & Van Equipment (Pomona, California), was installed today as 54th president of the Association for the Work Truck Industry (NTEA). He accepted this position from previous president Adam Keane, executive vice president of Allied Body Works Inc. (Seattle, Washington), at the President’s Breakfast & NTEA Annual Meeting held in conjunction with the Work Truck Show 2018.

“I’m proud to be part of this industry at this unique point in time,” said Todd. “As association president, I look forward to continuing my work as part of a remarkable NTEA team to further industry knowledge, growth, and profitability for our members.”

TCIA Announces New Leadership

The Board of Directors of the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) is pleased to announce that David White, CAE, will join the association as its new president and CEO. The change of leadership follows the recently announced retirement of current President and CEO, Mark Garvin, who has been with TCIA for over

21 years. Following a rigorous search process, White was chosen to lead TCIA’s next chapter of growth. He will provide strategic vision and oversight into operational execution of the association.

“David’s selection is the culmination of a comprehensive search to help TCIA carry forward the association’s vision,” said Peter Sortwell, chair of TCIA’s Board of Directors.

“We look forward to a successful transition and a continuation of the significant momentum we’ve established.”

Oregon Logging Conference Announces New Officers

The Oregon Logging Conference (OLC) has announced its new officers and staff who will serve the OLC for 2018-2019.

• Jim Dudley, Swanson Group, Glendale, Oregon, president • Greg Stratton, Siskiyou Cascade Resources, Medford, Oregon, first vice president • Scott Melcher, Melcher Logging Co., Sweet Home, Oregon, second vice president • Craig Olson, Weyerhaeuser Co., Castle Rock, Washington, third vice president • Milton Moran, Cascade Timber Consulting Inc., Sweet Home, Oregon, treasurer

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FREE FREIGHT ON ORDERS OVER $500! (harvesterbars.com only)

• Rikki Wellman, Oregon Logging Conference, Eugene, Oregon, conference manager The 2019 Oregon Logging Conference, scheduled for February 21–23 at the Lane Events Center in Eugene, will celebrate the OLC’s eighty-first anniversary and will feature education seminars, exhibits on the latest technology in logging equipment, networking opportunities, and the chance to earn professional logger credits. Details are available at the Oregon Logging Conference website, www.oregonloggingconference.com, or by calling (541) 686-9191.

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Top row, L-R: Jim Dudley, Craig Olson, Greg Stratton. Bottom row L-R: Scott Melcher, Milton Moran

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ConferenceReview

2018 Oregon Logging Conference

I

Pictorial Review

t was a great showing at the Oregon Logging Conference, held February 22–24, 2018. The OLC attracted more than 6,000 industry professionals from 37 U.S. states as well as from Australia, Canada, Finland, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, and Sweden.

Highlights

Here are just some of the highlights of the three-day event.

Career Day. This year the OLC offered something new — the Future Forestry Workers Career Day. On Friday, February 23, more than 400 students from surrounding high schools attended. They learned about career opportunities in the forest industry, reviewed equipment, and visited oneon-one with industry professionals.

Log Loader Competition. Spectators enjoyed the 9th annual OLC Log Loader Competition. The winners this year were: • First Place – 2:45:75 — Bryan Chipps, Green Diamond Resource Company • Second Place – 3:04:03 — Zane Bryant, Bryant Logging Company • Third Place – 3:40:63 — Layne Walker, Shovel Operator, Eugene, OR Guess the Net Scale. Of the 748 people who took part in the Guess the Net Scale competition, the prize went to Aaron Wainman who guessed 6,550 and received a Cabela’s gift card.

OLC Auction. The Oregon Logging Conference Foundation (OLCF) auction, held during the opening breakfast Thursday 40

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and Friday mornings, brought in over $20,000 that will go toward scholarships for future industry professionals.

She spoke to the hard work that goes into logger training, which is recognized by the SFI, and the difference it makes.

OWIT Auction. The Oregon Women in Timber (OWIT) auction brought in over $123,000, which is dedicated to Talk About Trees, the organization’s statewide forest education program for pre-kindergarten through 8th grade students. The program has reached more than 3 million students since 1991. “We were overwhelmed with the overall support,” says Auction Chair Diane Washburn.

New Products

Keynote Speaker. This year’s keynote speaker was Kathy Abusow, president and CEO of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative.

