TimberWest Magazine - November/December 2023

November/ December 2023

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BEKKEVAR LOGGING & TRUCKING

Washington Brothers Focused on Growing Forests of the Future

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CLEANING UP

CBA Logging Adds FAE Tracked Mulcher

ON THE COVER

November/December 2023 Vol. 48 No. 11-12

Charlie Alexander is a part-time logger, operating CBA Logging.

He recently invested in a PT-300 tracked carrier with mulching attachment from Italian manufacturer FAE.

Bekkevar Logging & Trucking

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Growing Forests of the Future

16

A One-Man Band

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Tech Column: Conquer the Cold

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California Woman Champions ‘Urban’ Wood

Washington brothers who own Bekkevar Logging & Trucking are focused on forests of the future, add new Ponsse machines and Ecofost T-Winch.

Charlie Alexander is a one-man band, doing logging work part-time. He invested in an FAE model PT-300 tracked carrier with mulching attachment.

Winterizing equipment is critical to prevent mechanical failures and costly downtime.

Follow these tips to ensure your gear is ready for the colder months.

CBA Logging

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Jennifer Alger wears many hats, but all of them have to do with forest products and making good use of so-called ‘urban’ wood.

She wears a hat for Wood-Mizer, too.

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Guest Columnist: Awake at the Wheel

Researcher offers practical recommendations for how log truck drivers can fight off fatigue and stay alert while on the job.

DEPARTMENTS

Page 4..........................................................In the News Page 29........................................................ Safety Alert Page 34....................................................New Products Page 35............................................. Association News Page 36..................................................Machinery Row Page 37............................................ Calendar of Events Page 37................................................ Advertiser Index

Wood-Mizer Representative Champions ‘Urban’ Wood

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TimberWest Magazine — November/December 2023 — www.forestnet.com

10 Tech Column: Get Ready for Winter

20 3

IN THE NEWS Western Wildfires Expected to Intensify Until Mid-Century

A new federal report describes climate change’s role in the worsening severity of wildfires in the western U.S. The National Climate Assessment, which comes out every five years, expects fires to get hotter, more destructive, and more widespread until at least the middle of the century.

Warmer and drier conditions with prolonged droughts have contributed to pest outbreaks and tree death, leading to the buildup of flammable material in forests, according to the report.

Wildfires are happening at higher elevations as snowpacks and summer rain reduce.

The total annual area burned, and the annual area burned by high-severity wildfires, has increased in the West about eightfold since 1985.

The report also noted that the impact on human populations is significant because development has greatly expanded what is called the wildland-urban interface: areas where homes and other structures meet with wildland or forests.

“High severity wildfires are expected to continue in coming years,” said Ermile Elias, author of the report. “And these will place people, economies, ecosystems and water resources of the region at considerable risk,” she said.

The report does also note that there are other causes of increased fire, including more than a century of government policy of fire suppression.

Nationwide, the U.S. Forest Service and local partners are now pursuing a policy of more prescribed burning, in addition to other fire mitigation techniques like thinning.

Think Tank Disputes Franz Forests Project

Washington state Lands Commissioner Hillary Franz is highlighting a project that would stop harvests in state forests in order to store CO2. However, scientific research demonstrates that these projects actually increase CO2 emissions and the risk from climate change, noted the Washington Policy Center, a conservative think tank.

Scientific research consistently shows that sustainable timber harvests are the best way to reduce atmospheric CO2, and stopping harvests may increase CO2 emissions, according to the WPC. Franz claims stopping harvests in state forests allows trees to grow and remove CO2 from the air. The WPC called the proposal “misguided and unscientific.” It cited science from the United Nations, the U.S. Forest Service, the State of California, and the University of Washington – which all agree 4

that stopping harvests actually increases CO2 emissions.

For example, forestry researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Pacific Northwest Research Station have consistently found that locking up forests ends up emitting more CO2 than sustainable harvests. Dr. Jeremy Fried notes, “When the full energy benefits of harvested wood products are considered, well-managed forests typically create more total climate benefits than does any scenario intended to reduce the harvest.”

