TimberWest - May/June 2020

AWARD WINNING OPERATION

Oregon’s Pacific Forest Contractors Inc.

TRINCHERA BLANCA SAWMILL San Luis Valley, CO

MAKING IT WORK

Trivelpiece Logging Yamhill, OR

INVESTING IN THE FUTURE Bryant Logging, Estacada, OR

TECH REVIEW

Forestry Mulchers and Attachments

ON THE COVER A look inside the Trinchera Blanca Sawmill in Colorado

May/June 2020 Vol. 45 No. 05-06

8

Prepare for a Fire Season Amid Pandemic Guidelines

Prepare for a Fire Season Amid Pandemic Guidelines

This year firefighting agencies, federal, state, local and private, will have to change the way they’ve been doing business.

11

A Strong Maintenance Program Begins with Machine Choice

Harvesting equipment is subjected to extreme stresses every day — stresses not seen in most workplace scenarios involving heavy equipment — making maintenance key.

12

Trinchera Blanca Sawmill — Designed to Help Fix the Forest

The Trinchera Blanca Sawmill is part of an ambitious forest management plan that is a blueprint to aid forest restoration and wildlife habitat and improve fuels reduction.

16

20 24

30 38

Award Winning Operation

Pacific Forest Contractors Inc. of Eagle Creek, Oregon, named 2019 Operator of the Year for the Southwest Oregon Region or time-critical salvage operation.

Investing in the Future

Trinchera Blanca Sawmill — Designed to Help Fix the Forest

12

The family business got its start in a woodlot.

8 Award Winning Operation

Making it Work

When Wes Trivelpiece takes on a job, he likes to put a personal touch to the work.

He credits getting repeat customers to his practice of treating the land like it’s his own.

Tech Review

A review of the forestry mulchers and attachments on the market.

Investing in the Future

Guest Column

16

A more nimble forest products industry could be the key to the future.

DEPARTMENTS

Page 4 ................................................................In the News Page 28....................................................... Machinery Row Page 27................................................... Association News Page 36.......................................................... New Products Page 37.............. Advertiser’s Index/Classified Section Page 37............................................................. Subscription

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TimberWest Magazine — May/June 2020 — www.forestnet.com

3

Lumber Sees Surprise Win

North Americans stuck at home are undertaking repairs. At a time when the coronavirus pandemic was expected to curb demand, lumber futures are actually heading for their second-straight monthly gain.

Prices soared 15 percent in April, and have gained another 15 percent this month, placing them among the best performing commodities tracked by Bloomberg.

“Aggressive supply cuts from big producers such as West Fraser Timber Company Ltd. and Canfor Corp. have tightened supplies at a time when people are staying in and deciding to fix up their homes,” said Kevin Mason, managing director of Vancouverbased ERA Forest Products Research. “You had a lot of people saying, ‘gee I’m stuck at home let’s build that deck, let’s fix up whatever we need to fix,” said Mason, noting that the Repair and Remodel Segment accounts for about 40 percent of the lumber market.

There is also optimism that the housing market is bouncing back with mortgage rates being at record lows.

Oregon State University researcher receives top global forestry award

Richard Waring, professor emeritus in the Oregon State University College of Forestry, is one of three researchers sharing this year’s international Marcus Wallenberg Prize for developing a revolutionary computer model to predict forest growth in a changing climate.

The annual prize, one of the highest honors in the field of forestry, was announced in Falun, Sweden, and is named for the late Marcus Wallenberg Jr., a banker, industrialist, and member of Sweden’s longinfluential Wallenberg family.

Waring and co-honorees Joe Landsberg and Nicholas Coops, both of Australia, will each receive 2 million kronor, about $200,000, when they are presented with the prize in October by Swedish King Carl Gustav XVI. “Dick Waring’s impact on forest science is clear,” said Anthony S. Davis, interim dean of the OSU College of Forestry. “He and his colleagues are well-deser ved recipients of this incredible honor.

Perhaps the only thing to eclipse his scientific contribution has been his commitment to the students, researchers, and colleagues who have worked with 4

him throughout his career. His dedication to their advancement has a cascading, positive impact that continues to grow in scientific accomplishment.”

Biochar for Cows?

The National Association of State Foresters reported that biochar — a charcoal-like substance that’s made through burning biomass in a controlled process called pyrolysis — may be the next great thing for cows.

A new study suggests that adding biochar to cattle feed can improve animal health and feed efficiency, reduce nutrient losses and greenhouse gas emissions, and increase soil fertility when applied as fertilizer.

The Nebraska Forest Service has already been testing the effects of animal health and found that the inclusion of less than 1 percent biochar into the diet of cattle can lead to a 10 percent reduction in their methane emissions.

Colville National Forest Awards Second A-Z Project

On May 6, the Colville National Forest awarded the Chewelah A-Z Project (Chewelah) to Vaagen Brothers Lumber.

The project area is approximately 80,000 acres, and is the second project of its kind where the Colville would require the completion of an Environmental Analysis and presale activities at industry expense (not as service items.) The timber from the project area would be sold at advertised rates (without further competition.)

The first A-Z Project (Mill Creek) was awarded in 2013 to Vaagen Brothers and covered a 54,000-acre landscape. Vaagen Brothers contracted the NEPA review to a third-party private company. The Forest’s belief was that by contracting NEPA and sale preparation activities to a perspective purchaser, it would provide the Forest with increased capacity to implement restoration at a faster pace than with its current resources. Vaagen Brothers are currently operating on Mill Creek with timber task orders remaining for this year and FY 2021. The Mill Creek contract has a 10-year termination date. (continued on page 6) TimberWest Magazine — May/June 2020 — www.forestnet.com

Editor: Diane Mettler, diane@forestnet.com Copy Editor: Beth Szyperski Contributing Editors: Kristi Granberg, Lindsay R. Mohlere, Jack Petree ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Sales Mgr: James Booth – jbooth@forestnet.com Phone: (604) 506-8631 CEO: Anthony Robinson –robinson@forestnet.com Sales Contact Information: Phone: (604) 990-9970 • Fax: (604) 990-9971 Social Media: Kaitlin Davidson Digital Marketing: Diane Mettler digitalmarketing@forestnet.com ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 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 TImberWest Publications, LLC P.O. Box 610 (300 Admiral Way, Suite 105) Edmonds, WA 98020-0610 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Send both OLD and NEW Circulation information to: TimberWest Magazine Attn: Subscriptions P.O. Box 610, Edmonds, WA 98020 Fax: (425) 771-3623 • subscribetw@forestnet.com ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Advertising created by TimberWest Publications, LLC is the sole property of TimberWest Publications, LLC and may not be copied or reproduced without the express written permission of the publisher.

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

TIMBERWEST (USPS #024858) is published bi-monthly (Jan/Feb, Mar/Apr, May/Jun, Jul/Aug, Sept/Oct, Nov/Dec) by TimberWest Publications, LLC, 300 Admiral Way, Suite 105, Edmonds, WA, 98020. Periodicals postage paid at Edmonds, WA and at additional mailing offices. Copyright 2020. 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 $60 (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.

Canadian Publication Mail Product Sales Agreement #40740074. Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses to P.O. Box 86670 Stn. Main, North Vancouver, BC V7L 4L2 Printed in Canada at Horseshoe Press Inc. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to TimberWest, P.O. Box 610, Edmonds, WA, 98020-0610

(continued from page 4)

Ninth Circuit Rejects Challenge to BLM’s Resource Management Plan

The AFRC reported that only 10 days after hearing oral argument (via Zoom,) a three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit rejected several environmental groups’ challenge to the 2016 RMP for the O&C Lands.

The groups challenged the RMP’s alleged “secession” from the Northwest Forest Plan, in that the RMP changed riparian buffers

from two tree heights to one. The Eugene District Court ( Judges McShane and Russo) rejected those claims in 2019 (March 2019 Newsletter) and the Ninth Circuit affirmed. The case was heard by Judges Hurwitz, Schroeder, and Owens, appointed respectively by Presidents Clinton, Carter, and Obama. The Roseburg Area Chamber of Commerce, Zuber & Sons Logging, and Turner Logging intervened in the case and were represented by Julie Weis of Haglund Kelley LLP.

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TimberWest Magazine — May/June 2020 — www.forestnet.com

2020 North American Mass Timber State of the Industry Report Released

A team of leading experts has released the second annual North American Mass Timber Report.

Due to the Corona Virus and postponement of the 2020 International Mass Timber Conference, an electronic PDF copy of the 2020 Mass Timber Report is being made available free of charge at https:// www.masstimberreport.com.

The North American Mass Timber Report is compiled by a team of forestry, forest product, and building design and construction experts. At almost 150 pages, 50 percent larger than the 2019 version, the 2020 report is a complete primer on the mass timber supply chain, from seedling to building. The book is a collaborative effort of The Beck Group, Forest Business Network, Kaiser+Path, Treesource, and Doug Fir Consulting; all key researchers in the emerging field of mass timber. A hardcopy is also available for $99.99 at https:// www.masstimberreport.com/print/purchase

Collaborative Forest Projects Move Ahead

There is good news for local communities and those interested in seeing action to restore forests in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest (OWNF.) Strong partnerships prove to be key for improving conditions across shared landscapes, providing benefits to people, communities, and the economies they depend on to thrive.

The US Forest Service is working closely with the North Central Washington Forest Health Collaborative (NCWFHC), the Tapash Sustainable Forest Collaborative (Tapash,) and the Little Naches Working Group (LNWG,) which includes private, state, federal and Tribal partners to keep forest restoration projects moving forward.

Four major landscape restoration projects in central Washington are in planning and environmental analysis, and will be ready for implementation in 2021 or sooner. These projects span from the north to the south of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, and encompass approximately 400,000 acres of high-priority restoration areas under the 20-Year Forest Health Strategic Plan, which is led by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR.) TW

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FireColumn

Prepare for Fire Season Amid Pandemic Guidelines

By Lindsay R. Mohlere

O

n March 25, the National

Weather Service issued a “red flag warning” for thousands of acres stretching across six Western states, including New Mexico, Colorado, and Nebraska. A combination of warm temperatures, low humidity, and strong winds had created the perfect conditions for a wildfire to spark. Oregon’s Jackson and Josephine counties kicked off fire season May 1, one of the earliest start dates for the region since 1964. Several other states have also started their fire seasons.