What the Oregon Logging Conference is widely known for is the extensive, state-ofthe-art equipment displays. Here are a few new pieces that debuted in the Northwest at this year’s show.

Boman Z-7900. Boman Industries Inc. has developed the all new Z-7900 SkyCar to meet new efficiency demands. It weighs 4,300 lbs. and is powered by a Cummins 160 HP 4-cyclinder high-torque turbo diesel. (continued on page 42)

Load Up On Profit 100% Komatsu

Komatsu PC290LL-11

40' Reach Forestry, 32' Processor or 34' Reach Road Builder Fronts 196 Net Horsepower

Now available as a Processor!

Komatsu PC290LL-11 Delivers High Productivity & Profitability • High productivity 40' Reach Live Heel Forestry, 32' Reach Processor or 34' Reach Road Builder Fronts • 196 Net Horsepower fuel-efficient engine • High performance cooling system with wide core cooling fins; Processor has variable pitch reversing fan system to purge debris • Electro-proportional control (EPC) sliding thumb buttons provide smooth & precise attachment control • Fully-certified Oregon OSHA forestry cab with 48" or 7" riser & standard all LED work lighting • High drawbar pull for excellent shovel logging & rough terrain performance

KomatsuForest.us

© 2018 by Komatsu America Corp. All rights reserved. All comparisons and claims of improved performance are made with respect to the current Komatsu model unless otherwise specifically stated.

Trademarks and service marks used herein are the property of Komatsu Ltd., Komatsu America Corp., or their respective owners or licensees. Photos may include optional equipment.

www.modernmachinery.com

Kent, WA 800-669-2425 Rochester, WA 800-304-4421 Spokane, WA 800-541-0754

Eugene, OR Portland, OR Boise, ID Pocatello, ID

800-826-9811 800-950-7779 800-221-5211 800-829-4450

Billings, MT Kalispel, MT Missoula, MT

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800-735-2589 800-434-4190 800-332-1617

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ConferenceReview

(continued from page 40) The drum capacity is 400 feet 5/8” and 500 feet 9/16”. The line speeds and pulls are 40,000 lbs. (mid drum) 550 ft./min. and 31,000 lbs. (full drum) 700 ft./min. It is also equipped with Boman digital radios for operating the carriage. www.smith-boman.com Tigercat 1185. The 1185 is a 308 HP, eight-wheel drive harvester with powerful lift capacity. It blends high performance, with excellent fuel efficiency through the use of an advanced hydraulic system. Dedicated pumps power the drive, harvesting head, crane, fan, and cooling circuit functions. The closed-loop drive system provides excellent performance on steep slopes. It is equipped with Tigercat’s WideRange drive system, which increases working travel speed while delivering extremely powerful tractive effort. The crane

has a unique design, for better sight and high performance when the full 36-foot reach boom is fully extended. At almost 29.5 feet boom extension, the harvesting head can handle up to 2.75 tons. www.tigercat.com Ecoforst T-WINCH. The T-WINCH can be moved anywhere with a compact radio system. The diesel engine transmits the maximum torque to a double pump unit with adjustable delivery volume. These two pumps power both the closed hydraulic cycle of the winch transmission, as well as the open cycle of the additional auxiliary functions. Thus, the crawler movement drive and the movement of the plate can be controlled synchronously, which leads to maximum ease of use. To guarantee low fuel consumption, pressure, and volume, flow of both pumps is continuously adjusted to the active load by using a load-sensing system. It has a maximum traction of 60 kN and over 260 feet of rope capacity, with a maximum rope speed of 5 feet/second. www.ecoforst.at Barko 270B. The 270B features a 225 HP Cummins QS86.7 Tier 4 Final engine. It has a boom reach of 29’7” and a drawbar pull of 66.700 lbf. It also has an overall width of 11’5.5” and a swing torque of 58,384 ft-lb. Operators will also appreciate the 275-gallon fuel tank. The hydraulic system is designed with power always available.

Operators can instantaneously shift from function to function, allowing optimal picking, delimbing, cutting to length, and stacking. And load sensing hydraulics automatically adjust performance to the load.

The IQAN control system provides programmable settings for individual operators, along with machine diagnostics and troubleshooting. www.barko.com EMS HarvestLine: The versatile cable logging tool allows quick line shifts and efficient log extraction in difficult, short-to-medium distance cable extraction areas where the logistics of moving in a large yarder or tower are challenging. It is available in various configurations — a two-drum system running an optional carriage or a three-drum system with a grapple. The system is designed to be adapted and installed onto a 38.5-ton plus excavator-based carrier.

