TimberWest - March/April 2019

2019 OLC PICTORIAL REVIEW

DOING IT OLD SCHOOL American Forest Lands Maple Valley, WA

SIX TIPS TO OPTIMIZE COMPACT TRACK LOADER FORESTRY PERFORMANCE

CURLY BURLY MILLING Cottage Grove, OR

LIFE HAPPENS, EVEN WHEN YOU’RE LOGGING

Sierra Logging, Newport, WA

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March/April 2019 Vol. 44 No. 03-04

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Life Happens, Even When You’re Logging

Life Happens, Even When You’re Logging

Chris Johnson of Sierra Logging has always done things his way.

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Doing it Old School

Bub Dickinson and his wife, Tammy, unabashedly embrace what some might call an “old fashioned” approach to their trade.

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Six Tips to Optimize Compact Track Loader Forestry Performance Tips for pairing a loader and attachment to ensure high performance and profits.

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Log Splitter and Sawmill Provide Benefits for Customer Sawmill Clifford has successfully parlayed a rented Wood-Mizer sawmill into a successful, multi-faceted, wood products business serving Central Oregon.

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Emergent Technologies Column

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Intermountain Logging Conference Review

By Golly! Bipartisan!

Largest crowds in years attend annual conference.

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Doing it Old School

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Six Tips to Optimize Compact Track Loader Forestry Performance

Redwood Logging Conference Review

Education a large element of 81st annual conference.

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Oregon Logging Conference Pictorial Review

OLC continues to expand and debut new equipment.

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HarvestTECHX Review

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Guest Column

Conference a success—with more to come.

Implementing Washington State’s 20-Year Forest Health Strategic Plan

DEPARTMENTS

Page 4 .............................................................In the News Page 34 ..................................................... Machinery Row Page 40 ................................................. Association News Page 52 ........................................................ New Products Page 53 ............ Advertiser’s Index/Classified Section Page 53 .................... Calendar of Events/Subscription

Log Splitter and Sawmill Provide Benefits for Customer Sawmill

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Two of North America’s oldest lumber grading agencies merge operations

Pacific Lumber Inspection Bureau (PLIB) and West Coast Lumber Inspection Bureau (WCLIB) have merged operations into a single entity. The surviving organization, PLIB, will retain all of the trademarks and services formally offered by WCLIB, including the structural glued laminated timber certification services of the American Institute of Timber Construction (AITC), a role WCLIB had assumed in January 2013.

PLIB President Jeff Fantozzi will lead the new combined organization from its headquarters office in Federal Way, Washington.

“While PLIB is officially the surviving entity, this merger is truly a blending of two equals,” Fantozzi said. “We will retain and strengthen all of the services we previously had been providing separately, and we’ll find efficiencies where duplicative services exist.

Member companies will notice little in the way of service disruptions.”

The merger was effective January 1, 2019.

The new organization’s Board of Directors will have equal representation from both of the previous organizations, and Fantozzi said that it will be “business as usual” as far as the marketplace is concerned. All logos, trademarks, and copyrights of PLIB, WCLIB, and AITC will be retained and continue to be used by producers on their products. He said most members of the respective organizations will continue paying the same dues levels they were paying previously, and for the most part they’ll continue working with the same staff members they’ve been working with.

The existing WCLIB headquarters office in Tigard, Oregon, which the bureau owns, will remain open as a satellite office until the building is sold.

Chinese Scientists Develop Green Jet Fuel

In March, it was announced that Chinese scientists had developed a means to convert plant scraps from agriculture and timber harvesting into high-quality jet fuel, which would help reduce CO2 emissions from airplanes and rockets.

The study, published in the journal Joule, demonstrated that a cheap, renewable, and abundant polymer in the plant’s cell walls can produce high-density aviation fuel.

“Our biofuel is important for mitigating CO2 emissions because it is derived from biomass, and it has higher density compared with conventional aviation fuels,” said coauthor Li Nimng. That density translates into increased aircraft range and payload of aircraft with the same amount of fuel.

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Montana’s Forests in Focus 2.0

Forests in Focus 2.0 was published by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) and is similar to the Shared Stewardship concept recently signed in Idaho.

This new strategy charts a course for key stakeholders to collaboratively address Montana’s most pressing needs in forest health and wildfire risk across the state.

Forests in Focus 2.0 brings partnering organizations together to propose one comprehensive plan for the state. It emphasizes better planning, a well-organized statewide collaborative effort, and scaling partnerships down to the local level.

This new effort was largely driven by the fact that over the past ten years, more than half of Montana’s forests have experienced insect and disease outbreaks of epidemic proportions. Of Montana’s 23 million acres of forested land, nearly 11 million acres have been affected by forest pests such as the mountain pine beetle, Douglas-fir beetle, and spruce budworm. Another 3 million acres have been impacted by root diseases.

Editor: Diane Mettler, diane@forestnet.com Copy Editor: Beth Szyperski Contributing Editors: Mary Bullwinkel, Andrea Watts, Lindsay R. Mohlere, Jack Petree, Buck Storlie ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 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.

California to Waive Environmental Rules for Fire Season Prep

California Gov. Gavin Newsom moved in March to bypass environmental regulations to prepare for the next wildfire season.

He believes the step is necessary to prevent further loss of life. Newsom’s order will apply only to 35 projects covering nearly 141 square miles of land, allowing state fire officials to circumvent multiple state regulations.

“The increasing wildfire risks we face as a state mean we simply can’t wait until a fire starts in order to start deploying emergency resources,” Newsom said in a statement ahead of declaring a state of emergency.

Newsom also pledged $50 million for fire preparedness in low-income communities and asked the private sector to bring forward innovative proposals, reports the Associated Press.

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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 2019. 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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ContractorProfile

Life Happens Even When C You’re Logging

Sierra Logging Newport, Washington

By Lindsay R. Mohlere

hris Johnson has always

marched to the tune of a different drummer. Starting out nearly 30 years ago, it was just Chris, his dog Axel, and a chainsaw. He liked it that way. Simple. Easy to go to work.

Like many loggers, Chris grew up in a logging family and jumped into the brush at an early age. At 16 years old, he was busy in the woods bucking logs with his dad and another logger who owned a skidder. When the skidder owner needed knee surgery, Chris’ dad put him on the machine. “I jumped in, and I was bucking logs and skidding timber.

Just never looked back. I’ve always been around it. I was the kid that went to work with Dad. None of my siblings are involved in logging,” Chris says.

Down the road, Chris began to do his own thing. “I worked alone, just me and my dog and my skidder,” he says. “Logging is more of an affliction with me. It’s all I know.

Sure, I’ve done other things, but I keep coming back to this. And it’s fun. Logging’s always fun.”

Around 2013, Chris hurt his shoulder.

“I’m not sure how it happened,” he says, “but we do play in a pretty rough sport.”

Chris found that he couldn’t work like he had in the past, which meant he had to change the way he was doing things.

“When I hurt my shoulder, everything changed. I went out and bought a stroker, and then I bought a skidder. After that I bought a loader,” Chris says. “I do my own thing. Still do. I take off with that skidder and do the little jobs because that was my bread and butter.”

But then, as Chris is fond of saying, “Life happens even when you’re logging.”

The Shape of Things to Come

Chris Johnson says of the 2018 Tigercat 620E skidder "It’s the most stable, capable machine I’ve ever been in.”

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Now Chris works with three other loggers in the Newport, Washington/Bonners Ferry, Idaho area. He refers to himself and the others as the “four amigos.”

He says the evolution of the “four amigos” wasn’t a planned or foreseen joining of forces.

“We just kinda came together,” he says.

“Ben Dahlstrom and I worked together for a long time right next to each other. Rode to work back and forth. For years we did that. Carpooled. And there’s Wayne Pluid. (continued on page 8)

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(continued from page 6) We’ve known each other for over 25 years,” says Chris.

Another friend, Jimmy Michelson, caught wind of what Chris, Ben, and Wayne were doing and joined up with them. Both Ben and Jimmy wanted to be on their own and jumped ship from other log crews to join up with Chris. Wayne was already an independent contractor.

Together, the Sierra Logging team have more than 120-plus years of combined

experience. Each individual brings his expertise to the crew, with Chris handling the management and marketing duties. “I ramrod this end of things,” Chris says. “I talk to the landowners. That’s my role. I do the marketing and work with the log buyers.

Been doing it a long time, and I know a lot of them.”

As Chris explains, the “four amigos” all have particular responsibilities. Sometimes they go hard, like they’re killing snakes. At other times, things slow down. For the most part, the Sierra team members know what

roles they play. “Sure, it’s hard. But I’ll tell you, any of these guys — they’ve been in the brush. They’ve all had snow dumping all over them. No one needs instruction every half hour. We’ve been around. We’ve all done this forever.”

Ben operates a 2014 John Deere 2154 equipped with a Waratah HTH622B head and does the processing for the team. Jimmy is the tree saw guy of the group, running a 2010 TimberPro. Wayne works the Serco log loader, which is mounted on a flatbed rig much like a yoder, and he also owns three Peterbilt log trucks that regularly haul for Sierra. In addition, employee Bryan Kirschbalm handles the 2018 Tigercat 620E skidder when Chris is wearing the managerial hat.

“The Tigercat is brand spanking new,” says Chris. “We leased it, and it’s the most stable, capable machine I’ve ever been in.”

Since the “four amigos” have been a crew, they’ve done a few different kinds of jobs, one of which was sending a load of cedar to Michigan.

“We sent a load that was going to be made into cedar planks for grilling and smoking salmon and other fish,” Chris says. “It’s all for big restaurants like Chili’s, Red Lobster.

The big time. It was a different twist.”

Radio Ads

The “Four Amigos” (left to right) Ben Dahlstrom, Jimmy Michelson, and Chris Johnson. Wayne Pluid not shown.