A study released earlier this year confirms that finding, noting that forest growth models used to claim climate benefits from reducing harvests is exaggerated. The study found the models “overstate the carbon that can be sequestered under light-touch or caretaker management, potentially leading to management decisions that fail to deliver the expected carbon sequestration benefits ....”

Additionally, wood products displace more carbon-intensive building materials like concrete and steel, reducing total CO2 emissions.

Environmental Groups Seek to Preserve Oregon Forests

Ten environmental groups sent a letter calling on Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek and the Board of Forestry to protect additional acres of forest lands in the proposed Western Oregon State Forest Habitat Conservation Plan.

Their proposed increase in protected mature and old-growth forest land would help safeguard imperiled species like the threatened Oregon Coast coho salmon and marbled murrelet.

The groups include such liberal environmental organizations as the Center for Biological Diversity and WildEarth Guardians.

The letter calls for protecting forests older than 80 years in the Tillamook and Clatsop state forests and the Cook Creek watershed because of their ecological value for coastal communities and wildlife. The draft conservation plan is now in the process of being finalized by the Board of Forestry.

“Protecting more mature and old-growth coastal forests would benefit Oregon’s treasured wildlife and sustain coastal communities,” said Meg Townsend, senior freshwater attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity. “We need to protect Cook Creek to safeguard critical spawning habitat for Oregon Coast coho and make sure coastal residents have safe drinking water and recreational opportunities.” (continued on page 6)

Editor: Tim Cox, tim@forestnet.com Contributing Editors: Jan Jackson, Dawn Killough, Jacob Sherman –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Send both OLD and NEW Circulation information to: TimberWest Magazine Attn: Subscriptions P.O. Box 610, Edmonds, WA 98020 Fax: (425) 771-3623 • subscribetw@forestnet.com CEO / Advertising Sales: Anthony Robinson – arobinson@forestnet.com Phone: (778) 991-3500 Associate Publisher/Advertising Sales: Hannah Robinson – hannah@forestnet.com Phone: (604) 990-9970 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––Publisher & Production Manager: Sheila Ringdahl – sringdahl@forestnet.com Digital Marketing: Anthony Robinson arobinson@forestnet.com Social Media: Kaitlin Davidson Accounting Manager: Shelina Jessa – accounting@forestnet.com Corporate Office Information: Phone: (425) 778-3388 • Fax: (425) 771-3623 timberwest@forestnet.com • www.forestnet.com TImberWest Publications, LLC P.O. Box 610 (300 Admiral Way, Suite 105) Edmonds, WA 98020-0610 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.

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TimberWest Magazine — November/December 2023 — www.forestnet.com

IN THE NEWS (continued from page 4)

Bill Would Streamline Wildfire Firefighter Hiring

U.S. Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) proposed legislation that would streamline the hiring process for federal skilled wildfire firefighting personnel and support personnel.

“I’m proud to introduce this legislation to make it easier to hire the most skilled wildland firefighting personnel in a timely manner to help keep our communities safe,” he said.

“Year after year, our Montana communities are devastated by wildfires and our brave firefighters’ response to these fires protects lives and our public forests,” said Daines.

He sponsored the bill with U.S. Sen. James Lankford (R-OK). The legislation would provide the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Department of the Interior with permanent direct hire authority for any wildland firefighting position or any position in support of such a firefighting position.

Additionally, the bill would direct the agencies to identify policies and propose changes for reducing the time and complexity of hiring federal wildland firefighters and support personnel.

The Senate legislation is the companion bill to a bill introduced in May by U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Emergency OK Sought for Project in Montana

Land managers with the Flathead National Forest in Montana are seeking emergency approval for a fuels reduction project in the Swan Valley on the grounds that it lies in the “high-risk fireshed,” according to a scoping letter. Foresters say the project is also key to preserving the ecological character of the area’s old-growth forests.

