TimberWest - May/June 2021

ODF TAPS D & H LOGGING

SW Oregon Operator of the Year

RACE TO RECOVER Forest Fire Timber

OVER FOUR DECADES OF SERVICE

Mason Logging, Rathdrum, ID

TECH REVIEW

Harvesting and Processing Heads

ON THE COVER D & H Logging getting it done with its lineup of Link-Belts.

May/June 2021 Vol. 46 No. 05-06

6

ODF Taps D & H Logging for SW Oregon Operator of the Year

ODF Taps D & H Logging for SW Oregon Operator of the Year The ODF award recognizes forest operators who protect natural resources at a level that goes above and beyond requirements of the Oregon Forest Practices Act.

10

Fire Column - Follow the Money if You Can Find it

A look at some of the investments in the 2021 fire season.

14

Over Four Decades of Services

Mason Logging does a field test of the new Caterpillar 538.

18

Savings in the Casings

24

Race to Recover Forest Fire Timber

30

Forestry Education Develops Lasting Tools During COVID

Casings are often the unsung hero in a commercial tire. But they are the foundation of the tire and what allows you to receive multiple retreads.

After the barrage of forest fires in the summer of 2020, West Coast logging companies were scrambling to harvest all the burnt timber in a race against time and the insect infestations.

Over Four Decades of Service

14

In 2020 educators were forced to pivot from inperson learning to virtual education. Despite challenges, new ideas and techniques were developed that will be applied hereafter.

34

Tech Review – Harvesting and Processing Heads

A look at 11 heads currently on the market.

42

Guest Column – Logging Serious Injuries and Fatalities – What’s it Going to Take to Change?

A new study shows a new way to look at safety and cut down on injuries.

DEPARTMENTS

Page 4 ................................................................In the News Page 28.....................................................................Calendar Page 28................................................... Association News Page 38....................................................... Machinery Row Page 40...........................................................New Products Page 41........................Subscription/Advertiser's Index

Race to Recover Forest Fire Timber

24

TimberWest Magazine — May/June 2021 — www.forestnet.com

6

Savings in the Casings

18 3

U.S. Could Double Canadian Tariffs

The U.S. Commerce Department concluded that the United States must double its tariff on Canadian softwood lumber, raising the figure from 9 percent to 18 percent.

The increase is to combat alleged unfair Canadian trade practices, where lumber production is subsidized by the Canadian government.

Canadian softwood lumber accounts for more than 25 percent of all softwood lumber used in the U.S. construction sector, and doubling tariffs on imports would further compound the major increase in construction timber prices, which have risen astronomically since April 2020 and now sit at an all-time high.

However, the U.S. Lumber Coalition sees the proposition as a way to level the playing field, which is a critical element for continued investment and growth for the U.S. industry.

Federal Forest Assistance

The East Oregonian reported that U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley said he will lobby the Biden administration to spend at least $1 billion more per year for logging, prescribed burning, and other work designed to make federal

forests in Oregon and elsewhere less vulnerable to wildfires during a future when climate change is likely to heighten that threat.

Merkley said he hopes to push his campaign for more aggressive forest management from his position as chairman of the Senate Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Subcommittee, which he has held since February 2021.

Inmates in Arizona Assist with Forest Fire Prevention

With several fires already burning in 2021, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey and other state leaders are working to get more boots on the ground to prevent wildfires, thanks to a bill signed earlier this year.

The legislation created a partnership known as the Arizona Healthy Forest Alliance, linking the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management with the Department of Corrections.

700 inmates from prisons across the state will be working to remove thousands of acres of fire-prone vegetation, significantly reducing the size and severity of wildfires over the course of two years.

TW

Demand for Timber Salvage in Western Oregon Remains High

The AFRC noted that a report published earlier this year by Forest Economic Advisors (FEA) and Mason, Bruce & Girard (MBJ) estimated that more than one billion board feet of privately managed timber was damaged by the 2020 wildfires in western Oregon. The report also estimated that more than seven billion board feet of federally managed timber was damaged.

In light of this extensive damage, industry appetite and capacity for absorbing firedamaged timber was a consideration as the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) developed strategies for planning and prioritizing hazard tree removal and timber salvage. Meanwhile, public demand for wood products continues to rise.

That same FEA/MBJ report forecasts an average annual rise of 2.5 percent in demand for lumber over the next five years. If this forecast is accurate, demand for lumber will have reached a twenty year high by 2025.

Unfortunately, the federal salvage program in western Oregon has yet to fully materialize as public land managers navigate the cumbersome planning requirements that emphasize deliberation and caution over expediency and efficiency. However, early sale results are promising and should encourage the USFS and BLM to maximize their timber salvage offerings as soon as possible. Doing so will meet land management objectives, mitigate safety hazards, and meet public demand for wood products.

Since January, the USFS and BLM have offered and sold 20 sales consisting of fire-damaged trees, exclusively trees that pose a hazard to roads and recreation sites.

Those 20 sales attracted 56 bids for an average of almost three bidders per sale. This competition has resulted in an average bid premium of approximately 80 percent and has generated nearly $20 million that can fund additional fire recovery efforts, land restoration projects, and county governments.

National Forest Volume (MMBF) Value Willamette .......................................................... 11.6 ............................................$4,933,346 Umpqua ............................................................... 4.3 ..............................................$1,510,234 Rogue River-Siskiyou ...................................... 4.9 ..............................................$2,335,754 BLM District Volume (MMBF) Value Roseburg ............................................................. 0.5 ..............................................$217,999 Northwest .......................................................... 22.5 ............................................$10,872,208 Total ...................................................................... 43.8 ............................................$19,869,541 4

TimberWest Magazine — May/June 2021 — www.forestnet.com

Editor: Diane Mettler, diane@forestnet.com Copy Editor: Beth Szyperski Contributing Editors: Dawn Killough, David Libby, Lindsay Mohlere, Rick Stedman ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– CEO / Advertising Sales: 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 2021. 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

Serving

Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana

• Gull-Wing Style Engine Hood Folds Down to Serve as an Elevated Service Work Platform Providing Excellent Service Access.

• Komatsu’s Exclusive KOMTRAX® Remote Equipment Monitoring & Management Telematics System is Standard.

• Increased Lift Capacity Provides Greater Productivity; XT465L-5 Now Handles Quadco 24B/C-Series Heads.

• Komatsu CARE® Complimentary Maintenance Program is Standard.

• Relocated the State-of-the-Art Operator’s Cab to the Left Side of the Machine with Each Set of Tracks Now Visible Through Side Door and Boom Side Windows.

• New Tier 4 Final Engine Provides More Horsepower, Torque & Displacement and Lowers Fuel Consumption

by Up To 5% Through the Use of Advanced Engine & Hydraulic Control Systems.

• New Komatsu Rugged Undercarriages Provide Significantly Longer Service Life Due to Improved Track Chain Links, Track Roller Bushings, Track Sliders, Idler & Cushion Assembly and Track Guards.

• New Forestry-Specific Hydraulic Hose & Tube Guarding System.

• New Rear-Mounted Cooling System Has Larger: Radiator, Charge Air Cooler (CAC) and Single Hydraulic Cooler.

Call to Arrange Your Demo!

(800) 332-1617 | www.modernmachinery.com

ContractorProfile

ODF Taps D & H Logging for SW Oregon Operator of the Year

Co-owner of D&H Logging, Brad Haga

6

TimberWest Magazine — May/June 2021 — www.forestnet.com

By Lindsay Mohlere

L

ong-time Coos Bay logging

company D & H Logging Inc. was formally awarded ODF’s 2020 Southwest Oregon Operator of the Year at the virtual Oregon Board of Forestry meeting January 6, 2021.

The award recognizes forest operators who, while harvesting timber or doing other forestry work, protect natural resources at a level that goes above and beyond requirements of the Oregon Forest Practices Act. The award also underscores the difficulties and challenges D & H Logging faced while harvesting the Camp Creek unit.

According to Brad Haga, co-owner of D

ContractorProfile & H, the Camp Creek job had more than a few head- scratching moments. Not only did D & H have to minimize the disruption of traffic on the road below the harvest site and protect the trees bordering the salmon stream, they also had a small time window from October to February to complete the job before the start of spring nesting season for three important bird species — the Marbled Murrelet, the Osprey, and the Northern Spotted Owl. “When I first looked at the job, [we had] a paved BLM road in the bottom and a class one salmon stream right behind that. And then at the top of the unit, you got 100-foot bluff right up to the landing. On top there were little bitty landings that were rocked

for winter work. They were rocked, but you would have to hang across the canyon, across that road and the stream, and up on state or BLM ground,” says Haga. “We had to be careful with those trees too, because they wanted to make sure you didn’t tear any limbs out of the trees that could be potential Marbled Murrelet nesting grounds.”

Unique Solutions for Unique Difficulties

Because of the 100-foot ridge and small landing sites, yarding uphill would have been too hazardous with the possibility of falling debris impacting the crew underneath.

“I looked at that and knew it wasn’t going to work,” says Haga. “My whole idea was to try and take as much down as we could, but I had to get the contract administrator to buy into that. Fortunately, his suggestion was about the same.”

The chose option was yarding downhill with the equipment on or near the road, which presented another set of challenges.

“We had to get along with the BLM road crew, because we didn’t want to tear up their paved road and deal with traffic in and out of there — it’s a through road you can get from Loon Lake over to Elkton. And then also it was hunting season, and the Camp Creek area is a good hunting area, so we had more traffic up there,” explains Haga.

“We set up in different spots along the bottom. Did quite a bit of ground base, felled the timber down the hill so we could grab as much as we possibly could on the benches above the road and then set up the yarder on the pavement and yarded it downhill and tried to keep the processor and log loaders off the pavement,” he adds.

To protect the pavement, Haga sent his belly dump to the mill to pick up a few loads of bark. They dumped the bark on the road, flattened it out, and set the equipment on it. They also utilized some big rubber belting that came from an old nickel plant when it shut down. The crew laid that out on the road to walk the iron without damaging the surface.

