TimberWest - September 2016

Boldly Stepping Into the Future A-1 Logging

Tech Review: Winch-Assist

Field Test

Gwin & Sons Logging

Home Grown Success

RCD Timber

ON THE COVER Cover photo taken by Andrea Watt of RCD lumber’s operation and Doosan DX225LL

September/October 2016 Vol. 41 No. 09-10

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Homegrown Success

Homegrown Success RCD Timber is a young company succeeding in a competitive market

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Boldly Stepping Into the Future

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A-1 Logging transforms itself

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Collision of Champions 2016 Lumberjack World Championships

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Field Test Gwin & Sons Logging runs new Cat through its paces

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Tech Review A review of winch-assist machines

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New at DEMO International 2016 A look at some of the innovative equipment that debuted at DEMO International 2016.

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Boldly Stepping Into the Future

Guest Column

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Collision of Champions

Forestry issues hinge on November election

DEPARTMENTS Page 4 .............................................................In the News Page 14 .................................................Firebreak Column Page 26 ................................................. Association News Page 36 ..................................................... Machinery Row Page 49 .................................................Advertiser’s Index Page 49 ............................................... Calendar of Events Page 49 ........................................................... Subscription

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Field Test

Tuesday, November 8

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OESF Land Plan Signed

On September 23, Kyle Blum, deputy supervisor for Uplands, signed the Washington Department of Natural Resources’ Forest Land Plan for the Olympic Experimental State Forest (OESF).

The OESF provides foresters and managers practical information to implement DNR policies on a day-to-day basis. These policies include the State Trust Lands Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) and the Policy for Sustainable Forests. Objectives of the OESF include: • Generate a sustainable flow of revenue through the sale of timber. The current (2004-2014) sustainable harvest level for the OESF is 576 million board feet per decade, as approved by the Board of Natural Resources in 2007. By harvesting timber, DNR provides revenue to its trust beneficiaries to meet its fiduciary obligations (DNR 2006).

• Implement the riparian conservation strategy for the OESF. The goal of the riparian conservation strategy is to restore and maintain functioning riparian habitat (DNR 1997) to support salmonids and other wildlife species that are dependent on in-stream and riparian environments.

• Implement the northern spotted owl

conservation strategy for the OESF. The goal of this strategy is to restore and maintain northern spotted owl habitat in each of the 11 landscapes in the OESF to provide support for the recovery of the Olympic Peninsula subpopulation of northern spotted owls on adjacent federal lands (DNR 1997).

For the full plan, visit www.dnr.wa.gov/ oesf-forest-land-plan.

Two Candidates vying to oversee Washington’s Department of Natural Resources

The Washington Commissioner of Public Lands is responsible for overseeing the Department of Natural Resources, an agency that manages 5.6 million acres of state land, in addition to Washington’s largest firefighting operation.

Two candidates are vying for that position this year—Steve McLaughlin and Hilary Franz.

The Inlander reports that Franz, a Democrat and former executive director of the Seattle-based land-use advocacy group Futurewise, mentions that she owns a small farm in Pierce County, and when asked (continued on page 6)

Editor: Diane Mettler, diane@forestnet.com Copy Editor: Beth Szyperski Contributing Editors: Andrea Watts, Lindsay Mohlere, Kenneth Bonnes, Nick Smith ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Sales Mgr: James Booth – jbooth@forestnet.com Director: Rob Stanhope – stanhope@forestnet.com Sales Contact Information: Toll Free: 1-866-405-6462 Phone: (604) 990-9970 • Fax: (604) 990-9971 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Publisher & Production Manager: Sheila Ringdahl – sringdahl@forestnet.com Office Manager: Betty Rosales – brosales@forestnet.com Corporate Office Information: Phone: (425) 778-3388 Fax: (425) 771-3623 timberwest@forestnet.com www.forestnet.com Send all materials - Insertion Orders, Contracts, Copy, Photos, Disks to: TImberWest Publications, LLC P.O. Box 610 (300 Admiral Way, Suite 105) Edmonds, WA 98020-0610 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Send both OLD and NEW Circulation information to: TimberWest Magazine Attn: George Aldridge 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 2016. All rights reserved. Subscription rates to qualified subscribers are Free and all non-qualified subscriptions in U.S. are $22 per year payable in advance. Canada $35 (U.S.). Other $40 (U.S.). Single copies paid in advance $4. Company affiliation, title, date and signature must appear on subscription forms.

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without any effect on endangered species or water quality,” says McLaughlin.

(continued from page 4) about claims that she wants to “lock up” forests from logging and other uses, she lets out an emphatic “Nooooooo.”

Steve McLaughlin, a Republican and retired Navy commander, highlights how he helped preserve an old-growth forest near Arlington, Washington, and that he is a member of REI. “It is my sense that we’ve taken too much [DNR land] out of production, and that some of it can be brought into production

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Orofino Mill closes

Tri-Pro will be closing its mill in Orofino, Idaho. In a press release, Steve Linton, owner and president of Tri-Pro Forest Products, wrote, “It is with deep regret that we officially announce the closure of the Tri-Pro Forest Products Inc. – Orofino division. The lack of a consistent, economical log supply has made continued operations here impractical.

“It has been difficult this year to keep the plant running, and from this point forward,

TimberWest September/October 2016 www.forestnet.com

the log supply will only become worse. We sincerely regret this outcome and are solemnly aware of the impact the plant closure will have on families and the community as a whole.”

He added, “Since its inception here in 2007, Tri-Pro has enjoyed a wonderful team and together we have reached major milestones. We have always strived to be an asset to the area and a good neighbor to the people and the community of Orofino.”

DNR Revenue Forecast – September 2016

Lumber and Log Prices. Lumber and log prices have fallen markedly since peaking in 2014. Random Lengths’ Coast Dry Random and Stud composite lumber price peaked at $393/mbf in January 2014 but fell throughout the rest of the year to average $373/mbf.

The composite lumber price continued to fall to an average $311/mbf for 2015. Prices have averaged $326/mbf from January to July 2016, with the last four months averaging $341/mbf.

The increase in prices in 2016 appears to have been initially driven by much higher first quarter housing starts compared to 2015. This spiked lumber demand and caught lumber dealers off guard. Prices were expected to pull back in the third quarter, but as of July, this had not happened. Prices are expected to fall in the fourth quarter before increasing again in the beginning of 2017.

The decline in 2015 was primarily due to the dramatic slowdown in demand from China and an ample regional supply of both logs and lumber. Log prices are expected to remain flat through 2016 and begin increasing in 2017 with an increase in lumber demand.

Timber Sales Volume. In the February 2016 forecast, fire salvage sales from the record 2015 fire season were added to the timber sales volume forecast for FY16, bringing it to 515 mmbf from 500mmbf. Six mmbf failed to sell, resulting in total volume sales for the year of 545 mmbf.

Given current timber sales plans (and absent a new sustainable harvest calculation) sales volumes are still pegged at 500 mmbf in FY17 and beyond.

Timber Sales Prices. Even after lowering the price forecast from $340/mbf to $310/ mbf in February and again down to $290/ mbf in the June forecast, our forecast prices were too high. Prices for FY16 average $285/ mbf because of the large volume of low value fire-salvage sales and the mix of the greenwood timber sales.

External analysts expect flat stumpage prices through the remainder of 2016 and higher prices beginning in 2017.

Bottom Line for Timber Revenue. Timber revenue in FY16 was up by one percent from the June forecast to $166.3 million.

(Full forecast available online.)

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ContractorProfile

Homegrown Success RCD Timber—Young Company in a Competitive Market

By Andrea Watts

A

s Joey Dhooghe drives out to meet Brian, his older brother, on a jobsite on the Olympic Peninsula’s Quinault Indian Reservation, he calls out the places where he has worked. It seems there are few areas along Hwy 101 that he doesn’t point to.

Having entered the logging industry at the age of eight ( Joey confesses to running a piece of machinery no child would be allowed to run in today’s regulated environment), he has spent nearly four decades in the woods, most of which has been in the area surrounding Hoquiam, Washington. For

Brian Dhooghe loads one of Andy Roger’s trucks with a Doosan DX225LL while a Doosan DX225LL with a Southstar QS500 harvesting head sits nearby.

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ContractorProfile many of those years, he worked alongside Brian at logging companies that include A-1 Timber and Northwest Tree. Today he is still working with his older brother; this time it’s for a logging company that bears their family name.

Second Anniversary

This year marks the two-year anniversary of RCD Timber, and the company wouldn’t have formed had it not been for Andy Rogers, owner of Grind Transport, cajoling Brian that it was worthwhile to start a logging company. The men met years earlier through Andy’s dad who owned Doug Rogers Trucking.

“I ended up talking Brian into it,” Andy recalls, citing the reasons they should start a company: money, experience, and credibility.

Having already managed a logging business, Brian admits he was reluctant to start

another business, and if he did consider starting the business with Andy, they had to have the promise of steady work. “I had to have the work before having the equipment,” he explains. With the guarantee of steady work on the 208,000-acre Quinault Indian Reservation, Brian agreed to take the calculated risk of starting RCD Timber. Since then, Quinault has delivered on its promise of steady work. “Quinault Logging keeps us in the work because we’re busy every day,” Joey says.

Keeping the Trucks Running

Samantha, Andy’s wife, handles the bookkeeping for the two businesses, and of their partnership, Andy describes it as “two companies run as one.” Grind Transport handles all the hauling and moving for RCD Timber.

“Between us, we keep Andy’s trucks

busy,” Joey explains. Those five trucks (with another one on order) are mainly Kenworths, with one Peterbilt, and Andy says his preference for Kenworths is because of their resale value and durability. Having a lowboy as part of the fleet means Grind Transport can handle the moving of RCD’s equipment to the next jobsite without having to contract that work out.

When Andy jokes that he likes “shiny, new equipment,” Brian and Joey jump in to rib him about wanting to keep his equipment clean. Joey points out that this joking and comradery amongst their close-knit crew is one reason everyone including the truck drivers and employees has fun out on the jobsites.