The fold down mast and the ability to utilize a grapple or bucket make it a versatile cable logging tool. It has a 1,500-foot rope capacity, a maximum hydraulic pressure of 5,000 psi, and a maximum line pull per drum of 43,210 lbs. www.technicalforestsolutions.com Caterpillar 548: The 548 LL features ultimate machine efficiency coupled with enhanced performance. It is powered by a Cat 204 HP C7.1 ACERT Tier 4 Final engine. Larger hydraulic pumps allow the engine to operate at lower rpms with increased performance to maximize efficiency. Component layout and back-to-back

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(continued on page 44)

ConferenceReview (continued from page 42) main hydraulic control valve reduce oil flow restrictions and aid in greater fuel economy. And an increase in swing torque of 19 percent on General Forestry models and 18 percent on Log Loader models provides added power to move trees, which enables more efficiency and productivity. It also features a 261-gallon counterweight fuel tank for extended machine operation and maximum uptime. Boom arrangements and hydraulic systems for specific applications enable more effective road building, loading, processing, shoveling, or millyard stacking, and the one-piece engine hood design, with two opening angles, allows easy access to engine and cooling compartments. www.cat.com Summit SG160, SG120, SG80: Summit Attachments & Machinery had three grapple carriages on display. The SG160 large hydraulic grapple carriage features an 80 HP Deutz Tier 4 diesel engine, load sensing hydraulics, a 160” opening, and 360-degree continuous rotation skidding grapple (off a Tigercat 635 grapple skidder). It also had promotional remote control for open/close and rotate and is capable of skidding about a half truckload per drag (10-12 logs). The SG120 features a 38HP Perkins diesel engine and has load sensing hydraulics with a 120” opening and 360-degree continuous rotation. The smaller SG80 has a 15 HP Kubota liquid cooled diesel engine, 80” opening with 360-degree continuous rotation, and mil-spec long-range radio system and HD camera system. www.summitattachments.com The 2018 Oregon Logging Conference was a success on all accounts. Mark your calendar for the next, which will be held February 21–23, 2019.

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Barko New exhibitor, Barko Hydraulics, unveiled its 270B purpose-built processor to northwest loggers. With a dedicated pump for the processing head, IQAN load sensing hydraulics, and exceptional swing torque and tractive effort, this 71,000-pound machine (without attachment) is ideally suited for fast, efficient stump-side and roadside processing. With a longer D7 sized undercarriage for low ground pressure and a powerful 225 HP Tier 4 Final Cummins engine, Barko's 270B offers excellent fuel economy. www.barko.com

MAXIMIZE YOUR RUNTIME GEM Harvester Bars

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MADE IN THE USA www.gemchainbar.com sales@gemchainbar.com 800-455-8471 44

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Southstar Equipment Southstar Equipment Ltd is a world-leading forestry attachment manufacturer. We come with a simple mission; to be industry leaders in forestry attachments by providing world-class products for global conditions. This is achieved through progressive design thinking, service and listening to our customer requirements as we create low maintenance heavy-duty machinery that displays efficient, high quality performance while remaining affordable. www.southstarequipment.com

ConferenceReview

Caterpillar

Diamond Mowers

Peterson Cat and Caterpillar Forest Products featured equipment and services for harvesting and millyards. Front and center was the new Cat 548LL. The introduction of the Cat 548 and 548LL completes the lineup of 500 series forest machine models. All meet Tier 4 final emission standards and feature outstanding fuel efficiency and optimized work tools, while increasing horsepower, swing torque, lift capacity, and tractive effort. Attendees also viewed Caterpillar work tools and videos showcasing Cat attachments, and got the chance to speak with Cat Financial and undercarriage professionals. www.cat.com

SKID-STEER FORESTRY MULCHER

CEC

Feenaughty Machinery

Construction Equipment Company (CEC) is a leader in the manufacturing of heavy equipment. Specializing in high-quality rock crushing, screening, and conveyor systems for quarry, mining, plus recycling operations; serving dealers as well as direct customers worldwide. CEC excels at customizing this equipment to fit your needs. CEC is headquartered in Tualatin, Oregon and the fabrication facility is located in Sheridan, Oregon. www.ceccrushers.com

Feenaughty Machinery Co. is excited to be growing its coverage for the Doosan, Kobelco and Takeuchi lines in the Eugene market. We look forward to providing better service to a market that we have been involved in for many years and growing with our customers. Stop by either store to see how we can help with your Doosan, Kobelco and Takeuchi needs. www.feenaughty.com

The 60” skid-steer forestry mulcher from Diamond Mowers will mulch trees up to 6” and cut trees up to 14”. Throwing material away from the machine makes it safer for operators and easier on the gear. www.