Right up against the fact that large swathes of California, Oregon, Nevada, 8

Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado are primed to burn, the efforts to control the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic have put a solid roadblock on how we have traditionally fought fires.

After several weeks of keeping a six-foot social distance and sheltering in place, the curves of the virus infection have begun to flatten out, even in the most impacted areas of the country. The beginning of May saw about 31 states easing up on restrictions, with more openings coming in phased rollouts. However, the infectious disease experts still warn us about getting too close to each other, wearing masks, and washing our hands — along with a bucket of other warnings.

Still, the question remains: How will TimberWest Magazine — May/June 2020 — www.forestnet.com

all the new missives play to firefighters attacking insane infernos across the Western states?

Changing the Rules of Engagement

This year, with the COVID-19 pandemic on the loose, firefighting agencies, federal, state, local and private, will have to change the way they’ve been doing business for quite some time. Traditional methods and procedures for fighting wildfire are nearly the opposite of the new pandemic guidelines.

In the early spring, the Forest Service, BLM, and other agencies start low-intensity, prescribed fires to reduce excessive undergrowth and other fuel loads that can lead to

FireColumn intense, out-of-control fires. This year most prescribed burns have been put on hold.

However, the Forest Service has not issued agency-wide direction to pause the activities.

The Feds are letting each region make their own decisions on conducting burning activities. Unfortunately, the lack of prescribed burns means more fuel, and that opens up the potential for bigger fires.

Training has taken on a whole new persona. Much of it has been cancelled or re-imagined using online training from the National Wildfire Coordinating Group.

To qualify for the Interagency Incident Qualifications card (red card), applicants are usually required to take a minimum 32 hours of training (S-130/190 Basic Firefighting and Wildland Fire Behavior) and demonstrate physical fitness at the “arduous” level by completion of the Pack Test: walking three miles in 45 minutes or less, wearing a 45-pound pack.

According to Dillon Sanders, managing director/founder of Inbound LLC, a private wildland firefighting contractor, many of the requirements are being waived for returning crew members who were current last year.

“We’ve gone to a more blended approach and online-based training. Virtual training for this year. Ordinarily, returning crew members would have to take a pack test and a refresher course. Now they can do the refresher online,” Sanders said.

While going online has its advantages, it is not necessarily a welcomed change.

Most crew bosses and managers feel that the online courses don’t adequately reflect the actual intensity hands-on training offers.

“We are going to have folks do online courses for most of our basic training, which is kind of disappointing. Usually, it’s a fiveday class,” said Scott Polhamus, fire crew boss of Oregon Woods Inc. “The online training doesn’t really capture what needs to be taught. It’s something that we’re not exactly happy about, but we also recognize that it’s a necessity, at least this year.”

gotten a lot of guidance from any agency, as far as an actual camp. The government has a lot of plans to deal with initial attack. If we take it to a fire while it’s still small, we have some pretty decent plans to deal with that.

But it’s those big campaign fires that need a thousand people, they don’t have a lot of plans for them.”

Polhamus indicated that his crews will avoid camp, if they can. “If we have to, we’d try and find a place to throw some sleeping bags out every night, so we don’t have to go into camp,” he said, while explaining that

staying together as a group is another option to limit socialization and contact with other crews.

Other crews have said they might try to use motels left vacant by the pandemic to house their crews.

At this point, planning is still in flux. The National Interagency Fire Center guidelines show the Feds hope to break up the sprawling fire camps into smaller ones, offering MREs and to-go food, and limiting showers and (continued on page 10)

Fire Camps, Social Distancing & More

Fire officials across the region are grappling with ideas on how they will staff the front lines while maintaining social distancing requirements. It’s a devil of a task.

Fire camps are the issue. They are like small cities and have been called the closest thing to a cruise ship on land, and the implication of that statement is not lost on fire crews.

“Camp is the fear,” Polhamus said.

“Disease spreads through fire camp on a good day. You all know that as soon as it hits fire camp, everybody there is going to get it.

Everybody knows that. It’s scary. We haven’t TimberWest Magazine — May/June 2020 — www.forestnet.com

9

FireColumn

(continued from page 9) such. It’s called the “Module of One.” Fire crews will be treated like individual family units with frequent temperature checks and testing, if available. They will be encouraged to stick with the family units and stay away from other crews and should be wearing masks when interacting with others outside of the individual units.

Sanders indicated that contact with other people is what worries him the most. “Camps

are about as high-risk as you can get,” he said. “I anticipate a real change of protocol.

Smaller camps. More independent modules.

Less of a supportive incident command post, less food, probably less showers. I’m not sure what that’s going to look like yet.”

Keeping Social Distance in a Truck and Other Worries

Transportation on the fire line is also a point of contention, especially with independent contractors.

NIFC guidelines recommend adding vehicles to firefighting fleets to enable social distancing in the truck. That’s probably not a problem for the government crews, but the private outfits see it as an added expense in tough budget times.

In Oregon, for instance, Governor Kate Brown has said that people in vehicles need to be at least three feet apart. Normally, there are five in a truck. To comply, only four crew members could occupy the vehicle to keep the three-foot distance, but to take a 20person hand crew to the line, an extra truck would be needed.

“It’s a logical move. It will spread people out,” Polhamaus said. “But it would mean an immediate price increase. We would love to be able to do it, but as far as I can tell, they expect us to meet the recommendation without any sort of financial adjustment.”

Truck crews will also fit within the one module concept. Crews will be assigned to one truck and not be able to switch to another. Tools will not be shared, nor will radios.

Each truck and crew will be a module. If one person gets sick in the one truck, the whole module can be isolated.

Another issue that has yet to be worked out is several states have closed their borders and require a 14-day period of isolation.

Fire crews have always moved around, going from fire to fire wherever they are needed.

Some state governments have declared they will not permit state and local resources to respond to wildfires outside of their local jurisdictions.

As stated by the BLM and other agencies, they are working with these governments to address concerns and to ensure, to the greatest extent possible, that shared resources are available to be deployed wherever the need is greatest.

Only time will tell. Stay safe out there.

TW

10

TimberWest Magazine — May/June 2020 — www.forestnet.com

EducationSpotlight

A Strong Maintenance Program Begins with Machine Choice

By Jack Petree

I

n a very real sense, the maintenance

program a forestry contractor needs to build to be profitable in the modern world begins at the machine designer’s work table.

According to Jarvis De Groot, product marketing manager for John Deere, timber harvesting machinery is subjected to extreme stresses each and every day of the working year — stresses not seen in most workplace scenarios involving heavy equipment. In that challenging environment forestry machines must reliably function each and every hour possible.

Downtime is incredibly expensive and disrupting to a harvesting effort; an entire side can be shut down because one highly specialized machine has broken down 30 miles deep into the wilderness. That’s why John Deere decided to go into competition with itself in designing a line of purposebuilt swing machines specifically to serve the exceptional needs of the forest industry.

As a result, says De Groot, “Low-hour failures resulting from modified excavators being used in extremely rugged forestry applications demonstrated the need for a similar machine platform, but with the ability to withstand those extremes. The growth in magnitude and complexity of the modifications, along with customer needs for improved performance and durability, further highlighted the need for a purpose-built forestry swing machine.”

Maintenance Requires Teamwork

All modern purpose-built forestry machines are designed to deal with operator protection, safety, and comfort foremost in the designer’s mind. A machine that will meet or exceed all requirements related to ROPS/TOPS/FOPS/OPS, while providing the operator with maximum visibility and comfort in extreme operating conditions, presents maintenance needs that may not have been present in machines of the past.

“When establishing a maintenance program for a machine, whether it is a swing machine or a conventional model, it is important to consider the job conditions to Jarvis ensure the machine is up De Groot and running, regardless of the application,” says De Groot. And in the modern world, the responsibility for that maintenance program requires a good deal of teamwork between the manufacturer, the equipment dealer, and the equipment owner/operator.

Keep It Clean and Regulate Inspections

While manufacturers recommend maintenance intervals, it is up to the machine owner to recognize when dust, extreme temperatures, abrasive conditions, and other excessive loading demands require the consideration of shorter maintenance and repair intervals.

De Groot points to items like the cleaning of radiators and other cooling components and the changing of filters, including hydraulic, air, engine, fuel, and cab fresh air/ recirculation, as well as paying attention to oil change intervals as issues that should be considered for extra attention when operating in exceptionally difficult conditions.

“There are a few needs that seem to be often overlooked but are important to the longevity of the machine,” says De Groot.

“Maintenance is always important but is especially critical when running a purposebuilt forestry swing machine.”

Water buildup in fuel tanks, he says, especially with FT4 engines, is a particular TimberWest Magazine — May/June 2020 — www.forestnet.com

problem. “Contractors need to regularly drain water from the bottom of the fuel tank.”

Cooler cleanliness, “Specifically the HVAC, hydraulic, and engine components,” is equally important according to De Groot (see https://forestnet.com/TWissues/2019-mayjune/overheated.php for a discussion of this important issue) as are, “Overall regular machine inspections to detect structural cracks and wear damage.”

Don’t Overlook Cabs

De Groot contends that damage to cabs is all too often overlooked as part of a regular program of maintenance, but it should be near the top of the list when a maintenance program is established. “Any damage to a cab that potentially could affect structural/ window integrity and compromise operator protection must be addressed,” he says.

The typical forestry operation of today could be likened to a well-rehearsed ballet with man, machine, and electronics all interlinked, operating in unison to get the job done efficiently, effectively, and economically.

Planned maintenance, beginning at the machine designer’s table and performed at regular intervals throughout the process of taking a log from stump to mill, is the glue that holds it all together. Success depends on how well manufacturers, dealers, and contractors coordinate their efforts to make everything work.