Haga admits the work was challenging, but it was nothing new to his crews. “Taking care of the forest is the way they’ve always done business. That road was a well-travelled road. We cleaned up the road, the ditch line, and the culverts. The BLM was very satisfied it was done correctly,” he said.

60 Years and Still Kicking

D & H Logging was founded in 1959 by partners George Domenighini and Brad’s father, Neil Haga. After 27 years of working together, the partners split in the mid-80s, D&H Logging's Link-Belt lineup and Thunderbird yarder.

TimberWest Magazine — May/June 2021 — www.forestnet.com

(continued on page 8) 7

(continued from page 7) and Neil continued D & H Logging. The company again changed hands in the early 90s, when the Haga kids took over the business from their parents.

The company is owned by Brad, brother Gary, and sister Leslie Anderson. “We have three companies actually,” says Brad. “We have Young’s Trucking, D & H Logging, and Haga Properties. I’ve been here 43 years, Gary’s been here 45, and Leslie’s been here 30.”

Employing approximately 20 people, including truck drivers, they are currently running two yarder sides. “We usually run one yarder and a shovel side if we got a lot of shovel ground, but right now we don’t have any shovel ground, so we’re running two yarder sides to keep everything going. We actually have three yarders. We have two Thunderbird swing yarders. Back in ‘05, we were running five sides and just running ourselves crazy. And then in ‘08 when the housing market fell, we went down to one side,” says Haga.

Currently, D & H is putting “new life” into a 70 Thunderbird originally built in 1981. According to Haga, it was one of the first ones with a 90-foot hoist, and it has been quite a project.

“It was on rubber. It’s on tracks now. It has a new cab on it. We went through all the bearings, the transmission, 60 series Detroit engine, all the radiators, and the whole deal. We’re building on the guarding package and tower that actually tips the other way. It’s kind of a fun project, and we’re building it the way we want it. We’ve done yarder logging long enough that we know how we want it. And we’ve got some good guys working for us that do some great fabrication.”

He says they have been working on it for two years whenever there is available time and money, and it should be operational next year.

In addition to the two yarders, a Thunderbird TSY 200 swing yarder and a Thunderbird 255 with a skyline and Bauman carriage, D & H also fields two Link-Belt 290 log loaders, a Link-Belt 290 equipped with a GP head, and a Link-Belt 370 also equipped with a GP head.

“We run mainly Link-Belts. We have a good relationship with Triad machinery Inc. and Pierce Pacific Mfg Inc. It’s all just who takes care of you,” says Haga. “They’re also good friends.”

Included in the D & H equipment stable is a 2454 John Deere paired with a Pierce stroke delimber and a 3800 Madill shovel loader.

D & H, along with Young’s Trucking, has a fleet of trucks that handle most of the hauling for the company. In most cases, felling is contracted out to Kralicek Logging who did the falling on the Camp Creek job.

D & H successfully tackled a big challenge and received ODF’s Southwest Oregon Operator of the Year award to prove it. But they aren’t resting on their laurels. D & H is ready for whatever project lies ahead.

TW

Currently, D & H is putting “new life” into a 70 Thunderbird originally built in 1981.

8

TimberWest Magazine — May/June 2021 — www.forestnet.com

FireColumn

Follow the Money If You Can Find It

By Lindsay Mohlere

J

ust as we’re on the cusp of dropping into another fire season that has been predicted to be as ugly as last year, it seems there are going to be a few holes in the roster of assets we have used to battle wildfire across the Western U.S. And, of course, it’s a money thing.

Investors Pull the Plug — 747 Global Supertanker Shelved

In the last issue of TimberWest, we reported that the 747 Global Supertanker – Tanker 944 – was on the ground in Moses Lake, Washington, getting routine maintenance and a conversion to the retardant delivery from an analog controller to a digital version, a change that was requested by the National Interagency Aviation Committee.

AeroTEC, an aerospace testing, engineering, and certification company, was contracted to make the conversions and other upgrades.

At the time, an idea was floated by 10

Washington State officials, Port of Moses Lake, and other partners to keep Tanker 944 stationed in Moses Lake at Grant County International, a massive former U.S. Air Force base. The plan was to see a regional organization formed among Northwest states and possibly British Columbia, to base Tanker 944 and other large firefighting aircraft in Moses Lake, with the purpose of flying firefighting missions from Wyoming to Alaska.

The Moses Lake facility would have become a hub for larger takers, increasing efficiency and effectiveness throughout the West.

Most large air tankers carry up to 3,000 gallons of retardant. The 747 can carry far more retardant than any other. When first introduced, it was listed at 20,000 gallons.

Then the federal government certified it at 19,200 gallons. More recently it was required to carry no more than 17,500 gallons.

The second-largest capacity air tanker is the Russian-made Ilyushin IL-76 at 11,574 gallons. The DC-10 was allowed to hold 11,600 gallons, but a couple of years ago federal TimberWest Magazine — May/June 2021 — www.forestnet.com

officials restricted its capacity to 9,400.

The U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. agency that contracts for all large and very large air tankers used by the federal government, has been slow to warm up to the concept of tankers that can carry more than 5,000 gallons.

A Proven Asset Bites the Dust

Unfortunately, Tanker 944 hit the realities of 21st century financing and government myopia. At the end of April, the investor group that owns the 747 Supertanker informed federal and state officials in Colorado, Oregon, Washington, and California that Tanker 944 is shutting down operations.

Supertanker executives have indicated that they are in discussions with prospective buyers, but no word of a sale or solution has been forthcoming. Since operating the Supertanker can cost up to $250,000 per day, along with the Call-When-Needed (CWN) contracting mess, and the burden of strict federal government regulations and (continued on page 12)

GREEN MEANS CLEAN

Air Burners is the Cleanest, Most Cost-effective Wood Waste Disposal Method on the Market Today

No Grinding Required

Clean, Fast Burns

No HydroCarbon Fuel

Go Green, Make Green

Return Carbon To Soil

Comes In Roll-Off Version

FireBox 300 Series Boost your bottom line while fighting climate change with the Air Burners FireBox. It’s the cleanest and least expensive way to provide an end-solution for unwanted wood waste; accepts whole logs, and has no costly pre-processing requirements, like chipping or grinding. Our proprietary technologies have been proven worldwide for 25 years and our air curtain burners are considered “Best Available Control Technology” (BACT) for the onsite reduction of wood waste, especially in California. Our machines are portable and can be placed close to the waste source, i.e., on a forest landing to support timber harvesting or fuels management for forest fire mitigation and post-fire cleanup. Let Air Burners guide you towards greater profitability and a greener environment.

Contact us for a quote today.

772.220.7303

Sales@AirBurners.com

AirBurners.com

Scan the QR code to learn more about our machines

FireColumn If this year is anything like last year, and a remedy doesn’t come up, the politicians will be passing the buck and slapping their heads.

Maybe they should use a cast iron frying pan.

Maybe a Dollar Short and a Day Late

(continued from page 10) certifications that make up the whole package, it’s no wonder the Tanker 944 investor group pulled the plug on the aircraft. As of now, it is unlikely Tanker 944 will be in the toolbox to fight wildfires in the Western U.S.

Again, It’s a Dollar Thing

In another development, the U.S. Forest Service is taking over the contracting for Interagency Firefighting Crews in Oregon. For the last five years, the Oregon Department of Forestry has handled the contracting, inking 51 companies for 235 crews. These crews were primarily focused on fires in Oregon and Washington but could also be deployed elsewhere when the need demanded.

When the contracting change was announced, many felt secure that the infinite wisdom of the federal government would somehow play out to be a benefit rather than the usual stick in the eye.

Unfortunately, when the Forest Service announced the list of wildland firefighting contractors, more than 120 crews were left off, leaving a gaping hole in the human resources firefighting bag. Many in the firefighting community are scratching their heads wondering how ODF is going to be adequately staffed to handle the upcoming fire season.

Many who have been passed over have requested “standby” status and asked the Fed to reverse course. But at this late date, no word has trickled down as to whether the crews will get their tickets punched.

Remember several months ago when Washington state lawmakers agreed to make a major investment in wildfire prevention and forest health?

The money – $500 million over the next five years – can’t come soon enough. As of April 30, Washington had already experienced 218 fires with more on the way.

Unfortunately, the first two-year allotment of $125 million will not be of much help this fire season.

The funding is designated to provide wildfire response, forest restoration, and community resilience. It would fund 100 additional firefighters and two more airplanes that could help the state attack fires faster and more effectively. It would also help fund DNR’s Forest Health Strategic Plan.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee will sign the bill, but the DNR won’t get the money until July, which means they can’t hire more firefighters, buy more planes, or implement statewide wildfire programs. Basically, the state will be stuck in the swamp without the boosted resources to attack the soon-to-bein-our-lap fire season.

Obviously, the state is scrambling — just another example of where the realities of wildfire prevention and suppression collide with governmental bureaucracy. When you’ve got a raging inferno charging up the hill at 100 miles an hour, hell bent on incinerating thousands of forest acres, it’s no time to be a day late and a dollar short.

That’s a wrap.

Stay safe out there.

Talk back at twfirecolumn @gmail.com.

(Source: USDA, Fire Aviation, ABC, Spokesman Review, The Drive, CalFire, ODF, Washington DNR.) TW

NO ONE CAN BORROW UNLESS SOMEONE SAVES. WHEN YOU DEPOSIT YOUR SAVINGS WITH WCLA CREDIT UNION, YOU GET A GREAT RATE AND LOGGERS CAN OBTAIN SENSIBLE FINANCING FOR EQUIPMENT PURCHASES VITAL FOR A THRIVING TIMBER INDUSTRY. 12

TimberWest Magazine — May/June 2021 — www.forestnet.com

www.loggerscu.com

ContractorProfile Incredible scenery while operating a Doosan up in the hills.