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True to form, since March 2018, Chris has been doing something a bit different, and it is way out of the normal logging outfit box. He has been running 60-second radio (continued on page 10)

ContractorProfile (continued from page 8) ads on a local country music station, advertising the services of his company. The ads target private landowners who need help in forest management and fire protection.

Plot sizes vary, but usually average 80-100 acres. “The first thing I do is ask what the landowner would like to see. It’s not about me. I’m just there to perform a task. We want to make it as easy for people as possible,” Chris says. “Typically, the landowners have an idea of what they want to do, so I ask them to tell me about their land, what kind of trees they have, where they’re located, and what they want to see done.”

Chris adds, “Some people have a great clear view. And some don’t. They don’t have a clue as to what they want to see. They know they’ve got a fire hazard and that’s all.”

One particular element that stands out in Chris’ ads, is the line about courteous truck drivers. “We made that a focal point,” Chris said as he described the ads. “We needed something that was going to stick out. Every soccer mom in this region has probably got the stuffing scared out of her by a loaded log truck rushing to the mill, you know.”

On the day TimberWest visited Sierra Logging, they were finishing up an 80-plus acre strip of jack pine located around and

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Serco 285 log loader, mounted on a flatbed rig, operating much like a yoder. below a landowner’s home. Chris said, they were taking all the merch timber out of the patch, and then a grant from the Washington State Department of Natural Resources was going to further address other fire prevention needs.

Chris says the radio ads are paying off and paying for themselves with jobs being

lined up for the future. “It’s been quite lucrative for us. And, you know,” he says, “imitation is the highest form of flattery. Ben called this morning. He’s hacked off because another outfit is running ads just like ours.

Ha! That’s neat.”

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ContractorProfile

Doing It Old School

American Forest Lands, Maple Valley, Washington

By Jack Petree

B

ub Dickinson and his wife, Tammy, unabashedly embrace what some might call an “old fashioned” approach to their trade.

“As the owners of American Forest Lands Logging Company in Western Washington, we have managed to keep oldschool work ethics central to our business,” the couple says. “We believe in good, honest, hard work, and we believe a handshake still means something!”

Bub and Tammy Dickinson also specialize in diversity at a time when many in the industry specialize with a narrow focus.

American Forest Lands serves one of the forest products industry’s fastest growing, Tammy and Bub Dickinson posing in front of Ole number 3.

This was a 50 acre project in the city limits of Black Diamond, Washington. The objective was to harvest, replant and leave as a forest for future generations.

Used here is a Kobeclo and 518 Caterpillar log skidder.

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ContractorProfile most diverse, and, perhaps, most important economic sectors — urban forestry as practiced at the urban/suburban/rural interface.

Logging in the Blood

Bub and Tammy profess a lifelong affection for the forest products industry. “We both came from logging families,” says Bub. “I started working in the woods about 1960 with my dad, running a small cat and setting chokers in the summer — and so the love affair began.” After graduating from high school in 1966, Bub began logging full-time, running skidder and tower logging in the high country with his dad and brother.

At 22 years old, Bub was the youngest timber faller at Scott Paper Company in Lester, Washington. “As I got my whiskers, I started contracting for various logging companies and big tree farms including the Murry Pacific Corporation and Cheney Port Mills.” Bub also worked in several logging camps in Canada, Alaska, and Washington, including several years as a timber faller at Camp Grisdale. Regarding Camp Grisdale, Bub says it was “the king of all logging camps and the last camp to operate in the lower 48 states — a place where the men were separated from the boys when it came to work.

This was the era when timber truly was king!”

In 1986, Bub married Tammy, who also came from a logging family. Together, they started their own logging business. “The early years starting out were tough, and money was tight,” recalls Bub. “We bought a used mountain logger skidder and started doing small jobs for private landowners. Finding our niche in the private sector was lucrative, and we knew there was money to be made.”

As the company began to grow, they bought more equipment and took on larger jobs, including contract logging and work for tree farms. “But the small landowner has always remained our bread and butter!” says Bub. “We kept adding equipment to our arsenal along the way. When we found it hard getting log trucks to haul when we needed them, we decided to buy our own. The decision turned out to be a good investment for us.” The lessons learned in those early years have proven to be invaluable to Bub and Tammy operating in today’s changing forest management climate.

Bub and Tammy’s ability to deal effectively with all kinds of people and their varied ideas resulted in three years (2015 – 2017) as finalists for the Better Business Bureau regional Business of the Year Award.

Making a Transition

The Dickinson’s timing was impeccable.

Anti-forest harvest sentiment was coming to the fore throughout the first years of the couple’s business life, culminating in the launching of the Clinton Forest Summit in the early 1990s. The Summit ultimately meant the loss of millions of acres of forest (continued on page 14)

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ContractorProfile (continued from page 48) land previously available for harvest.

While many were unable to adjust to new realities of the industry, forward-looking thinkers like Bub and Tammy found ways to not only survive, but to thrive, by providing a broad variety of services to timberland owners in and near urban areas. At the same time, those forests at the wildland/urban interface, previously undervalued but containing tens of billions of board feet of quality timber, took on an increasingly important role in providing a much needed alternative supply for an industry starving for raw material.

Wildland/Urban Interface

Like any other industry sector, the urban forest offers many niche opportunities, some larger and some smaller. American Forest Lands generally serves landowners with anything from large treed lots to mid-sized and relatively large acreages.

“The jobs we take are the ones we know can make both the landowner and ourselves money,” says Tammy. “The smallest job we usually take is one that would have a minimum of 8-10 loads or more, depending on the location. Sometimes, if they are local folks, we will come in for a bit less if it makes sense. You got to keep the locals happy too!”

As to larger jobs, Tammy says American Forest Lands has no limits. “We are very capable of handling the largest operation.”

Urban loggers take on an incredible array of jobs which means an operation like American Forest Lands must be nimble; diversity truly does become the urban logger’s specialty.

Working Well with Others

“One major difference between operating in an urban situation versus contact logging is that you have to deal with a variety of people,” Bub says. “Each one has their own idea on how logging should be done.

Contract logging for larger landowners is much easier. You agree on a price and go logging; it’s more cut and dried.” He says an urban logger must deal with a much broader range of landowners possessing much less knowledge about timber than the professionals a contract logger typically deals with.

Bub and Tammy’s ability to deal effectively with all kinds of people with all kinds of ideas about their timber is demonstrated by their three years (2015 – 2017) as finalists for the Better Business Bureau regional Business of the Year Award.

Diverse Equipment

In addition to a high level of people skills, a full-service urban logger must maintain a

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diverse range of equipment and have the ability to use that equipment in a tremendously broad variety of applications — literally no two jobs are alike. Pointing out a harvest may require everything from the use of traditional, vintage methods to state-of-the-art (continued on page 16)

Wally Dickjose is the company's lead man. They call him the Swiss Knife because he can handle anything.

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Bub Dickinson taking time to discuss log lengths with processor operator, Phil Becker.

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ContractorProfile Bub and Tammy checking in on an operation, making sure the trucking is running smoothly.

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approaches, Tammy says, “We use a variety of forest machinery, using specific pieces for what the job requires. We can bring selfloaders, shovels, harvesters, delimbers, dozers, excavators, Cat grapple skidders, processors, and a lot of other equipment to bear on a job. We’ve also got a nice three-axle tilt bed trailer to move smaller equipment around.”

The skill sets to run all that equipment are there too. A visitor to an American Forest Lands job site might find Tammy running a skidder herself, when needed, while Bub’s 50 years of experience speaks for itself.

While a contract logger typically doesn’t have to worry much about where the harvested timber goes, an urban logger owes it to both the customer and the company to optimize the value of the harvest. Forest Service studies demonstrate landowners have many goals for their timbered land, but once a decision to harvest is made, Tammy says, with a bit of a smile in her words, the focus changes. “When people call us about logging, they are interested in one thing: how much money they can make and how fast they can get it!”

Wood harvested by American Forest Lands ends up in a variety of places. Bub and Tammy maintain contacts that enable them to sell to the export markets, traditional sawmills, specialty mills, and to portable sawmills, with significant amounts of lesser-quality fiber going to the firewood marketplace, all in the name of getting the best deal for the customer.

Urban forestry, as practiced by cuttingedge firms like American Forest Lands, is well on the way to reclaiming the place it once held as one of the nation’s foremost suppliers of environmentally beneficial forest products. And an ever expanding population means, Tammy says, “As long as there is timber on private lands in more populated areas, there will always be a call for logging smaller properties, and we will be there to fill that need.”

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EducationSpotlight

SIX TIPS to Optimize

Compact Track Loader Forestry Performance

By Buck Storlie

S

pring has arrived across the

U.S., and that means land-clearing contractors are out in full force.

While many jobs can be fulfilled using a standard compact track loader with a simple bucket, overgrown areas with thick brush and trees require heavierduty forestry attachments. And powering

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these attachments in high-intensity applications like mulching and brushcutting takes a CTL built for optimal performance in the most demanding applications.

Contractors need to make sure the loader has the features to make full use of a forestry attachment’s potential, even in high temperatures and challenging environments.

They also need to ensure the attachment is the best fit for the CTL.

Here are six tips for pairing a loader and attachment to ensure high performance and profits.

1.

Choose a Dedicated Loader: The best way to ensure

maximum productivity in harsh forestry applications is to choose a CTL designed specifically for the job. Heavy-duty tools, such as mulching

EducationSpotlight

Buck Storlie

In addition, review the loader’s auxiliary hydraulic pump maximum output capacity.

Some models include high flow pumps that are maximized and can cause the attachment to slow down when moving the loader. Look for a forestry-optimized machine with oversized hydraulic pumps that allow movement without taking any flow from the attachment.

Forestry machine operators should also look for features that maximize safety in forestry applications. This includes metal guarding around key areas, such as lights, the AC condenser, and the rear screen, to protect against brush and debris. These machines achieve an additional level of durability with a heavy-gauge cab featuring extra falling-object and rollover protection, as well as reinforced windows for impact resistance.