Small and Lean

This comradery is known even off the jobsite. Jim Wark, sales manager at Cascade Trader, has worked with Brian for a number of years and met him when he was an operator, “an extremely good operator,” Jim emphasizes. “They’re a really fun and good crew who are busy all the time.”

That fun must make them work more efficiently, because RCD Timber is a small, lean crew of only five men split between two jobsites. Joey says they are never in the same spot for very long, usually no more than a month, and an average of 20 loads a day are hauled to Shelton’s Alta Lumber Products, the pulp to Hoquiam or Aberdeen, and the Douglas-fir goes to Weyerhaeuser in Olympia.

At the jobsite, Brian loads one of Andy’s trucks with a Doosan DX225LL while a Doosan DX225LL with a Southstar QS500 harvesting head sits nearby. Each jobsite has a shovel and processor, and Brian frequently switches between the machines as needed.

Working alongside Brian are Jared Rowe and John Homchick, who has worked not only for the Dhooghe brothers, but also with their father, Walt, when he owned Northwest Tree. Josh Mueller is another recent addition to their crew and is working at the second jobsite, which is where Joey would be if we were not touring this site.

The other pieces in the equipment portfolio include a Doosan DX300LL-3 and a Hitachi 370 log loader. When it came time for Brian to build his equipment portfolio for RCD Timber, Wark says that he went with the Doosan brand, after having worked on the machine while with A-1 Timber.

Brian says the company selected Doosans because they are good reliable machines that are great to work with, and the financing options make them affordable. Their low fuel consumption also helps out the bottom line.

A recent addition to the jobsite is a John Deere feller buncher purchased from Papé

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ContractorProfile Machinery. Brian purchased the machine because one of his fallers recommended it, and he doesn’t regret the decision. “They have a good service program,” he says.

In keeping with maintaining a closeknit crew, Brian is committed to remaining close to home so everyone can be with their families every night. This is one reason the steady work on the Quinault Indian Reservation is a welcome change for the brothers. They, along with their dad, worked for several years with A-1 Timber in Alaska during the recession, and they racked up mileage flying between Kodiak and home on the weekends.

RCD Has Deeper Meaning

The bittersweet part of RCD Timber is its namesake; the initials RCD are those of Brian’s youngest daughter, Ronni Carolynn Dhooghe, who once told Brian, “You need to have your own shovel, Dad.” Sadly, Ronni never lived to see that happen; she died in 2008 following a three-year battle with leukemia.

Reflecting upon his years in the industry, Joey says, “It’s so weird from what I grew up with, cutting really big trees, and now we’re cutting trees 25-30 years old.” Five years ago, he traded in falling trees for being a machine

In addition to the Doosan loader and processor, RCD loads trucks with a Doosan DX300LL-3 and an Hitachi 370 log loader. much larger than that. “We make it work for our small crew,” Joey adds. “Logging’s easy for us because we’ve been doing it for so long.”

operator. At most jobs sites, he operates the processor, but he says that he will do “whatever is needed of me.”

Looking to the future of the business, Brian expects to probably have six guys paired with six machines, but it won’t get

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FireColumn

Consumer Drones and Wildfires—The Dark Side

By Lindsay Mohlere

U

nmanned Aerial Systems

(UAS), better known as drones, have become the rage of photographers, cinematographers, and hobbyists.

While larger, more sophisticated drones are widely used by the military, small consumer drones are intended primarily for aerial photography and videography.

They are big fun, and they are everywhere.

Unfortunately, drones are also wreaking havoc with wildland firefighters and fire suppression activities, endangering lives and property.

The Drone Menace Is upon Us

For the last four years, incident commanders and fire managers have had to contend with half-wit, crayon-eating boobs who fly their consumer drones into the federally restricted airspace around wildfires, adding another wrinkle to an already dangerous situation.

Small (55 lbs. max.) consumer drones fly at very low levels and are primarily used to take stunning aerial photographs. Fire suppression fixed-wing and helicopter assets

also fly at extremely low levels, usually in smoky, windy, and turbulent conditions to transport crews to different locations and to drop water or retardant on wildfires.

Because drones are so small, they are nearly impossible to see. Having one buzz around a wildfire creates a mid-air collision environment that endangers the lives of the pilots and crews in the aircraft and personnel on the ground.

According to the U.S. Forest Service, unauthorized drone flights in fires from Alaska to California have suspended firefighting air

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TimberWest September/October 2016 www.forestnet.com

operations more than 15 times already.

If one of those little plastic whirly-gigs got sucked up into the air intake of an Erickson S-64F Air-crane Helitanker or a Douglas DC-6 tanker loaded with over 2000 gallons of fire retardant, it could drop the aircraft like Ali did Liston.

When drones are sighted, air operations stop. Suspended air ops can delay suppression activities and increase the cost of fighting the fire. The fire can move into new terrain. Structures can be lost. Ground crews can be trapped.

Bang, Bang, Shoot ‘Em Down

Despite violating federal statutes and risking heavy penalties ($25,000 and/or criminal prosecution), many drone pilots still haven’t gotten the hint.

In California, CALFIRE introduced a public awareness program in 2015 aimed at drone pilots that explains the danger. The “If You Fly, They Can’t” campaign was a result of continuing drone interference and public indifference.

Even with increased awareness generated by P.R. and news stories, the toy plane cowboys continue to fly into airspace over (continued on page 16)

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FireColumn (continued from page 14) wildfires. Drone incursion incidents doubled between 2014 and 2015 and are well on the way to topping those figures this year.

Many states are enacting or considering laws that will allow firefighters to shoot down or disable drones that impede firefighting efforts.

In July of this year, Utah lawmakers, fed up with drone dummies halting air suppression activities over the Saddle Fire, approved laws that allow first responders to

stop drones by jamming the UAS signals or shooting them down. California has also introduced legislation that would make it a crime for the operator of a drone to interfere with firefighting efforts, and it would allow firefighters to damage drones that impede firefighting efforts.

Maybe after a few drones get blasted out of the sky, it will get the attention of the toy pilots. Let’s hope so. Unfortunately, as comedian Ron White has said, “You can’t fix stupid.”

Update: Firefighting Funding

With the political scene shaping up like a NASCAR race with everyone waiting for the wreck, it’s no wonder there hasn’t been much movement in Congress to fix the wildfire funding issue.

But there is hope.

The Senate Agriculture Committee has recently approved legislation to take on the federal wildfire-spending dilemma.

The Emergency Wildfire and Forest Management Act (3085), similar to the Resilient Federal Forests Act (HR 2647), has been favorably reported out of the committee with a vote of 11 to 9.

The bill promotes large-scale forest management projects on National Forest System land; encourages cross-boundary management of federal, state, and private forested land; builds off successful and bipartisan policies in the 2014 Farm Bill that provide the U.S. Forest Service with the necessary tools to promote collaborative and active forest management activities in response to catastrophic and emergency events; and streamlines efficiencies for environmental review, analysis, and compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act. Where the bill goes from here is anybody’s guess, but it is at least a step in the right direction.

What’s Burning NOW!

The Pioneer Fire, in Idaho’s Boise National Forest, started burning July 18 and has burned over 188,500 acres. It is the largest wildfire burning on Forest Service lands this year and will probably cost the taxpayers more than $100 million. There are over 500 firefighters on the ground still punching it out with the blaze. It is 65 percent contained but unseasonably hot weather is hampering suppression efforts. More than 1800 firefighters from local, state, federal, and tribal agencies and organizations have worked to contain the fire.

To date, it is still burning.

On July 22, at approximately 8:45 a.m., an illegal campfire ignited the Soberanes Fire along California’s Big Sur coast. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, the Soberanes Fire has surpassed the $200 million mark in firefighting costs, making it the costliest fire to fight in U.S. History.

So far, more than 127,000 acres have been obliterated.

It, too, is still burning.

(Source: InciWeb, ODF, WA/DNR, NWCC) ___________________________________ That’s a wrap. Stay safe out there!

TWfirecolumn@gmail.com TW 16

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ContractorProfile

Boldly Stepping into the Future

By Lindsay Mohlere

A

s Larry Heesacker, president of A-1 Logging Inc. out of Yamhill, Oregon, tells it, 2012 was a year of incredible change for his company. A complete flip-flop transformed the company and doubled his bottom line.

Total Transformation

“In 2012, we completely reorganized the business,” Heesacker says. “We went from CTL to whole tree logging. We started charting each month and setting goals. Totally changed our office. Brought in Sharon Bjorn to do our books and Mike Porter to handle quality control. Replaced our worn-out equipment. That was the turning point. Now, we’ve doubled our business … and we expect to keep going at this point.”

Heesacker emphasizes that the decision to make such a drastic change in his

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company’s business model was the result of several components coming together at once.

“There wasn’t any one reason. So many parts came together at the same time, it’s hard to pin down,” he says.

Bringing corporate trained people on board helped facilitate the change. “Our bookkeeping was a huge part of the change,” Heesacker adds. “Sharon is the former CFO of another company, so now the level of bookkeeping is incredibly better than the average in our industry. And I hired extra management. Mike is from a mill. He’s been a scaler and understands management.”

Updating Equipment

According to Heesacker, the company’s transformation also has a lot to do with updating the equipment, which bolsters A-1’s ability to tackle larger jobs, improve efficiency, and increase production goals.

“At first it was all about the financing and programs. After 2008, I wouldn’t sign

TimberWest September/October 2016 www.forestnet.com

for a machine until I owned one third of it. I didn’t trust the economy or our president at the time. So it was a big deal that Caterpillar worked with me and gave me a better RPO program,” Heesacker says. “We’re almost 100 percent Cat. Peterson [Cat} and Cat have supported us and helped build this company.”

The company’s preference for Cat equipment was solidified with the introduction of the Cat 325. “Once we got into them, the Cat 325 proved to be the finest machine we’ve

ever owned,” Heesacker says. “In my opinion, Cat machines are the most comfortable, best put together, and easy to operate.”