De Groot concludes, “Unplanned downtime will occur from time to time, and that is when dealer and manufacturer support for parts and technical expertise become critical, so selecting the right partner is important to the overall success of the operation.”

TW 11

MillProfile

Trinchera Blanca Sawmill — Designed to Help Fix a Forest

By Lindsay R. Mohlere

L

ocated on the

eastside of Colorado’s Mystic San Luis Valley, adjacent to the 172,000-acre Trinchera Ranch, the Trinchera Blanca Sawmill is part of an ambitious and aggressive forest management plan that is a blueprint to aid forest restoration and wildlife habitat and improve fuels reduction.

More than just a working ranch (complete with tourist and sportsmen’s activities), Trinchera is a beacon for progressive forest management.

The ranch and mill are owned by noted conservationist and financier Louis Bacon, who purchased the property in 2007 from the family of Malcomb Forbes. Shortly thereafter, Bacon established a conservation 12

easement that prevents development, and he gifted the easement to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Built in 2016, the mill is yet another part of the ranch’s comprehensive effort to save a forest severely impacted by bug infestations and wildfire. Together with forest scientists, conservationists, wildlife biologists, and loggers using the latest high-tech harvesting machines and eco-friendly techniques, Trinchera is setting the standard in forest management.

“The difference is that we’re a sawmill that is here to help fix a forest. It’s not a forest that’s here to serve a sawmill,” says Mike Zojonc, vice president of Blanca Forest Products Inc., explaining the mission of the Blanca Mill.

TimberWest Magazine — May/June 2020 — www.forestnet.com

Sustainability in Board Feet

Since its inception and groundbreaking in 2016, with the first logs rolling into the mill in February 2017, Blanca Mill has strived to make the mill sustainable with the forest. “What the forest can produce, is what we’re trying to produce,” says Zojonc. And now, because of the devastating infestations of budworm and bark beetle, especially in the spruce stands, there is a sense of urgency to harvest. Large portions of the spruce come to the mill from stands killed by the infestations.

“Our main species is Engelmann spruce, and this is the one that is being attacked the most, at the highest rate. In fact, there are projections that within five years, there may not be a living spruce tree in Colorado,” adds Zojonc.

MillProfile

Blanca’s primary products are 2X4s and 2X6s, 6 to 12 feet long. The byproducts are 1X4” and 1X6” boards.

Trinchera, located in Colorado's Mystic San Luis Valley, is a beacon for progressive forest management.

The mill is grade-inspected and part of the WWPA [Western Wood Products Association].

Other species from the ranch include Douglas fir, white fir, and Ponderosa, with some logs coming from contractors other than the mill’s sole harvesting contractor JT Timber Falling Inc. “We get logs from other contractors,” says Zojonc. “We are getting some Ponderosa pine from a timber sale in New Mexico, and then we will buy logs off of other private ranches. And some logs off of the Rio Grande Forest Service. We also get lodge pole. Whenever lodge pole comes in, we put that in with the spruce. It’s stamped ESLP, Englemann spruce lodge pole pine. We’re grade-inspected and part of the WWPA [Western Wood Products Association].”

With more timber dying from beetle kill than is harvested, most of the wood brought to the mill is dead standing. Some timber is

unusable.

“The Forest Service was trying to do the right thing. But they have so many thousands of acres of dead timber that’s been dead for too long. There’s no market for it. It’s been standing and dead for six, seven, eight years, and it’s got splits you can put your fingers through. It doesn’t make lumber,” Zonjonc explains.

“It goes back to the basis of the sawmill here. We’re here for the ranch. So that, you know, they [harvesting contractors] need to harvest that section that they are in. They’re going to do their best job to send us usable logs. We get the occasional or handful of logs that are not usable, but we understand why,” notes Zojonc, adding that they will cut segments out of the logs, even if they get only one board.

TimberWest Magazine — May/June 2020 — www.forestnet.com

So far, annual production is around 24 million board feet per year.

Retooled for Efficiency

The mill currently runs two shifts and a 9-hour planer shift, processing nearly 1200 logs per shift. Considered a stud mill, Blanca’s primary products are 2X4s and 2X6s, 6 to 12 feet long. The byproducts are 1X4” and 1X6” boards.

The most significant change to the mill occurred just about a year after it opened.

Dissatisfied with the mill’s performance, Zojonc and team installed a new Maxi Mill, which is reportedly meeting expectations.

With a goal of increased automation, the headrig has optimization and scanning, as (continued on page 14) 13

MillProfile (continued from page 13)

Recent retooling also included two new 69-foot USNR dry kilns.

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TimberWest Magazine — May/June 2020 — www.forestnet.com

does the board-edger. The USNR stickerstacker is also automated. “From that point on, the sawmill requires manual decisions.

We have a Valley trimmer, which is laborintensive, and we have a pull chain,” said Tanner Abel, general manager of the mill.

Abel also noted that the mill’s planer is an older Stetson-Ross. “We recently upgraded the finishing and the trimmer. USNR put a new paddle fence in, with a mill track. Eye in the sky. We’ve had it online for a few weeks, and it’s working very well.”

Recent retooling also included two new 69-foot USNR dry kilns. One is a singletrack and the other a double-track. The kilns are heated by a Hurst 20,000 pound-anhour boiler and fired by sawdust and scrap from the mill, generating pressurized, 300degree steam.

“We dry everything,” Abel said.

“Predominantly we get dried beetle-killed spruce off the ranch. It’s dead standing. But we will mix in a handful of green logs that we’re getting from outside sources. It’s difficult when we mix the dead standing with green logs, but our guys do a really good job of equalizing and getting it the best we can get. We know it’s not going to be perfect.”

With the changes to the mill, both Zojonc and Abel agree that the new configuration is meeting expectations. “Our production has increased,” says Zojonc. “Our in-pile production has increased by one-third.”

“We are here primarily as a service to the forest. We don’t get the greatest logs in the world.” Zojonc notes that because of the dead and dying trees, their recoveries are not the greatest. “But we know we do produce a very high-quality product.” We’ve got a customer base that extends across the country. We ship product to Louisiana. We ship product up into Oregon, Idaho, California, New Mexico. We’re pretty much across the country if the product is in demand, and we take pride in that.”

The Challenge of a Rural Labor Pool

When construction started on 160 acres of sage brush outside the gate at Trinchera Ranch, not only was it the first step toward creating a model of progressive science to improve forest health, it also signaled the beginning of a sustainable solution for an ailing Costilla County workforce.

One of the original 17 Colorado counties created in 1861, Costilla County is also one of the poorest counties in the state. Home to roughly 3500 residents, the county had the state’s fifth-highest unemployment rate of nearly 6 percent.

The mill, now running two shifts, employs

MillProfile

One of the mill's biggest struggles is labor, which it attributes to being in a small rural area.

70 people and is one of the county’s largest private employers. However, like most of the timber industry, finding employees can be difficult.

“We have the same struggles,” says Zojonc. “It’s just hard. Labor is one of the most difficult challenges that we have. We attribute it to being a small rural area. The labor pool is finite.”

To keep and attract employees, the mill

offers complete employment packages with full benefits including medical, dental, vision, paid holidays, paid vacations after a year, and a 401K plan with a match. Zojonc says, “We have the best benefit package that we’re aware of in the entire San Luis Valley.

The mill has big plans for the future, according to Zojonc. “In five years, we would like to see it more automated. We would like to create [fewer] manual labor-intensive

TimberWest Magazine — May/June 2020 — www.forestnet.com

jobs. You know, what we tried to do is, not only to help the forest but to create a situation that offers family-wage employment for the people in the Valley. We’re trying to create a good thing for these folks, that they have a place to work and they can raise their families and grow their children and live here.”

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ContractorProfile

Award Winning Operation Pacific Forest Contractors Inc. — 2019 Southwest Oregon Operator of the Year

By Lindsay R. Mohlere

T

he operator of the year award

from ODF states: “Conducting timecritical salvage logging in the aftermath of a massive snowfall in Douglas County while protecting a salmon-bearing stream led to Pacific Forest Contractors Inc. of Eagle Creek, Oregon, being named 2019 Operator of the Year for the Southwest Oregon Region.”

Behind the Scenes 16

According to Brent Parries, president and founder of Pacific Forest Contractors, there’s more to this story than meets the eye.

In February 2019, the Northwest was hammered by a huge winter storm that dumped massive amounts of snow across the region. In Douglas County, Oregon, near the town of Yoncalla, a unit owned by Campbell Global LLC was severely impacted by more than two feet of heavy, wet snow. That amount of snow in the area was rare, and most of the trees were not resistant to the added weight. Nearly 50 percent of the timber was knocked down, and scores of TimberWest Magazine — May/June 2020 — www.forestnet.com

standing trees were damaged.

Packed with red slash and other fuel debris, the 1000-acre site (one million board feet) could be a smorgasbord for bark beetles and fire. The area was also close to communities and could potentially impact a salmon, steelhead, and bull trout stream, as well as a community water source. In addition, there were no roads and no way to bring in the necessary equipment to mitigate the problem.

“When the wind blows over a stand, it blows the trees in one direction. This stand was just shoved down by the tremendous

ContractorProfile the map of the unit in June, cut the first tree July 1, and shipped the last load the middle of August.

Both Parries and Davis noted that their contracted hand fallers, Barth Timber Cutting, played an integral role in the success of the operation.

“We went in there with feller bunchers and steep logging machines and tried to eliminate most of the hazards, but where the machines couldn’t go, the hand fallers did an exceptional job cutting, despite the danger.

It’s one piece at a time to try to remove all that stuff. Most of those stems were all pre-loaded, so you’ve got to be very cautious when you cut them off,” says Parries.

Other challenges the PFC crews faced were protecting a vineyard along a traveled haul route, soils prone to erosion, dust control, and keeping the fish stream buffer intact.

“When trees are blown down into a buffer, you’d normally cut them off at the stump and pull the tree out,” says Davis. “In this case they wanted whatever was there to stay there. Our hand cutters had to go through and cut it. So wherever the line was flagged, the cutter had to cut off every tree, whether it was just a 10-foot top that hung over, or a 40-foot tree. It doubled their work in the worst part of the unit.”