A hydraulically driven, auto-reversing cooling fan can also blow debris from mulching applications out of the engine compartment screens.

2. attachments, require the machine to handle almost constant, high-intensity loads. Contractors should choose a loader that allows for 100 percent load, 100 percent of the time, at extremely high ambient temperatures. Some manufacturers build machines capable of performing this way in temperatures up to 118 degrees Fahrenheit. This is accomplished through high horsepower, flow, and efficient cooling systems.

Check the Specs: Maxi-

mum hydraulic flow and system pressure are two key specs to look for in the best machines and attachments. Ensure the attachment matches the maximum capabilities of the machine. As most operators know, gpm is the measure of hydraulic flow which determines the speed of the head, while psi is the maximum hydraulic pressure the attachment can handle. Attachments that don’t fit the machine specs won’t perform as well as attachments that do.

3.

Optimize Head Settings:

Next, make sure the attachment has the correct pulley configuration to optimize the carrier’s flow and power. Heads may not be automatically set to match the CTL’s gpm.

For example, if the loader features 45 gpm, work with the dealer or manufacturer to repulley the attachment to reach a matching tip speed.

Manufacturers also recommend attachments that include a 2-speed drive motor. To ensure optimum tip speed, maximum power, and the fastest recovery time, make sure the motor shift point is set for the CTL’s specific pressure range.

4.

Reduce Flow if Necessary: For attachments with a

lower maximum gpm than the CTL’s, reduce the machine flow to ensure attachment longevity and performance. Operators can reduce machine flow in some loaders through the cab’s display panel. This adjustment will mean the machine won’t reach 100 percent performance, but it will allow the attachment to operate at its maximum performance. Not reducing the loader flow will put excessive force on the attachment, causing it to wear faster and reduce performance. For example, if the machine is set at 45 gpm and the attachment is designed for 40 gpm, operation will overspeed mulching head tips and rob power. This can lead to engine bogging, excessive heat, and reduced productivity.

5.

Examine Coupler and Hose Size: Maximize flow

between the CTL and attachment with the correct size coupler and hoses. While adapters can be used to accommodate smaller couplers and hoses, doing so will restrict the hydraulic flow and reduce horsepower.

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21

EducationSpotlight (continued from page 21)

6.

Adjust Preferences: Most

compact track loaders have a variety of adjustments operators can make to suit their preferences. The operator’s manual has information on how to make changes. Here are a few of the common adjustments for forestry contractors.

Loader Arm Speed: Adjust the arm speed if the arms are moving too quickly or too slowly up and down or when tilting and curling the attachment.

Creep Mode: Adjust the maximum low speed depending on conditions and the amount of precision required. Some models allow operators to quickly turn off creep mode via the operator display or when shifting into 2-speed. This ensures quick travel when necessary.

Flow Sharing: Some compact track loaders feature an auxiliary pump with a higher hydraulic flow than the machine’s maximum gpm. This feature allows the loader to move with no reduction in attachment speed. If more CTL speed is required, operators can simply adjust flow sharing.

These tips will allow optimal machine and attachment performance, but there are many other factors to consider for even more productivity. The attachment’s belt size, weight, center of gravity, and back pressure also play a part. The best way to ensure an optimal performance combination is to use an attachment created specifically for the loader. Ask the dealer or manufacturer about attachment options fully designed, tested, and configured to optimize the machine’s flow and horsepower.

Taking all of this into consideration will allow for maximum machine and attachment performance and ROI on the job.

Buck Storlie is the product line manager at ASV Holdings Inc. Storlie, a 23-year veteran of ASV, focuses on being a customer advocate, providing product and market intelligence, and monitoring the creation and development of new products.

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SmallSawmilling

Log Splitter and Sawmill Provide Economic Benefits for Custom Sawmill Splitting a large piece of wood on the Wood-Mizer FS500 Log Splitter.

Curly Burly Milling, Cottage Grove, Oregon

By Jack Petree

C

lifford Goins’ approach

to his wood products business is as neat, clean, and straightforward as his production facility. Over the years, Clifford has successfully parlayed a rented Wood-Mizer sawmill into a successful, multi-faceted, wood products business serving industrial clients, small business customers, and the custom sawmill marketplace throughout Central Oregon.

The sustained success of Clifford’s business for more than 20 years has come from applying lessons learned about wood, customers, and sawmilling.

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Custom Sawmilling and Stocking Lumber

Clifford’s company, Curly Burly Milling, is located in Cottage Grove, Oregon, a small town near the state’s famed Willamette Valley. The valley’s meeting of the Cascade and Coastal mountain ranges means an extraordinary mixture of tree species for Curly Burly to choose from.

Clifford offers custom milling both on-site and off and concentrates on the hardwoods of the area with oak, madrone, golden chinkapin, and big leaf maple. “The business is split about 50/50,” Clifford comments. “About half of the business consists of hardwoods I purchase then mill here, and

the other half is custom milling, done either here or at the customer’s place.”

Clifford’s customer base is as varied as is his product line. “I have a retailer who takes quite a bit, and I sell regularly to cabinet makers, furniture makers, and woodworkers of all sorts,” he reports. “I also have individual customers who come in regularly and others who just show up wanting anything from a few pieces to a large amount of lumber or timbers for personal building products.”

To accommodate the various needs of his customer base, Clifford maintains a large variety of kiln dried lumber along with a (continued on page 26)

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Service Life Due to Improved Track Chain Links, Track Roller Bushings, Track Sliders, Idler & Cushion Assembly and Track Guards. • New Forestry-Specific Hydraulic Hose & Tube Guarding System © 2019 by Komatsu America Corp. All rights reserved. All comparisons and claims of improved performance are made with respect to the prior Komatsu XT-3 Series models unless otherwise specifically stated. Up to 10% lower fuel consumption results are based on using the XT445L-5 prototype vs. the XT445L-3 model - each operator’s results may vary. 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.

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SmallSawmilling

Curly Burly Milling prides itself on keeping a clean operation. (continued from page 24) selection of both air dried and green material generally available as well. Of course, he can mill and process to order.

“You never know what people will want when they come here,” Clifford says. “So I keep enough variety of products I know will sell to satisfy most customer requests.”

According to Clifford, Curly Burly Milling has relied on Wood-Mizer wood

processing equipment from its beginning.

Today the primary equipment includes an LT50 Hydraulic portable sawmill, a dehumidification wood kiln, and an FS500 log splitter. Secondary processing is accomplished inside a well-equipped shop. The mix of equipment is designed for both primary and secondary processing, which allows Clifford to provide his customers with virtually any wood product imaginable (given sufficient time to allow for special orders).

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According to Clifford, an important part of his approach to marketing consists of educating himself, and the customers who come to his facility, about the wood being bought and sold.

“People will come up here eager to get going on a project,” he says smiling. “They’ll want to pick up a walnut slab that was maybe only milled a week or two ago and go home to make a table. If you don’t tell them about the importance of proper drying and the time it takes, you do both the customer and yourself a disservice. They will be unhappy with the results and, of course, blame you, and in the long run you’ve lost a customer and hurt your reputation.”

Every tree species is different, offering its own opportunities and its own challenges.

Clifford points out that juvenile wood is different from the wood added as a tree grows.

Different woods act differently as they are dried, so it is important to learn how to put milled lumber through a kiln.

According to Clifford, the purchaser’s intended use for the wood is as important as the wood’s physical characteristics.

“Learning how people are going to use their wood is important to making sure you provide them with appropriate information and that you are milling what the customer wants. You’ve got to spend some time asking about what the customer wants if you really want to serve that customer, and that discussion will dictate what you cut.”

Profitable Waste Management

The most recent addition to Curly Burly’s processing capabilities came recently when Clifford purchased Wood-Mizer’s flagship log splitter, the FS500 model. Clifford contends the log splitter has been paying off significantly even though conventional wisdom would say he underutilizes the machine.

1.877.224.4234

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The Importance of Properly Dried Lumber

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TimberWest March/April 2019 www.forestnet.com

SmallSawmilling “In my operation at present, the wood splitter is more of a waste management tool,” he says. “I’m a sawmill operator, not a firewood processor. Like any other mill owner, waste management is a constant challenge, especially because it takes time away from the mill. This wood splitter took a whole bunch of waste product I had and turned it into a product I can sell. Just in terms of handling the waste management situation here it more than pays for itself.”

Clifford is particularly impressed that his machine can take huge pieces of oak, walnut, or other difficult-to-split wood, like a 30” log from the crotch of a tree, and process it down into firewood nearly effortlessly.

“I looked around and didn’t see anything that would work for me until I saw WoodMizer’s product,” he says. “I thought I might like the FS500 so I asked if I could show up and try it with my own firewood. They told me that would be OK, so I tried it out and was impressed.”

“I really like the height,” he adds. “I have access to baskets that fit off the end of the machine and allow the wood to drop right into them without having to bend down all the time, and the splitter really worked on some very tough material. I know I could do more with it if I wanted, but for my

Clifford Goins successfully parlayed a rented Wood-Mizer sawmill into a multifaceted, wood products business serving industrial clients, small business customers, and the custom sawmill marketplace throughout Central Oregon. operation it is already doing almost everything I wanted it to do—handle my waste wood.”

With Curly Burly Milling, Clifford Goins is demonstrating that an operation doesn’t have to be a mega-mill to provide a good living, service to the community, or

personal satisfaction in delivering a desired product to customers who are excited to have the product. Clifford also demonstrates that, when it comes to an operation of any size, professionalism and a thoughtful approach to customer service pay off.

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27

MADE FOR MORE Waratah HTH623C

You begin each day before dawn with a drive and determination to do more than the day before. When you move at this pace, you know to do more you need equipment that is made for more. That’s why our equipment, like our 6400XT Wood Hog Horizontal Grinder, is built from the ground up to meet your needs, delivering: More Power and Production Consistent, Quality End Product Lower Operating Costs Ease of Maintenance Greater Longevity and Resale Value

If you’re ready to operate equipment that’s made to keep pace with you, then we invite you to contact the authorized dealer in your area listed to the right or go to morbarkdealers.com to find your local authorized dealer. Your Morbark dealer will work with you to assess your needs now and in the future, as well as offer equipment recommendations, financing options, wear parts and service if you should ever need it.