Currently, A-1 utilizes seven shovels, one buncher, and two high-track Cats, along with a Cat yoder equipped with an Eagle Grapple or an Eaglet slack pulling carriage, a 90’ BU84 Skagit, and a 071 Madill.

Since most of his iron is relatively new, Heesacker relies on Cat warranties but also backs his machines with a solid preventive

Currently, A-1 utilizes two towers, a 90’ BU84 Skagit and an 071 Madill along with seven shovels, one buncher and two high walker Cats.

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ContractorProfile

Currently, the company roster tops out at 37 employed in logging, road building, management, land development, brush clearing, and trucking. maintenance program and a strong maintenance crew consisting of two fabricators, one independent first-class mechanic, and one entry-level trainee.

Better Benefits

In addition to new management and equipment updates, a better benefits package for employees has also contributed to increasing his bottom line. Heesacker notes that losing a key employee led to the change.

“We added more benefits and started taking better care of our people at that point,” he says. In addition to top wages, 401(k) plans, medical, and dental, A-1 Logging employee benefits packages also include annual vacations and sick pay for its work force. A clothing allowance is also available for employees who work out of the cab.

“All these things that come together make the business whole,” Heesacker says.

“It’s a team thing. There’s no one piece here

… it’s magical. We’re profitable four years now… it’s a percentage you can count.”

A Snapshot of Opportunity

Operating in Oregon’s Yamhill and Polk counties, A-1 Logging has been able to take advantage of several opportunities presented by being in the center of Oregon’s internationally famous wine country.

In 1991, Oregon had only 78 wineries. By 2001, the number stood at 195 and kept growing. According to Heesacker, the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) invested in Yamhill county and Polk county.

He says, “We we’re the second largest land clearing company in the area. We would log and clear the ground for the new vineyards.”

Heesacker adds, “Because of California, we operated under the name Meadow Lake Land and Development. It was a name that was greener than A-1 Logging.”

Idling equipment, like this Southstar head, is a rarity at an A-1 Logging site.

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At one point, A-1 cleared more than 1,000 acres in a year for the wine industry, but the boom slowed with the economy in 2008. Recently it started to rumble again.

“The vineyards are just coming back now,” Heesacker says. “There’s more land being cleared.”

Today, the Oregon wine industry is the third largest wine producer in the country and employs over 15,000 people.

A Rough Ride to Stay the Course

From his meager beginnings as a firewood vendor and a tree faller in the early 1980s to his present day situation, Heesacker has made the most of the good times and the bad times. His experience with the crashing economies of 1983 and 2008, along with the other challenges the logging industry has faced, has strengthened his resolve to push onward.

“I had a rough start,” Heesacker says.

During the recession of 1983, Heesacker started cutting firewood for a living. He then hired on with a log falling company, and the operator set Heesacker up in logging the following year. Characterized by the operator as someone who “works so hard and makes so little,” Heesacker went out on his own in 1984. “I made a little money, but I was underwater in ’85. It took me through ’86 to pay my way out,” he says.

A few years later, Heesacker became fully committed to logging. “I started up again in ’93. And we’ve been here ever since doing jobs as small as a load and a half to over 20 loads a day.”

Currently, the company roster tops out at 37 employed in logging, building roads, operation management, land development, (continued on page 22)

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ContractorProfile (continued from page 20) brush clearing, and trucking. A-1 hauls its own logs, running six rigs along with several jippo truckers making up the difference. It operates five to seven ground and tower sides at any given time.

“All our yarders are stacked together on one side,” he says. “We’re compacted because this spring we had a dip in the market, and the landowner is holding us back right now.

I put all of our equipment on one job to keep people busy, but we’re about to expand again.

That’s why we do five to seven sides.”

The company is also working a side loaded with big trees. “We have one side that’s being cut and bucked by hand because the wood is so large. Second growth stuff.

It’s a real big side—five million board feet,” Heesacker adds.

Realistic Goals

Through the years, Heesacker has learned that setting realistic goals can keep his company strong and moving forward. Like many other logging companies, A-1 was nearly shut down when the economy tanked in 2008. During the six months they were without work, Heesacker and his top manager went to work every day and completely

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A-1 is big on Cats, including this 324D with a Southstar head. analyzed the operation of the company. They looked for every opening to increase efficiency from repairing hoses to the overall business model. What they learned from those meetings and previous lessons led to the company’s renaissance in 2012.

“We’re more efficient this year than we

TimberWest September/October 2016 www.forestnet.com

were last year,” Heesacker notes. “Our numbers are tighter, and it’s because of what we began in 2012. It’s the organization. We’re a team.

Sure, a lot of it has to do with management and equipment, but it’s the crew that makes it.

It’s the attitude. They like working here.”

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The Toughest Jobs Need

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There are no limits for operators with the right Tracks. Olofsfors offers a wide range of Track models and linkage systems for various machine configurations and ground conditions. Superior quality and performance for increased productivity.

Where the road ends, ECO-TRACKS take over.

No matter the conditions – WE HAVE THE TRACKS.

ECO-TRACKS, the name you can trust Olofsfors tracks carry your machine FORWARD, regardless of terrain.

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HARVESTING

ON STEEP SLOPES PONSSE NORTH AMERICA INC 90712 Huntley Court Coburg, OR 97408 Office: 541-343-6926 Sales: Jouni Viitikka Tel. 541-554-6358

PONSSE’S EIGHT-WHEEL HARVESTERS can be used for harvesting wood from slopes where mechanised harvesting was previously unprofitable, even impossible. The agility and ease of use of the crane and the stability provided by the eight wheels increase productivity considerably. The machine’s centre of gravity remains low when operating the longer reach of the crane, driving comfort is better, and there is no need to sacrifice the power of the machine.

TRACTION AID WINCH can be mounted on PONSSE machines* harvesting on extreme steep slopes. The winch is synchronized with the machine’s driving speed, and does not require any special actions while operating. Tethered PONSSE harvesters and forwarders provide unbeatable productivity with minimal ground disturbance even in the most demanding conditions. *available for Ergo 8w and Bear harvesters and Buffalo, Elephant and ElephantKing forwarders.

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$1,000 Cash Rebate Currently Offered to American Loggers Council Members!

Peterbilt is offering the American Loggers Council (ALC) an opportunity to bring Peterbilt quality and performance to its members. Members are invited to come into an authorized Peterbilt dealership and make their best deals on a new Day Cab, (select models and configurations) to take advantage of these great incentives: Members receive a $1,000 CASH rebate

on all eligible Class 8 units including Models 567, 367, and 365 (limited to Day Cab configurations only for all eligible models).

• Members receive a $500 CASH rebate on a Model 348.

• Members receive a $250 CASH rebate on a Model 337.

• Limited to three (3) rebates per member for calendar year 2016.

• ALC members must be in good standing for at least 90 days prior to taking retail delivery.

ALC members must take retail delivery between January 1 and December 31, 2016.

Retail delivery is defined as the time the ownership of the truck is transferred from the Peterbilt dealer to the customer. For more information, visit www.amloggers.com.

Pacific Logging Congress

The Pacific Logging Congress will hold their annual meeting in San Diego, California, November 7 – 9, 2016. Convention dates are Monday through Wednesday, and the business sessions will be held Tuesday through Wednesday. For more information about the meeting, as well as the Marriott Coronado Island Resort and Spa, where it will be held, visit www. Pacificloggingcongress.com.

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™

The Oregon Logging Conference is gearing up for its 2017 conference, February 24 and 25, at the Lane Events Center in Eugene, Oregon.

One of the annual events is the log loader competition. Any skilled operator who would like to compete is encouraged to apply now. If you sign up before January 25, you will receive a 79th OLC T-shirt. The application form can be found on the website, www.oregonloggingconference.com.

Idaho Forest Group Files Applications for 129GVW Truck Routes

The Idaho Logger reported that the Local Highway Technical Assistance Council (LHTAC) announced that the Idaho Forest Group has filed a formal Request for Designated Routes Up to 129,000 lbs. on the various highways and roadways in North Idaho. Formal application was filed on September 16 with ITDDistrict 1.

Idaho State Logging Safety Program Rules Get Updated

The Idaho State Logging Safety Program had been virtually the same since the 1980.

In fact, the ALC helped to put the current program in place around 1987.

There have recently been some updates to the rules (although most are exactly the same). The new rules can be found at https://adminrules.idaho.gov/bulletin/index. html The proposed rules were published on October 5 and a public comment period will be open until October 26th. After that time, the rules go into the legislative process where they will be either accepted or rejected.

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LumberjackCompetition

Collision of Champions

Lumberjack World Championships 2016

By Kenneth Bonnes

N

ine. That’s the number of times Nancy Zalewski (WI) had won the title of All-Around Lady Jill Champion. In 2014, Erin LaVoie (Spokane, WA) wrested the title from Nancy’s grip. In 2015, Lindsay Daun (IL) captured the title. Those three champions would again collide in Hayward at the 57th Lumberjack World Championships.

Jack & Jill

Erin LaVoie

The first title to be contested by the three was Jack & Jill. As in 2015, the crosscut of Daun and her long-time partner, Dave Jewett (NY), was the first to exit the bottom of the log. LaVoie and Jason Lentz (WV) came in fifth with Zalewski and Mike Sullivan (CT) following in sixth place.

It wasn’t long before the women were again onstage for the Jill & Jill competition.

The team of Zalewski and Daun prevailed by a narrow margin (.08 seconds), defeating last year’s champions, Denise Ott (MN) and Andrea Furber-Card (CA). LaVoie and teammate Svenja Bauer (Germany placed sixth.

Women’s Single Buck

The final crosscut event (Women’s Single Buck) saw Kendall Kunelius (NH) out-saw Daun by a full second, denying her the top points. LaVoie was right behind at third, Furber-Card tallied fourth, and Zalewski came in fifth.