Over Four Decades of Service

Idaho’s Mason Logging Rathdrum, ID

By Rick Stedman

R

oughly 8,000 men and women work in Idaho’s forest products industry. Mason Logging in Rathdrum, Idaho, has been part of that mix since 1979 when Ron Mason started the company. Ron’s four sons — Pat, Ron Jr., Jim, and Jerry — never wanted to do anything else but work as loggers.

Given the inherent danger of this industry, tragedy sometimes rears its ugly head, as it did last November. Jerry, who runs Mason Logging , explained, “We lost my oldest brother Pat in an accident, and it really affected our family as well as the entire closeknit logging community.”

Stunned by the news of Edwin “Pat” Mason’s passing, family and friends quickly rallied to hold a memorial. “The outpouring 14

of feelings and emotion was overwhelming,” recalled Jerry. “It was a fitting tribute to my brother who meant a great deal to this community.”

Pat had spent endless hours of time in the woods since his teens, and he loaded log trucks in the area for more than 30 years.

In addition to working for the family business for a number of years, he most recently worked for Shane Campbell Trucking.

Though he was serious about his profession, Pat was also a joker at heart.

Jerry shared that the log truck parade that took place in Pat’s honor was filled more with laughter than tears. The parade, which included Pat’s ashes sitting in an urn on the front seat of the lead vehicle, paraded through the streets and small towns in and around Blanchard where he lived. The parade procession stretched more than a mile, and most didn’t want it to end. But life goes on, TimberWest Magazine — May/June 2021 — www.forestnet.com

and the parade eventually ended, though the cherished memories of Pat Mason will live on forever.

Moving Forward

Mason Logging is now in its third generation as a family-owned business serving northeast Washington State and Idaho’s panhandle, known affectionately as the Inland Northwest. Jerry shared that loggers are characteristically optimists. “We wouldn’t be loggers otherwise. We like our future prospects and hope to pass a good business along to our kids,” he said. Jerry’s nephews are the most recent generation to enter the family business.

Though college kids throughout the country celebrate spring break during late winter, “spring break up” holds a different meaning for those in the logging industry.

During those months of spring break up,

ContractorProfile

Roadside processing with the new Caterpillar 538.

Cat538 Field Follow

there is plenty of time to take care of important issues like performing much-needed maintenance and other equipment repairs.

Though it seems like down time, spring break up allows loggers to take necessary training like CPR classes. For Jerry, it is also a time to take care of many customers during the tax season. He is also an enrolled agent (EA), a profession similar to a certified public accountant. He studied at North Idaho College and today serves a variety of clients, especially during spring break up.

Jerry explained that an EA is a federally authorized tax practitioner who can provide tax advice and file tax returns for individuals, partnerships, corporations, estates, trusts, and other entities with tax-reporting requirements. If need be, he can also represent taxpayers before the IRS on matters ranging from collections to IRS audits and appeals.

With tax season winding down about the same time spring break up ends, it’s back to the forests and the job of logging. One project that Mason Logging has been involved in over the last several months is field testing the next generation Cat 538 from Caterpillar.

This state-of-the-art forest machine comes with all the bells and whistles, such as a new electrohydraulic control system with 10 percent greater swing torque and 12 percent increased travel speed than the 2020 model.

In addition the cab is 25 percent larger with 50 percent greater overall visibility than the previous 538, says Clay Young of Western States Equipment Company, representing the Cat 538 and other forest machines.

Clay, who worked as a logger for 15 years, serves as a forestry application specialist conducting forestry machine demonstrations and operator training during new machine deliveries like the Cat 538. He summarized Mason Logging’s field follow testing.

“Mason Logging has a long history as a Western States customer. They have shared some good feedback during the 538 field follow period. Mason Logging operators

have already made a few suggested changes that we’ve already incorporated. That’s one of the main focus areas with a field follow, basically to let the operator pick the new machine apart and suggest changes that we can easily incorporate before the machine goes into full production.”

Mason Logging’s versatility in the field was another factor in selecting them for the field follow. “They split time processing logs roadside and out in the brush,” said Clay.

“The timber sizes also varied between large heavy trees on one job, then smaller single stem on the next. This offers great data and shows the Cat 538’s versatile range when working on different sites. The information is also used by our engineers to better understand how forces on structure change in different applications.”

Mason Logging will continue its Cat 538 field follow for a few more months, providing their expertise to Western States Equipment Company. In the meantime, the company will continue offering its stellar services to the community for decades to come. (continued on page 16)

DESIGNED AND MANUFACTURED IN NORTH AMERICA.

9,648 SKUs and counting! Full product catalog available online!

Engineered & Mill Chain Drum Sprockets Roller Chain Building your solution today.

1.877.277.2526

dropsprockets.com

TimberWest Magazine — May/June 2021 — www.forestnet.com

sales@dropsprockets.com 15

ContractorProfile (continued from page 15)

Up-to-date Training

In addition to participating in field testing, Mason Logging continues to ensure that all staff members are properly trained and certified. “We make sure that all of our loggers attend and receive Logger Education to Advance Professionalism (LEAP), which is a program to strengthen loggers’ ability to interpret and apply timber harvest prescriptions and regulations,” said Jerry.

In this program, logging operators will be better able to communicate with landowners, foresters, and other natural resource professionals, enabling them to operate more efficiently and protect environmental values more effectively. Participants learn about and discuss fundamental concepts and terminology related to forest ecology, silviculture, streamside/riparian zone ecology, and water quality issues. To date, more than 1,800 Idaho loggers have participated in LEAP training.

Mason Logging has made great strides and had an important impact over the last 40 years. It will be interesting to see where they go from here.

TW

Mason Logging enjoyed the chance to field test the new Caterpillar 538. (below) The Cat was equipped with a SAT323T head.

NO TIME TO WAIT FOR A REPAIR? REPLACE YOUR PUMP WITH A HYDRAULEX REMAN™ UNIT INSTEAD. COMPONENTS STOCKED AND REPAIRED FOR: � Tigercat® � Prentice® � John Deere® � Madill® � Caterpillar® � and many others

NEW WORK READY HYDRAULEX REMAN™ UNIT

1.877.224.4234 hrdsales@hydraulex.com www.hydraulex.com

16

TimberWest Magazine — May/June 2021 — www.forestnet.com

INTRODUCING

OUR MOST POWERFUL 3/4” BAR

Special Metal Alloy

o

60 Endurance Rail

Power Tips

The Blue Line series continues to change the forest industry around the world. Now we’re adding our most powerful 3/4’’ bar to the line up - meet the brand new Blue Line VykingTM Bar. The Vyking’s advanced metal alloy and the specific tempering technique will remain our secret, but you will be the one who will truly benefit from it.

Featuring revolutionary endurance rails with it’s 60 degree rail angle, minimizes the chain wear on the bar. No more unscheduled stops to grind off ruffed up edges - this small but ingenious change ensures less maintenance and longer life span.

The Blue Line VykingTM is also equipped with a unique wide tapered replaceable Power Tip for optimal performance in the toughest environments.

A part of

www.iggesundforest.com (519) 754-2190 info@olofsfors.com

www.olofsfors.com

EducationSpotlight

Savings in the Casings

I

f the tread is the face of the tire, then the casing is the heart that makes the tire live. That’s how Phil Mosier, Cooper Tire manager of commercial tire development, describes the importance of the casing.

“Tread pattern and the cost of the tire get a lot of attention from fleet managers running logging trucks,” says Mosier. “But it’s the casing that is often the unsung hero in a commercial tire. It’s the foundation of the tire and what allows you to receive multiple

18

retreads. It’s the true driver in lowering your overall cost of ownership. I always advise fleets to look at the tire, then look even closer at the foundation of the tire. The casing.”

With advancements in technology, casing designs, and compounding formulas over the years, tires have never been more “retreadable” than they are today. Roughly half the commercial tires on the road are retreads, according to the United States International Trade Commission.

According to Mosier, one of the best

TimberWest Magazine — May/June 2021 — www.forestnet.com

gauges for determining casing quality is the warranty attached to the tire. “Twenty years ago, the typical warranty for a commercial tire was about four years, with one retread,” he says. “Now it’s up to seven years and multiple retreads. The warranty is really based on data analysis and the confidence the tire manufacturer has in the casing and the retreadability of the tire.”

Structural Integrity

Mosier emphasizes that structural integrity of the tire casing is vital. “Roughly 75 percent of what you pay for in a tire is in the casing,” he says. “We’ve gone with a little wider tire, and thus casing, in our drive and steer positions — that does a couple things.

It gives better traction and more miles to removal since there is a bigger footprint, and it gives a wider width in the casing after it’s buffed for retreading. This allows our casing to hold up better for multiple retreads while supporting premium retread widths that deliver enhanced on-road performance.”

For enhanced strength, integrity, and fuel efficiency of casings, Mosier says the core areas are the innerliner, sidewall, bead area, and belt package. In Cooper’s case, their team is constantly tinkering with the compounds and materials used in the casing — little things make a big difference.

Mosier says, “The quality of the innerliner, for example, can vary across the board. The best innerliners help lower permeability — or the slow diffusion of air out of the tire. And we’re seeing the use of lightweight steel now in the belt package, which provides further protection to the casing from punctures.”

Most of the top tier tires feature three or four-steel belt designs. “We go with four belts, which we feel helps the integrity of the tires’ casing,” says Mosier. “That fourth belt gives an added layer of confidence and protection — especially against stone drilling and punctures. Rust is a tire’s enemy, and the extra steel belt helps protect the belts below.”

While most fleets retread, others sell their casings. “The beauty of having tires with quality casings is that even if you decide not to retread a tire, there is a market for your casing,” says Mosier. “Retreaders will pay you a pretty penny for your casing as long as it is in good condition. Even if you don’t plan on selling your casings, it’s a good idea to see what a retreader is willing to pay for it. That, right there, will tell you the quality of the casing you have.”