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By Golly! Bipartisan!

By Lindsay R. Mohlere

D

on’t look now, but govern-

ment actually works. Despite the horrid bickering on both sides of the aisle and all the other issues, a rare bipartisan bill was signed into law by President Trump on March 20.

Wildfire Technology

Sponsored in part by Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), the Wildfire Technology Advancement Act includes several new mandates for crews fighting wildfires.

“It will provide new technology and training tools to empower the Forest Service to help our communities and our firefighters...

Real-time fire mapping, more drone technology to give us real-time information about the fires, using NASA satellite information to help us plan post-fires, and giving us more smoke forecasting information to better help our communities and deal with those who are impacted by heavy smoke,” Cantwell said.

According to Bill Gabbert, a former firefighter and now editor of the website 30

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Wildfire Today, the new law is “The Holy Grail” of wildland firefighting. “It will make it possible for firefighters to know where the fire is in real time and where the firefighters are in real time.”

It will now be a requirement to provide wildfire crews with GPS locators and drones equipped with infrared sensors to scout and map wildfires in real time. In addition to requiring the Forest Service to update wildfire support software that fire managers use to inform and document their decisions while managing a wildfire, the bill also calls for the development of an injury database to track on-the-job injuries and deaths of wildland firefighters.

Unfortunately, the law doesn’t fund the acquisition of the drone and GPS tracking technology. That hurdle is being left up to the individual agencies.

For several years, Gabbert has been one of the leading voices in calling for the use of technology to increase the safety of wildland firefighters. He is happy the new law has been passed, but somewhat skeptical that it will be implemented. Seems fire managers

have their own way of doing things.

“It takes a lot of knowledge and expertise and experience to manage forests and to manage forest fires and manage fifteen thousand fire fighters, and they believe that they know how to do it better than anybody; and when senator so and so from the Old Town Junction Township says they must fight fires this way with this kind of equipment . . . they may not always take it too seriously,” Gabbert said.

The New Slash and Burn!

If you take a look at your average slash pile, smoldering through a grey and snowy day in the middle of February, atop a rugged hill adjacent to a freshly thinned parcel on the Big Butte Plateau in the Cascade Range of southern Oregon, it’s not hard to imagine dollar bills going up in smoke.

Consider the effort it took to skid the debris from the thinning operation into a nice, tight packed pile suitable for burning (continued on page 32)

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EmergentTechnologies (continued from page 30) when the weather is just right. Consider the fuel used and the time and manpower it takes to monitor the burn.

Guess what? You see that smoke? It’s all about the Benjamins ($100 bills).

Now, thanks to the combined efforts of Walking Point Farms Inc. and Ragnar Original Innovations Inc., there may be a new prospect for that dumb old slash pile.

It’s called biochar.

Simply put, biochar is charcoal used as a soil amendment. It’s made from biomass via a process called pyrolysis. The process results in an extremely porous, light-weight carbon-rich material that can improve water and nutrient retention in soils and provide numerous other environmental benefits.

Ragnar Original Innovations (ROI) has developed a portable process and hardware to produce biochar. It’s called the Carbonator 500 — and it’s massive. Lowboy massive.

It’s built like a tank, complete with tracks, and it is remote controlled. It can devour 15-20 tons of slash per hour, which is dropped into the combustion chamber and burned at 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit. A 148-horsepower diesel engine powers fans that create an air curtain around the fire,

DroneSeed technology ready to be used in the woods. keeping in smoke and emissions while keeping out oxygen — pyrolysis. The resulting residue falls beneath a grate into a chamber where it is quenched in water to stop combustion. Auger conveyors remove the finished biochar from the vehicle, where it can be cooled and collected.

Walking Point Farms, a company owned by disabled veterans, that brokers with government agencies and partners to provide agricultural products such as biochar,

fertilizer, and herbicides, has expressed keen interest in the Carbonator 500.

Chris Tenney, Vice President of Business Operations, said they are working with Ragnar Original Innovation to help the technology gain a foothold in the Pacific Northwest. The Carbonator’s low operational costs, small diesel engine and fewer moving parts is more efficient than chippers and its environmental qualities make the Carbonator a perfect fit for NW forests.

DroneSeed Update

Introduced in the January/February issue of TimberWest in a fine article by Andrea Watts, DroneSeed Inc. has just inked a contract with the Nature Conservatory Oregon to help restore rangelands affected by invasive species and re-seed native plants in Southeast Oregon.

By partnering with DroneSeed, the Nature Conservancy will have access to UAS swarm technology designed to-scale to plant and protect significant acreage while planting in precision areas to boost survival rates.

DroneSeed CEO and founder Grant Canary noted that the objective of the project is to test and demonstrate that DroneSeed’s innovative approach can achieve successful restoration faster and more efficiently than conventional methods.

To date we haven’t been able to find out how successful DroneSeed’s recent plantings have been. Most of the results are likely still under a couple feet of snow. When trees are planted by hand, they’re two years old, and the survival rate is around 50 percent. I wonder what the rate will be with this new application.

If it works, great. Time will tell.

Till then.

Stay safe out there.

Talk back at twfirecolumn @gmail.com.

(Ref:NOAA, AUVSI, PR Newswire) 32

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LBX Raises $51,000 for American Heart Association

LBX Company LLC of Lexington, Kentucky, raised $51,000 in support of the American Heart Association’s annual “Life Is Why We Give ” campaign. LBX made a commitment to donate $500 for every Link-Belt excavator, forestry machine, or material handler retailed in February in North America.

This is the third year that LBX has participated as a national supporter of the campaign. LBX has committed to support this program through 2021.

“LBX is proud to continue our involvement with the American Heart Association. We thank our dealers and employees for a great month of results that couldn’t have happened without their support,” said Eric Sauvage, president & CEO, LBX Company. “With their help, we sold 102 machines in February.”

LBX is also a supporter of the Central Kentucky Heart Walk, which will take place at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington on May 11, 2019.

St. Martin, Minnesota,” says Jody Parker, chair of Rotochopper’s board of directors.

Brinkerhoff holds a bachelor’s degree from Southern Utah University and an MBA from Duke University. He was hired into a leadership program at John Deere, where he gained experience in operations, business development, public affairs, and marketing.

John Deere Forestry Marks Manufacturing Milestone

John Deere commemorated the production of its 5,000th Forestry Swing Machine, a 2656G log loader, with a special ceremony at the John Deere-Hitachi Specialty Products (DHSP) factory. Held on the morning of Jan. 31, John Deere invited the customer who purchased the milestone unit, Oregon-based Bighorn Logging, for a unique presentation and factory tour during a signature Gold Key event.

SENNEBOGEN Names First Tree Care Industry Manager

Recognizing the recent response of arborists to the new purpose-built 718 tree care handler, SENNEBOGEN has appointed Darren Sudduth as the firm’s first Tree Care Industry Manager.

Darren Sudduth comes to SENNEBOGEN with more than 15 years of experience in business development for equipment OEMs and engineered hydraulic products. Since arriving at SENNEBOGEN’s headDarren Sudduth quarters and Training Center in Stanley, North Carolina, Sudduth has attended “boot camp” with other application specialists on the SENNEBOGEN sales team. He has also begun touring the customer sites in the northeastern states.

Appointment of New CEO, Tosh Brinkerhoff

Rotochopper Inc. announced today the appointment of Tosh Brinkerhoff as the company’s next CEO, effective immediately.

Brinkerhoff has more than 20 years of industry leadership experience with an impressive track record in heavy equipment manufacturing.

“Tosh’s personal values, supportive family, collaborative leadership style, professional management experience, heavy equipment marketing and manufacturing expertise, and Central Minnesota home base all make for an excellent fit with Rotochopper’s continuing opportunity to grow and sustain the company from its roots in Tosh Brinkerhoff 34

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For the event, the DHSP factory hosted Bighorn Logging President Harve Dethlefs and company Vice President Mark Standley, as well as their dealer, Papé Machinery. The event started with an overview of the storied history of the DHSP factory, followed by a question and answer session. During the session, which was held in front of the factory employees, Dethlefs and Standley discussed their business and the critical role equipment plays.

Following the interview, Bighorn Logging was presented with a plaque and the 5,000th swing machine was revved up for the very first time in celebration.

Rotochopper Announces the Timbery Sawmills Introduces West Coast Dealer in Oregon

Timbery introduces Heicor Enterprises, LLC in Monmouth, Oregon as Timbery West — an authorized dealer of Timbery Portable Sawmills. Timbery offers a range of personal sawmills geared specifically for homesteads, farms, small woodlots, tree farms, as well as cabinet, custom woodworking, and specialty lumber shops.

Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, Timbery manufactures its portable sawmill equipment in the USA. Timbery has been building band sawmills since 2010, with mills spread broadly across North America and in several countries around the world. The company also supplies board edgers, resaws, sawmill accessories, bandsaw blades and blade sharpening equipment.

Waratah Receives the 12,000th Forestry Machine Harvester Head

Outokummun Metalli Oy ended 2018 with impressive figures in harvester head production, when the company’s 12,000th harvester head frame was completed at its Outokumpu plant on Dec. 18, 2018.

The harvester head was the H215E model, a high-capacity newgeneration harvester head purpose built for eucalyptus debarking and designed for use on large wheel harvesters and excavators. The day after its manufacture, the product headed to Waratah OM Oy’s facilities in Joensuu for final assembly, and from there it will be delivered to Australia through the Waratah sales organization.