Lindsay Daun had done well with the misery-whip, having scored first, second, and second over three days in the Single Buck; second, fourth, and first in the Jill & Jill; and second, first, and first in the Jack & Jill. Washington’s Erin LaVoie was somewhere back in the pack. But in this case ‘somewhere’ wasn’t very far back.

LaVoie had tallied second, fifth, and third in the Single Buck while finishing third, fourth, and fifth in the Jack & Jill.

LaVoie’s ‘weak’ event was the Jill & Jill where the LaVoie/Bauer team finished sixth, eighth, and sixth. Although Daun had the lead, she was out of the Women’s Underhand and would not compete on any of the three nights—which equates to zero points, giving LaVoie an opportunity to move ahead.

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Competition Coming from Behind

Chopping the underhand is perhaps the most grueling event for the women and never was a favorite event of Daun’s., and her only hope for earning the all-around title was for others to out-chop LaVoie. the fitness trainer from Spokane. That is exactly what happened on Thursday and Friday.

The performances of Martha King (PA) and Amanda Beams (Australia) placed LaVoie in third. On Friday, LaVoie was again edged to third place. Although LaVoie beat King’s performance from the day before with a time of 28.91 seconds, King took her last swing at 27.66, close behind Beams’ 27.43 seconds. Not only did they finish ahead of LaVoie, Beams and King came very close to matching Zalewski’s 2011 world record of 27.28. It is easy to see what Erin LaVoie faced as she awaited the championship round. And Lindsay Daun could only watch from the sidelines.

Saturday King finished second behind the only woman who bested the half-minute mark as LaVoie posted 29.76 seconds to take the Women’s Underhand World Championship and with it, the All-Around Lady Jill World Championship. LaVoie’s rankings in the underhand event more than made up for finishing behind Daun in the crosscut events.

Erin LaVoie

Men’s Competition

Competition on the men’s side was equally intense. Dave Jewett, the 2015 allaround champion, suffered a shoulder injury one week before he competed at Hayward.

Still, a champion gives it his best, and Jewett did all of that. King of the crosscut sawyers, Jewett took the 2016 world titles in the Single Buck, the Double Buck with partner J.P. Mercier (QC), and Jack & Jill with partner Lindsay Daun.

Cogar Makes His Mark

Double Buck with partner Jason Lentz (WV) and fourth in the Jack & Jill with partner Kate Witkowski (WI).

Like LaVoie, Cogar made up for lost time when chopping was the method of severance. Cogar finished second in the Standing Chop with a time of 23.96 seconds, just 0.78 seconds behind Australia’s Laurence O’Toole. Cogar won the Springboard with a blistering 44.96, nearly 15 seconds ahead of second place Jason Wynyard (New Zealand).

And Cogar also took the Underhand with a

In the aforementioned sawing events Matt Cogar (WV) finished second in the

(continued on page 30)

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29

LumberjackCompetition

Relay

(continued from page 29) time of 20.25, exactly five seconds ahead of O’Toole. Even then Cogar wasn’t done.

When the awards were presented, Erin LaVoie was introduced as the 2016 AllAround Lady Jill World Champion, and Matt Cogar received the 2016 Tony Wise All-Around World Champion title. Then it was time for the final event: the Relay.

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For the relay event, Andrea FurberCard’s team had Cogar at the anchor position of Standing Chop. As the event unfolded, Nancy Zalewski’s team took the lead by a few seconds. Nearing the end, Martin Komarek (Czech Republic) went to work with a vengeance, and his axe blows sounded ominous.

Cogar waited pensively like a coiled

TimberWest September/October 2016 www.forestnet.com

rattlesnake that had swallowed dynamite.

And then, he exploded. Rarely does a lumberjack spectator get to see an axe swung with such force, frequency, and accuracy for the duration of an event. Matt Cogar had clearly made up his mind to win. And he did.

It takes an out-of-this-world performance to beat a world-class lumberjack like Komarek.

At that moment, Cogar was out-of-thisworld.

TW

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ContractorProfile

FIELD TEST G win & Sons Logging Inc. has had a longstanding relationship with Caterpillar, so it made sense when the equipment manufacturer turned to Rick Gwin to field test a new machine—the Cat 538 Forest Machine.

The Company

Rick Gwin began working in logging right out of high school. His father, who

goes by the same name, worked in logging and started the business in 1958, when he was in his 20s. The younger Gwin took over the business in 2000, and his father now is retired.

Gwin & Sons is based in Veronia, Oregon, just east of the Clatsop and Tillamook state forests and the mountains of the Coast Range. Gwin described the terrain as a mix of flat ground, hills, and steep slopes.

Gwin & Sons Logging Runs New Cat Through Its Paces The company usually works under contract for larger timber companies, normally paid by the ton or board foot. It contracts for such companies as Stimson Lumber, Bell Lumber & Pole, Stella-Jones, and the timber management affiliate of John Hancock, the financial services company. Stimson operates stud mills in the region, and Stimson also produces dimension lumber. Bell Lumber & Pole and Stella-Jones produce utility poles, among other things.

“We’re running four jobs right now,” says Gwin.

Gwin & Sons currently employs 13 workers and averages about 25 loads of wood per day, predominantly Douglas fir and hemlock.

All Cat

Gwin & Sons purchased its first Cat machine in the 1980s and has relied almost exclusively on the Cat brand since the early 1990s. Today the company operates a fleet of all Cat equipment with the exception of Waratah processing attachments.

A Cat 521B track feller buncher is used for felling and works ahead of the other crews. (Gwin also subcontracts with North Coast Cutting for some hand felling and relies on trucking companies to haul the wood.)

Gwin & Sons has eight Cat 320D FM forest machines; it is also equipped with one each of the Cat 330C, Cat 322B, Cat 324D FM, Cat 325D FM, and Cat 568 forest machines. Four of the Cat forest machines are equipped with Waratah processor attachments to process wood at a landing, and the company also has a spare Waratah head. The other Cat forest machines are operated as shovels to move and handle wood or move and stack wood at a landing. The Cat 330C is an exception; it is equipped with winches to function as a yarder with an Acme slack puller carriage.

Rounding out the fleet are a pair of Cat 517 track skidders, a Cat D7 bulldozer, and a Cat 312 excavator.

Gwin says Cat machines are easy to get parts for, and the equipment is rebuildable.

“Cat people are great to work with.”

Field Test

Gwin & Sons has been field testing the new Cat 538 Forest Machine in the log loader configuration since early this year.

“We’re supposed to put about 1,200

Rick Gwin of Gwin & Sons Logging Inc.

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ContractorProfile hours on it,” he says. The machine had 1,100 hours on it at the time of this interview in mid-August.

In the log loader configuration, the 538 can be used for log loading, shovel logging, power clamp applications, and mill yard activities. It is also available in a general forestry configuration for road building, stroke delimber applications, grapple applications, site preparation, and processing.

The Cat 538 Forest Machine features improved fuel efficiency and optimized work tools. Horsepower and swing torque have increased, and wider track frames enhance stability.

The 538 is equipped with a 164 hp Cat C7.1 ACERT Tier 4 Final engine. The larger engine generates an 11 percent increase in horsepower, providing the power for strong multi-functioning and improved implement performance. It features uniform speed control to maintain a constant engine speed of 1,500 rpm—regardless of load. The result is unprecedented fuel economy, according to Caterpillar.

The hydraulic system delivers a higher level of efficiency and power that translates to a boost in performance: an increase in hydraulic flow, an 18 percent increase in swing torque, and a 26 percent increase in lift capacity.

Gwin & Sons employee Russ Lende operated the new Cat 538, performing shovel logging tasks and loading wood. Lende works with a timber faller who selectively picks and cuts trees for use as utility poles.

“Just a two-man operation,” said Gwin.

“It’s a little heavier,” says Gwin. “Huskier undercarriage. Maybe a bit smoother.”

The Cat 538 also offers new grouser options. “So it gets around better,” he adds.

“It runs different,” says Gwin. “You can hardly ever hear the rpm go up or down, so it’s a different feel from the 320 . . . When it’s running . . . the motor never changes pitch.

The other ones would rev down and rev up.

This one is different. It runs constant. It’s a

Two Cat 320D FM’s working at roadside. One is loading logs manufactured for use as transmission poles onto a truck while the other, equipped with a Waratah head, is processing.

A Cat 330C with Pullmaster winches and Acme carriage and a Cat 320D FM keeping the landing clear. different feel inside the cab, which probably makes it more comfortable.”

After 1,100 hours, Gwin says they only ran into one minor issue. “It’s really been pretty bulletproof—pretty bug-free,” he says.

New machine models sometimes still have

some kinks that need to be worked out, he notes Would he buy one?

“Yes,” replied Gwin.

Gwin & Sons has been using Cat forest machine models since the company first

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ContractorProfile

Gwin has relied on Peterson Cat since it acquired a predecessor dealership about five or six years ago. “A lot of the same guys are still there,” Gwin says.

And if he needs support or assistance, “They’re right there,” he adds. purchased a 330-A model in 1992. “We just sold it two years ago with about 40,000 hours on it,” says Gwin, whose 27-year-old son, Cody, works in the business and operates a Cat 320D FM Forest Machine.

Still Overcoming the Recession

The company was hit “real hard” by the recession that was triggered by the economic decline of 2008-09, acknowledged Gwin, and he had to lay off employees.

“We were down, not doing much for six to eight months ... It’s tough.” Most employees

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returned as business picked up, and Gwin was able to re-hire them.

Actually, business began to decline in the latter part of 2006 when one of his timber company customers cut back on volume.

When the economy nosedived a few years later, “It was kind of a double whammy.”

Taking Care of Business

Business still has not returned to prerecession levels, he indicated. In fact, the 13 employees are down from about 20 a year ago, and down from about 35 when Gwin

TimberWest September/October 2016 www.forestnet.com

assumed ownership of the company.

The employee running the yarder works with two men in the brush who set the chokers. Two mechanics and a part-time mechanic work in the shop, with one doubling as the feller buncher operator. One employee staffs the office. The rest operate equipment.