According to Mosier, retreaders won’t

EducationSpotlight accept tires that can’t be safely retreaded.

They thoroughly inspect tires before they are retreaded to make sure the casing is in good condition. Oftentimes, retreaders will think twice about accepting specific tire brands based on the reputation of their casings. “At the end of the day, a retreader is accountable for the tire that they retread, so they aren’t going to retread a tire if they don’t trust the casing,” says Mosier.

Give Your Casing the Longest Life Possible

In order to reap the cost-saving benefits provided by running retreaded tires or selling the casing, managing a proper tire maintenance program is just as important.

“If your drivers aren’t going through their pre-trip inspections, evaluating the conditions of their tires and consistently checking tire pressure, or the maintenance shop isn’t up to par with rotations and alignments, then the tire’s casing will be more prone to damage,” says Mosier. “Additionally, if your drivers are especially tough on tires, and you pull tires at the latest 32nds possible, then early failure may occur. If a retreader sees damage to the casing, they’ll declare the tire (continued on page 20)

TimberWest Magazine — May/June 2021 — www.forestnet.com

19

EducationSpotlight (continued from page 19) ‘unretreadable’ and now you no longer hold value in that tire. Common reasons tires are rejected are due to damage caused by running underinflated tires or by overloading them. Or by damage caused by running over sharp timber debris or sharp rocks.

The No. 1 thing you can do to ensure your tires are in good retread condition is to make sure you maintain proper tire inflation levels. “It’s by far the most important thing you can do,” says Mosier. “Under-inflation builds heat in the tire and can cause rubber to fatigue and stress quickly.”

Remember, not only can the tread and belts be negatively impacted by underinflation, but the rest of the casing can show signs of stress when not properly inflated.

Which Casings Are Best?

Ask a Retreader

According to Mosier, the best way to identify the tires with the best casings is by simply asking your local retread shop.

Retreaders are at ground zero. They know casing quality, and they see firsthand which tires are often rejected for retreading and which boast a high-retread rate.

“Getting an unbiased industry expert’s opinion on which tires have the best

20

success retreading is invaluable,” says Mosier.

“They’ll know if the tires you’re currently running have good casings or if there are better options out there.”

After checking in with the retreader, Mosier suggests checking the length of warranty of the tires you’re interested in and how many retreads the tire manufacturer will cover. It will give you additional perspective on how many retreads you can expect to receive from a tire.

For Cooper Tire, Mosier says the company is always comparing and benchmarking the quality of its casings against its competitors to see where they rank. “It’s our own litmus test,” he says. “We recently analyzed stats at two large retread shops — with data on close to 100,000 tires. Retreadability rates for specific brands ranked from 89 percent to 75 percent. So it goes to show there is a

TimberWest Magazine — May/June 2021 — www.forestnet.com

significant range and difference in quality.

Overall, we came in at the top three in retreadability, which reaffirmed where we like to be. For us, it’s a stamp of approval that our casings are living up to expectation.”

Casings of the Future

As development for the next generation of tires begins, Mosier can only speak for Cooper, but the company is going to place particular emphasis on developing casings that further assist the ability to reduce rolling resistance and improve fuel economy.

“For our logging tires, we’re looking at next-generation sidewall compounds which can hold up to the most aggressive use and a robust bead area construction that can handle loggers’ increasing loads.”

TW

SalvageLogging

Race to Recover Forest Fire Timber

By Dawn Killough

A

fter the barrage of forest fires

in the summer of 2020, West Coast logging companies were scrambling to harvest all the burnt timber in a race against time and the insect infestations that can ruin burnt lumber when it sits too long.

We spoke with Joel Rink, Green Diamond Resource Company’s Logging and Road Superintendent of Klamath Operations in California, about their efforts to reclaim lumber lost in last summer’s forest fires. Green Diamond owns land that was burned in the Slater Fire along the border of northern California. The fire, which started near Happy Camp, California, on September 8, 2020, traveled more than 20 miles in just 24 hours. Rink and his team were dispatched to the site the following day to begin salvage operations.

According to Rink, the biggest struggle with salvaging the lumber was finding mills that would accept it for processing, as

many were overrun with a surge of supply.

Green Diamond does not have its own mill to process the lumber, and therefore had to rely on other mills to process the timber they harvest. One batch Green Diamond harvested went to South Coast Lumber in Brookings, Oregon, to be made into dimensional lumber and peeler stock.

The Moore Track, where Green Diamond was working, is made up of mostly Douglas fir trees with a smattering of sugar pine.

While Douglas fir can be used for structural lumber — even when it’s burned — there isn’t much of a market for burnt sugar pine.

Other struggles Green Diamond faced during the reclaiming process included getting access to their land after the fire.

During normal operations they would have had plenty of time to build roads and infrastructure to access the harvest area, but under the circumstances, they had to wait on right-of-way easements to use roads and (continued on page 26)

The team worked daily to maintain a safe job site while navigating rugged terrain with burned trees, stump holes, and active fire surrounding them.

One of the struggles Green Diamond faced during the reclaiming process included getting access to their land after the fire.

24

TimberWest TimberWest Magazine Magazine — — May/June May/June 2021 2021 — — www.forestnet.com www.forestnet.com

A CUT ABOVE THE REST

PROTECTOR

ULTRA > Rugged Durability

> Vibram Sole

> European Cut Protection Class 2

HAIX® North America Inc. 2320 Fortune Drive, Suite 120 Lexington KY 40509 Toll free 866-344-HAIX (4249)

TimberWest Magazine — May/June 2021 — www.forestnet.com

www.haixusa.com

25

SalvageLogging (continued from page 24) crossings built by their neighbors and the Forest Service. Due to the speed required of the salvage operation, there was no time to build stream crossings and bridges. If the infrastructure had been added before the fire, the job would have been easier, but hindsight is 20/20.

Insects are another enemy Rink and his team faced last year. Insects can start to affect fallen trees within three to four months after a fire. Crews had to work through the winter as much as possible to try to beat the bugs and prevent them from destroying their stock. California has strict rules related to timber harvesting during the winter, so they were also forced to work within those regulations.

The team worked daily to maintain a safe job site while navigating rugged terrain with burned trees, stump holes, and active fire surrounding them. Those conditions limited the equipment they could use to gather the trees, although they were able to use a feller buncher to speed the process.

Green Diamond had two ground bases working on the track, as well as a yoder and yarder side. There were about 20 to 25 total crewmembers throughout the site. Green

26

Caterpillar 538 helping salvage timber.

Diamond had about 5,000 damaged acres on the affected property, and their hope was to have 10 percent of it harvested by spring 2021.

Green Diamond isn’t the only company

TimberWest Magazine — May/June 2021 — www.forestnet.com

that was forced to recover burnt timber in a hurry. Other companies in Oregon were scrambling to recover as much as they could before the winter weather rolled in. Freres Lumber Company lost about 7,500 of its

ALLIANCE CTL TIRES

17,000 acres of timber in the 2020 fires. They estimated they would need to remove nearly 75 million feet of timber from their land by the end of 2021. Freres has their own mills to process the timber, so it doesn’t have to be sold right away.

Logging companies also struggled to find workers to help them in their recovery efforts. Crews were running long shifts seven days a week to recover as much as possible, but everyone was burnt out and it seemed there was no relief in sight.

On top of all this, there may be a lumber shortage coming in the next few years. With trees between the ages of 3 and 30 burnt, along with older stock, there won’t be much for logging companies to harvest in the coming years. This could lead to job losses in the industry and a shortage of lumber after the current stores are sold. Local companies may be able to purchase timber from other areas that aren’t affected by the wildfires to keep their mills running. Others may have to shut down.

The months have been tough on logging companies and employees who worked long hours to recover as much of the damaged timber as possible before insect infestations ruined the valuable resource before it could be harvested, while at the same time struggling to find mills capable of processing the sheer volume of timber produced by the summer 2020 fires.

One can only hope that the 2021 fire season will not be as severe and logging companies won’t be faced with these issues.

TW

ARE NOW TUBELESS!

New from Yokohama Off-Highway Tires America, Inc.—tubeless Alliance 643 and 644 cut-to-length (CTL) harvester tires. No more waiting for inner tubes, hassling with flaps, or messing with valve stems (you’ve got more important things to do).

The tubeless tires fit your standard rim, too.

Ask your tire dealer about Alliance and Primex forestry tires, visit yokohama-oht.com or call (800) 777-9926.

www.yokohama-oht.com | 800-777-9926 | @yokohamaohta

TimberWest Magazine — May/June 2021 — www.forestnet.com

27

Loggers and Haulers Economic Relief Update

The American Loggers Council reports that as of March 29, the CFAP 2 application that began April 5, 2021 will be for existing programs only. The funds for timber harvesters and haulers will not be available until the USDA sets up a program that could be subject to rulemaking process that could take up to an additional 120 days to complete. The Associated Logging Contractors are doing everything possible to expedite the creation of the program. Stay tuned and get the latest information at www.amloggers.com.

Forest Hearing and Management

The AFRC reported that May 26, the Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee held a hearing entitled Rethinking Resiliency: Budgeting for the Future of Forest Management, its first under new subcommittee Chairman Jeff Merkley (D-OR). During his comments, Senator Merkley spoke about the devastating wildfires that impacted Oregon last year and reiterated his support for the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Act (CFLRA), including a desire to double the funding available to the program, as well as the need to treat acres that have already cleared the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review process.

Senator Merkley noted that two million acres of treatments have cleared the NEPA process in Oregon. Much of these areas are believed to involve noncommercial treatments and prescribed fire, as well as timber sales that make up the agency’s out-year timber program. Finally, Senator Merkley urged the agency to request the funding necessary to recover and restore the millions of acres burned in last year’s wildfires.