Davis also explains that when fallen trees span across the channel of the stream, it’s fairly dangerous to crawl across and pull a wire. He also said root wads and downed timber created rolling hazards for the rigging crew, along with a thriving poison oak

population.

“I enjoyed every day on that job,” says Davis. “The most important thing is having good people, the right people in the right positions. We always keep the main objective in sight and deliver safety, quality, and then production. We appreciate our core employees. They made this job possible for us. They are an awesome crew. It was quite an accomplishment to get the job done.”

Money, Love, and Mountain Beavers

The genesis of a logging company usually begins with a pickup truck and a chainsaw.

In the case of Pacific Forest Contractors, it all began with trapping mountain beaver, aka “Boomers,” says Parries.

A mountain beaver/boomer is not like the beaver that brought scores of mountain men to the Northwest long ago to set trap lines near rivers, streams, and lakes in search of the paddle tailed varmint that was the rage of hat makers in the east. The boomer is a muskrat-sized burrowing rodent found only in the Pacific Northwest, and although it doesn’t look like a beaver, it can wreak havoc in the woods in much the same way.

While they don’t cut down trees, the boomer can wipe-out acres and acres of reforested seedlings in a flash.

“A friend of mine and I were cutting firewood on a firewood unit owned by Publisher’s Paper. I saw they had a road blown out because the culvert got dammed (continued on page 18)

Pacific Forest Contractors moves a Tigercat LX8700 to the next site.

amount of snow. The trees went every which way, and they toppled and pushed other trees over, which pushed other trees a different direction. It was just a jack straw mess,” says Alex Davis, vice president and part-owner of Pacific Forest Contractors (PFC).

PFC was pulled off another Campbell Global job and gathered their resources to put the full court press on to clean up what Mother Nature created. They had to move their equipment in all at once and tackle each element of the project at the same time.

PFC was building roads, cutting timber, and logging all at the same time. PFC received

PFC puts John Deere 2554 to work.

TimberWest Magazine — May/June 2020 — www.forestnet.com

17

ContractorProfile The talented PFC team takes a moment to pose. Behind them stands a Madill 071.

(continued from page 17) up by a beaver. At the time, I guess I was about 16; I was trapping fur animals when I was in high school,” Parries said.

Publisher’s put Parries to work trapping beaver and asked him if he would trap boomers for them. He took the job.

“They had the traps, and they paid me by the hour and paid me by the mile. It was around 1979, and I was making $15 an hour and 25 cents a mile. I worked about two to three months a year, and I probably trapped between 500 and 800 acres a year for Publisher’s,” says Parries.

When the trapping enterprise began to ebb, he bought a small dozer and did a firewood contract with Publisher’s. That started his logging career.

The Aches and Pains of Growth

“There was no money in firewood,” says Parries. “Publisher’s gave me the opportunity to do some thinning and pre-poling work.

We thinned for Publisher’s and did a couple small clearcuts for them until they sold out.

After Longview Fiber acquired Publisher’s timber assets, we continued working for them thinning and pre-cutting poles. And then we moved into doing clearcuts.”

To take advantage of the new opportunities from Longview Fiber, Parries began to add crew and equipment. His first big purchase during the advent of automation 18

in the 90s was a John Deere 653 with a 620 Northwest Harvester head. To increase production, Parries decided to try shovel logging.

“Log loaders started getting out in the woods and shovel logging, so we decided to get the biggest shovel we could find, which was the Link-Belt 4300 at the time. We shovel logged to a skidder and then decided that method made too big of mess. We then started shoveling clear to the landing. In 2003, we won the 2003 Operator of the Year for Northwest Oregon award for a shovel logging job we had done,” says Parries.

As Parries tells it, Weyerhaeuser approached him at the 2004 OLC show and asked him if PFC would work for them.

Eventually, after Parries acquired Don Olsen Logging, PFC fielded two shovel logging sides — one worked for Weyerhaeuser and the other logged for Longview.

As timber industry heavyweights like Longview Fiber, Brooksfield, Port Blakely, and Weyerhaeuser changed the landowner landscape through acquisitions, mergers, and buyouts, PFC stayed the course, adapting to the changing business environment by adding a cable side.

Parries bought a yoder from Greg Schmitz and started a cable side. “We figured out that the bigger, the better, on that machine as well, so we got a big 3754 John Deere and put a set of drums on it. Of course, that wasn’t big enough, so we got a Madill TimberWest Magazine — May/June 2020 — www.forestnet.com

071 yarder. My partner, Alex Davis, runs the cable side with a yarder engineer, rigging slinger, choker setter, and hook tender. He does mostly all the cable stuff now,” he says, adding that rarely do they run both the yoder and yarder at the same time.

As the years progressed, PFC added a road building side and more equipment with an emphasis on John Deere machines. “We just purchased a Caterpillar 568, but we did get to try the Tigercat 890, and that is a beast of a machine, but John Deere has still got a pretty good machine. We use John Deere machines for the processors, the 3156 today, with either a Waratah or a Southstar head.

Then, of course, on the landings, we use a little bit bigger shovel. We use Hitachi 240 size machines on the landing,” says Parries.

In all, PFC’s equipment roster boasts a majority of John Deere machines including tractors and excavators.

Currently, Pacific Forest Contractors Inc. employs 23 people, running a shovel side, a cable side, and a road building side.

On average, PFC logs 30-40 MBF per year.

In the office, Parries’ wife, Janeen, handles the books and payables, while Alix Murray, who is a contract specialist, helps with all the work documents.

In the future, we may very well see Pacific Forest Contractors yet again receiving accolades for their work.

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ContractorProfile

Investing in the Future Bryant Logging, Estacada, Oregon

B

rothers Luke and Zane Bryant work alongside their father Mike, owner of Bryant Logging, based out of Beavercreek, Oregon.

The family business currently owns nine pieces of equipment and employs seven.

Mike Bryant started logging in the late 1960s on his parents’ own woodlot. In his junior year of high school, Mike purchased his first piece of logging equipment. Only a few days after finishing high school, a neighbor came over to the house and asked Mike to log his land for him. “For the next three or four years, I logged for him,” says Mike. “He’d have me log until he’d reach a certain amount of money, and then I would go do some other work.” Mike did some excavation work here and there then switched back to logging full time when Port Blakely Tree Farms purchased land near him. “I started thinning for Port Blakely pretty much year-round, fulltime for about nine years,” says Mike.

Starting Them Young

Mike’s two boys, Zane and Luke, started helping their dad out as soon as they could.

“We were pretty young,” says Zane.

“They couldn’t start the chainsaws, let’s put it that way,” says Mike. “I’d skid the logs, and Zane and Luke would be at the landing together. They’d limb and buck the logs while I brought in another turn.”

The company owns four shovel loggers, three processors, and two skidders, with the most recent purchase being the Tigercat LH822D harvester. Luke was recently using it to thin a 300- acre tract for the U.S. Forest Service.

“We had a small non-leveling machine but we knew we needed something bigger,” explains Zane. “We looked at what other contractors were using in the area, and then we went up for a factory tour at Tigercat.

That sealed the deal.”

“Seeing how everything is engineered

Michael Bryant in 1982.

The crew (L-R): Mike Moore, Nicholas Bryant, Zane Bryant, Michael Bryant, Luke Bryant, Shayne Jenkins and Chad Gates.

20

TimberWest Magazine — May/June 2020 — www.forestnet.com

ContractorProfile

The LH822D track harvester thinning in Estacada, Oregon. and produced up there gives you a new appreciation for the equipment,” adds Luke.

The Latest Purchase

Bryant Logging purchased the LH822D from recently retired sales specialist Larry Nord of Triad Machinery. Luke has put 400 hours on the machine and is very happy to now have a leveling machine with no counterweight.

“It is way easier to get around with this machine,” says Luke. “I use the auto leveling feature while driving around. I am driving

over a lot of stumps on these hills so I can slow it down, and it actually reacts fairly quickly. When I tip really hard over a stump, it’ll start automatically bringing it up for me.”

Luke also enjoys how compact the machine is. “This is fifteen-foot spacing, but the lot I finished down the road was tighter.

There is just less to think about with this machine. There are already so many things you have to watch out for out here — not having to worry about your boom or your counterweight makes a big difference.”

TimberWest Magazine — May/June 2020 — www.forestnet.com

Future Investments

Bryant Logging plans to purchase a 610E skidder next. “We get down to twelvefoot spacing out here. The 620 is a bit bulky for what we need, so we are thinking a 610 to get in those tight spaces,” says Zane.

Another reason the Bryants wanted Tigercat equipment is because of the dealer, Triad Machinery. “We have had great experience with Triad,” says Mike. “We like the service department and dealing with those (continued on page 22)

21

ContractorProfile (continued from page 21) guys. I like being able to call up the service department and actually talk to a mechanic.

I can ask him a quick question. Two minutes later the problem is solved, instead of scheduling a whole trip over it.”

Why Logging?

Luke and Zane love working out in the woods. “The fresh air keeps me young,” Zane claims. Luke left logging when he was twenty-years old to become a plumber. He got his journeyman plumber’s license and worked as a plumber for ten years. Ultimately, the woods drew him back.

“I got tired of traffic and dealing with people,” says Luke. “It’s a lot easier dealing with family. You can hold each other accountable and count on each other out here.”

Mike adds proudly, “The business wouldn’t be worth much without these two boys here. They’re conscientious. They work their tails off, and they’re invested in it. That, along with the exceptional employees we have, is what makes it all work.”

Bryant Logging has no plans to grow the operation. “We really don’t want to get a lot bigger. It’s easier to control the quality at this size,” says Zane. “We’re pretty efficient the

Luke Bryant in a leveling machine without a counterweight, which he finds much easier to maneuver. way we are set up now. And we can move quite a bit of wood.”

When Luke isn’t operating the processor, he enjoys building drones. Zane enjoys snowboarding and keeps busy with his three kids. Mike plans to retire soon and take some

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TimberWest Magazine — May/June 2020 — www.forestnet.com

time to travel with his wife. He has complete confidence in his sons and will be content to pass the company on to the next generation of Bryants.