DiamondMowers.com

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ConferenceReview

Gem Chain Bar

John Deere

A global leader in manufacturing, GEM Chain Bar has over 29 years of experience proudly making harvester products in the USA. Through innovative design, advanced technology, extensive field testing, and cutting-edge materials, GEM is able to deliver maximized runtime, unmatched durability and consistent productivity. GEM offers harvester bars, sprockets, chain, chain loops, measuring wheels, and bar repair. www.gemchainbar.com

Papé Machinery showcased the proven John Deere 3156G Swing Machine during the 2018 Oregon Logging Conference. The 3156G machine is available with a standard elevated rear-entry cab and equipped with fatigue-reducing features including broad window visibility, ergonomic controls and isolation mounting. The larger hydraulic pump and hydraulic cooling package improves multifunctioning performance and increases reliability, durability and productivity in big wood applications. www.johndeere.com

Joral/Loggingencoders.com

Komatsu America

LoggingEncoders.com produces a rugged duty pulse generator specifically for the logging industry, increasing the lifespan of the sensor from months to years. At the OLC, Logging Encoders.com shared information on replacement sensors that fit Waratah, Valmet, Risley, Quadco, Log Max, Denharco, John Deere and Fabtek (CAT) harvesting heads. www.LoggingEncoders.com 46

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Komatsu Forest is a pioneer in the area of mechanized logging, developing and manufacturing forest machines as well as attachments. We have an extensive service and after-sales network with global availability of spare parts and professional advice. With a passion for technology, and product development that merges productivity, ergonomics, plus environmental strong points into cutting edge advantages, we are continuously expanding the forest possibilities. www.KomatsuForest.us

ConferenceReview

Log Max

Morbark

Log Max engineers products that promote healthy forests, providing harvesting, as well as processing solutions, to its clients, big or small and in any type of forestry application. The 7000XT and 10000XT continue to be popular with the PNW loggers. However the demand for smaller heads has become apparent in the industry’s changing markets. Log Max has a wide variety of harvesting heads as well as processing heads for all applications, from the little 928 to the 10000XT, 12000XT and ProCut 2330. www.logmax.com

The Morbark Wood Hog is the best industrial-grade horizontal grinder you can get for processing brush, yard waste, clearing debris, storm debris, C&D waste, mixed woody feedstocks, and asphalt shingles into saleable products. Morbark offers its full line with optional tracked undercarriage to take the equipment anywhere you need it!

Olofsfors

Pape Machinery

Olofsfors, the world leader in bogie tracks and wheel tracks used the OLC to introduce KovaX, the premium general-purpose track for all forestry machines and year-round use. Olofsfors offers a wide range of track models and linkage systems for the most demanding ground conditions. In addition, Olofsfors had the Iggesund Forest BLUE LINE of .404 harvester bars and the R9 ¾” bars on hand. Both these harvester bars utilize a unique alloy, in combination with improved tempering, to create harvester bars that are stronger, more rigid and less prone to vibration. www.eco-tracks.com. www.olofsfors.com

For more information, please visit www.morbark.com

Thank you for visiting the Papé Machinery display at this year's Oregon Logging Conference. We're proud to have served the needs of loggers throughout the West for 80 years with superior products and superior support. Learn more about our promise of consistent, quality customer service at any of our 23 locations or papemachinery.com.

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ConferenceReview

Peterson

Pierce Pacific Manufacturing

Peterson designs and builds state-of-the-art equipment, which makes it possible for our customers to supply their clients with industry leading results profitably. For our customers, we will continue to be the most innovative company in our industry offering the world’s most advanced, productive, durable and environmentally friendly products, coupled with training, education, service as well as support that is far beyond anything offered by the competition. www.petersoncorp.com

What if you could combine the functionality of a log grapple and the versatility of a processor into one amazing work tool? And what if that tool costs less than a conventional processing head? The answer is more clear-cut than ever with the Pierce Grapple Processor. The Pierce GP stands alone in its ability to sort, shovel, and load logs, as well as delimb, measure and cut. By doing the work of two machines, the Pierce GP saves you time, fuel, labor and maintenance costs.