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YOU’RE GONNA NEED MORE TRUCKS. Designed to increase productivity, the new Hitachi Foresters sport a reliable, Final Tier 4 engine that doesn’t require a DPF. Comfort comes in the form of a quieter and larger cab with stretch-out-your-legs room and an improved AC system. Top it all off with safety improvements like redesigned visibility and cab access. The enhancements go on and on – just like the line of trucks that will need to keep up.

HitachiConstruction.com/Foresters

ConferenceReview

81st Annual Intermountain Logging Conference Draws a Crowd “

W

orking Together for a

Better Tomorrow” was the theme of this year’s Intermountain Logging Conference (ILC), held at the Mirabeau Park Hotel in Spokane Valley, Washington, April 3-5. The event was the 81st annual gathering of loggers, vendors, and spectators.

More than 300 registered attendees from the intermountain region of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana, participated in the event, which featured presentations by timber industry business and resource professionals, equipment dealers, and technological innovators. Various state professional logger programs were also offered to meet continuing education credits.

After the opening ceremony welcome

by ILC President Mark Boardman of F.H. Stoltze Land & Lumber, Wednesday’s breakout sessions included information and

news from John Deere, Komatsu, Tigercat, and others. Additionally, business topics such as “Family Forged – Succession Planning for the Real World” and “Current Tax Changes and Implications” were presented.

Technology sessions covered several emergent practices like mobile mapping technology from Avenza Maps, Garmin InReach, and “Vision for Harvesting Machines: Automatic & Real-time Tree Measurement and Mapping” from Dendroptix. Geoff Klein from the Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) explained new drone applications and technology under the topic “IDL Drone Applications for Forestry.”

Wednesday afternoon, representatives from Trout Unlimited, the Lands Council, and the Nature Conservancy participated in Panel #1, which covered “Shared Objectives – Shaping Management on our National Forests.” The panel was moderated by Mac Lefebvre from Idaho Forest Group and Jesse Hunt from Jesse Hunt Logging. From all reports, the panel discussion had a packed audience.

Panel #2, held on Thursday, covered “Log Truck Driver Training Programs” and was moderated by Bryan Lorengo and Tim McEntire from the Montana Logging Association. Panel #3 was held that afternoon and featured Aaron Best, Head Football Coach of Eastern Washington State University, covering the topic of “Motivating People in the Workplace.” It was moderated

by Rob Keefe from the University of Idaho and Brian Hobday from Weyerhaeuser.

Thursday night, following an open-door hospitality room sponsored by Northwest Parts & Rigging from Kalispell, Montana, the silent and live auction along with dinner and award presentations capped the evening. This year over $22,000 was raised to help fund the first annual Kyle Wetmore Scholarship for University of Idaho students.

On Friday, panel discussion #4 centered around “Perspectives of Good Neighbor Authority in the Intermountain Region.”

The show closed after lunch, which featured a presentation, “What’s New in Logging,” moderated by Ericka Sussi, ILC Vice President.

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ConferenceReview

81 Annual Redwood Region Logging Conference st

By Mary Bullwinkel

T

he latest logging equipment, an historic logging locomotive, and a celebration of the entire industry were all highlighted at the 81st Annual Redwood Region Logging Conference (RRLC), held in Eureka, California, March 14–16, 2019.

Jake Morris of McKinleyville, Californiabased Morris Logging was the 2019 President under the theme Here Yesterday, Here Today, Here for Tomorrow.

Morris said those who attended learned about the latest technology and how much the industry has evolved. “Our goal remains the same,” he said. “To educate our youth as well as the public, and really show the stewardship of our industry and the management of our most renewable resources for generations to come.”

With more logging equipment on display this year than in previous years at Redwood Acres Fairgrounds in Eureka, California, there was also a higher attendance. Members of the public and the industry could talk one-on-one with industry professionals and vendors who provide products and services to the logging industry. There were also plenty of social events including the Friday night banquet and a dinner honoring past presidents of the RRLC. One popular event at RRLC is the log loader competition, where operators put a CAT 548 and a John Deere 3756C through their paces. Well-known competitor Bryan Chipps of northern California’s Green Diamond Resource Company claimed the top spot. He took top honors in the RRLC event and was also the winner of the Oregon Logging Conference log loader competition held in February in Eugene, Oregon.

As Morris mentioned, education is a strong focus of the Redwood Region Logging Conference. Thursday was Education Day with visits from more than 1,500 local students (3rd through 6th grade), and Friday was Career Day for local high school students to meet with industry professionals and rotate through educational stations.

“By educating our youth through the conference and our RRLC scholarship program, we strive to help our high school and

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college students pursuing a career in our industry understand that the resource we have today will still be a strong, viable resource in the future,” Morris said.

The keynote speaker for the 81st annual RRLC was Green Diamond Resource Company’s Chief Operating Officer Neal Ewald. He talked about the current state of the industry and spoke in support of an upcoming RRLC activity planned in May to get a younger generation of workers involved in the logging industry. The event is called Boots on the Ground and will include local Humboldt County high school students spending the day in the woods at an active logging operation. The students will have an opportunity to see first-hand what it is like to work in the woods and learn more about the industry from professionals as they choose a career.

Each year, the Redwood Region Logging Conference chooses Achievement and Shining Star award winners. The 2019 Achievement award winner is Tony Leonardo of Fortuna, California-based Leonardo Logging, and the Shining Star winner is Linda Herron, a 40-year timber industry supporter, currently employed at Green Diamond Resource Company.

TW

THE BIGGER THE BETTER INTRODUCING THE 890 LOGGER Tigercat continues to set the bar high with the new 890 logger the largest machine in the Tigercat forestry equipment line-up.

The 890 is an operator’s dream. With increased horsepower and high flow capacity hydraulics, performance and fuel efficiency are unmatched. New longer track frames with a wide stance carbody give the 890 exceptional stability. A full height front window, additional floor windows, and the new rearVIEW camera system provide clear sightlines to help maximize productivity.

Contact your nearest Tigercat dealer today to learn more.

www.tigercat.com

BLM 2019 Timber Sale Program Elevated

The American Forest Resource Council learned in February the BLM has been directed by DC leadership to accelerate its approach to fully implement the Resource Management Plans (RMP) to achieve 278 mmbf. A District breakdown of this year’s timber program is as follows: District Assigned Target Salem.....................................................77 Eugene...................................................73 Roseburg................................................42 Coos Bay................................................30 Medford.................................................42 Lakeview..................................................6 Total.................................................. 270** Achieving these higher targets is achievable if the BLM adheres to the management called for in the RMP. Previously, under the Northwest Forest Plan, the BLM largely deferred the regeneration harvest treatments required by that plan in favor of a thinning-only paradigm. So far, it seems that the BLM is trying to avoid a similar unsustainable path and instead follow the RMPs direction on sustained-yield timber management more closely by implementing a mix of thinning and regeneration harvest. This approach, following the RMP models and

maximizing treatment on all available acres, would help grow the program quicker than anticipated. **The remaining 8 mmbf will likely be generated through “add-on” volume as active timber sales are harvested.

America’s Loggers: Save Lives

by Putting More Log Trucks on Interstates

Fatal log truck collisions increased 41 percent between 2011 and 2015, according to a 2018 study by Virginia Tech researchers. Due to inconsistent truck weight tolerances between state and federal roads, trucks hauling logs to mills are often forced to use city, county, and state roads which, according to the study, is where more than 96 percent of log truck collisions occurred.

In response, the American Loggers Council (ALC) has launched a “Safe Routes Save Lives” initiative that seeks federal legislation enabling more log trucks to utilize federal interstates for more short-haul trips.

“Safe and efficient log hauling is essential to our industry and the nation’s economy, but inconsistent truck weights are putting American lives at risk,” said ALC Executive Vice President Daniel Dructor. “Since the spring of 1997, the ALC has urged

Congress to allow the industry’s trucks to haul state-legal weight tolerances on the Federal Interstate Highway System, which often provide safer routes to mills. As fatal log truck collisions increase, there is ample data suggesting that truck weight reform saves lives by routing log trucks away from schools, crosswalks, city intersections, and railroad tracks.”

Due to the dangers of log hauling, the Virginia Tech study found that only five insurance companies nationally are willing to write log truck vehicle insurance. One of those companies, Forestry Mutual Insurance Company, has joined the ALC in supporting the Safe Routes Save Lives initiative.

Dructor said past efforts to pass truck weight reforms have been stymied by railroad companies resistant to competition for long-haul routes, yet the exemptions the ALC are seeking would only apply to short hauls typically within a 150-mile radius.

Railroad companies commonly do not haul raw logs to sawmills in such short distances anyway.

“We are not seeking exemptions for long-haul, nor to promote competition to the railroads,” Dructor said. “This is about safety, not profits. It’s time for Congress to introduce legislation that just makes sense, saves lives, and reduces risk in the process.”

Contact: Daniel Dructor, (409) 6250206, americanlogger@aol.com.

Pacific Forest Foundation Scholarships

Applications are now being accepted for the Pacific Forest Foundation (PFF) 2019/2020 scholarships. The PFF traditionally awards 5 to 10 scholarships annually, with scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 each.

To be eligible, students must reside in one of the western states (California, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, and Colorado), British Columbia, or New Zealand, and they must be enrolled in a forest/timber industry related field, including diesel mechanics or welding.

Applications will be accepted through May 1, 2019. Visit wwwpacificforestfoundation.org to download the application or apply online.

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ConferenceReview

Review

T

he 81st Annual Oregon Logging Conference (OLC) was the biggest show in many years. Thousands of people attended the event, which featured hundreds of exhibitors.

Show Overview

The theme was Building Products for Building Futures, and 2019 OLC President Jim Dudley said it “reflects the power of our industry to grow our nation’s future. At this year’s conference, we took the opportunity to educate the next generation workforce for the timber industry and reintroduce ourselves to the public at large.”

One of the highlights was the 2nd Annual Future Forestry Workers Career Day. More than 500 high school students from 30 schools attended. The students learned about career opportunities in the industry and took

turns learning how to plant trees, operate a small excavator, and run a chainsaw. The students also talked with industry professionals about wildland firefighting, diesel mechanics, and more.