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ContractorProfile

Making It Work Trivelpiece Logging, Yamhill, Oregon

Trivelpiece says Kobelco's warm up feature helps with colder days.

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TimberWest Magazine — May/June 2020 — www.forestnet.com

ContractorProfile

By Kristi Granberg

W

hen Wes Trivelpiece

takes on a job, he likes to put a personal touch to the work. He credits getting repeat customers to his practice of treating the land like it’s his own. While he does what they want, he also gives advice on what to do. “I’m still working for them, but I’ll tell them how I would do it. You got to ask them, ‘Are you going to burn? Are you just going to replant?’

I tell them how I would do it, and they generally agree.”

Wes mainly does shovel logging these days and has been working mostly for private land owners for the last ten years. “I try to leave the yarder [a Christy Heavy Duty Yarder] folded up at home because it takes a crew to run it, and crews have become undependable. I had it down to where it was me and one other guy running this yarder. I would bring logs in till the chute got full, and I’d jump in my shovel, clean it out. He was down there hooking, and he’d do the hook tending and get the skyline out. We’d log for half a day. Then he’d come on up, and we’d process what we did.” He recently brought out the yarder.

Tried and True Christy

Wes has trained a lot of people to do a lot of things. He even thought about starting a logging school. “I have patience, I guess. I’d rather have somebody that doesn’t know anything than trying to de-tune somebody that has worked on a big yarder and hooks everything they can and pulls hard. This is a small yarder. It takes a little finesse to get the stuff in efficiently. I had a 21-year-old single mother running my yarder once. She was the only one that answered the ad. I said, ‘Come on out. If you’re trainable, it’ll work.’ She did good.”

That Christy heavy duty yarder is custom built with a high-speed reverse. “The cab has been turned,” Wes points out, “so you can look right out the corridor that you’re logging.” Cummins-powered with a Funk transmission, it also boasts a 50-foot tower.

“I have six speeds forward and three reverse, and you put it in third reverse and throttle, and it’s like free-fall on that carriage. You can backlash your drum if you go too fast.”

Wes also has a 650 John Deere dozer to pull the yarder around with because it’s trailer-mounted.

Owner, Wes Trivelpiece says over the years he has trained a lot of people to do a lot of things.

Price Plays a Role

Price has a lot to do with the equipment Wes uses, which you can see, based on the variety of brands he owns. He’s got a 210 Kobelco with a jammer logger attachment on it, which he says has gotten him a lot of (continued on page 26)

Wes Trivelpiece stands proudly in front of his well worn Christy heavy duty yarder.

TimberWest Magazine — May/June 2020 — www.forestnet.com

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ContractorProfile (continued from page 25) work where it’s not feasible to set up a yarder.

“It’s a single drum of cable and holds 950 feet of cable. In the heeling rack, it has a highspeed slat kicker that’s in sync with the drum, so you spit the chokers out over the hill. You can get them twirling and launch them and, accurately, I can throw it about 165 feet. Any more than that, and you don’t know where it’s going to land, but I can usually land the chokers on the log I want them to hook at that range. I think it’s got 25,000 pounds of line pull, so it’ll bring in some wood.”

When Wes made that purchase, Kobelco machines were priced better than anything else. “I could get that Kobelco with the $50,000 attachment on it. For the same price, I could get a used piece of equipment with 2,000 hours on it.” Wes comments that among the benefits of the Kobelco was the warm-up feature, which helps when the temperature was below 40 degrees. “It had some pretty nice features on it. And they’re a good machine. I knew people that had them and were happy with them.”

Keeping up with Technology

With his wife, Michelle, Wes started working alongside his parents, Patsy and Wendell, who started Trivelpiece Logging

26

in the early 70s. Michelle has worked hard at modernizing things in the office, and they now have an accountant, which is a big step forward, compared to the early days. “They [mom and dad] were anti-technology. She would hand-write out the payroll stubs and the W-2s. I bet she’s the only one that can run the DOS system on a computer,” Wes jokes.

Regarding his prized equipment, Wes recalls, “I think we were one of the first ones to use the Christy yarder with the Eagle carriage. They had a Christy carriage that comes with the yarder, and we were one of the first ones to put the Eagle on there.” When the owner of Christy heard about it, he arranged to come out and see it work, then he started selling more machines with the Eagle carriage package on it.

“This is our second yarder we’ve bought from him. We had this one custom made to where it’s more user friendly than they came out of the factory.” The cab points so the operator can look straight ahead, rather than getting a sore neck from looking sideways.

Because of that, “It’s a little wide going down the road, 10 feet wide instead of eight.”

The main thing was the high-speed transmission, which was very expensive to put in. Wes got that idea from Diamond yarders. “It’s what they used in theirs. You can run it so much smoother, and that makes

TimberWest Magazine — May/June 2020 — www.forestnet.com

everything safer.” The Christy manufacturer was so impressed watching Wes run the equipment, he hired him to train a logger in Georgia. “They were going to log flat across the swamp, with a hoe back and intermediate supports, with the same setup we got right here. So he goes, ‘Could you go over and show these guys how to run it?’ I had to teach those people how to notch a stump, even.”

Wes travelled to California to set up another one, and his talents were wanted in Idaho as well. He decided against it and went back to working for himself in the woods of Oregon.

After Wes hurt his back recently, son David (a manager for A-1 Logging’s Larry Heesacker) came out when the yarder was being set up. He told Wes he was “just watching,” but proceeded to take charge, giving orders and running the drum. Wes told him, “Okay. If you want to spend the day up here, that’s great.” David’s response was that it felt good to get back in there.

Wes is going strong and figures he still has some time left in the woods. “I’m probably going to be like my dad and stay out here till I shouldn’t be out here anymore.

And if things keep going good, we might look at upgrading our equipment, instead of just rebuilding it.”

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2020 PLC Convention Moved to 2021

The Pacific Logging Congress may have moved its 2020 annual convention set in Palm Springs, California, to 2021, but that doesn’t mean the organization’s activities have been put on hold. The 2020/21 scholarships will be provided to deserving students, and programs liked Pacific Forest Foundation’s podcast Talking Timber will still be posted weekly. The annual auction (albeit virtual) will also be held in November with amazing trips, hunts, and much more.

The PLC invites you to stay posted by visiting its website at www.pacificloggingcongress. com

Associated Oregon Loggers Names Storm New Chief Executive

Associated Oregon Loggers, Inc.’s (AOL,) President Greg Schmitz, of Schmiitz Timber Management in Silverton, Oregon, announced the organization has appointed Rex Storm as its Executive Vice President.

AOL is the statewide trade group providing business and government affairs services to more than 1,000 forest contract firms and allied forest sector businesses.

Rex Storm was previously AOL’s forest policy manager, representing forest contractors statewide in forest and business

policymaking, as well as managing special efforts, including the Oregon Professional Logger program and workforce development. He is a Certified Forester, a Certified Family Forest landowner, and lifelong advocate for small business and forestry.

American Forest Management Opens Two Offices in Montana

American Forest Management, the nation’s leading land management and land real estate firm, is pleased to announce the opening of two new offices in northwestern Montana. Located in Kalispell and Libby.

Both offices opened in March.

The offices mark American Forest Management’s first locations in the state.

In addition, American Forest Management serves clients throughout the Pacific Northwest with offices in Medford and Coos Bay, Oregon, and Chehalis, Kirkland, and Spokane, Washington. Offering a widerange of land management and real estate services, the expert regional team includes foresters, hydrologists, analysts, appraisers, real estate agents, and administrators.

“We are pleased to increase American Forest Management’s Pacific Northwest portfolio and expand our presence in The Intermountain Region,” said Dennis Dart, Pacific Northwest region manager for American Forest Management. “These

additional offices will allow us to better serve our clients throughout the state and offer our entire suite of services.”

The Kalispell and Libby offices will also support one of American Forest Management’s largest clients, Southern Pine Plantations (SPP,) a Georgia-based timberland group (www.sppland.com). SPP recently announced its purchase of 630,000 acres of timberland in Montana. American Forest Management will provide SPP turnkey land and timber management.

TimberWest and Logging and Sawmilling Journal Sponsor Talking Timber Podcast

TimberWest Magazine and Logging and Sawmilling Journal became the media sponsor of the new industry podcast Talking Timber. The Pacific Forest Foundation launched the weekly podcast in January 2020 to support their educational mission and to reach a broader and younger audience. Each week Talking Timber reaches out to Northwest industry professionals — from foresters to firefighters, and from machines operators to log buyers — to find out what it takes to create the valuable resource we call timber. Owner of the two magazines, Anthony Robinson, says he can see a value in the podcast and is excited to support it.

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RRLC Conference cancelled — but Pieces Remained Story and photo by Mary Bullwinkel

The 82nd Annual Redwood Region Logging Conference (RRLC) in California, which had been scheduled to take place March 19 -21, 2020, is just one of the many large gatherings canceled due to the COVID19 pandemic. This year’s event was planned to take place in Ukiah, in Mendocino County.

RRLC Executive Director Katherine Ziemer said the Board of Directors held a conference call one week before the conference was slated to begin. “The Board discussed our options,” she said, “and voted to suspend the conference due to the health risks. No one took this lightly when the Board voted to cancel the conference,” she added, “and this was definitely the right choice.”

No date has been selected for the RRLC next year, and it is possible that the event will take place in Ukiah, even though the conference normally rotates every other year between Ukiah and Eureka. That decision will be discussed and then announced by the RRLC Board of Directors later this year. “We are experiencing unprecedented times, and we need to be resilient,” Ziemer

said, “We plan to rebound next year even stronger.”

Two pieces of RRLC were able to continue, even though the conference gathering had been canceled.

“The scholarship students had already been judged prior to the cancellation and their awards were mailed to each student,” Ziemer said. “The mural contest was able to continue,” she added, “because teachers delivered the murals on Friday, March 13th, before the conference was canceled.”