Learn about additional cutting-edge features on the Pierce GP at www.piercepacific.com, or contact us directly at 800.760.3270.

Ponsse

Precision Machinery

Ponsse excels at diverse logging operations across North America.

PONSSE Synchrowinch helps achieving high productivity in steep ground operations. It allows operating the same machines in flat and steep work sites with no need for additional machinery or methods.

PONSSE Synchrowinch preserves soils from rutting and erosion, saves fuel and reduces stress in drive transmission components. www.ponsse.com 48

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We are Precision Machinery. You might know us as Precision Maintenance & Repair, but we are much more. Over the past 7 years, we have built one of the best reputations in the area for dependable, fast service to get you back running and making money as quickly as possible. This is the foundation of our business, and this will never change. We have 7 service trucks and our 10 factory trained mechanics have an average of 20 years of experience each. We are proud to be your full service and sales dealer for Rottne, SP Heads, and T Winch! www.precisionmachineryandmaint.com

ConferenceReview

Quadco

Roll•Rite

QUADCO and Southstar have joined forces providing innovative technology with the largest selection of felling heads and processors to choose from in the forestry industry. QUADCO cutting tools are well known for its Proven Quality–Reliability–Performance. All the QUADCO products along with the Keto Harvesters were displayed at this Year’s OLC. Thank you for your Business. www.quadco.com

Roll•Rite, a new exhibitor at OLC, manufactures STS lock down tarps for chip and wood residue trailers. The Roll•Rite system creates a safer environment for drivers, while reliably containing and protecting wood chips/ hog fuel payloads. The system features a dual-arm power kit engineered to automatically stop the tarp at the right time and position. Designed for easy retrofit installation on a full range of trailer configurations, Roll•Rite is a leading manufacturer of state-of-the-art automated tarping systems, trailer tarps, gear motor technology and automated power solutions. www.rollrite.com

Tigercat

Cascade Trader

Tigercat specializes in the design and manufacture of tree harvesting systems. One of the many machines that Tigercat brought to the OLC was the new 34-tonne, 1185 harvester. Designed for high production in extreme terrain and the most demanding operating conditions, the eight-wheel 1185 employs the Tigercat designed bogie axles and drivetrain. Tigercat forestry systems deliver processed wood to roadside at the lowest cost per ton. Learn more about innovative Tigercat harvesting systems and off road industrial products at www.tigercat.com

Cascade Trader specializes in new and used logging and construction equipment. Over the past ten years, our business has expanded to include sales, parts as well as service for Doosan Construction and Forestry Equipment. For the past five years, Cascade Trader has been one of the top five machine dealers in the USA for Doosan Excavators, Wheel Loaders plus purpose Built Log Loaders. www.cascadetrader.net

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ConferenceReview

TimberPro

Triad Machinery / Link-Belt

TimberPro’s new D Series buncher didn’t make the OLC, but showed up at the Intermountain Logging Conference in April. It has been fitted with a new larger cab and high output LED lighting for increased visibility, as well as a digital climate control system. The D Series also utilizes the new Cummins L9 - 338 HP Tier 4 final engine with increase horsepower, torque and better fuel economy, all within the zero tail swing design. TimberPro bunchers offer best-in-class serviceability and an advanced energy recovery hydraulic system. www.timberpro.com

Triad Machinery is your Pacific Northwest Leader in forestry equipment, construction equipment, material handling equipment, wheel loaders, rough terrain cranes as well as crawler cranes. Our equipment coverage spans Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. We specialize in new and used equipment, equipment rentals, parts and service. Our major lines include: Link-Belt Construction and Forestry Equipment, Tigercat, Link-Belt Cranes, Kawasaki Wheel Loaders. www.triadmachinery.com

White Mountain Chain

Waratah

Let White Mountain Chain give you the safety that only a high quality chain can give. The quality and durability of a chain does not solely depend on the quality of the steel it is made from. It also depends on the production technology and the quality control procedures that are used on the way from raw material to finished chain. In this process TRYGG chains are the market leaders. www.whitemountainchain.com 50