Gwin’s day-to-day role in the business is managing it and lining up more work. “I’m mainly looking for new jobs and getting them ready to go, and visiting jobs and answering questions and helping the guys out as much as I can,” he said.

Gwin’s company offers 11 days of vacation, profit sharing, and a 401(k) retirement plan with a matching contribution by the business.

Merit Award

Gwin & Sons was honored by the Oregon Department of Forestry with the 2013 Astoria District Merit Award. The award recognized the company for adjusting its operations to balance the needs and concerns of both the landowner—in this case, Stimson Lumber—and the community.

He has few other interests, indicated Gwin, who is a member of Associated Oregon Loggers. “My hobby is my job, I guess.”

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Krehbiel Named Port of Longview CEO

The Board of Commissioners unanimously appointed Norm Krehbiel to lead the Port of Longview as Chief Executive Officer.

Krehbiel has served as the Interim CEO since January.

“While serving as Interim CEO, it was apparent that he was the clear choice to lead the Port of Longview into the future,” said Commission President Bob Bagaason. “Norm is well respected by the staff and the community at large, and we are delighted he will lead the port as our official CEO.” Krehbiel joined the Port of Longview in 1993 as the Director of Facilities and Engineering, managing the construction and maintenance of nearly 850 acres of infrastructure and property development. In 2008, he was appointed Deputy Executive Director and later Chief Operating Officer before being named Interim CEO this year.

Rotochopper Hosts 6th Annual Demo Day

With over 200 attendees, Rotochopper’s 6th annual Demo Day was its largest event yet, bringing in guests from all over the world to see the “Perfect in One Pass” advantage live and in person.

The day began with tours of the state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, giving attendees the opportunity to see Rotochopper grinders in every stage of manufacture, and guests were able to meet the teams who design, build, and support their Rotochopper equipment.

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The demonstrations began with Rotochopper’s 950 hp B-66 showing off the convenience of a Track & Dolly system. It came into the yard on tires, switched to tracks, and was ready to grind logs and whole trees within minutes. Over the course of the day, Rotochopper completed more than 20 demos with a variety of raw materials and end products, featuring 10 machines.

Bandit Launches New Mobile-Friendly Website

Bandit Industries has a new home on the internet. The website address is still the same—www.banditchippers.com—but the site features all new content with easy-to-navigate menus. The new website is also optimized for mobile devices, so it can be easily viewed and navigated through smart phones and tablets.

“Our previous website did a good job of showcasing Bandit equipment and current news, but it wasn’t designed for use with mobile devices, and that’s something we very much wanted to address,” said Bandit Industries Marketing Manager Aaron Sorrels. “When we dove into this update, it was clear from the beginning that the best way forward was to start from scratch, so that’s exactly what we did.”

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Keynote Speaker – Merv George Jr., Forest Supervisor Six Rivers National Forest

T

he OLC is excited to have Merv

George Jr. as this year’s keynote speaker.

Merv George Jr., born and raised in Humboldt County, has been a lifelong resident of the Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation and the Eureka area of Northern California.

Merv graduated from Humboldt State University with a degree in Native American Studies and has spent more than 22 years in public service and managing natural resources. Merv also served four years on the Hoopa Valley Tribal Council, two of those years as their Tribal Chairman in the late 90s.

Prior to joining the Forest Service, Merv served as the executive director of the California Indian Forest and Fire Management Council and also as the

administrator for the Klamath River InterTribal Fish & Water Commission. He has served the Forest Service at the regional and

forest level since 2008, and his first assignment was Regional Tribal Relations program manager for the Pacific Southwest Region. In 2011, Merv returned home to the Six Rivers National Forest to serve as the deputy forest supervisor.

From January 2014 through May 2014, Merv served as the acting forest supervisor on the Lassen National Forest and was then selected as the 13th forest supervisor for the Six Rivers National Forest in August of 2014.

Merv and his wife, Wendy, have four children, and in his spare time, he enjoys hunting, boating, cutting firewood, and playing the drums in his father’s rock band.

(OLC continued on page 38)

Thursday, February 23, 2017 — Wheeler Pavilion, 8:30am — Check website for more program details. |

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14th Annual Desserts for Dreams Supports SafeHaven Humane Society

F

irst Lady Marla Wimer invites you to join her at the 14th Annual Ladies Desserts for Dreams Charity Event, which will take place Friday, February 24 at the Eugene Hilton.

Enjoy a light lunch and delicious desserts from the many bakeries in the Eugene and Springfield area.

The lunch, desserts, wine, champagne, and an alcohol-free beverage choice will all be served from 12:30 to 3:00 p.m. Tickets for this event are $30 with 100 percent of the proceeds going to Marla’s chosen charity—SafeHaven Humane Society.

This organization is very dear to Marla.

SafeHaven’s vision is “a community where

every adoptable, treatable companion animal has a loving home and where every loving home has the opportunity to care for a companion animal.” For more information, visit

their website at www.safehavenhumane.org.

For more information on how to purchase tickets, please call (541) 686-9191.

Business Seminars at a Glance

D

uring the conference, the OLC will offer these three Business seminars on Friday, February 24.

For full schedule check www.oregonloggingconference.com Business Seminar 1: How to Build a Kick@$% Logging Crew

What logging business doesn’t want to have a highly skilled and highly efficient crew out in the woods every day? This presentation will provide supervisors the tools they need, because a crew supervisor can make or break a company.

The seminar will be moderated by Riley Fogarty of Merrill & Ring and presented by Wendy Farrand, a training consultant from Limerick, Maine.

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Business Seminar 2: Loggers for the Future

The strength of our industry tomorrow depends on what we do today as a logger, businessperson, and member of the logging community. This seminar will look at the incoming workforce and share ideas and solutions for how to attract and retain a base of professionals to keep the wood flowing.

Wendy Farrand will be presenting this business seminar, as well, and Bodie Dowding of Interfor will be moderating.

TimberWest September/October 2016 www.forestnet.com

Business Seminar 3: Updates on Steep Slope Logging with a Feller Buncher

The future shift to plantation harvest management on inland forests will require cost-effective and innovative equipment.

This seminar will discuss a timberland manager’s perspective on how steep slope logging techniques can make harvesting plantations more cost-effective while increasing safety in the logging industry.

Brandon Miller, a District Forester for Potlatch Corporation in St. Maries, Idaho, will present this seminar, which will be moderated

by Steve Henson, also from Potlatch.

Scholarship Benefit Auction

O

n Thursday and Friday mornings, Thursday, Feb. 23

February 23 and 24, the OLC Foundation will hold a benefit auction with 100 percent of the proceeds going to support scholarships to help deserving students with their tuition and to play vital roles in our industry’s future. The auctions will be held during breakfast each morning in the Wheeler Pavilion.

The OLC Foundation is a 501c3 tax deductible foundation. If you are interested in donating an auction item to this worthy charity, please contact the Oregon Logging Conference Foundation office at (541) 686-9191.

Here are just some of the donations so far — and you can visit the OLC website for added items.

Need Financing?

WCLA Credit Union will offer 12 months 0% interest financing for purchaser of felling head. Buyer must be credit approved and qualify for financing.

• Two truck seats (sponsor, DSU Peterbilt) • $1,000 Gift card toward purchase of pickup tires (sponsor, Superior Tire Service) • Truck seat (sponsor, Brattain International) • $5,000 gift certificate toward purchase of a set of Olosfors tracks (sponsor, Ponsse, Coburg, Ore.) • Wood carving (sponsor, Ryan Anderson, Sculptures in Motion)

Friday, Feb. 24

• Truck seat (sponsor, Papé Kenworth) • Wood carving (sponsor, Jay Peppard) • Pair of Michelin front truck tires (sponsor, Farwest Tire Factory) • Truck seat (sponsor, Gold Coast Truck Repair) • Southstar 750 felling head, with reserve bid, located at outside exhibit area (sponsor, Southstar)

See What OLC 2017 Has to Offer

The Oregon Logging Conference team is keeping the website up to date, posting all the latest information: • Full Program • Sponsors • Conference Registration • Exhibitors • Log Loader Competition Reg. • Accommodations • Family Day • Newsletter • High School Skills • Wood Carving Event • Keynote Speaker • Social Events

For Information Call: 541-686-9191 www.oregonloggingconference.com

Winch Assist ClimbMAX

The production of ClimbMAX steep slope winch-assist machines continues in New Zealand, even as sales to customers in other countries continue to ramp up.

The Nelson-based consortium has now received an order for its 11th machine to

be built for the North American market.

The rising offshore interest did prompt it to look at assembling them closer to those customers.

Mr. Jensen says North American loggers are facing many of the same safety and steep slope issues as contractors in New Zealand and they have recognised the value of the ClimbMAX in helping them overcome the challenges.

“A lot of the forests . . . don’t have tracks on the top of hills, or the ability to build them, to allow a two-machine tethering system to work, but the ClimbMAX isn’t restricted by where it can operate and that’s what they love about it,” he says.

The latest ClimbMAX machines are based around a Caterpillar 336, which is completely disassembled and then re-built with a custom cab and body to get as much weight low down for improved stability. The winch is built into the chassis and runs 7/8” swaged rope out to a buried log or suitable stump up the hill to assist with traction. A rear blade is set up for use as an emergency braking system. www.totalharvest.co.nz

Eco-Forst

In all places where unsecured driving leads to too increased risk for human and machine, the solid T-WINCH 15.1 traction winch assistant can be used.

Not only is the application of the traction winch a considerable cost saving for the operator because of the verifiable reduction of fuel consumption, but the use of T-WINCH also represents an environmentally conscious approach to timber harvesting.

The remarkable construction together 40

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with the functional design, ensures an approved and reliable operation. An easy reach of the operation field is provided by the help of the crawler movement and the radio control. The plate in the front part of the machine provides even more stability in rough terrain.

The T-WINCH is powered by an IVECO C87 Tier 4 final, with a power output of 300 kW. It features a working hydraulic system — traction drive (1x210 cm3), wich impulse (1 x 210 cm3), has a maximum pulling force of 150 kN, a maximum cable speed of 8.2 km/h, a wire rope diameter of 24mm, and a wire rope length of 520 m.