13 scholarships, totaling $17,000 were awarded to students attending colleges in California and Oregon. Seven were awarded to students attending Humboldt State University. They are Marcos Saucedo, Cameron Miller, Wiyaka Previte, Brita Goldstein, Kyle Mantzouranis, Hanna Upton, and Christopher Villaruel. Isaac Lang, a student attending College of the Redwoods also received a scholarship.

Other recipients are Dustin Morgan and Taylor Plasch, both students at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, Emma Miller who is attending Chico State, Natalie Fulton, a student at U.C. Berkeley, and Natalie Schlosser who is TimberWest Magazine — May/June 2020 — www.forestnet.com

attending Oregon State University.

Schools in both Humboldt and Mendocino Counties submitted murals to the RRLC. The submitted murals are judged in two age categories, Kindergarten through 3rd grade, and 4th grade through 8th grade.

Humboldt County winners in the Kindergarten through 3rd grade levels are students from South Fortuna, Jacoby Creek, and Hoopa Valley Elementary Schools.

Winners in the 4th grade through 8th grade levels are students from Whitethorn, Morris, and Hydesville Elementary, Schools.

Mendocino County murals have not yet been judged, so there are no winners to announce at this time.

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On display at Cascade Trader demo.

Cascade Trader Shows Off Prime Tech Dedicated Mulcher

Designed as an alternative to skid steers, the PrimeTech PT series are built for rough terrain and extreme conditions.

“Going from a skid steer to a dedicated mulcher, you’re going from a low-grade undercarriage to a true D3 size undercarriage, single bar grouser, Rexroth finals, Cummins power, everything is simplified on the machine. The cab tilts up and all the doors swing open. It’s a really well thought out piece of equipment,” said Cooper Brunoff, Operation Manager of the Hayden dealership.

Several of the attendees stepped up to operate the machines. “The guys coming from a skid steer were a little timid at first.

But after a little bit of running it, they started

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Cascade Trader Inc., a logging and construction equipment dealership located in Chahalis, Washington and Hayden, Idaho, hosted an on-site demo of its new line of PrimeTech dedicated forest mulchers on Saturday, June 6 in Hayden.

PrimeTech is a division of FAE USA and offers the PT series of tracked carriers. Equipped with the FAE head, Cascade put the PrimeTech PT 175 to work chewing into slash piles and brush for about 25 spectators, including logging contractors and crew members. Cascade also showed off the FAE DML/HY-125 head attached to a Doosan 85R.

mowing down trees and using the cylinder to rake brush piles and mulch that stuff. It seemed like everyone was impressed,” said Brunnoff.

With the addition of the FAE heads and PrimeTech machines to its full line of Doosan logging and construction equipment, Cascade Trader is poised to become the PrimeTech dealer for Washington state and Northern Idaho.

“This is the next adventure. Its where we’re at with PrimeTech. We hope to build those brands right behind the Doosan and integrate them together. I just think that dedicated forestry mulchers fit right in with what we do right now,” Brunoff said.

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TimberWest Magazine — May/June 2020 — www.forestnet.com

Rottne Industri Rebuilding for the Future

Rottne Industri is rebuilding the main factory with its sights on the future. The goal is to have capacity to produce 300 forest machines by 2026, which is more than a doubling when compared to the number of machines built just a few years ago.

Initially the investment concerned a completely new layout change in Assembly hall 2. Four models from the range are built there: Rottne H8D, H11D, H21D and F18D. “I was asked by the company management to evaluate the possibility of doubling the manufacturing capacity,” says Johan Svensson, Assembly manager at Assembly 2.

“We were finished in March and clearly noticed an improved work quality with reduced lead times, and with that, also an increased flow to production as a result.”

Ideas, proposals, and points of view were collected. All members of staff were involved in the process to draw up the new guidelines that would apply in the hall. Five new revolving cranes have been installed to facilitate the work. Each model has its own station, and the fitters have all the tools and right components within easy reach. Since March, capacity has been doubled.

“Thanks to the rebuilding and rationalization, there is now the capacity to manufacture around 200 machines per year, just in this hall,” says Johan Svensson.

Wallingford’s Announces Distribution of Veriga to North America

Wallingford’s Inc. is pleased to announce a new partnership with Veriga, one of the largest global manufacturers of tire chains and forestry tracks.

John Wallingford, President of Wallingford’s Inc. stated, “We are very excited with this new relationship with Veriga and look forward to bringing this great brand across the Atlantic.”

Established in 1922, Veriga has expansive production programs, and is a prominent European presence in the forestry industry.

Wallingford’s Inc. is looking forward to marketing Veriga’s broad range of products across North America, adding new products to their line-up with European design and quality.

New products include: a full line of bogie and wheel tracks for forestry equipment, forestry chains for skidders and CTL machinery, snow/traction tire chains for trucks, tractors and heavy machinery, and tire protection chains for heavy machinery. www. wallingfords.com, www.veriga-lesce.com.

Doosan Welcomes Two EquipmentShare Locations as New Dealerships

Doosan Infracore North America, LLC, is partnering with EquipmentShare to expand its dealer network with two new locations. The new dealerships are located in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Commerce City, Colorado.

EquipmentShare is located at 295 South Redwood Road in North Salt Lake, Utah.

The Colorado facility is located at 5050 East

58th Avenue of Commerce City, in Denver.

“We’re excited to launch this partnership with Doosan at our Salt Lake City and Denver locations,” says Jabbok Schlacks, CEO of EquipmentShare. “Doosan is a brand with years of success and a loyal customer base behind it. We’re proud to be able to partner with Doosan to better serve our customers and provide them with the quality and dependable equipment they need.”

TW

A new to North America track from Europe.

Quenched with oil, not water, for an improved hardness profile.

26 and 30mm asymmetrical link system for a longer service life.

Available in a variety of models, visit www.veriga-lesce.com to learn more.

Veriga is marketed in North America by

Call for more information

Check out our new website!

800-323-3708

www.wallingfords.com info@wallingfords.com

TimberWest Magazine — May/June 2020 — www.forestnet.com

29

Forestry Mulchers and Attachments system. A minimum of 30 GPM hydraulic HIGH FLOW rate is required to effectively operate the Model 72FM. Bandit forestry mulchers are available in either a 60 inch or 72 inch wide cut. And are ideal for clearing thick brush and small trees, grinding material and mulching it directly into the ground. www.banditchippers.com

Bradco

Advanced Forest Equipment

The RDM52EX is designed for 20-30 metric ton carriers. The ridged steel mounting system allows you to pick your excavator up and turn on a dime. It also showcases our digging spade feature which is designed to load logs, pull out tree stumps and aids when moving the excavator. You can mulch an overgrown road and restore it back to nearly new.

There are no belts, pulleys or shivs.

Advanced Forest Equipment systems are direct drive. The power goes directly into a bearing box, transferring 100 percent of the power to the cutting disc. RDM technology transfers more power to the attachment, eliminating the need for expensive extra hardware. The RDM forestry mulcher owners report as much as 40 percent increases in productivity. The RDM52EX has a 52” diameter disc and made with Weldox 700 T-1 steel. It is productive up to 14” in diameter, depending on hydraulic flow. www. advancedforest.com

Bandit

Bandit mulchers include the Model 60FM and Model 72FM. The Bandit® Model 72FM high-power mulching head is an easyto-use skid steer attachment that’s ideally suited for land and right-of-way clearing, trail maintenance, and selective forest thinning. It features raker-style teeth that regulate the cut, allowing operators to topple trees, grind down the stumps, then mulch the felled material straight into the soil. The Model 72FM attaches via a quick-attach plate in seconds, and runs off the skid steer loader’s hydraulic

30

The Bradco MM72 is designed for land clearing, and DOT right-of-way clearing and maintenance. The MM72 is a skid steer mounted mulcher that is able to cut and mulch 8’’ standing trees and is also available CE certified. Fixed hammers with reversible and replaceable carbide and claw teeth can be easily interchanged without needing to rebalance the rotor. The synchronous belt drive system eliminates belt and drive sprocket slippage. The heavy-duty bent axis variable displacement piston motor offers better performance optimization, and allows the mulcher to be switched easily to other

prime movers without having to change out hydraulic motors, belts, or belt drive sprockets/pulleys.

It features a 72” cutting width, has a patented tooth design, and easily interchangeable tooth design options. Also includes replaceable abrasion resistant AF400 wear plate on skid shoes and deflector door standard to control particle size and discharge direction. www.paladinattachments.com

BRON

BRON offers a mulcher series ranging from 275 HP and 27,500 pounds to 700 HP, weighing in at 10,000 pounds. The mulchers have wide tracks that provide stability and low ground pressure. They are designed with an upfront cab with an ergonomic seat, climate control, and easy-to-read gauges.

For easy cleanout and service, machines have recessed fasteners for a smooth underside. The large belly pan below the engine is TimberWest Magazine — May/June 2020 — www.forestnet.com

hinged for access. Frames pivot freely with heavy-duty chain guides for constant surface contact and maximum traction. Wide tracks add stability and flotation in sensitive environments. Options include hydraulic winch, compressed air hose reel, front window guard and more. www.bronwf.com

Brush Hound

The FX36 Defender Forestry Mulcher is the latest in the Defender line of mulchers.

Engineered to work efficiently with midsized excavators from 16 to 32 thousand pounds, it is the perfect tool for property maintenance, to clear a right-of-way, open up a view, or to create a defensible space in areas where wildfires are a threat.

Like all Brush Hound Attachments, this brush cutter is durable, dependable and easy to maintain. Cutting capacity up to 8” continuous. The FX36 is a fixed-tooth brush cutter that weighs 1,635 pounds. It is designed to operate on the standard thumb

circuit on all 8-16 ton excavators. Quadco cutter knives have four positions and will make short work of trees up to 8 inches in diameter, as well as vines, grasses and other material. www.valleytoolmfg.com

D&M Machine

D&M offers the Slashbuster – from the SLASHBUSTER® LX 330 to the extreme duty HD 480B. The 480B Cuts and mulches trees to 18” diameter, has a 52” cutting swatch and the third boom and material hander are standard. It features an automatic wire seer, rotating hub debris guard, and is adaptable to any excavator being from 40,000 to 100,000 pounds. A Magnum drive

TechReview Fecon

system comes standard and has an optional 90-dgree tilt mount.