Since the administration has yet to release a formal budget request for the Forest Service, the hearing largely focused on

overarching budget and policy issues. The issue of Forest Service fire borrowing is receiving renewed attention as the 2018 bipartisan agreement to end the practice was tied to the Budget Control Act, which expires this year. Congress will need to extend the budget caps that allow the Forest Service to access disaster funding when wildfire suppression spending exceeds a set level. Chief Vicki Christiansen, who represented the Forest Service, underscored the importance of maintaining the fire fix.

Pacific Logging Congress In-Person Conference in Palm Springs

Mark your calendars!

The Pacific Logging Congress is excited to host their annual conference IN PERSON, November 7–10, 2021, in Indian Wells, California (near Palm Springs). The event will include a number of dynamic speakers on industry topics, offer professional credits, and host a number of fun networking events and opportunities.

The PLC hopes to see you there. Details and registration will soon be posted on the website, www.pacificloggingcongress.org.

AFRC Annual Meeting Registration Open!

Registration is now open for AFRC’s Annual Meeting, which will take place August 2–4 at Skamania Lodge, Washington. You can visit the AFRC website to register, book a room, and view the meeting agenda.

The “in-person” conference will start with the annual golf tournament at Elk Ridge Golf Course, followed by a welcome reception at Skamania’s new Riverview Pavilion with spectacular views of the Columbia Gorge.

Attendees will hear from elected officials including Congressman Bruce Westerman and Washington Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz; experts on forest management and climate change; a special report on the impacts of Oregon’s devastating 2020 wildfire season; Pacific Northwest journalists and media experts; Federal agency leadership during our fan favorite Regional Breakout Sessions; and more!

TW

CALENDAR September 9-11, 2021 Great Lakes Logging & Heavy Equipment Expo Escanaba, Michigan 715-282-5828, www.gltpa.org October 7-9, 2021 American Loggers Council Annual Meeting Coeur d'Alene, Idaho 218-780-5927, www.amloggers.com November 7-10, 2021 Pacific Logging Congress Annual Meeting Palm Springs, California www.pacificloggingcongress.com February 24-26, 2022 Oregon Logging Conference, Eugene, Oregon 541-686-9191, wwww.oregonloggingconference.com September 22-24, 2022 DEMO International Equipment Show, Ottawa/Gatineau 888-454-7469, www.demointernational.com September 28-30, 2022 Timber Processing & Energy Expo, Portland, Oregon www.timberprocessingandenergyexpo.com 28

TimberWest Magazine — May/June 2021 — www.forestnet.com

EducationSpotlight

Forestry Education Develops Lasting Tools During COVID

By Dawn Killough

I

n a year unlike any other, educa-

tors were forced to pivot from in-person learning to virtual education. It was a challenge, but it wasn’t all bad. New ideas and techniques were developed that turned out to be successful and will be applied hereafter.

Forestry education was no different.

Forests Today & Forever took their forestry

education programs that teach young people about forest management and made them accessible to all students in the state.

Director Beth Krisko says, “We want people to understand their relationship with forests and how humans depend on forests for the number of resources that forests provide. So not just timber, but also wildlife habitat, clean water, and recreational opportunities.”

Family Education Field Days was a hit.

30

TimberWest Magazine — May/June 2021 — www.forestnet.com

Student Programs

Before the pandemic, Forests Today & Forever offered four educational programs: Forest Field Day, Oregon Logging Conference tours, Wood Is Good Career Education, and Outdoor School.

Their most successful event is Forest Field Day, which reaches approximately 2,500 middle school students each year in the Central Willamette Valley of Oregon.

Forest Field Day started in 1994 and offers a comprehensive two-to-six-week curriculum for teachers, as well as an all-day field trip for students to a working forest, Bauman Tree Farm. The program runs in the fall and spring and revolves around teaching kids about conservation, harvesting, replanting, and the business side of managing forests.

“The program culminates with a trip to a working tree farm, where students come out and rotate through stations to learn about the various forest resources. As they’re rotating through the stations, they’re interacting with professional volunteers who are the people doing the teaching at the stations,” Krisko explains.

After the field trip, students return to the classroom and work in groups of four to develop a five-year management plan for a fictitious tree farm. They have to take into consideration preserving wildlife habitat and maintaining appropriate riparian buffers to keep the water clean and healthy.

“It’s a cool civics engagement activity, along with nurturing all those skills that aren’t easy to teach in the classroom, like problem solving and critical thinking. The project takes them out of those regular activities that they’re doing at their desk and engages them and their brains in new ways,” says Krisko.

They also partner with Oregon Women In Timber and the Oregon Logging Conference to put on the Oregon Logging Conference School Tour. This is a one-day event that attracts about 700 to 1,000 students from 18 local schools.

In 2019 they began the Wood Is Good Career Education program, which is geared toward high school students who are seeking information about a career in forest management.

Adults can also benefit from their

EducationSpotlight

An adult tour provided during COVID. programs, as they partner with the University of Oregon to provide tours for students, as well as summer teacher tours and public tours.

Their regular in-person programs had to be canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic.

However, Forests Today & Forever didn’t sit back and rest on their laurels. They were proactive and created tools that teachers could use to teach their students about forest management on a virtual platform.

Going Virtual

In an effort to continue the forest management education portion of their programs, Forests Today & Forever developed online tools that allow teachers to roll out the same curriculum virtually. At the center of the program are several choice boards that offer interactive content for students to learn about wildlife, recreation, timber, soil, and water.

The choice boards were sent to teachers who had previously participated in the Forest Field Day activities. Each board has choices students can make and involves looking at videos, reading content, playing games, and other interactive activities geared to their grade level. Several teachers incorporated the choice boards into their classroom instruction. Roughly 490 students have participated in the program this school year, but reports are not official.

Teachers found the choice boards flexible and easy to use, allowing them to be more creative in their applications. “One thing that I encourage with all of our curriculum, pandemic or not, is that the teachers tailor what we offer to their learning objectives or their objectives for their classroom,” says Krisko.

“What we want is our message to come

through about forestry, but we really try to make it flexible so that teachers want to participate and it’s an easy thing for them to participate in.”

Students said they had a great time working with the choice boards and learning about forests. “It’s hard to engage kids online, especially for an organization like us, who values field-based experiences. So it was very inspiring early on to get positive feedback from teachers,” says Krisko.

“Many of the kids who have come to our program live in Springfield or Eugene. Some have never been to the forest or a working forest. They have never experienced [the woods]; they’ve never actually walked on a forest trail or smelled that air. So what we (continued on page 32)

MAXIMIZE YOUR RUNTIME Advanced Technology Extensive Field Testing Cutting-Edge Materials Unmatched Durability

Harvester Bars - Harvester Sprockets - Chain Measuring Wheels - Bar Repair - Replacement Tips

www.gemchainbar.com 800-455-8471 TimberWest Magazine — May/June 2021 — www.forestnet.com

31

EducationSpotlight (continued from page 31)

Forests Today & Forever is now reaching more students and families with its message of conservation and resource management and are encouraging more students to pursue a career in forestry.

deliver in normal times can be a life-changing experience for some of these kids.”

An advantage of the new program’s virtual nature is that it can be sent to teachers anywhere. Since this initial rollout, it has been sent to contacts throughout Oregon.

The Wood Is Good Career Education program was rolled out virtually as well, co-funded by the Oregon Community Foundation and the N.B. and Jacqueline Giustina Foundation. The program has gained momentum as they were recently contacted by the Portland Public School District about setting up a career event focused on forestry for high schoolers. They have reached 200 students this year with this program.

A new program came about as a result of the pandemic — Family Field Days.

Family groups can tour the Bauman Tree Farm similar to the experience of students on Forest Field Days. The new program will continue to be offered in the future to residents throughout the state.

What About the Fires?

Last year’s wildfires have brought forest fire into greater focus, and there was increasing call for content about management of

forests in regard to fires and fuel.

In response, Forests Today & Forever is looking for additional grant funding to bring education into classrooms about forest management, how it affects fire danger, and how students can modify their behavior to increase fire safety. They recently purchased a forest fire danger sign for the field trip tree farm. Krisko says, “When Forest Field Day starts back up, we will be incorporating that into the program where we can teach kids about what the different levels mean. And this is what it means for your behaviors, and we hope it will raise awareness... We need to be thinking about fire all the time.”

Perseverance

Forests Today & Forever, whose mission is to encourage forest stewardship through education, reacted to the 2020 pandemic by offering virtual curriculum for educators.

Although nothing can replace the experience of being in a forest, they were able to continue to fulfill their mission in an exceedingly difficult year. As a result, the program can now reach more students and families with its message of conservation and resource management and encourage students to pursue a career in forestry.

TW

FORESTRY’S NEWEST JOB BOARD

How is your Company Finding the Next Generation of Forest Industry Professionals? We can help.

Forestnetjobs.com was developed to help individuals looking to change careers or enter the forestry industry connect with those looking to hire great talent.

Contact us today for even more options to find the right fit for your company.

Between our magazine readership, e-newsletter reach, and social media platforms, Forestnetjobs.com targets over 50,000 industry professionals.

604-990-9970

Our user-friendly platform allows employers to: • Easily post job opportunities • Browse resumes • Applications sent direct to your email Job seekers search for jobs based on: • Location • Hiring companies • Salary • Job type Job Seekers will receive new job listings right to their inbox, be able to post their resume for employers to see, and apply to jobs directly on the website.

32

TimberWest Magazine — May/June 2021 — www.forestnet.com

jobs@forestnet.com

WHY USE TWO MACHINES… WHEN ALL YOU NEED IS

ONE.

With the cost of equipment increasing, do you need a more economical way to log? The Pierce GP ProSeries combines your processor and loader, eliminating the need for two landing machines. Its multipurpose design results in time, labor, maintenance, fuel and transportation cost savings.

No other forestry tool makes a bigger impact on productivity and cost savings than this one.

PROSERIES

COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT YOU. Pierce has also renewed our product support commitment by increasing our inventory stocking levels to assure swift delivery of what you need, when you need it. We also are adding new field technicians to keep your operation on track and on schedule. Let us show you the Pierce difference.