With the use of T-WINCH, no undesirable rear weight and no structural alteration works of the basic machine are required. No matter how the machine is used for working on steep terrain, a maximum of safety is provided together with a minimum of installation work.

Independent steering along forest roads is possible by uncoupling the rope. An easy release of the safety rope ensures the possibility of leaving the logging trail at any time.

This allows timber storing along forest roads to be achieved easily. www.ecoforst.at

drums operate completely independent of each other and automatically adjust so the operator can focus on the task at hand.

In addition, the Tractionline system allows for the steep slope machine to be pulled right up to the bucket with the engineered wide sheaves. These wide sheaves also allow for easy transport so the operator does not have to handle the chains at all. Just unhook and chains stay on winch base for transport. www.tractionline.co.nz

Falcon

The Falcon Winch Assist system can be fitted to any Excavator over 27 tonnes, and the single drum 1⅛-inch roped provides continuous traction support for felling and shoveling machines on slopes up to 50°/110%.

With the option of 500 - 650 meters of rope length, the Falcon Winch Assist can be designed to suit your specific requirements.

Also, multiple safety features and operating alarms give the operator the safety and security to concentrate on the task at hand.

Designed to be a multi purpose machine, The Falcon Winch Assist can be used effectively for digging, loading and shoveling.

The felling machine operator only has to

Technical Forest Solutions

Technical Forest Solutions LLC (TFS) imports products from EMS Rotarua of New Zealand. TFS along with Electrical Machinery Service (EMS) are bringing this technology to the Northwest to promote safe cable assist logging in North America.

Tractionline’s 2-cable system has a 5-to-1 safety factor, multiple redundancies, and can mount on common excavators. The Tractionline system has remarkable tons of constant tension. The constant tension system not only creates a safe work environment it also allows for extremely stable, reliable operations even when the operator is not activating the winches. In other words, the system has “live” tension control anytime the auto mode is enabled. Both

TimberWest September/October 2016 www.forestnet.com

manage one rope when operating down the slope reducing complexity and potential for snags. The winch system design provides less mechanical and electrical complexity and therefore opportunity for faults and breakdowns. And, the winch unit is enclosed by (continued on page 42)

TechReview (continued from page 40) rear guarding for protection with easy access points for maintenance.

The Falcon winch assist has been designed and tested through thousands of operational hours in a wide range of slope and soil conditions, and features a number of safety features.

• Overspeed Alarm triggering a rope management system in the Winch, which automatically slows it down to prevent shock-loading.

• Movement Alarm to alert the operator is the Winch Machine experiences any movement.

• Cab Door Tamper Detection Alarm.

• Over Tension Alarms.

• Drum Over Speed Alarm/Arrest.

• Maximum Rope Pay Out Alarm/Arrest.

• Live Feed Camera System. www.dcforestryequipment.com

HSM

In recent years, HSM has advanced steep slope technology for gear units with multiple innovative solutions and continued to invest in this technology in order to meet customers’ increasing needs and contribute to their success.

The HSW-15 Traction winch, designed for harvesters and forwarders, has 500m cable length capacity and a pulling capacity up to 15 tons. The HSM Synchro Drive allows a smooth and safe driving on extremely steep slopes while conserving soils and much as possible.

The Force-Synchro Drive distributes force to the cable and the wheel drive in accordance with the operator’s specifications.

After the operator preselects the force distribution and maximum cable force, the system automatically manages these forces, which prevents cable overload and, most importantly, soil damage.

The force-synchronised drive concept exhibits significant advantages over other well-known transmissions, which are either speed-synchronised or preset to produce a constant cable force.

The built-in safety features, like a slope

indicator and its unique traction test, make it and ideal solution for professional loggers.

Some other features of the HSW-15 include: • Constant adjustable tractive fore up to 15 ton, regardless of the number of cable layers on the drum.

• Durably designed planetary transmission with wet disk brake.

• Remote control.

• Sharply reduced cable wear—the cable is only wrapped once around the drum. www.inovforest.com

Island Pacific Equipment

Island Pacific Equipment Ltd. offers Rob (Remote Operated Bulldozer) for steep slope felling. Rob features a twin winch system and each rope has a 26-ton safe working load; a spring-loaded fail-safe brake on each winch drum; hydrostatic drive for

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www.gemchainbar.com 800-455-8471 sales@gemchainbar.com 42

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TimberWest September/October 2016 www.forestnet.com

FX95 Terra PlaTe FX95 Terra Plate with Rocky Spikes - The ultimate multi-terrain track for the most demanding conditions.

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TechReview greater operator control; tension monitors; a sturdy bulldozer base; a detection system with instant shut down of the drums; and an automatic machine shutdown if water overheats, the oil runs out, or a hose blows.

Operators enjoy the many benefits, including: • Year-round operation; • Safety on steep slopes with the ability to work safely on slopes up to 45° (100%); • A wider reach. The fairleads go up to 45° each side of the bulldozer, so the tethered machine has a wider scope. This means that more efficient felling patterns can be implemented, resulting in productivity gains; • Productivity. A single operator can cut an average of 771 tons a day; • Less soil disturbance. Rob minimizes the “footprint” left on the hillside; and • Staff safety: Comprehensive staff training so is provided so that operators can confidently operate Rob in a safe manner. www.remotebulldozer.com

Komatsu

In 2017, Komatsu will introduce its European Traction Aid Winch technology for harvesters and forwarders in North America. The proven system aids traction by utilizing a capstan winch device. It has

separate spooling of rope on the drum and there are nine rotations of rope around the capstan drive. The benefits of this design include less stress and wear on the rope and better control of the rope.

It is a compact design with excellent ground clearance and rough terrain capability.

The Harvester Traction Aid Winch is equipped with hydraulic tilt and quick couplings, which makes it easy to fold the winch down to open the hood, and to adjust for different angles of the rope. It can easily be adjusted from steep slopes to terraced roads.

The winch is easy to dismount and the harvester cab/crane tilt gives better net slewing torque on steep slopes.

The Forwarder Traction Aid Winch has an optional integrated crane tilt with higher net crane slewing torque and low height of tilt. The rope-feeding device ensures that the rope is always stretched inside of the winch, to increase reliability and prevent rope entanglement.

The winch control is integrated with the machine’s MaxiXplorer control system, which enables automatic measurement of rope tension, adjustment of rope tension and adjustment of rope speed to match the machine’s travelling speed.

The Traction Aid Winch is equipped with a remote control.

There are several operation modes: for traction, on slopes, for flat transportation, and from road to nearest landing.

Ponsse

PONSSE Synchrowinch allows effective logging in areas where previously only expensive and slow special logging methods have been used. The winch speed is automatically synchronized to machine driving speed so that the operator doesn’t need to operate or adjust it during working. Cable tension can be set and winch can be operated (continued on page 44)

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(continued from page 43) from a remote control unit, making it easy to hook the cable to e.g. a tree or a stump uphill.

Optional tiltable loader makes loader working efficient and easy.

Benefits of the traction assistance are many: • Higher productivity. Forwarding is possible to both directions.

• Due to the tiltable seat, the driver can keep a relaxed sitting position while working on steep slopes. This makes the work ergonomical and less tiring.

• Traction assistance winch helps to widen the area of operation—same machines can handle steeper places.

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• Winch energy efficiency is approximately 80%; because of direct transmission of traction force to movement and no slip. No slipping means mitigated impact to soil and lower erosion risk.

• Lower fuel consumption and decreased transmission part wearing are pros of traction assistance compared to operating without winch in slopes.

• Investment cost compared to fully mechanized cable yarding systems is remarkably lower. Traction assistance logging has lower transporting costs (two machines vs. four machines) and system involves only two operators at the same time.

PONSSE Synchrowinch is available for PONSSE Ergo and Bear harvesters and Buffalo, Elephant and ElephantKing forwarders. www.ponsse.com

is controlled via automatic proportional remote control from the cab of the cutting or skidding machine. An electronic load cell with data recorder limits line pull for smooth and safe operation. The cutting machine cab is equipped with a high resolution display showing: winch line pull, wire rope distance, cut count, and live video of winch operation and the surrounding area. A second display give a live GPS harvest map showing harvest boundaries, terrain profile, machine location, and skyline locations. Summit offers unmatched product support, and our system uses North American sourced components for industry best parts availability.

Options include a haywire winch for easier rig-up when cutting above the road, and additional drums to allow the system to also operate as a yarder. Eric Krume @ 360-7492187, or Bruce Skurdahl @ 503-806-9323.

T-Mar

T-Mar Industries developed a winchassist machine for steep slope harvesting for west coast conditions by studying systems around the world.

The LC150 was designed and built in six months for Starks Timber Processing of Puyallup, Washington. Starks contracts

Summit Attachment & Machinery

Summit Attachment & Machinery, a leader in hydraulic logging winch systems, has developed a STEEP SLOPE WINCH ASSIST system that offers safe and simple operation in a rugged and dependable package.

With systems on excavators, log loaders, and feller-bunchers, Summit offers the flexibility to supply a system to meet any loggers needs. Whether assisting a feller buncher with a hot saw, a leveling reach machine with a directional felling head, or a large grapple skidder, the SUMMIT STEEP SLOPE WINCH ASSIST system offers unmatched performance.

The core of the system is an extreme duty winch, which holds 1850’ of wire rope, delivering a wide operating range. The winch

TimberWest September/October 2016 www.forestnet.com

for Weyerhaeuser and Simpson Timber and had experimented with winch-assist using a Lantec yarder. Knowing what they wanted, Starks worked with T-Mar to match the design to their vision.

Features include: full remote control operation; constant tension technology from the marine industry; guyline drum; tension monitoring and recording capabilities; three high definition wide-angle cameras with (continued on page 46)

TechReview (continued from page 44) LED lights provide full visual coverage of drums and driving environment; fleet angle compensator and lagged (grooved) drum for accurate spooling; and an emergency stop buttons on all four corners. Also, weight is within legal weight limit for highway moves without a special permit.