The smaller XL 330 is recommended for mini excavators, has a 33” cutting swath and a blade bar cutter. It has an optional quick disconnect and weighs in at 200 to 300 pounds. www.slashbuter.com

up to 10” diameter trees or brush and is a low-flow or high flow hydraulic machine. www.diamondmowers.com

Fecon is home of the Bull Hog brush cutting and forestry mulching attachment, which comes in a wide variety of configurations— excavator, skid-steer, and hydraulic, to name a few.

The excavator mulching head is ideal for clearing trees and brush along roadsides, ravines, creeks, riverbanks. The CEM36 model can provide fixed tool durability and (continued on page 32)

DENIS CIMAF

DENIS CIMAF is ideal for land clearing, firebreak creation, pipeline, road, and electrical line development and maintenance. The DAH, boom-mounted mulchers models range from the DAH-065B, for 5- to 8-ton excavators to the DAH-150Er, for 27to 35-ton excavators. The boom-mounted mulcher attachment can be installed on all mast-type hydraulic carriers with sufficient hydraulic lines, weight, and power. Able to attach to a wide range of carriers, there is no land clearing or right-of-way maintenance job the DAH cannot handle.

The DAF, front-mounted mulching

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.

heads, range in size from the DAF-150D, for carriers with a minimum of 75 horsepower, to the DAF-250Ex, for carriers with a minimum of 250 horsepower. The DAF mulching heads can be installed on any type of front-mounted carrier with sufficient hydraulic lines, weight, and power. www. deniscimaf.com

Diamond Mowers

Diamond Mowers offers a variety of mulchers. Just the skid-steer attachments alone include a skid-steer drum mulcher, available in 60” to 72” cutting widths. They mulch up to 9” diameter trees and brush, and include low-flow and high-flow hydraulic machines.

The Skid-Steer Forestry Disco Mulcher, a high-flow hydraulic machine, is available in a 60” cutting width and mulches up to 14” diameter trees or brush.

The Skid-Steer Rotary Mower is available in 60”, 72” and 84” cutting widths, cuts

EXPERT FOR THE EXTREME

TimberWest Magazine — May/June 2020 — www.forestnet.com

31

TechReview (continued from page 31) performance on as small as a 7-ton excavator.

It features a 3 rotor system, and many cutting tool options — double carbides, chipper knives, stone tools, and single carbides. Fixed tool durability and aggressive counter-cutter rake teeth are features that ensure you have the toughest excavator mulcher head made.

cost is up to ten times lower than similar products, with an average operating speed of three to six km/h, four times faster than any other similar equipment on the market.

The Gilbert GM-6 brush cutter-mower provides unparalleled efficiency, versatility, and

versatility and operating mode customization. The hydraulic piston motor with manually controlled variable displacement and the flow control valve make it possible to easily use the mulcher with different types of excavators using different oil flow rates.

The motor, completely incorporated into the frame, also has a relief valve and an antiactivation valve. www.gbequipment.ca

Gilbert

FMX Series offers 36” and 50” models with a split-ring rotor design and knife tools for maximum performance. Designed for 5 – 10 ton excavators from 12 – 40 gpm. This lighter design also allows you to mount on back hoes and side arm booms. www.fecon.com

The Gilbert GM-6 brush cutter -mower is an innovative roadside maintenance product designed to substantially reduce the cost of clearing operations. The GM-6 is the most cost-effective roadside maintenance piece of equipment, thanks to the patented

finish. www.gilbert-tech.com

Gyro-Trac

Gyro-Trac offers four mulching machines ranging from the 140 HP to 350 HP. The company uses its new Sabre-Tooth Technology to deliver superior performance.

You are now able to pulverize wood into sawdust-like mulch while utilizing less weight, less energy and substantially less fuel.

The small, rapidly bio-degradable mulch left creates a park-like effect that won’t wick fire.

The new design uses the wider tooth for better cutting coverage. The knockout under the tooth allows the chip to curl into the relief

GB Equipment

GB Equipment offers a new line of professional mulchers for excavators — FAE BL1/ EX — equipped with Bite Limiter technology. Special steel profiles limit the depth of blade action, ensuring a great power control and guaranteeing exceptional performance.

The FAE BL1/EX is suitable for excavators from 4.4 to 8.2 tons and has an operating width of 2.6 feet. It’s compact and maneuverable, with an ultra-light reinforced steel frame, and can mulch logs up to 4.7 inches in diameter. Its revolutionary rotor comes with a heat-treated forged steel tooth holder and is equipped with special fixed reversible blade teeth. The head also has a belt transmission for managing operating loads efficiently, ensuring that machine components last longer.

The BL1/EX guarantees maximum

32

concept that cuts vegetation as opposed to mulching it.

The cutting head is mounted on a folding-boom arm, which offers excellent manoeuvrability with a total reach of 16 feet. It can be easily installed on any existing carrier system, including graders. It is the ideal tool to brush cut ditches, back

with little resistance, and Sabre-Tooth design uses a splitter block between the two control ribs (that control the depth of the bite) so you can further reduce the size of each chip.

The cutter-head is self-cleaning, resulting in few clogs and high productivity, with less maintenance. And, with only one bolt to remove, replacing the teeth has never been faster or easier. www.gyrotrac.com

The company says that the per-kilometre

(continued on page 34)

slopes, and trim the trees as required on forestry, municipal, secondary roads, etc.

TimberWest Magazine — May/June 2020 — www.forestnet.com

TechReview (continued from page 32)

Loftness

Loftness has introduced the new S Series of its Battle AxÔ horizontal drum mulcher, designed specifically for skid steers with 50 to 120 hydraulic HP. The 17-inch-diameter Battle Ax rotor features built-in depth gauges, which function similarly to raker teeth on chain saws to prevent the attachment from engaging too much material at one time. This unique design is more ideal for managing the amount of material being fed into the attachment than competitive ring-style rotors, which many operators find to be overly limiting.

The Battle Ax rotor is optimized for use with all cutting tooth styles. Customers can choose from Quadco planer blades, hardsurface Quadco blades and carbide teeth. The cutting teeth are mounted to the rotor with a single hex bolt for easy removal on the jobsite.

It also features a two-stage cutting chamber, allowing material to be cut twice by the rotor and help produce some of the smallest particle sizes in the industry. www.loftness.com

MeriCrusher

With Finnish design, engineering and manufacturing, and its fifty year history, MeriCrusher is designed from the ground up to work from the ground down. PTO or

hydraulic power, from 50 to over 700hp, with working depths to an honest 16 inches, and working widths to sixteen feet, MeriCrusher has a model to suit your land clearing and crushing needs. US and Canadian warehouse locations, large spare part stock. www.mericursher.com

Promac Equipment

Whatever the size or scope of your job, Promac’s full-line of excavator mounted rotary cutters and drum mulchers will get

34

TimberWest Magazine — May/June 2020 — www.forestnet.com

the work done safely, quickly and efficiently.

Promac’s brush mulchers feature heavyduty structural frame construction of a fully welded plate, rated for use as a pusher pad; wear-resistant drum liner constructed of QT100 plate; Promac-designed and precision-manufactured components, including tooling, rotor, bearing housings, shaft and drive system; low maintenance cogged poly belt drive with roller tensioner; and a forward exposed rotor, effective for cutting into standing trees without the need for a hinged tilter.

In addition, Promac provides engineering and design services to customize mulcher drive ratios that match our customers’ auxiliary hydraulic flow in order to attain the desired rotor operating speeds; available custom designed mounting bracket to match our customers’ excavator; and multiple cut widths, motor, tooling, rotor style and wear guarding options to suit the application. www.promacequipment.ca

TechReview

Quadco

Quadco offers extremely heavy-duty brushcutter heads. Pair with Quadco mower teeth for a complete mulching system, including the 56” timed-belt driver mower and the new 45” direct-drive mower.

The 56” mower mulches vegetation into fine material, discharging directly to the ground. It’s ideal for light brushing to heavy, full tree mulching. Operating costs are minimal with the low-maintenance, belt-driven, 26 staggered-tooth drum, which comes with a choice of rotatable teeth to fit the application—reversible, beaver, concave, or carbide.

Simple and easy to use, only using 3 hydraulic lines.

The 45” mower features rugged, roller bearings on the drum shaft, easy access doors, wear-resistant anvil plate, and fits all 20t+ excavators or feller-bunchers. Optional boom adapter or quick-attach available for most carriers, and high-strength 1/2” plate used on main frame. Cutting tools to match the application; Reversible, Beaver, Concave or Carbide teeth. www.quadco.com

60-100 HP ideal for right-of-way and vegetation management, to the MaxiForst, a high-performance forestry mulcher, that

is 300 to 500 HP and can handle any type of vegetation. The MaxiForst has a working width of 89” to 118”, features an aggressive new generation patented rotor with efficient tools of the type MINI DUO™ with tungsten carbide tips, an extremely strong frame, and great exposure of the rotor to the trees for better felling. It also has rakes on the hood for an easier handling of the material to be mulched. Different types of guard frames for felling operations available. www. seppi.com/en-us TW

Rayco

For a mulcher that is capable of crossing roadways and sensitive turf but still has the power and in-woods characteristics of a dedicated forestry machine, the Rayco’s

C120R Forestry Mulcher is the answer. It features a 120 HP Cat diesel engine, 6 ft Predator mulching head, 17.7” rubber tracks, two-speed travel, reversing fan, winch, back up camera, and radio. The new C120R also offers attachment interchangeability. www. morbark.com

Seppi M

Seppi M provides a wide assortment of mulchers — PTO forestry mulchers, mulchers for compact loader, excavator mulchers, flail mulchers, and pick-up mulchers.