Scan for all GP ProSeries features and more.

WWW.PIERCEPACIFIC.COM

800.760.3270

PORTLAND, OREGON

Harvester & Felling Heads SATCO

Caterpillar sells and supports the full line of SATCO processing and directional felling heads. Headquartered in New Zealand, SATCO Ltd. designs and manufactures a wide range of forestry attachments built to handle rugged logging conditions around the world. And all SATCO products are backed by Caterpillar warranties.

Top features of the SAT325 processor include a three-roller head with an optimal delimbing capacity of 3 to 25-inch diameter and a maximum cutting capacity of 31.5 inches. The beefy heads are constructed using high-grade materials with 2.38-3.13 in. roller and delimb arm pins for strength and durability, and the main valves rated at 420 bar (6100 PSI) easily handle carrier pressures. The SATCO-designed heavy-duty 3/4” main saw and Poclain MS11 drive motors are proven to stand up in large-heavy timber applications.

The three feed rollers with four drive motors provide the perfect combination of speed and torque for efficient processing of large timber, and the Tri-Knife System gives the logger the ability to easily center logs in the head when pulling out of a pile. This system also runs the tree true and straight through the head for more efficient delimbing and accurate length measurement. www.satco.co.nz

John Deere

The most recent addition to the John Deere felling head lineup, the FL100 model, provides customers with a larger, more durable directional felling head solution. The robust, durable design of the FL100 makes it ideal for steep slope, shoveling, and traditional fell-

ing applications. Featuring increased grip strength, grapple capacity, and shoveling performance, the grapple arm on the FL100 Felling Head effectively handles both small and extra-large timber. The increased durability of the FL100 reduces potential downtime in tough 34

conditions, while allowing excellent access to maintenance and service points. Factory-installed on the John Deere 959ML Shovel Logger/Directional Feller, the FL100 offers the ideal solution for felling and maneuvering timber in steep slope applications. www.johndeere.com

Keto

Keto offers a range of harvesting heads, from the Keto-Forst for thinning and energy wood harvesting to the Keto-800 series for felling or stack processing large trees and logs. The Keto-825 Supreme harvester head has multipurpose functionality based on a strong, simple structure. The head can be equipped with a fixed or swing roller system.

The head can be mounted on 35-tonne or larger excavators.

It has a felling diameter of 3.3 feet, a delimbing diameter of 2.8 feet, and it weighs in at 6,613 pounds. www.kone-ketonen.fi

Komatsu C144 Harvesting Head

Komatsu makes advanced high-speed harvesting heads to fit a broad range of work. The C-Series “carry style” consists of the C124, C144, and C164 heads. The C144 weighs 3,109 pounds, is well established in North America, and is optimized for largediameter thinning and final felling. The head is most productive at diameters from 8 to 20 inches with a maximum cut (theoretical) of 29.5 inches.

The head is highly accurate for length and diameter measurements and features a 40-degree rearward tilt angle to improve downhill reach, four hydraulic feed motors, two upper and lower hydraulic knives, and a fixed top knife. It also has Constant Cut for precise control of saw hydraulic flow, pressure and 40 m/sec chain speed. Options include multi-tree handling,

TimberWest Magazine — May/June 2021 — www.forestnet.com

TechReview head-mounted lights, stump treatment, and color marking. It also features safe and simple service with centralized lubrication points. www.komatsuamerica.com

Log Max

For more than 30 years, Log Max has engineered reliable and productive harvesting and processing heads, giving their customers a competitive advantage in the marketplace. Log Max products can be installed on smaller equipment allowing for decreased total package price and overall fuel savings without compromising performance or uptime. There are many applications in the forestry market from first commercial thinning to final harvesting and processing.

Log Max offers a wide range of products that fit these needs: from the small 928A all the way up to the 12000XT. The Log Max 928A is a small and light head specifically designed for thinning. The compact format makes it the obvious choice for smallsized wheel and track-based harvesters in the 7 to 15 ton range. It features a hydraulically driven saw with pressure controlled sawing force and flow controlled chain speed. The high performance saw hydraulics provide full flow to the bottom saw resulting in fast cutting.

This saw unit is able to fell trees up to 16.5 inches.

The Log Max 12000XT is the company’s most rugged head and is available in harvester or processor configurations. With over five tons of delimbing force, this head is able to handle the most severe wood with ease. Large rear cover with hydraulic assist opens for full service access. The high-production ¾” pitch bottom saw cuts up to 40” with ease. Special Log Max designed knives with compound curves and replaceable cutting edges produce clean delimbed wood at a low operating cost. www.logmax.com

Pierce

Building on the solid foundation of the Pierce GP (grapple processor), the GP ProSeries has arrived with several significant upgrades and introduces innovative new features that improve reliability and productivity.

The 6,186-pound head has a processing range of 3 to 28 inches, and a max delimbing opening of 28 inches. It features a cutting diameter of 53.5” and hydraulic pressure of 5,075 psi. The recommended carrier size for GP ProSeries is 24-39 MT. New features include improved butt saw retention, increased drive motor protection from limbs and impacts; increased delimbing coverage, enhanced top saw design with twin roller bearings, and higher hydraulic capacity with high-grade seals. www.piercepacific.com

PONSSE

PONSSE H10 is intended for harvesting and processing large-diameter trees. It has been designed and built for heavy-duty processing in demanding conditions. Its solid structure, firm grip and powerful feed guarantee a high efficiency ratio and reliability for years to come.

PONSSE H10 has been made specifically for demanding harvesting conditions. It has also been tested in close cooperation with customers who logged at sites with large diameter tree. No compromises can be made over durability and power in demanding conditions. H10 has been designed with advanced technology and is built to be sufficient and sturdy.

H10 is highly precise. The Opti control system helps to feed the trees quickly and to cut them to the correct length, with an accuracy of nearly one centimeter. correct length even when working at high speeds. It has been developed together with customers. As a result, H10 is highly precise, enjoyable to use and easy to maintain. www.ponsse.com

Quadco

Quadco offers a variety of harvesting processing heads, including the Ultimate 5660, which is basically the same as the original 5600, but with a different saw base imported from the 6000 model. The saw has a 24” cutting capacity and develops 60 percent more power.

Quadco also offers the new QB4400. The large capacity fixed felling head is purpose-built to handle the toughest of felling applications. With the large customized slew bearing, three heavy-duty slew motors, and 255 degrees of saw bar rotation, the well-proven QB4400 is the right choice for controlled felling applications with minimal stem breakage.

Thanks to its new High Speed Hydraulics and Quad Tooth, the saw’s fast cutting speed provides high production and quality cuts. (continued on page 36)

TimberWest Magazine — May/June 2021 — www.forestnet.com

35

TechReview (continued from page 35) The circular saw is more forgiving than bar and chain and is practically trouble-free. Operating benefits also include the capability of cleaning unwanted underbrush to enhance visibility resulting in high production, long tooth life, and low stumps.

In comparison to other systems, the great durability of the teeth, low maintenance time required, and superior availability are the main factors that will reduce the after-investment costs. In normal conditions, maintenance is limited to changing the seven saw bearings annually or every 2,000 hours. www.quadco.com

Southstar

Southstar Equipment, a Canadian company based in Kamloops, British Columbia, offers a full line of 4-roller processors with the QS series — QS500, QS600, and QS650. They also offer a line of grapple processors — the 505, 605, and 635.

The QS series, with their industry leading multi-stemming capabilities, is changing the game in the processing world.

This head gives the contractor the best of both worlds. First, when processing in small-diameter tree stands, contractors can see up to a 70 percent increase in production without affecting length quality, and second, when put into the large-diameter tree stands, the robust design with its high feed speeds can handle the toughest processing environments.

Southstar, by partnering with DASA Control systems, provides one of the most advanced control and measuring systems around while still being very operator friendly, with detailed production reports to GPS tagging of wood that can be emailed directly to your home computer from the machine.

Features unique to Southstar include hydraulic traction control for feeding large-diameter trees, side stepping (allowing the operator to independently feed one tree while holding the other when multistemming), hose through design (no exposed or hanging hoses from stick to head, extending the life of expensive hoses and less chance of snagging), and a wide frame design for multi-stemming capabilities while giving added strength to the head. Southstar also features an extreme duty ¾ main saw with saw limiting option and a two-year structural warranty. www.southstarequipment.com

Tigercat

Tigercat harvesting heads are built to match the high-performance capabilities of Tigercat track and wheel carriers and are well suited to a variety of jobs including at-the-stump harvesting, roadside processing, and debarking.

The Tigercat 568 harvesting head is a robust, high-performance head designed for tracked carriers. It is best suited for roadside processing applications, with trees ranging in size from 6 to 22 inches.

With timed knife arms and triangulated wheel arms, the 568 can quickly pick and maintain positive tree contact and control. The patented 4WD-2WD auto-shift drive system provides extra power and positive grip when feeding large trees, fast speed in smaller trees, and 36

full manual control when needed.

Knife arms feature double-edged, replaceable blades with optimal contour for clean delimbing. The front floating knife, with spring preload, follows the contour of the tree, further enhancing delimbing performance. Single or dual-track length measuring wheels and dual diameter encoders assure superior measuring accuracy.

Other features of the 568 include optional conventional boom or through-tip boom continuous rotation, laser diffuse or throughbeam find end sensors, color marking, and various feed wheels. www.tigercat.com

Waratah Offers the H423 and the HTH616C Series-III.

The new H423 from Waratah Forestry Equipment is designed to carry out a wide range of harvesting jobs from early to late thinnings and even light regeneration harvesting. With outstanding multi-tree-handling qualities, a compact frame design, and excellent power-to-weight ratio, the H423 masters fast and precise felling and crosscutting. The H423 is well-suited for delimbing stems of all diameters. Its outstanding multi-tree harvesting qualities and excellent power-to-weight ratio take productivity to the next level.