The machine is inherently stable when static to an angle of 800. Its engine can operate up to a 450 slope grade.

Other features include flashing hazard lights and audible beeper indicates remote operation and ted and green marker lights indicate the left and right sides of the machine allowing the operator to easily determine machine orientation from a distance.

A new version of the LC150 will incorporate changes including: larger main drum capacity (1” x 1950’), larger optional guyline (1 1/8” x 150’), optional strawline drum (3/8” x 4 500’, 15,000 lb. line pull), a pivoting fairlead with larger sheaves, and a machine motion detector. New weight: 60,000 lb. www.t-mar.com TW

New at DEMO International 2016 Below are some of the innovative new machinery and products that debuted at DEMO International 2016 in B.C. in September.

Cat

Caterpillar bought visitors up-to-speed on two new Cat forest machine models, the 538 and the 558. They are the first models in the 500 series to meet US EPA Tier 4 Final emission standards.

Both machines were unveiled at DEMO International and feature outstanding fuel efficiency and optimized work tools while increasing horsepower and swing torque, says the company.

Like other Cat Forest Machines, the 538 is available in a general forestry version for road building, stroke delimbing, grapple applications, site preparation and processing.

Both the 538 and the 558 are available in a log loader configuration for log loading, shovel logging, butt-n-top/power clam applications, and millyard activities.

The Cat 538 and Cat 558 feature a new machine design, new engine, and optimized components and work tools to provide exceptional fuel savings and also excellent productivity. Machine and hydraulic performance are boosted by increased engine horsepower. www.cat.com

installed on the Ponsse Bear harvester and on over 20-tonne, track-based machines.

Ponsse says that this new harvester head model offers superior performance considering its size. A powerful feed, combined with its geometry which firmly supports larger trunks on feed rollers, guarantees extreme productivity and fuel economy. Thanks to the Opti automation system, it has excellent cutting precision, and trees are always fed directly to the specific length at maximum speed.

Ponsse H8HD is also available with a top saw for processing curvy trees with a lot of branches. www.ponsse.com Setting a new industry standard for the swing machine market, the highly anticipated John Deere 3154/3156G and 3754/3756G swing machines shown at DEMO offer operators increased productivity, durability and reliability.

From loading to processing big wood, the G series swing machines help loggers efficiently power through jobs.

Ponsse introduced a completely new harvester head model for big timber.

The new Ponsse H8HD harvester head is specifically designed for harvesting and processing big timber in demanding conditions. It continues the success of the smaller Ponsse H7HD harvester head and can be

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Waratah

The Waratah HTH 623C 4X4 shown at DEMO International is described as a good match for big wood or small wood. The high torque, four wheel drive system provides

John Deere

Ponsse

46

The most notable improvement on the G-series swing machines is the completely redesigned cab, which is equipped with features to increase operator comfort. The larger side-entry cab and the elevated rearentry, climate-controlled cab are more spacious than their predecessors and include fatigue-reducing features, such as excellent window clarity, ergonomic controls and isolation mounting to boost operator productivity throughout long days. In addition to the redesigned cabs, the new G-series swing machines offer a host of features designed to improve machine uptime and performance. www.johndeere.com

TimberWest September/October 2016 www.forestnet.com

outstanding performance in any application.

Multi-tree processing features, such as dual diameters, independent log shuffling and Waratah’s dual laser find-end system with auto stem alignment help with productivity, while eliminating trim waste. Easy maintenance features such as bolt-on datum plates, drive arm stoppers and centralized greasing stations provide simple field serviceability and overall component longevity.

Turn it, place it, load it with the Waratah (continued on page 48)

$200,800 2012 HYUNDAI 2925-9WL 6909 HRS, LOG LOADER W/ POWER CLAM 8.5’

$62,900 2007 DIRECT H206 11490 HRS, DIRECT FB-206 FELLER BUNCHER

$194,500 $60,200

2006 JD 2054 17180 HRS, WARATAH 622B HEAD

$49,200 2005 CAT 525B 11826 HRS, CAT SKIDDER

2004 JD 3554 C/W 624 WARATAH HEAD, 16500 HRS

$109,800

2002 LINKBELT LS2800 DENHARCO HEAD, 27000 HRS

$29,900

2010 OTHER 870 TIGERCAT ST5102 - 23" SAW, 4434 HRS

$200,800

2011 TIGERCAT 870C 23" HEAD, 11410 HRS

$173,900

2011 JD 903K C/W FR22 HEAD, 10577 HRS

$178,000

2011 JD 953 FR24B HEAD, 8256 HRS

$158,300

2011 JD 953K FR24, 5948 HRS

$177,300

2011 JD 903K 22" SAWHEAD, 11516 HRS

$132,600

2011 JD 953K REBUILT FR24 & WRIST, RECNET U, 9000 HRS

$219,000

2012 HITACHI 210 NEW ENG @ 11,000/40% REM@ULC, 13669 HRS

$132,600

2010 JD 2154D WARATASH 622B, 8695 HRS

$158,300

2010 JD 2154HRV U/C 70% NEW ENG APR 2016, 12400 HRS

$166,700

2014 HITACHI 210 PROCESSOR, 7825 HRS

$215,900

2011 JD 2154D 622B HEAD, 9649 HRS

$184,800

2012 JD 2154D 622B HEAD, 10200 HRS

$188,600

2012 JD 2154 WARATAH 622B, 9650 HRS

$208,300

2012 JD 2154D C/U BKT, DIG BKT, THUMB, 2792 HRS

$206,800

2013 JD 2154 C/W WARATAH 622B, 7461 HRS

$217,800

2014 JD 2154 C/W WARATAH 622B, 6504 HRS

$217,800

2012 JD 953K FR24B FELLING HEAD, TRACK SHOE, 7030 HRS

$198,900

2012 JD 953K FR24B HEAD, NICE CONDITION, 5123 HRS

$196,900

2013 JD 903K FR228B, ESPAR, 4823 HRS

$245,800

2011 TIGERCAT 630D TIRE CHAINS, GRAPPLE, BLADE EXT, 9312 HRS

$137,900

2013 TIGERCAT 630D 35.5 TIRES, 2 SETS CHAINS, 5703 HRS

$173,500

2012 JD 3754D 2 BKTS, THUMB, QC, 8360 HRS

$177,300

2012 JD 3754D CWS B'NT GRAPP, REAR CAB, EXC F, 7766 HRS

$287,100

1998 JD 648G 30.5 TIRES, 17457 HRS

$18,900

2008 JD 848H 35.5" TIRES, CHAINS, 12265 HRS

$52,300

2012 JD 748H 35.5 TIRES, CHAINS, 7786 HRS

$132,600

2012 JD 848H GRAPPLE, 1 SET OF CHAINS, 5412 HRS

$184,700

2014 JD 748H TIER 3 ENGINE,HEAVY DUTY BLAD, 3549 HRS

$159,100

2014 JD 848H 73/44-32 TIRES W/CHAINS, FRONT BLADE, 5310 HRS

$158,300

2003 TIGERCAT L870 23" TC HEAD, 85% REMAINING UC, 18500 HRS

$98,500

2010 LINKBELT 210LX W/ 622B HEAD, 9842 HRS

$187,500

2011 JD 848H 35.5 TIRES, 10610 HRS

$94,700

2000 TIMBERJACK 660D GRAPPLE SKIDDER, 17340 HRS

$26,500

2011 JD 1910E ROTATING CAB W/TRACKS, 13200 HRS

$264,800

Call Brandt Finance at 1-855-711-4545 to find out more about our customized, flexible financing options.

Used Equipment Clearance 1-888-227-2638 | sales@brandt.ca | www.brandtused.ca

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(continued from page 46) HTH 624CW (Control Wrist) built from Waratah’s HTH 624C. The control wrist option provides versatility along with complete control of the processor. There is no requirement for a heel rack when loading or shovel logging as the carrier’s tool cylinder provides the power and control to turn, place and load those stems. www.waratah.com

Tigercat

DEMO offered a close look at Tigercat’s new skidders, the 632E skidder and its 625E. The 632E has larger rear axles, hydraulic cylinders and main pump. The company says, the 632E features the largest grapple available in the industry today and sets a new standard for extreme productivity in timber extraction in the toughest conditions. The 632E can be equipped with grapples with an enclosed area up to 23 square feet.

The 625E, combines the front-end of the large 620E four-wheel skidder with the back end of the small, nimble 615E six wheel skidder. The result is a six-wheeled skidder suited to soft or steep terrain

OFFICIAL NOTICE OF PUBLICATION

STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT AND CIRCULATION (REQUIRED BY USPS 3526-R) 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

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9.