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With an industry leading range of harvesting and processing heads both the 624C 4x4 and 625C were featured at the OLC. Built to perform the high torque feed motors of the four-wheel drive 624C provides unyielding delimbing power and responsive feed speeds. The 625C easily handles 35” wood and has exceptional tree control and delimbing with twin bottom delimb arms. Also, featured at the OLC was the FL-95 directional felling head, purpose built for winch assist logging on steep slopes. www.waratah.com

Rotochopper Launches B-66E Electric Horizontal Grinder

Rotochopper has introduced a new 1,000 HP dual-motor drive option for the B-66 E electric-powered horizontal grinder. The dual-motor drive is designed to reduce operating and maintenance costs compared to a single-motor drive, as well as minimize amperage surges at start-up.

The dual motor drive brings the best of both worlds. The convenience of smaller motors along with the production capacity of higher horsepower.

can operate on even tighter landings for biomass and land clearing operations,” said Jody Volner, president of Peterson Pacific Corp. “We are excited about the capabilities of this remarkable machine.”

With a 540 HP Tier III or Tier IV Caterpillar engine, the 3310B has the power to handle logs up to 24 inches in diameter.

With large access doors on both sides of the machine for serviceability, the fully enclosed engine compartment keeps things clean.

The 3310B’s transverse design allows for a much smaller operations deck, providing flexible production configurations in diverse terrain. With 230 degrees of rotation, the end-load or optional topload spout design allows trailers to be loaded in a variety of positions, depending on the demands of the job site. www.petersoncorp.com

Wood-Mizer’s New EG100 Edger Benefits of a dual motor drive over a single motor drive include lower start-up amperage surges and lower repair costs in the event of downtime. Major downtime is rare with industrial electric motors.

Yet should a breakdown occur, the dual motor drive decreases the lead time and cost of replacement parts compared to a single larger motor. www.rotochopper.com.

Wood-Mizer introduces the EG100 twin blade board edger designed for lumber producers looking for a low-cost, durable edger to improve overall production, material flow, and efficiency by edging sideboards and slabs. Two circular blades are provided standard, one is fixed and the other adjustable. A removable board fence makes it easy to trim boards that already have one straight side.

Available in 14HP gas or 10HP electric power, the EG100

ASV Offers RS-75 and VS-75 Skid Steers

ASV Holdings Inc., a manufacturer of all-purpose, all-season compact track loaders and skid steers, offers the large-frame, radiallift RS-75 and vertical-lift VS-75 skid-steer loaders. The machines feature highly efficient hydraulics and cooling systems, as well as best-in-class high ground clearance, departure angle, and serviceability. The skid steers are ideal for a wide range of applications, including rental, construction, landscape, snow removal, and forestry.

ASV builds the RS-75 and VS-75 with unique, dedicated skid steer frames. Unlike other manufacturers that use a single chassis for both compact track loaders and skid steers, ASV designs the frame for its Posi-Track and skid steer lines independently to provide customers with the highest performance. The result for the RS-75 and VS-75 is a 10.5˝ ground clearance. The purpose-built chassis also allows for a 24˚ departure angle, decreasing the risk of the machines getting stuck when starting to climb a steep hill. www.asvi.com

New Explosion-Proof Adjustable Magnetic Amerimulch Plus

Amerimulch provides landscape colorants and equipment for the production of profitable, in-demand color-enriched mulches. Amerimulch Plus has been engineered for use with all of its Bold and Vibrant Heartland product lines to deter mold growth in the colorant. The Plus enhanced colorants are applied through the same process used today, and there is no special labeling or handling required. Their colorants come with the Amerimulch commitment of being the best cost provider and Real Tangible Value. amerimulch.com

Peterson Introduces 3310B Drum Chipper

Peterson Pacific Corp., has announced the introduction of the new Peterson 3310B drum chipper.

“The new 3310B drum chipper is smaller and lighter than our previous model, but still packs impressive performance. The 3310B 52

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edger is generally operated by two people, one to feed the edger and the other to remove the finished boards. With one adjustable and one fixed 10” diameter carbide-tipped circular blades, the EG100 can edge up to 20 ½” wide flitches into a 12” wide finished board with a maximum thickness of 2”. www.woodmizer.com

Mount LED

Larson Electronics LLC has announced a new portable, explosion-proof LED with an adjustable magnetic mounting base that produces a brilliant 13,000 lumen flood beam of high quality light.