Additionally, the H423 boasts a 16.5” tip-to-tip delimbing diameter, providing ample range for superior delimbing. When combined with

its 22.8” cutting capacity and optional multi-tree-handling equipment, it is unmatched for productivity in varied-diameter stands.

The HTH616C Series-III features many service and accessibility upgrades as compared to former generations of the HTH616C harvester head. One highlight is a new main control valve designed to increase performance, responsiveness, and compatibility to a greater range of carriers – including WCTL (Wheeled Cut To Length) and smaller, lower-powered carriers having limited flow. Hose routing has been optimized to the new valve, which improves fitting access and provides easier serviceability, while new optional harvesting guards for the main valve, drive arms, and saw box are available to reduce understory hosing interference. A new and improved valve cover provides quick no-tools access with integrated handles and quick-attach pins. A larger oil filler improves the ease of filling bar and chain oil and helps shorten daily servicing. www.waratah.com

TimberWest Magazine — May/June 2021 — www.forestnet.com

TW

Increase your cash flow and your capabilities with equipment refinancing These are challenging times, and many businesses like yours are looking for every possible way to improve their cash flow and finances. The good news is there’s a waiting solution – Equipment Refinancing from Ritchie Bros. Financial Services.

We’re ready to customize a refinancing solution that works for your business to help you: ▸ Lower monthly debt payments ▸ Convert equity in your equipment into cash ▸ Transition debt off underwater assets so they’re free and clear in order to sell

Learn more about how we can help.

Contact Ross Grundy – Manager, Structured Finance 1.855.331.5665 | rgrundy@rbfinance.com

rbfinance.com

Blount Has New Name – Oregon Tool

Blount Inc. unveiled a new corporate name that positions the company for growth while honoring its heritage: Oregon Tool.

The global manufacturer of professional grade cutting tools and equipment selected Oregon Tool as its new name to harness the power of its pioneering origin story.

The company was founded by Joe Cox in 1947 in the basement of his Portland home.

His invention was inspired by nature – a timber beetle larva to be exact. Cox studied the creature to better understand how to

cut wood more efficiently. With what he learned, he designed a new saw chain that was modeled after the larva’s alternating C-shape jaws. He called it the Cox Chipper Chain and started the Oregon Saw Chain Corp. to produce it. Cox’s saw chain revolutionized the timber industry, and it remains widely used today around the globe.

The company has grown into a multinational organization with numerous acquisitions and mergers. Today, the newly named Oregon Tool has more than 3,000 team members and sells thousands of

products in more than 110 countries across multiple consumer brands, among them Oregon, Woods, and ICS Diamond Tools. www.oregontool.com

New Leadership Positions at Northwest Farm Credit Services

The Northwest Farm Credit Services Board of Directors elected Nate Riggers of Nezperce, Idaho, as Board Chair and John Helle of Dillon, Montana, as Vice Chair.

Each will serve a one-year term in these board leadership positions.

In addition to Riggers and Helle, members of the Northwest FCS board include Christy Burmeister-Smith of Bellingham, Wash.; Nels J. DeBruycker of Choteau, Montana; Susan Doverspike of Burns, Oregon; Vicki Eggebrecht of Malta, Montana; Skip Gray of Albany, Oregon; Greg Hirai of Wendell, Idaho; Bill Martin of Rufus, Oregon; Dave Nisbet of Bay Center, Wash.; Derek Schafer of Ritzville, Wash.; Julie Shiflett of Spokane, Wash.; Shawn Walters of Teton, Idaho; and Andy Werkhoven of Monroe, Wash.

Hydraulex Names Tinney President and CEO

Hydraulex, a provider of new, remanufactured and repair options for all major manufacturers of hydraulic components, announced that Brian Tinney has been named President and Chief Executive Officer.

Most recently, Tinney served as president, North America, of the Eissmann Group, a global supplier of automotive trim based in Bad Urach, Germany, leading the division through a period of strong growth and increased profitability.

Volvo CE Expands Dealer Technician Training with New West Coast Facility

This summer, Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) will be adding a West Coast technical training facility in the San Francisco Bay Area as part of a larger initiative to invest in technical training across North America. Volvo CE will utilize 7,800 square feet of dedicated training space, plus 1,800 square feet of common areas.

In addition to diesel construction equipment, the facility will serve as a hub for Volvo Group battery-electric vehicle training including Volvo CE, Volvo Trucks North America, and Mack Trucks.

TW

38

TimberWest Magazine — May/June 2021 — www.forestnet.com

John Deere Adds Smooth Boom Control Technology for Tracked Feller Bunchers and Harvesters

Further enhancing the machine operation in demanding forestry applications, John Deere has added its Smooth Boom Control (SBC) technology to its M-Series Tracked Feller Bunchers and MH-Series Tracked Harvesters.

Developed in global collaboration between the John Deere Wheeled Cut-toLength and Full-Tree Forestry teams, the SBC system instantaneously responds to operator input while smoothing out the acceleration and deceleration of hydraulic functions on the machine, improving overall control.

The SBC software further refines the motion of the boom, swing, and travel functions using advanced signal control to keep the machine ready to go. This results in a significant improvement in overall joystick and foot pedal response, reducing the signal delay at the start and end of each operator command. www.JohnDeere.com

ANSUL LVS Non-Fluorinated Liquid Suppression Agent

Johnson Controls unveiled its new ANSUL LVS Non-Fluorinated Liquid Suppression Agent. The new agent is manufactured without the use of perfluorinated chemicals and is performance tested to ensure maximum effectiveness. It is now available worldwide.

LVS Non-Fluorinated Agent works by rapidly knocking down flames, then blanketing the fuel and cutting off oxygen to help prevent reflash. It is effective against Class A and B fires in mobile equipment in the mining, forestry, waste management, and transportation industries. www.johnsoncontrols.com

Fecon Introduces Fecon Green

volatility increases the flash and fire safety features, protecting the equipment and its operators. Ideal for hydraulic equipment operating in wet or dusty environments, Fecon Green has a high viscosity index (VI) that provides excellent fluid protection under higher loads and pressures. It also provides seal conditioning that extends seal life and reduces oil leakage. www.Fecon.com

due to cylinder failure. Clamping force is consistent throughout the jaw’s full range of motion, and operators can maintain a load regardless of positioning. With equal force exerted at both sides, there is no jaw twisting during use. This quick-coupler compatible design uses existing auxiliary hydraulic circuit and includes standard OEM lugging for fast and easy installation. www.Werk-Brau.com

2021 PACCAR MX Engines Unveiled

Doosan’s Next-generation Wheel Loaders

With the launch of Kenworth’s new T680 Next Generation truck model, come the 2021 PACCAR MX-11 and PACCAR MX-13 engines, giving even better performance and efficiency to Kenworth’s Class 8 truck lineup.

Both engines feature re-designed internal components to enhance fuel economy — up to 2.4 percent in the PACCAR MX-13, and 3.4 percent in the PACCAR MX-11 — depending on the application and specification. The PACCAR MX-11 can now be spec’d with a higher horsepower rating of up to 445 HP at 1,700 lb.-ft. of torque @ 900 RPM. The PACCAR MX-13 can be spec’d up to 510 HP at 1,850 lb.-ft. of torque @ 1,000 RPM. These new engine developments make Kenworth trucks more productive. When paired with the 12-speed PACCAR TX-12 transmission, Kenworth predictive cruise control, and PACCAR DX-40 axles, the performance is enhanced even further. www.kenworth.com/drivers

New Werk-Brau PowerGrip Bucket Features 120-Degree Jaw Movement

Werk-Brau introduces the PowerGrip Bucket, a multi-purpose bucket that enhances a machine’s grading, trenching, and clamshell capabilities with precise control. With 120-degrees of jaw opening and a clamping force three times that of standard thumbs, the PowerGrip eliminates the need for additional attachments says the company.

The precise control allows users to deftly place materials where desired the first time.

The unique design includes an enclosed rotary actuator hinge in cross-tube. There are no exposed cylinders or other external moving parts, and no obstruction in jaw or bucket shell, thus reducing the risk of downtime

Fecon introduces Fecon Green Hydraulic Fluids, a zinc-free, readily biodegradable formula that withstands the rigors of land clearing and forestry mulching.

This environmentally friendly product meets or exceeds Vickers M-2950-S, Vickers 1-286-5, U.S. Steel 126, and U.S. Steel 127 criteria. It eliminates the worry of accidental petroleum spills and meets or exceeds highpressure pump requirements. Extremely low 40

TimberWest Magazine — May/June 2021 — www.forestnet.com

Doosan Infracore North America LLC. is launching its next-generation wheel loaders, the -7 Series, in the U.S. and Canada.

All-new redesigned cabs with first-class comfort features, increased bucket capacities, and new, fuel-saving technologies are highlights of this next generation of Doosan wheel loaders.

Seven models of the new Doosan -7 Series wheel loaders, with standard bucket capacities between 3.7 and 7.6 cubic yards,

are available now. Five additional Doosan models with bucket capacities between 2.6 and 3.3 cubic yards are planned to launch in early 2022. Wheel loaders launching in 2022 will include the popular tool carrier iterations for two models.

Bucket capacities for select models are seven percent greater than prior models.

These select Doosan models include the DL320-7, DL380-7, DL480-7, and DL580-7. The increased capacity can provide faster, easier loading in fewer passes. na.

DoosanEquipment.com

New Tubeless Alliance Off-Highway Tires

Tubeless versions of the popular Alliance Forestar III 643 and 644 forestry tires from Yokohama Off-Highway Tires are proving themselves on cut-to-length (CTL) harvesters and forwarders worldwide.

The tubeless Forestars fit on standard rims, so it is easy to switch from the tubetype designs.

They have steel-belted construction, cutresistant compound, curb rib, and buttressed lugs for extra durability, and an improved bead package that keeps CTL harvesters rolling no matter what the conditions are.