Attendees were feeling generous at this year’s auction. More than $28,000 was raised from auctions held at the Thursday and Friday OLC morning breakfasts. And the Oregon Women in Timber brought in over $122,000 at their auction.

As always, hundreds attended the panels and seminars that ranged from new technology to air ambulances. In addition to an education, the attendees received professional logger credits.

This year the 10th annual log loader competition winners were Zane Bryant, Bryant Logging (with a time of 3:03:53); Bryan Chipps, Green Diamond Resource

Company (with a time of 3:09:22); and Justin Jackola, Bruce Burke Logging (with a time of 4:27:34). Cindy Koch, Emerald Valley Cruising, was the winner of the Guess the Net Scale.

OLC Conference Manager Rikki Wellman said, “We couldn’t put on this successful show without the support of all of our sponsors, and the participation of all of our vendors. “We are proud to promote and showcase the logging industry,” she added, “and contribute to its continued growth and expansion.”

Debuting Products

The Oregon Logging Conference is widely known for the extensive, state-ofthe-art equipment displays. This year was no different. Here are a few new pieces that debuted this year.

Students learning about the industry at the 2nd Annual Future Forestry Workers Career Day. (Photo by Mary Bullwinkel) 42

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ConferenceReview Albach Diamant 2000. This all-in-one chipper takes flexibility to the next level. It’s equipped with a 33-foot crane for safe loading, large 42” wheels, 4-wheel drive system, and independent hydro-mechanical drive on front and rear axles. Take it on the road or off, as it can accelerate to 45 mph. For chipping, it has an infeed of 48”, infeed width of 68”, and a rotator speed of 420 RPM. Carbonator 500. ROI debuted a new solution. The Carbonator converts wood and other suitable biomass into high-quality biochar. With high throughput rates, it utilizes the biomass as its own fuel source for cabonizing. It is smokeless, designed to be easily moved on common lowboy trailers, and eliminates processing, transportation, and disposal costs.

Forestar III Series. Alliance introduced the 643 III and 644 III tires. Both are engineered for ultimate track compatibility. The tires feature improved, heavier nylon construction with special steal belts to ensure excellent puncture resistance and load carrying capacity, as well as reinforced hexagonal bead technology that prevents rim slippage and bead failure.

Harvestline Yarder. The simple system of Harvestline’s dual drum hydraulic yarder consists of a guyline tethered yarder and backspar connected with overhead cables consisting of main and haulback lines. A carriage moves along a skyline, controlled either in the yarder or on the ground. Features include superior line speed, new monitor, and control screen, and it’s fully integrated with the Hawkeye Hydraulic grapple carriage.

Hawkeye. The 1.5 ton Hawkeye grapple carriage features, among other things, a 68inch grapple opening, two grapple options, 360-degree rotation, three cameras offering full field of view, air-cooled diesel engine, four LED lights, easy service and grease points, and high tensile construction.

Koller Forsttechnik KX800e. This 288 HP hybrid yarder was not on display, but information was available. The yarder uses super caps as energy storage, which provide additional power to the available diesel engine power. The hybrid technology provides up to 3X more power to the net excavator engine capacity, and it comes with two electric-powered and independent winches.

Komatsu XT445L-5. The new 72,091 lb.

XT445L-5 tracked feller buncher features, among other things, gull-wing engine hood service access, increased lift capacity at full reach, cab relocated to the left side, rugged new undercarriage, KOMTRAX telematics system, 310 HP Cummins QSL9 engine, and lower fuel consumption.

Pro Safety. The new Pro Safety drone

Showing off at Family Day.

NEW ALLIANCE 643 & 644 THE PERFECT FIT FOR CTL LOGGING

Introducing two new Forestar III forestry tires from Alliance, engineered specifically for CTL rigs: the 643 and 644.

Both feature Alliance’s unbeatable chunk-and-chip-resistant compound and shoulderto-shoulder steel belts for extra durability. And both the 643 and 644 introduce Alliance’s new hexagonal bead to eliminate tire slip.

The Alliance 643 tread is designed to work seamlessly with tracks and chains, or to deliver great grip without them. And the dual-angle bar lug pattern of the Alliance 644 is reinforced by an undertread stabilizer bar for better traction and longer service life.

Learn more from your Alliance Tire Group (ATG) dealer.

EXPERT FOR THE EXTREME

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ConferenceReview

Attendees checking out the extensive selection of iron on the OLC grounds. (continued from page 43) features three winches (one 5,000 feet and two 3,000 feet). It has the battery capacity to fly two miles (one mile each way) and has a lift capacity of 55 pounds. It allows for block change from 2.5 hours to half an hour. The drone requires only two people to operate it, one of whom operates the remote controls.

Tajfun. The remote-controlled Tajfun crane and grapple were being operated with a Scanreco radio remote control. With a 23’

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reach, the off-road tractor crane has its own hydraulic system, with the option of being mounted to a forestry trailer. The grapple G0 22 is standard, with the GO-26X optional.

Tigercat 890. The 890 logger is a purpose-built forestry swing machine —the largest in the Tigercat range. The logger range is designed to eliminate the design compromises found in excavator conversions. Tier 2 ad Tier 4 configurations are available. It can be configured as a processor, loader, and shovel logger.

TimberPro TL775D. The TL775D is the largest of the D-Series purpose built track machines. The leveling undercarriage has long heavy duty track frames and a wide stance. It features a 365 HP Cummins L9 engine, an IQAN MD4 touch screen control system, dual motor hydrostatic slewing system, and a dedicated dual hydrostatic track drive system.

Mark your calendar for the next Oregon Logging Conference, February 20, 21, and 22, 2020.

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ConferenceReview

ROI A first-time exhibitor at OLC, ROI brought its revolutionary, carbon negative, wood residue conversion system. The CARBONATOR 500 is operated by one person and designed to turn woody debris into a highvalue biochar product. Stumps, branches and other biomass are loaded into the large hopper to fuel the carbonizing. The highly mobile, track mounted CARBONATOR 500 is easily moved by a common lowbed.

Find out more about ROI’s patent- pending carbon negative process at www.roi-equipment.com

Albach A new exhibitor at the Oregon Logging Conference, Albach presented information on their Diamant 2000 highly mobile chipper, considered by the manufacturer to be the most flexible high production chipper in the world. With a 33-foot crane and a 4-wheel drive system, the Diamant 2000 offers superior on and off road capabilities. The machine is particularly noted for its ability to travel between chipping locations at a travel speed of up to 45 mph. Upon arrival, it's ready to begin chipping in 30 seconds or less. www.albach.us

Brake Systems Brake Systems Inc. displayed their complete line of Williams Control air valves, air cylinders, shifters, air throttles and Blue Ox exhaust brakes.

All are manufactured in Portland, Ore., for logging and the heavy duty industry. Brake Systems is Williams’ largest stocking distributor and a Haldex Superstore, with a complete line of air compressors, air valves, brake boosters, converters and electronic throttle controls. BSI also remanufactures air valves, roto chambers, air compressors and brake boosters for heavy duty applications, and is ISO 9001-2008 and ITAR certified. For your air control specialist count on Brake Systems Inc. parts@brakesystemsinc.com, www.brakesystemsinc.com

Quadco Southstar 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

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Pierce Pacific Manufacturing

Morbark

Pierce –Improving the forest industry for over 85 years.

Since 1931, the professionals at Pierce have been designing, engineering, manufacturing, delivering and supporting products that meet the demands of the forestry industry – and the equally demanding needs of our logging customers. We offer a family of forestry attachments from our new PD5500M and recently introduced GP ProSeries, to our industry leading forestry grapples, brush rakes, steep slope forestry booms and large custom millyard high decking conversions.

Contact us today to see how Pierce can benefit your operation.

800.760.3270. www.piercepacific.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!

Gem Chain Bar

Komatsu America Corp.

A global leader in manufacturing, GEM Chain Bar has over 30 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

Modern Machinery showcased the totally new Komatsu XT-5 Series Track Feller Bunchers during the 2019 Oregon Logging Conference.

The XT430-5, XT445L-5 & XT465L-5 models feature a more powerful fuel-efficient engine, gull-wing style engine hood, redesigned and relocated cab with superior visibility, increased lift capacities, rugged new undercarriages, new higher capacity hydraulic and cooling systems, forestry-specific guarding and KOMTRAX® telematics system technology. www.komatsuforest.us

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For more information, please visit www.morbark.com

ConferenceReview

Log Max

Cascade Trader

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

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

Diamond Mowers

Triad Machinery

SKID-STEER FORESTRY DISC MULCHER 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

Triad Machinery is your forestry, excavation, and crane equipment leader in the Pacific Northwest. With six full-service dealerships locations scattered throughout Oregon, Washington and into Idaho as well as Montana.

Triad Machinery offers sales, rentals, service, parts, and product support.

Triad Machinery is focused on providing exceptional customer service and has continued to adapt and serve our customers varied needs for more than 25 years. www.triadmachinery.com

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ConferenceReview

Ponsse DEDICATED TO CUT-TO-LENGTH LOGGING

Hitachi

We are a Logger´s Best Friend – and for a very good reason! Our innovative harvesting solutions that follow the principles of sustainable development are always produced specifically for each customer: our mission is to help to improve our customers’ business by providing reliable products and services.