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Title of Publication: TimberWest, Journal of Logging & Sawmilling Publication No. 0248-58 Date of Filing: Sept. 30, 2016 Frequency of issue: Bimonthly Number of issue Published Annually: 6 Annual Subscription Price: $22 U.S., $35 CDN Complete Mailing Address of known office of publication (street, city, county, state, ZIP): 300 Admiral Way, Suite 105, Edmonds, WA 98020, (Snohomish County) Complete mailing address of headquarters or general business office of publisher: 300 Admiral Way, Suite 105, Edmonds, WA 98020 Name and complete mailing address of (Publisher): Sheila Ringdahl, 300 Admiral Way, Suite 105, Edmonds, WA 98020. (Editor): Diane Mettler, PO Box 26, Eatonville, WA 98328 Owner name, complete mailing address: Rob Stanhope, TimberWest Publications, LLC, 211 E. 1st St. North Vancouver, BC V7L 4L2 Known bondholders, mortgages, and other security holders owning or holding 1 percent or more of total amount of bonds, mortgages, or other securities: None Tax status (purpose, function, and nonprofit status of this organization and the exempt status for federal income tax purposes: Has not changed during preceding 12 months No. Copies of Average No. Publication title: TimberWest, Journal of Logging & Sawmilling Single Issue Copies Each Issue date for circulation data below: July/August 2016 Published Issue During Proceeding

Nearest to

Filing Date 12 Months Extent and nature of circulation A: Total number of copies (net press run)........................................................... 10,101..........10,104 B: Paid and/or requested circulation 1. Paid or requested outside-county mail subscriptions.................................... 6,749............6,913 2. Paid in-county subscriptions (including advertisers’ proofs/exchange copies).................................................. 0...................0 3. Sales through dealers, carriers, street vendors counter sales, other non-USPS paid distribution................................................. 0...................0 4. Other classes mailed through the USPS.......................................................... 115...............136 C: Total paid and/or requested circulation (sum of 15B, 1, 2, 3 and 4)................... 6,864............7,046 D: Free distribution by mail 1. Outside county nonrequested copies stated on PS form 3541 (include sample copies, requests over 3 years old, Request induced by a premium, bulk sales and requests including association requests, names obtained from business directories, lists and other sources)........................ 2,590............2,530 2. In-county nonrequested copies stated on PS form 3541 (include sample copies, requests over 3 years old, Request induced by a premium, bulk sales and requests including association requests, names obtained from business directories, lists and other sources).................... 0...................0 3. Nonrequested copies distributed through the USPS by other classes of mail (e.g. First-Class Mail, nonrequestor copies mailed in excess of 10% limit mailed at Standard Mail or package services rates)........................ 0...................0 4. Nonrequested copies distributed outside the mail (included pickup stands, trade shows, showrooms and other sources)...................................... 560...............450 E: Total nonrequested distribution (Sum of 15d (1), (2), and (3))............................ 3,150............2,980 F: Total Distribution (Sum of 15c and e).............................................................. 10,014..........10,029 G: Copies not distributed........................................................................................... 87.................75 H: Total (sum of 15f and g)................................................................................. 10,101..........10,029 I: Percent Paid and/or requested circulation (15c divided by f times 100)......... 68.54%........ 69.76% 16: Electronic Copy Circulation A: Requested and Paid Electronic Copies................................................................. 150...............171 B: Total Requested and Paid Print Copies (Line 15c) + Requested/Paid Electronic Copies................................................. 7,014............7,220 C: Total Requested Copy Distribution (Line 15f) + Requested/Paid Electronic Copies (Line 16a)............................... 10,164..........10,200 D: Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation (Both Print & Electronic Copies 16b divided by 16c x 100)............................................................................. 69.00%........ 70.78%

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TimberWest September/October 2016 www.forestnet.com

with excellent traction and low ground pressures. It gives loggers a “medium-sized” option with the agility of the 615E but the higher pulling power of the 620E. Tigercat unveiled the 570, a two-wheel drive harvesting head best suited to in-stand harvesting with an optimal range of 6”-20” diameter using Tigercat’s H845-series, H822-series, H855-series carriers or a 20-25 tonne forestry excavator. With independent knife arms, the 570 harvesting head excels in tough timber with large limbs and poor stem form.

Lastly, the new 880D logger is a heavy duty, purpose-built forestry carrier that can be configured for multiple uses including loading, shovel logging and roadside processing. High horsepower and robust construction mean it can handle the toughest jobs with ease.

The 880D stands out from converted excavators in durability and productive capacity. www.tigercat.com

Doosan

The biggest Doosan log loader yet, shown at DEMO International, the DX380LL-5 creates new opportunities for shovel logging and log loading operations.

Designed to provide high swing torque and impressive reach at ground level, the DX380LL-5 comes standard with a forestry cab with excellent all-around visibility, including a standard rearview camera. Boom, arm and heel cylinder guards and machine guarding help to minimize damage and machine downtime.

The engine is rated at 318 gross horsepower, operating weight is 113,500 lbs., and the working reach is 44’.

Doosan’s new and improved DX225LL-5 log loader features a Tier 4-compliant, non-DPF Doosan engine. It is enhanced with robust heel, arm and boom cylinder guards and an auto-shutdown feature. The engine delivers 167 gross horsepower, it weighs 68,123 lbs., and the working reach is 36’1”. www.doosan.com

Olofsfors

The company says replacing tire chains with Olofsfors ECOWheel Tracks means that equipment owners can say goodbye to unnecessary hours taken up by maintaining chains, adding that ECO-Wheel Tracks provide superior traction with reduced spin and grab, less maintenance and less ground disturbance, and are a very economical alternative to conventional tire chains.

KOVAX, described as an all-around track, provides good traction, good flotation, and is suited for most operating conditions.

It is the company’s newest track model and fits most machines.

KOVAX is available with cured cross members for additional flotation on sensitive ground and easier machine turning, and is available in three different link systems to fit any size machine. www.eco-tracks.com TW

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CALENDAR November 7-9 Pacific Logging Congress 107th Convention, San Diego, CA 425-413-2808, www.pacificloggingcongress.org November 10-12 26th Tree Care Industry Expo, Baltimore, MD 603-314-5380, www.tcia.org January 10-12 Associated California Loggers 44th Annual Meeting, Reno NV, 916-441-7940, www.calog.com January 10-13 Association of Equipment Distributors (AED) Summit, Chicago, IL 800-388-0650, www.aednet.org

January 18-20 74th Annual Truck Loggers Association Convention, Vancouver, BC 604-684-4291, www.tla.ca January 19 Mapping the Course, Vancouver, WA 503-226-4562, westernforestry.org January 19-21 Associated Oregon Loggers’ 47th Annual Convention, Eugene, OR 503-364-1330, www.oregonloggers.org January 30-February 3 Western Silviculture Contactors’ Assoc.

Conference & Trade Show, Victoria, BC 604-736-8660, www.wsca.ca

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www.forestnet.com September/October 2016 TimberWest

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GuestColumn

Forestry Issues Hinge on November Election

By Nick Smith

“Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch.” -Unknown

D

o you ever feel like the lamb?

Decisions affecting the forest products sector are often made by people with little knowledge of our issues.

The wolves can’t take away our right to vote. But if we want to avoid becoming their lunch, we must not only vote, but also educate ourselves, our friends, family, and especially the candidates who want our support.

We should support candidates who are committed to protecting jobs in the woods, mills, and other businesses across the forest sector. When it comes to the management of federal forest lands, it’s essential that candidates at all levels of government support solutions that address the litigation and the resulting agency “analysis paralysis” that stymie forest projects, as well as the significant cost and time it takes the Forest Service to meet regulatory requirements.

White House

The election of Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton to the White House will have a profound effect on the ability of federal forests to contribute to the nation’s wood basket in the future. Neither has said much on the issue, though Trump has expressed opposition to transferring federal lands to the states. Campaigning in the Pacific Northwest during the Republican primary, Trump pledged to “bring back timber jobs” but has yet to offer a detailed plan.

Hillary has been silent on forestry issues.

A campaign factsheet supported forest restoration efforts but also pledged to build on Bill Clinton’s Roadless Rule. Her husband presided over the dramatic decline in timber harvests on federal lands, costing America hundreds of forest products companies and thousands of jobs. Today we are experiencing the consequences of “hands off ” forest management—catastrophic wildfire, insects, disease, and unsustainable wildfire spending. If she is elected, we must work hard to ensure Hillary doesn’t repeat these mistakes.

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now negotiating with the Senate.

Whether under Republican or Democratic control, the Senate has been slow to approve the federal forest management reforms we desperately need. The Democrat-controlled Senate approved a Farm Bill in 2014 that did offer limited categorical exclusions for forest health projects designated by state governors. But the Senate has done little since, though the Resilient Federal Forests Act was recently approved by the Agriculture Committee.

If Democrats regain Senate control, chairmanship of the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee will likely shift from Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska to Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington. If you live in a state with a U.S. Senate race, challenge the candidates (or their campaign surrogates) on what they will do to end the Senate’s inaction on these pressing forestry issues.

State and Local Government

Congress

Any hope of restoring common sense to federal forest policy starts with electing a pro-forestry Congress, and thankfully there are more opportunities than ever to elect advocates from both sides of the aisle. Democrats need to gain five seats (four if Hillary is elected) to retake the U.S. Senate, which they lost only two years ago.

They face longer odds in the U.S. House of Representatives where Republicans have their largest majority since 1928.

Over the past four years, the U.S. House has repeatedly approved forest management reforms with bipartisan support. The House twice passed the Resilient Federal Forests Act (HR 2647) to give the Forest Service and BLM new policy and legal tools to expedite forest management projects. This year the House approved a funding bill to increase hazardous fuels reduction and the federal timber sale programs with the goal of selling four billion board feet of wood for the first time in years.

Also included in this spending measure is a 3,000-acre “categorical exclusion” to speed projects that improve forest health, protect watersheds, and enhance wildlife habitat. An anti-forestry amendment to strip this provision from the spending measure was blocked by Republicans as well as many Democrats representing forested communities. Further, the House voted to include the Resilient Federal Forests Act in its comprehensive energy legislation it is

TimberWest September/October 2016 www.forestnet.com

It’s just as important to educate yourself and others on state and local government elections, and how candidates will affect the forest products industry and the management of public and private forest lands.

When it comes to federal forest management, candidates at all levels should be asked what they are doing to urge the state’s congressional delegations to support reforms.

Gubernatorial candidates should be urged to utilize Good Neighbor Authority under federal law, which enables state agencies to perform management activities on federal lands.

Many local governments have been vocal in support of more active management on federal forests. County commissioners, in particular, have been championing reforms while agitating for better communication and coordination with federal agencies. Please support county commissioners who will continue to offer a strong voice on these issues.

Vote on November 8

Bad politicians are elected by good people who don’t show up to vote. Be sure to vote on November 8, and urge your friends and family to do the same. Together, we can restore the health of our forests and rural communities and ensure America’s forest sector remains strong for years to come.

—————————————————– Nick Smith is Executive Director of Healthy Forests, Healthy Communities, a nonprofit, nonpartisan coalition advocating for active management of federal forest lands. Learn more at healthyforests.org.

TW

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