The 643 has a special tread pattern with horizontal lug grooves that are designed for a perfect fit with bogie tracks. And the

644 has dual-angle lugs and a huge footprint for versatility with or without tracks. www.yokohama-oht.com

Tigercat Adds to Lineup with the 760B Mulcher and 4061-30 Mulching Head

Things are happening at Tigercat. First, Tigercat added to its mulcher lineup with the release of the 760B mulcher and the 4061-30 mulching head.

The new 760B is a 550 HP class mulcher carrier that shares major components with the field-proven and similarly classed Tigercat 480B track-driven mulcher as well as the popular M726G wheel-driven mulcher.

In stable, well-drained soil types, a high horsepower wheel-driven machine has many advantages including quicker travel speeds, lower operating costs, and the ability to run a wide mulching head for improved coverage and wider swaths, increasing quality and productivity. As such, Tigercat also designed a 3.2’ wide mulching head to complement the new carrier. The new 4061-30 mulching head is based on the original Tigercat 2.7’4061, with several updates and enhancements. The 2.7’ 4061 will be rebranded as the 4061-25 when similar updates are introduced in early 2021.

Waratah Forestry Equipment Announces H423

The new H423 from Waratah Forestry Equipment is designed to carry out a wide range of harvesting jobs from early to late thinnings, and even light regeneration harvesting. With outstanding multi-treehandling qualities, a compact frame design, and excellent power-to-weight ratio, the H423 masters fast and precise felling and crosscutting.

The H423 is well-suited for delimbing stems of all diameters. Its outstanding multi-tree harvesting qualities and excellent power-to-weight ratio take productivity to the next level.

Ideal for thinning and other felling jobs, where the tree diameter at breast height is between 6 and 13 inches, the 2,105-pound H423 features strong, fast feeding in a nimble design.

Additionally, the H423 boasts a 16.5” tip-to-tip delimbing diameter providing ample range for superior delimbing, and combined with its 22.8” cutting capacity and optional multi-tree-handling equipment, provides superior productivity in varieddiameter stands. www.Waratah.com

TW

SUBSCRIPTION CARD New, Renewal & Change of Address

AD INDEX COMPANY

In addition, Tigercat has added new features to the 875E logger, including an updated operator station, two undercarriage options, and various grapple configurations to tailor the machine to your specific needs.

The 875 logger is a multi-purpose carrier with two boom options for loading or processing applications. The machine can be equipped with the Tigercat FPT N67 noncertified, Tier 4f or Stage V engine, producing 282 HP. The 875E can be configured as a loader equipped with various power clam, butt-ntop, live heel, pulpwood, and log grapple options. The carrier can also be configured as a high-capacity processor capable of running large harvesting heads in demanding duty cycles. www.tigercat.com

PG#

AGRI-COVER.....................................................20 AIR BURNERS...................................................11 BKT TIRES...........................................................8 CASCADE TRADER.............................................26 DC EQUIPMENT / MODERN MACHINERY..........19 DROP SPROCKETS.............................................15 FORESTNETMILL DIRECTORY............................39 GEM CHAIN.......................................................31 HAIX NORTH AMERICA.....................................25 HYDRAULEX GLOBAL........................................16 JORAL / LOGGINGENCODERS.COM....................28 KOMATSU AMERICA............................................5 LBX / TRIAD MACHINERY / BEJAC CORP.............9 MORBARK.........................................................13 OLOFSFORS.......................................................17 OREGON LOGGING CONFERENCE......................38 PACIFIC LOGGING CONGRESS............................31 PIERCE PACIFIC.................................................33 PONSSE.............................................................29 PROLENC MANUFACTURING.............................20 QUADCO GROUP...............................................21 RITCHIE BROS. FINANCIAL SERVICES...............37 TIGERCAT / TRIAD MACHINERY........................44 TRACTIONLINE / FEENAUGHTY MACHINERY......2 VERSATILE FAB........................................... 22-23 WARATAH.........................................................43 WCLA CREDIT UNION........................................12 YOKOHAMA OFF ROAD TIRES / ALLIANCE........27

Name: ___________________________________________________________ Title:_____________________________________________________________ Company:________________________________________________________ Address:_________________________________________________________ City, State, Zip:____________________________________________________ Phone:___________________________________________________________ Fax:_____________________________________________________________ Email:____________________________________________________________ Website:_________________________________________________________

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

MAY/JUNE 2021

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

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

NEW Subscriptions If you’re in the Western U.S. timber industry your subscription is FREE. All others... see below.

Send payment or request to: TimberWest Publications, P.O. Box 610, Edmonds, WA 98020 Subscription is for: m One Year $22.00 m Two Years $38.00 Washington Residents add 9.5% sales tax

m Canada $35.00 m All Other $60.00 per year in U.S. funds

TimberWest Magazine — May/June 2021 — www.forestnet.com

Payments can also be processed

by PayPal. Contact timberwest@ forestnet.com for instructions.

41

GuestColumnist

Logging Serious Injuries and Fatalities — What's It Going to Take to Change?

By David Libby

Falling Limb Kills Faller - Choker Setter Struck in Head by Swinging Log - Worker Killed While Welding Wood Chip Conveyor - Log Truck Driver Dies When Struck by Logs - Chaser Crushed Between Two Logs - Operator Crushed in Processor Head

H

ow many of us have been involved with or known someone affected by incidents like these? Likely all of us.

Despite progress over the past three decades in reducing serious injuries and fatalities (SIF) in the logging industry, logging workers still experience the highest fatality rate among all occupations.

(The 10 most dangerous jobs in America; logging and forestry ranked as Canada’s most dangerous industry.) This has occurred despite increased mechanization that has reduced worker exposure. Decision making and behaviors resulting in serious injuries or fatalities continue to be repeated in the workplace. Identifying those decisions and behaviors and their causes while effectively communicating that information through training and other means should result in a measurable reduction in those incidents.

Traditionally, we have looked at the sitespecific unsafe acts and conditions in the few minutes or hours before the event that led to the injury or fatality, to learn how to prevent these in the future. As important as that approach is, there are other factors far upstream of the incident that likely contributed.

New Study

A study by safety consultants the Krause Bell Group of 60 total incidents from 16 companies identified 600+ decisions that ultimately contributed to the incidents. These decisions set the tone or work culture that allowed the unsafe behaviors to exist.

To illustrate this point, we can use an example from a case that was included in the study. In 2010, a metal dust explosion inside a metal blender resulted in three fatalities and one critical injury. One of the blender blades had struck the side of the blender, causing a spark that ignited the extremely explosive metal dust. During the investigation, it was found that workers had repaired the blade multiple times. When it continued to 42

function improperly, they decided to replace it with a used blade from an older blender.

In this case, it would be completely reasonable to point to that decision as a cause of the incident. But when investigated deeper, we find that management had made a chain of decisions years before the explosion that set the stage for the final, fatal decision of using the older blade. When the site was first opened, corporate had decided not to purchase backup equipment to keep onsite in case of failure. They also decided to work on a 24/7 schedule that did not allow for equipment downtime and exerted time pressure on the operation. The site manager decided not to enforce a known rule for closing the blender lids while they were operating. When first informed of the faulty equipment months before, site management decided to defer maintenance due to cost.

Although the maintenance worker had the option of making a different choice, it becomes evident in cases such as this that decisions made by management had the greatest influence and created the conditions under which such a disaster could occur.

One of the most pronounced findings of the study was that decisions made above the front line have a major role in injury prevention. Of the decisions found to have influenced the 60 SIF events, 67 percent were made by individuals above the front line (department managers through corporate executive leadership).

The implications of this are far-reaching.

It seems common knowledge that managers play a role in incident prevention and causation, but to suggest that they have a larger role than those at the front line could revolutionize the way we approach safety. It is critical that this finding is not misconstrued as blaming the manager, any more than it would make sense to blame the worker. What this suggests instead is that leaders are positioned to have a greater influence over safety than previously thought, and by equipping them with the appropriate knowledge and skills in decision making, they could provide the greatest opportunity in safety improvement.

In addition, the study found that of the 67 percent of decisions made above the front line, 79 percent of those were made at the site level. This was an unanticipated yet incredibly meaningful finding. What this says to the safety world is that the shortest distance to a zero-injury rate is through a direct focus TimberWest Magazine — May/June 2021 — www.forestnet.com

on decision making within site management.

These are the leaders who make critical, operational decisions every day that have direct impact on safety. Some examples of this are scheduling, over-time allocation, purchasing of new equipment, hiring, etc.

Call to Action

Identifying trends in decision making and changing the business culture can result in a measurable reduction in SIF. Krause Bell has successfully addressed this with their clients through their participation in Industry SIF Prevention Centers of Excellence (COE).

COE member companies share SIF data and incident investigation reports and make team members available for further learning.

Members fund an in-depth study of three to five actual fatal incidents. Learnings, insights, and better practices resulting from the study and Krause Bell Group research and advice are shared with member companies.

Ongoing data is shared to measure fatality prevention processes and how to proactively identify and mitigate SIF Precursors.

For more information, contact: David Libby, Partner Krause Bell Group at dlibby@ krausebellgroup.com TW

Exhibit 1: 67% of the decisions were made above the front line.

Exhibit 2: Of the decisions made above the front line, 79% of them were made at the site level.

Introducing the FL100 Directional Felling Head.

Unmatched strength plus versatility. Meet the FL100.

This bonafide jack-of-all-trades owns the steepest of slopes and shovels the heaviest of timber, all while getting better logs to the landing. Simply put, it’s a beast.

And truly Built to Work™.

Waratah.com

620H | 630H | 632H | 625H | 635H

H-SERIES SKIDDERS Tigercat skidders just got a whole lot better with the new H-series line-up.

A completely redesigned cab keeps the operator comfortable all day long, while robust, high-quality components and stress-free serviceability boost productivity and minimize downtime.

Contact Triad Machinery today to learn more.

www.triadmachinery.com 1 800.221.8512

www.tigercat.com