Our R&D activities never stop – this ensures that we remain number one. Ponsse designs its machines together with their users, catering to the needs of every customer in all conditions. This is why Ponsse’s products are also tested constantly. We want to keep earning our customers’ trust. Contact us! www.ponsse.com

On display at Papé Machinery was the purpose-built Hitachi ZX210F-6 Forester. Available as a road builder, processor carrier or log loader, it features productivity-boosting advantages such as a fuel-efficient Tier 4 Isuzu engine, a newly-designed cab with additional legroom, new ergonomic controls and a simplified electrical system. The ZX210F6’s productivity modes adjust the machine to the application. Highproductivity delivers more power and faster hydraulic response. Power delivers a balance of power, speed and fuel economy. Economy limits top speed and helps save fuel. www.hitachiconstruction.com

White Mountain Chain

Tigercat

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 48 TimberWest||March/April March/April2018 2019||www.forestnet.com www.forestnet.com 48 TimberWest

Tigercat specializes in the design and manufacture of tree harvesting systems. Tigercat and Tigercat dealer, Triad Machinery provided an exceptional machine display including the new 890 logger – Tigercat’s largest multi-purpose forestry machine designed for log loading, shovel logging and processing. Additional machines on display included the 635G six-wheel skidder, LX830D track feller buncher, LS855E shovel logger with grapple, LS855E shovel logger with the 5195 directional felling head, LX870D track feller buncher, LH822D harvester and 1085C forwarder. To learn more visit www.tigercat.com.

ConferenceReview

Feenaughty Machinery

U.S. Forestry

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

There was a lot of interest at Precision Maintenance & Repair booth this year. On display was the Rottne H14 harvester with the SP 561 head, Another SP head (Big Brother) 761 with the top saw option, and the newest Twinch, version 10.2. New Tec located in Kettle Falls, WA is the new Twinch dealer to cover eastern Washington state, northern Idaho, and northwestern Montana. For more information on these and more products, call Precision Maintenance & Repair at 541-653-9620, and New Tec at (509) 738-6621.

Joral/Loggingencoders.com

John Deere

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

Pape Machinery showcased more than 30 pieces of its John Deere forestry equipment lineup to the show in 2019. The New L-II Series Skidder was on display incorporating a less complex, easier to maintain design. Standard upgrades to the L-II Series Skidders include: Redesigned electrical and hydraulic systems, Stronger winches, Longer booms, Softer steering, Tougher tires and Bigger grapples. Inside the Pape tent, loggers got a chance to better understand the JD Link Telematics and TimberNavi JobSite Mapping Systems.

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ConferenceReview

Caterpillar

Eagle Carriage & Machine

Peterson Cat and Caterpillar Forest Products featured equipment and services for harvesting, road building and millyards. Introduced was the Cat 982M forestry wheel loader, designed for 2-pass loading with a payload capacity up to 17 tons, with the efficiency and performance benefits of M series wheel loaders. The display also included the 500 Series Forest Machines configured as log loaders, road builders and processor carriers, featuring outstanding fuel efficiency, increased horsepower, swing torque, lift capacity and more. On hand to answer questions were Cat financial and undercarriage professionals. www.cat.com

Eagle Carriage & Machine has been building quality carriages since 1979, producing ten different carriages and grapples. The most recent to its line up is the motorized hydraulic Grappler. We also produce the hydrostatic, slack pulling Eagle VI, Raptor as well as the Super Eaglet carriages. Eagle Carriage takes pride in its service and customer satisfaction. Don’t let our geographical location get in your way, as we go out of our way to service our customers. www.eaglecarriage.com

Peterson

Alliance Tire

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 50 TimberWest||March/April March/April2018 2019||www.forestnet.com www.forestnet.com 50 TimberWest

Alliance Tire Group chose the Oregon Logging Conference to introduce its new 643 and 644 CTL tires to western loggers. Engineered specifically for use with bogie tracks on forwarders and harvesters, the design greatly reduces rubbing and wear between tracks and tires.

Both the 643 and 644 tires feature Alliance’s chunk and chip-resistant compound and shoulder-to-steel belts for extra durability. In addition, ATG’s new hexagonal bead completely eliminates slip between the tire and rim. www.atgtire.com

ConferenceReview

Conference a success—with more to come The HarvestTECHX conference held in Vancouver in March proved to be very successful—and there’s more to come for the forest industry with the Woodflow Logistix 2019 conference coming up in October.

The HarvestTECHX conference held in Vancouver in March proved to be a hit with loggers and the forest industry, with the conference and display space virtually sold out.

The conference provided an essential and independent platform to showcase new innovations and operating practices suited to North American harvesting operations. It highlighted how automation and technology are advancing operational safety and productivity for operators, contractors and the general industry.

The conference theme for 2019 was “Smarter Logging Automation & Technologies”.

There were keynote presentations on key paradigm shifts to logging and forestry technologies, and the conference featured experts detailing developments, technologies, issues and new opportunities impacting the sector.

It included a full line-up of technologies, innovative new platforms and exciting new applications.

Formerly called the Steep Slope Logging Conference, the new name— HarvestTECHX—covers all machine-based forestry and logging operations for west coast operations in North America.

The conference was organized by the team at Innovatek, Logging & Sawmilling Journal and TimberWest.

Among the presentations were Taking a Leadership Role in Safety Technology, with Dale Ewers, Director, Moutere Logging, New Zealand; More Automation, Less Labour, with Eric Krume, Owner of Krume Logging; and Forestry 4.0: Implications for Harvesting Planning, with Mathieu Blouin, Business Development Manager, FPInnovations, Canada.

On the equipment manufacturing side, Rob Archibald, Project Engineer at Tigercat, spoke on the Tigercat RemoteLog Telematics System. Matt Flood, Foresight Manager, John Deere, Canada, spoke about New Developments and Technologies with TimberMatic Maps and TimberManager.

The conference was followed by a Winch Assist Logging Workshop sponsored by WorkSafeBC and the BC Forest Safety Council. The one-day workshop provided the latest information on the safe operation of winch assist logging equipment. Trainers included international experts who shared their experiences from New Zealand and the United States. The workshop included presentations and in-the-field sessions with winch assist equipment at the UBC Research Forest in Maple Ridge.

With this year’s HarvestTECHX behind them, the conference team at Innovatek, Logging & Sawmilling Journal and TimberWest are pleased to announce their newest industry conference for leading loggers and forest managers for 2019: Woodflow Logistix.

Woodflow Logistix will cover new innovations and operating practices in wood transport and logistics operations in North America, and be held October 22-23 at the Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel in Richmond, B.C. This new and exciting conference will be highlighting how automation and technology are advancing operational safety and productivity for operators, contractors and foresters within the North American forest industry.

“With a top lineup of speakers and presenters, we’re really looking forward to tackling the major issues in the wood transport

and logistics areas for the forest industry,” said Anthony Robinson, associate publisher of Logging and Sawmilling Journal. “We believe the conference will be a must-attend event for anyone involved in those areas of the industry.”

Among the areas that will be covered at Woodflow Logistix 2019: • Disruptive technologies reshaping business operations within the wood supply chain • Innovations around log scaling, measurement and tracking • Remote sensing and real-time tracking of logs and wood products • Innovative systems to integrate planning, operations, harvesting, transport & sales • Advances in automated log measurement and materials handling • Telematic tools to better drive improved fleet productivity and safety • New digital platforms to improve data connectivity and data transfer • Electric fleet, autonomous trucking and platooning technologies • Opportunities with robotics, augmented and virtual reality & machine learning • Utilization of smart harvester production and productivity data • Health and safety initiatives around forestry and wood transport operations Full details on Woodflow Logistix 2019 are available at https://woodflowlogistix. events/

Also, it’s not too early to plan on attending HarvestTECHX 2020.

Information will be available soon on HarvestTECHX 2020 at https://harvesttechx.events/ TW

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John Deere Launches Updated G-Series Swing Machines

John Deere has updated its G-Series Swing Machines to improve operator experience. From changes to machine design to new features to improve serviceability, the updated Swing Machines, including eight powerful models (2154G, 2156G, 2654G, 2656G, 3154G, 3156G, 3754G, and 3756G), offer increased productivity and uptime, providing a reliable solution for the toughest of jobs.

The 2019 machines feature several improvements — a larger travel device improves tractive effort on the 2654G and 2656G machines, as well as select 2154G and 2156G models. The new LH side door features an easyto-remove screen, allowing for the removal of collected debris. A shovel and axe mounting provision on all machines provides a secure and easily accessible storage location.

The cabs have been changed, adding a USB port for device charging and relocating the auxiliary and USB ports to behind the seat. The side-entry cab features a larger gas strut for the door and new handrail, improving entry and exit. www.johndeere.com

Diamond Mowers Introduces Skid-Steer Drum Mulcher

Diamond Mowers LLC has introduced the addition of a 72inch Skid-Steer Drum Mulcher. A new addition to Diamond’s attachment product line, the Skid-Steer Drum Mulcher is designed for heavy mulching and brush clearing applications. It uses a two-speed variable displacement piston motor, has 41 hardened steel teeth and has a total attachment depth comparable to a loader bucket for easy operation and better visibility.

In April 2018, Diamond acquired the rights to utilize patents held by Denis Cimaf Inc. for a depth control ring and a replaceable liner. The depth control ring allows the operator to better control depth of cut, and the replaceable liner increases the shell lifespan.

Diamond Mowers’ Skid-Steer Drum Mulcher will be distributed through a contracted dealer network, comprised of more than 350 locations throughout the United States, Canada, Brazil, and Australia. www.diamondmowers.com

Wood-Mizer Introduces Compact Horizontal Band Resaws

Wood-Mizer introduced the compact and versatile HR150 and HR250 super horizontal band resaws designed to easily integrate into pallet and lumber operations without taking up valuable production space. The HR150 and HR250 join the Wood-Mizer range of single and multi-head band resaws that capitalize on thin-kerf blade technology to produce accurate lumber while reducing material, labor, energy, and maintenance costs.

The HR150 is primarily designed to resaw cants and boards into two pieces with each pass. It can also be used as a recovery saw for slabs, flitches, and jacket boards. The HR250 is a twin blade version of the HR150. By placing one blade directly over the other blade within one compact head, the HR250 can make one or two 52

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horizontal cuts to resaw cants and boards into two or three pieces with each pass. It also works well with resawing stressed material.