This low-profile LED fixture is an ideal replacement upgrade for less efficient traditional fixtures, providing powerful light and flexible mounting for hazardous locations.

The explosion-proof 150 Watt LED Light Fixture is an LED unit with a low-profile light head that produces intense white light in a 60º, 125º, or 140º flood pattern, while drawing just 150 watts.

Advanced LED technology and a special heat dissipating design help this unit achieve an incredible 60,000+ hour rated lifespan with 70% lumen retention. The housing is constructed of aluminum alloy with powder coating for extra durability and comes with 250 feet of SOOW cord terminated with a 1523 explosion-proof blade plug. www.larsonelectronics.com TW

Classified

CALENDAR May 11-12 Northeastern Forest Products Equipment Expo, Essex Junction, Vermont 315-369-3078, www.nefpexpo.net May 18-19 Montana Logging Association 29th Annual Meeting, Polson, MT 406-752-3168, www.logging.org June 4-7 42nd Annual National Indian Timber Symposium, Ocean Shores, WA 503-282-4296, www.itcnet.org

AD INDEX COMPANY PG# BARKO HYDRAULICS...........................................31 BRANDT TRACTOR..............................................39 CANNON BAR......................................................10 CASCADE TRADER..............................................32 CATERPILLAR......................................................17 CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT CO.........................19 DIAMOND MOWERS............................................35 FEENAUGHTY MACHINERY..................................11 GEM CHAIN BAR.................................................44 GLOBAL STABILIZATION......................................36 HYDRAULEX GLOBAL..........................................24 JAMES G MURPHY..............................................51 JOHN DEERE.........................................................7 JORAL/LOGGINGENCODERS.COM.......................10 KEY KNIFE...........................................................42 KOMATSU AMERICA............................................41 LBX/BEJAC/TRIAD...............................................21 MORBARK..................................................... 28-29 NATIONAL FIRE FIGHTER CORP...........................38 OLOFSFORS........................................................37 PAPE MACHINERY.................................................5 PETERSON..........................................................25 PIERCE PACIFIC...................................................34 PONSSE................................................................2 PRECISION HUSKY..............................................33 QUADCO TEETH..................................................26 QUADCO/SOUTHSTAR/LOG MAX.................... 12-13 ROLL-RITE..........................................................23 SELECT SAWMILL CO..........................................53 TIGERCAT/TRIAD MACHINERY.............................27 TIMBERPRO DEALERS.........................................56 US FORESTRY.....................................................43 WALLINGFORD'S.................................................38 WARATAH...........................................................55 WHITE MOUNTAIN CHAIN......................................6

June 9-10 Deming Logging Show, Deming, WA 360-592-3051, www.demingloggingshow.com June 9-12 Assoc. of Consulting Foresters of America 70th Nat’l Conference, Asheville, NC 703-548-0990, www.acf-foresters.org June 12-15 Forest Products Society 72nd International Convention, Madison, WI 608-231-1361, www.forestprod.org July 15-18 Council on Forest Engineering Annual Meeting, Williamsburg, VA 240-382-2633, www.cofe.org

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Change of Address & Renewal Subscriptions Please send BOTH old information and new changes to: TimberWest Magazine, P.O. Box 610, Edmonds, WA 98020 Fax: (425) 771-3623 • subscribetw@forestnet.com • www.forestnet.com ____________________________________________________________ signature date A signature and date is required on all renewals and new subscriptions.

MARCH/APRIL 2018

READER VERIFICATION The U.S. Postal Service requires readership verification at specified intervals. Please assist us by providing the information below.

Circle your Primary Business (enter one number) 1A Logging firm or contractor 1B Trucking company 1C Cutting contractor 1D Road builder/materials producer 1E Combined logging/processing forestry 2A Forest mgmt/government 2B Broker/consultant 3A Sawmill/chip mill 3B Veneer/plywood/panel mills 3C Pulp/paper mill 3D Specialty wood products 3E Biomass/Wood Energy Plant 4A Equipment manufacturer 4B Equipment distributor/dealer 6A Associations 6B Ad agency 6C Other 7 Forestry consultants 8 Education/Student/Library 9 Tree farming

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guest columnist

Forestry's Best Days Are Yet to Come. Here's Why.

By Nick Smith

H

ealthy Forests, Healthy

Communities (HFHC) was launched five years ago as a grassroots coalition advocating for better management of federally owned forest lands.