There are six PTO forestry mulchers, ranging from the MiniForst, which is TimberWest Magazine — May/June 2020 — www.forestnet.com

35

Methor makes Doppstadt quality efficient even for small quantities

Wood-Mizer Introduces EntryLevel LX25 Portable Sawmill

Wood-Mizer introduces the entry-level LX25 portable sawmill. Built in the USA, the LX25 is designed for weekend sawyers and woodworkers. Introduced as the lowest priced Wood-Mizer sawmill, the LX25 joins the American-made Wood-Mizer potable sawmill lineup of 15 sawmill models engineered for entry-level and professional operations.

The LX25 portable sawmill features a large in-class cutting capacity for sawing 26” diameter logs into 22” wide boards up to 12’ 5” in length with optional 5’ bed extensions for sawing longer lengths. The thin-kerf band sawmill blade requires minimal energy and reduces sawdust waste to produce up to 30 percent more lumber from each log compared to a chainsaw mill. www.woodmizer.com

Atlas Polar Adds Virtual Reality Technology With LOGLIFT™

Virtual reality is not just for gaming anymore. Atlas Polar, a truck-mounted equipment company, is changing the reality of rail, recycling, and forestry industries. Effective immediately, the company will carry the entire range of HIAB/LOGLIFT™ heavyduty cranes and accessories.

Doppstadt unveiled the Methor, presenting a slow speed shredder for the first time that was specifically developed for handling small volume flows.

Thanks to its modular design, the Methor allows operators to respond quickly to changing challenges. This modular system

starts with the drive. Customers have the option to choose between a diesel engine or an electric motor. It is also possible to get a variation without its own drive system, since the drive train can also be connected to an external engine. Depending on the operating conditions, the Methor can be equipped with a hook lift or with a tracked chassis, allowing it to move independently. The shredding mechanism is also available as a standalone component for stationary use. www. doppstadt.de

Komatsu’s new 901XC 8WD harvester

Komatsu’s new 901XC (eXtreme Conditions) 8WD harvester excels in challenging steep, rough, or soft harvesting environments. The 901XC has all of the features found in Komatsu’s proven 9016WD harvester platform, including the 3PS three-pump hydraulic system, best-in-class ergonomic cab, 4-way cab/crane leveling, and ±180° cab/crane rotation.

National Fleet Products’ Portable, Vehicle-mounted, Hand-washing Stations

National Fleet Products announced the introduction of its new portable and vehicle-mounted hand-washing stations. The rugged, purpose-built product design allows water and hand sanitizer to be dispensed virtually anywhere, and application-specific hardware enables units to stand on their own, or to be mounted to a wide variety of vehicles.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) calls hand washing “one of the most important steps we can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others.”

HIAB truck-mounted cranes are the #1 selling brand in Canada – extensively tested and proven under Canada’s harsh conditions.

One innovation — HiVision™ LOGLIFT — is the first timber crane to be controlled by virtual reality (VR). Operators can safely and comfortably direct the crane from the passenger seat using the VR headset to gain an impressive 270-degree field of vision.

More importantly, VR eliminates the need for an additional crane cabin, weighing up to 881 pounds. The lighter weight dramatically increases payload, profit, and substantially increases driver safety. www.atlaspolar.com 36

However, until now, it has been difficult for vehicle operators, work crews, and others functioning in isolated conditions.

The black or translucent white waterdispensing tanks come in 6.5 gallon and 10 gallon sizes, and are made of durable, virgin polypropylene with an additive that makes them resistant to UV rays. An integrated removable soap dispenser serves as the cap to the filling port, and a separate cap is also available.

Spring-toggle water spigots are easy to operate, and because they automatically stop water flow when no longer depressed, they eliminate recontamination because there is no need to touch them again once hands are clean. The spigots are recessed and side mounted to protect them from damage. www.nationalfleetproducts.com

TimberWest Magazine — May/June 2020 — www.forestnet.com

Komatsu’s 901XC differs from other 8WD harvesters because of its unique drive system. Its exclusive “double Comfort Bogie” drive system provides excellent handling and follows the terrain more closely than competitors’ 8WD machines that have a fixed rear-axle design. The 8WD system generates 12 percent more tractive effort and significantly reduces rear ground pressure--53 percent lower psi with tracks and 19 percent lower psi with tires, compared to the 9016WD model.

The range of available Komatsu harvesting heads includes the S92, C93 and C124 designed to meet specific application needs. www.komatsuna.com

PONSSE Parts Online added to PONSSE Manager

The addition of PONSSE Parts Online to PONSSE Manager makes the daily activities of forest machine entrepreneurs easier.

Using only one single user ID, customers can order spare parts, browse spare parts manuals and instruction manuals, and monitor machine-specific notes. Spare parts can be ordered directly from any PONSSE service center, round the clock.

PONSSE Manager is a data management system with continuously developing features.

AD INDEX COMPANY PG# ALLIANCE TIRE.................................... 31 BRAKE SYSTEM INC............................ 10 CASCADE TRADER.............................. 26 GEM CHAIN......................................... 22 HAMILTON ENGINE SALES................... 21 HYDRAULEX GLOBAL.......................... 14 JORAL................................................ 22 KOMATSU AMERICA.............................. 7 LBX / TRIAD / BEJAC............................. 5 MAXAM TIRE......................................... 9 OLOFSFORS........................................ 23 OREGON LOGGING CONFERENCE........ 35 PAPE MACHINERY................................. 2 PACIFIC LOGGING CONGRESS............. 34 PIERCE PACIFIC..................................... 6 PONSSE.............................................. 19 QUADCO GROUP................................. 33 RAPID SPAN STRUCTURES.................. 15 TIGERCAT / TRIAD MACHINERY............ 40 WALLINGFORD'S INC.......................... 29 WARATAH........................................... 39 WCLA CREDIT UNION.......................... 32

Entrepreneurs can monitor the progress of stands, print measuring certificates, plan and control machine transportation, and monitor machine production per assortment. What is more, PONSSE Manager reports total working hours, effective working hours, breaks, productivity, and fuel consumption for completed shifts. PONSSE Manager displays engine hours, reports service notes registered by operators, and supports the planning of machine maintenance by calculating the engine hours remaining until next maintenance. www.ponsse.com TW

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GuestColumnist

A More Nimble Forest Products Industry Could be the Key to the Future

By Jack Petree

M

uch of what is written today,

especially in the popular and/or activist-driven press, about postfire and other salvage harvests, is based on antiquated thinking about American forests. Most arguments against salvage harvests were posited in the days before climate change, other (often imported) threats to the forest, and equipment better suited to selective treatments of threatened forests was widely acknowledged, intensively studied, and available. Antiharvest activists haven’t updated their ideas in a generation — a generation of massive change when it comes to the challenges our 21st century forests face.

In North America today tens of millions of acres of formerly vigorous, resilient forests contain hundreds of millions of dead trees that threaten our forests’ ability to provide the carbon-gobbling and sequestration capacity photosynthesis provides in a healthy forest. Every day those tens of millions of trees are giving up to the atmosphere, in the form of greenhouse gas emissions, the carbon they’ve stored away over a lifetime.

The precise number varies with species but, in general, a board foot of lumber sequesters (traps) somewhere in the neighborhood of 3 – 5 pounds carbon equivalent in its cells.

If a million dead trees, each averaging only 500 board feet of lumber were to be milled rather than allowed to deteriorate and release their carbon, two billion pounds of carbon equivalency in emissions would be avoided.

Today’s Challenges

In general, conditions challenging today’s American forests are much different than those faced by forests even two decades ago. An important article, “Temperate forest health in an era of emerging megadisturbance,” (Science Magazine - 2015), by two of America’s foremost forest ecologists points out: “Although disturbances such as fire and native insects can contribute to natural dynamics of forest health, exceptional droughts, directly and in combination with other disturbance factors, are pushing some temperate forests beyond thresholds of sustainability. Interactions from increasing 38

temperatures, drought, native insects, and pathogens, and uncharacteristically severe wildfire are resulting in forest mortality beyond the levels of 20th-century experience. Additional anthropogenic stressors, such as atmospheric pollution and invasive species, further weaken trees in some regions. Although continuing climate change will likely drive many areas of temperate forest toward large-scale transformations, management actions can help ease transitions and minimize losses of socially valued ecosystem services.”

Another study, Evidence for declining forest resilience to wildfires under climate change (Ecology Letters 9(2018) 21: 243– 252), documents the loss and/or transition some forests experience after a major disturbance. Among other conclusions, the authors report that compared to the last century, “Results highlight significant decreases in tree regeneration in the 21st century,” and “Major climate-induced reduction in forest density and extent has important consequences for a myriad of ecosystem services now and in the future.”

Future Carbon Source

Some, many, or even most, of the forests some imagine as having “eternal” or “timeless” natures are unlikely to survive into the future with a form recognizable to what they exhibit today. Likely forms after a megadisturbance run the gamut from transitional forests with reduced ability to provide the ecological services we expect from a forest today to wholesale conversion to shrub or grass land; the carbon sink taken for granted today may, without help, become TimberWest Magazine — May/June 2020 — www.forestnet.com

the atmospheric carbon source of the future.

The tens of millions of dead, dying, and overcrowded trees in our public and private forests represent an opportunity not to be wasted. Of course, abundant habitat for flora and fauna dependent on traditional postfire landscapes needs to be preserved, but nothing has prepared our forests for overwhelming amounts of salvageable timber; timber that, harvested, not only provides the lumber and other products we need but, sawmilled, offsets the need to harvest healthy trees in forests not yet threatened by megadisturbance.

Future Forest

Today’s forest products industry is already serving the future forest. Thinning to both reduce the odds of catastrophic fire and to provide more water for healthy trees represents a sort of pre-salvage harvest, providing lumber and saving healthy trees from harvest. Lidar allows us to identify trees threatening forest health and remove them specifically, while modern, portable, thinkerf sawmills allow salvage to take place at a targeted level, with harvest and milling mostly accomplished by local small business owners. Biochar made from slash sequesters carbon, provides nutrients for farms and forest, and on, and on . . .

Much remains to be learned about how climate change will ultimately change our forests, but change they will, as will the forest products industry. Exciting times?

We’re living them now!

Jack Petree is a public policy consultant and owner of Tradeworld Communications.

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