Features of the HR150 and HR250 include 11 ½” wide x 10” high capacity, 0–90 ft/min variable feed, set works with digital blade position controls, air-over-oil hydraulic blade tension, pneumatic hold-down top rollers, and variable blade speed. www.woodmizer.com

Fecon Tier-4 Compliant BHP270 Power Pack for Larger Excavators

Fecon announces the Tier-4 compliant BHP270 Power Pack for larger excavators (20+ ton). This independent power source provides additional hydraulic horsepower to operate attachments like the Bull Hog mulching head without hydraulic flow from the host machine.

While excavators of this size typically provide 45-60 gpm, the BHP270 delivers up to 109 gpm of hydraulic flow for maximum power on the jobsite.

This new fuel-efficient upgrade delivers a flatter torque curve for constant 270 HP output from 2000-2400 rpm, yet it uses just 7.7 gph at Duty Cycle.

The Power Management microcontroller channels all power to the brush cutter, which means there is no power loss due to accessories. A larger fuel tank (91.5 gallons) is sufficient for a full day of work. Other new design elements include a new firewall inside the engine compartment to keep airflow from the engine side separate from hydraulic side. www.fecon.com

Peterson 1700D Horizontal Grinder

Peterson Pacific Corp. announced the introduction of the new Peterson 1700D Horizontal Grinder. Heavy duty and mobile, the 1700D can readily reduce a wide range of materials with a large feed opening measuring 54” x 27”. When boosted

by Peterson’s high-lift feed roll, the feed opening’s maximum lift of 41.5 inches can tackle the largest of feedstock and allows excellent accessibility to the rotor for maintenance.

The 1700D is equipped with a Caterpillar Tier IV C9.3 455 hp engine or an optional, export-only C9 Tier III, 350 hp engine. At 41,000 pounds, it is the lightest of Peterson’s grinder series and is easily transportable.

Peterson’s Adaptive Control System, featuring a fully adjustable feed system, is optimized for a wide range of materials. The 1700D control panel features a large display that provides the operator with complete engine and system parameters to simplify set up and efficiently operate the unit. The 1700D also features Peterson’s patented Impact Release System, to protect the machine against ungrindable materials. www.petersoncorp.com TW

Classified

CALENDAR May 17-18 Montana Logging Association 43rd Annual Meeting, Kalispell, MT 406-752-3168, www.logging.org May 20-24 Forest Resources Assoc. Annual Meeting, Amelia Island, FL 202-296-3937, www.forestresources.org June 10-13 43rd Annual National Indian Timber Symposium, Hollywood, FL 503-282-4296, www.itcnet.org June 18-20 National Conference of Private Forest Landowners, Lake Tahoe, CA 404-325-2954, www.forestlandowners.com

AD INDEX COMPANY PG# ALBACH NORTH AMERICA.............................. 56 ALLIANCE TIRE............................................... 43 BRAKE SYSTEMS........................................... 13 BRANDT TRACTOR......................................... 31 CASCADE ENGINE CENTER............................. 33 CASCADE TRADER......................................... 44 CATERPILLAR................................................... 5 DIAMOND MOWERS..................................18-19 EAGLE CARRIAGE & MACHINE........................ 40 FEENAUGHTY MACHINERY............................. 27 GEM CHAIN.................................................... 14 GREEN DIAMOND........................................... 10 HAIX NA......................................................... 15 HITACHI AMERICA.......................................... 35 HUSQVARNA.................................................. 41 HYDRAULEX GLOBAL..................................... 26 JOHN DEERE.................................................. 11 JORAL........................................................... 14 KOMATSU AMERICA....................................... 25 LBX/BEJAC/TRIAD.......................................... 17 LOG MAX....................................................... 37 MORBARK.................................................28-29 PETERSON....................................................... 7 PIERCE PACIFIC.............................................. 16 PONSSE........................................................... 2 QUADCO / SOUTHSTAR.................................. 23 RAPID SPAN................................................... 32 ROI................................................................ 55 TIGERCAT/TRIAD MACHINERY........................ 39 US FORESTRY DISTRIBUTION........................... 9 WHITE MOUNTAIN CHAIN............................... 22 WPT POWER CORP........................................ 36

Richard “Rick” Peterson April 10, 1958 – February 12, 2019

In August of 2018 Rick took a leave of absence to begin a battle with cancer that he would ultimately lose. He fought hard to keep going, taking time to meet with staff and advise the business during that difficult time. Rick passed away at home on February 12th surrounded by his family.

Rick and his father Pete founded Gem Chain Bar in 1989. After 30 years of business, Rick has left a legacy of a well-known and respected company that continues to grow.

All of the staff at Gem Chain Bar are greatly saddened to continue on without Rick, an incredible man whose shoes are impossible to fill. We are so grateful to him for his vision as well as preparations for the future. Because he cared enough to mentor us, we take some small comfort in being as ready as possible to step in to move the company forward this past August and now diligently into the future.

Rick was successfully focused on creating sustainable growth for Gem Chain Bar. The past three years he worked closely with our upper management team, preparing us to run the company as he eagerly looked towards easing into retirement.

Without his amazing leadership, trust in his team and foresight, we would not be where we are today.

In recent months we have added new machines, additional employees, and new measurement devices to increase capacity as well as quality. We will proudly carry forward his focus on blending technology, field testing and cutting-edge materials to create the best product possible at a reasonable price.

This has been a very difficult time for all of us. But to honor his memory and his plans for the future, we will continue to push forward with business as usual. Kim Peterson will continue as the company Owner, as she and Rick owned as well as operated the business together.

Wade Peterson, Rick and Kim’s youngest son, will continue on as our Head of Engineering. Matt White, who has been running the shop for the company since 2008, will continue as our Production Manager. Melisa Kaschmitter has been with the business since 2016 and will continue as company’s Operations Manager. As a team, with all the memories and knowledge of what Rick would do, we will continue working together to ensure all of our customer’s needs are met and expectations are exceeded.

Services were held Saturday March 2nd at the Grangeville Christian Church in Grangeville, ID. Rick’s family, friends, employees, past and present customers filled the church to say good bye to this man who was greatly loved and respected.

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MARCH/APRIL 2019

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www.forestnet.com March/April 2019 TimberWest

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guest columnist

We Have Work to Do: Implementing Washington State's 20-Year Forest Health Strategic Plan

By Andrea Watts

I

n October 2017, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) released its 20-Year Forest Health Strategic Plan that outlines its strategy to create healthier, resilient forests in central and eastern Washington.

Decades of fire suppression, past forest management practices, and the threat of climate change have resulted in overstocked stands of stressed and dying trees. It will be worth your time to familiarize yourself with the plan, because our industry will play a crucial role in achieving the state’s goal.

“We’re committing to treating 1.25 million acres of unhealthy forests over the next 20 years, and by 2037 our target is to change the trajectory of those forests into healthier conditions,” explains Julie Sackett, the Forest Health and Resiliency Division manager for DNR. “We’re investing a lot of energy and effort to create a new pathway for the state and are looking forward to bringing in many more people to get the job done and building relationships.”

The total treatment area will be divided into target goals of around 62,500 acres per year, and the on-the-ground treatments include prescribed fire, mechanical treatments (precommercial thinning and commercial logging), and mastication. To ensure these treatments will be profitable, particularly precommercial thinning projects, DNR will assist markets for the smaller diameter logs by supporting continued innovation and investment in the forest products sector.

Stable, long-term work is a luxury in our industry, so how can you become one of the chosen contractors for the project?

First, familiarize yourself with the priority treatment areas. With DNR’s “all lands all hands” approach, priority areas span jurisdictional boundaries and include state and federal lands, nonprofit ownerships, tribal lands, and small forest landowner holdings.

Forest collaboratives throughout the state are supporting DNR’s management plans and treatment recommendations.

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TimberWest March/April 2019 www.forestnet.com

These collaboratives hold public meetings to discuss current and future projects, and although spending an evening at a public meeting may be a challenge if you have a 4 a.m. start, it would be worthwhile to attend.

You can play a valuable role in moving projects forward by educating citizens about how logging operations are conducted and the rules you follow to protect the landscape.

Another advantage, Sackett adds, is the collaboratives get to know the participating contractors, which puts those contractors in a position to learn about jobs.

If you are interested in securing a contract for upcoming projects, read the Forest Health Assessment and Treatment Framework (SB 5546) report that was published in December 2018. DNR outlines the project areas for 2020. For commercial projects on state and federal lands, the bidding process will remain the same. Projects on lands owned by nonprofits are where developing a relationship with a collaborative can prove fruitful since these organizations will use their own contracting system for awarding projects.

There will be a lot of small-scale work on small forest landowner holdings. Sackett

says there’s not a “solid pathway” to connect small private landowners with contractors.

However, each DNR region maintains a list of contractors who perform precommercial thinning or mastication to help landowners find an appropriate contractor. Although there seems to be a sufficient number of contractors in the northeast region, Sackett explains, “The southeast region is a little bit different . . . It could be that there are contractors in the area, but we don’t know about them or have their contact information.”

There will be plenty of fuels treatment work coming to the western part of the state as well. Although wildfire is touted as an issue in eastern Washington, Western Washington is also vulnerable to wildfires.

Creating defensible spaces around homes will be crucial, regardless of location. There are also several collaboratives working to implement treatments in national forests.

One challenge that may prevent DNR from fulfilling its ambitious goal is the inability to find enough commercial contractors to perform the work. Sackett has heard that in northeast Washington, where there is ongoing commercial logging on the Colville National Forest, there aren’t enough contractors for the workload.

“It makes that availability of a skilled workforce even more important to make sure we have the number of folks out there who can do the work in the time we need to be out there conducting it,” she says.

Although our industry is already making headway to address the need for more operators, perhaps the promise of steady work closer to home will entice younger people out into the woods. Another positive outcome from this 20-year plan will be showcasing to the public that our profession is as relevant and necessary as ever.

Andrea Watts is a regular contributor to TimberWest and also the Editor of The North American Wood Fiber Review, and Associate editor for The Forestry Source, published by SAF. TW

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