Back then I couldn’t have foreseen the changes in Washington D.C. and within the forest products industry itself. It’s not easy to be part of an effort to turn around decades of federal mismanagement. But I know there isn’t a better time to be working alongside this industry, whose best days I’m convinced are yet to come.

Five years ago, it seemed there was little momentum for forestry issues in Congress and the White House. Few forest products companies and associations were utilizing newspapers and other media, let alone social media, to tell their stories and shape public opinion. Grassroots advocacy on timber issues had been largely abandoned since the so-called “timber wars.” Ongoing challenges — from log supply to labor — called into question the very future of the industry in the United States.

Social Media

These challenges still exist, yet today the industry is actively confronting them.

Forest products companies and trade associations are now investing heavily in communications talent, social media, and public education campaigns. HFHC has attracted over 152,000 followers on Facebook, but I’m equally thrilled to see other organizations and companies gaining large audiences across all social media.

Speaking of Facebook, I’ve found dozens of private groups where thousands of loggers share photos, videos, and stories. How many people could we educate if those groups became forward-facing and gave the general public a sense of what loggers do and why they risk their lives to provide the products we depend on every day?

Partnerships

The industry is confronting its other existential challenges. Logging associations continue to bolster their certification programs to promote professional development and safety. New partnerships are being forged to provide training in mechanized logging and manufacturing to recruit and retain the next 54

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generation of loggers and mill workers. The forest products and insurance industries are working together to promote TEAM Safe Trucking to elevate the standards and performance of the log trucking sector.

New Products and Markets

More people outside the industry are beginning to recognize the importance, environmental benefits, and utility of wood.

While industry will continue to provide lumber, paper, and other essential products, new markets are opening and growing for new wood products. Architects are embracing advanced wood products such as Cross Laminated Timber, and now developers are planning wooden skyscrapers in the world’s largest cities. Scientists are developing new uses for wood fiber that were unthinkable a few years ago, from jet fuel to microchips and even to growing human body parts!

What will they think of next?

New markets are essential to sustaining the industry into the future, especially as forest management and practices evolve.

Many in the industry are familiar with the challenges of sustaining markets for woodbased biomass as natural gas and other energy prices remain low. This is one of the challenges that require leadership from policymakers at all levels of government, especially when doing so can help solve other problems. For example, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently indicated it is preparing new federal energy policies to add wood-based biomass to its “all of the above” energy portfolio. Making biomass more viable will also make restoring the health of public forests more efficient and economical.

Better Management

Another issue that demands action from policymakers is log supply, especially where the industry is dependent on sourcing logs from public lands. Since the Spotted Owl, we’ve seen the consequences of “hands off ” forest management, where the dramatic decline in federal timber harvests has contributed to increased risks of catastrophic wildfire, insects, and disease. Today the U.S. Forest Service has estimated 80 million acres of National Forest System lands need active management treatments. After cutting off federal log supplies and decimating large parts of the industry, the feds are finally beginning to understand they need

Nick Smith the industry as much as the industry needs access to federal wood.

There is strong momentum for reforming our broken system of federal forest management, even if our policymakers still can’t quite agree on the solutions. The Trump Administration has directed its land management agencies to break the status quo. And in fact, first quarter 2018 timber outputs soared 42 percent over the past year.

The U.S. Forest Service has also initiated administrative rulemaking to make its cumbersome environmental analysis and decision making more efficient and more responsive to the needs of our forests and communities.

Collaboratives

Obstructive litigation against federal forest projects continues to be a major concern in many parts of the country. But fringe groups are not enjoying the same success in federal courts perhaps as they did before.

Judges are dismissing lawsuits and injunctions as they recognize the legality and need for policy tools that agencies are now using to expedite forest projects. Fringe groups are losing as science catches up and informs us of the benefits of active forest management.

Judges are acknowledging the role of forest collaboratives that come together and find consensus on forest projects.

We’ve made tremendous progress on federal forest management, but we continue to need Congress to pass sensible reforms.

I’m optimistic as thousands of concerned citizens have contacted their federal representatives urging them to support forest reforms. As more people in the industry get informed and engaged in the issues and challenges facing the industry, they are helping to ensure its best days are yet to come.

Nick Smith is Executive Director of Healthy Forests, Healthy Communities, a nonprofit, nonpartisan coalition advocating for active management of federal forest lands. More information is available at healthyforests.org. TW

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