The Rumbling Owl Fuels Reduction Project spans 5,400 acres on the Swan Lake Ranger District of the Flathead National Forest.

According to the scoping letter by Swan Lake District Ranger Christopher Dowling, the project “would make progress towards decreasing the risk and severity of future wildland fires, improve fire suppression effectiveness, improve firefighter and public safety in the wildland-urban interface and improve forest health conditions in which they are better prepared for, respond to, and aid recovery from severe wildfire, post-fire effects, and other disturbances.”

Because the project lies within the highrisk fireshed, the Flathead National Forest is 6

requesting approval to use the Emergency Action Determination authority to move forward. The reason for requesting this emergency authority, officials said, is to mitigate the harm to life and property adjacent to National Forest System land; remove hazardous fuels; and protect and restore water resources and infrastructure. The request is currently pending approval.

“If approved, the Rumbling Owl project will not be subject to the predecisional objection review process,” noted Dowling. “It is therefore critical you provide feedback on this project during this scoping period. An additional comment period will be offered once a Draft EA is produced from feedback received from the scoping period.”

Bill to Keep Use of Fire Retardant Advances

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee passed an amended version of Congressman Doug LaMalfa’s bill, H.R. 1586 — the Forest Protection and Wildland Firefighter Safety Act of 2023.

LaMalfa introduced this bipartisan bill with Congressman Jimmy Panetta earlier this year in response to a lawsuit to force wildland firefighting agencies to obtain a Clean Water Act permit from the EPA, while the plaintiff in the case was seeking to completely ban the use of fire retardant until the permit could be acquired, even though it would take at least 3 to 5 years to obtain it.

The court ruled that wildland firefighting agencies would have to acquire the EPA permit, and the U.S. Forest Service could not be sued again as long as they discharge the retardant correctly while they undergo the process to receive the permit. However,

the decision did not cover other wildland firefighting agencies’ — including CalFire – ability to use fire retardant until they obtain the required permit without fear of being sued.

To correct this, LaMalfa worked with fellow T&I Committee member, Congresswoman Val Hoyle, to amend H.R. 1586 to expand the court decision’s protection to all federal, state, tribal, and political subdivision agencies to use fire retardant without fear of getting sued until their permit is issued.

Lawsuit Seeks to Protect California Owls from Logging

A Northern California environmental group filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over its approval of a logging plan that it says could lead to the deaths of hundreds of spotted owls and the birds’ potential extinction.

The lawsuit, filed in Sacramento federal court by the Arcata-based Environmental Protection Information Center, targets the federal agency over a 2020 permit issued to Sierra Pacific Industries for its plans to conduct logging operations on more than 1.5 million acres of Northern California over a 50-year period.

“We’re trying to prevent the extinction of the species,” said Tom Wheeler, executive director and staff attorney for the nonprofit group.

The suit says Fish and Wildlife determined issuing the permit “was not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of northern spotted owls or California spotted owls, or destroy or adversely modify either species’ critical habitat.” It also says Fish and

TimberWest Magazine — November/December 2023 — www.forestnet.com

IN THE NEWS Wildlife authorized the “incidental take” — or death from logging activity — of 115 northern spotted owls and 649 California spotted owls.

The northern spotted owl is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, and the California spotted owl was proposed for the same classification earlier this year. EPIC’s lawsuit contends the permit violated the federal Endangered Species Act by allowing for the destruction of spotted owl habitat and “arbitrary and capricious” behavior that ignores the danger of climate change “leading to a higher incidence and extent of high-severity wildfire in California.”

Burned Acreage Down For Washington Season

and she has helped develop her department’s initial Plan for Climate Resilience.

AFRC Asks Supreme Court For Ruling on Public Land Law

Should the president enjoy unfettered authority to indefinitely suspend or cancel the operation of a federal law established by Congress? That’s a question the American Forest Resource Council (AFRC) is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to answer.

AFRC and the Association of O&C Counties (AOCC) filed a joint petition for a writ of certiorari with the court that seeks review of the Obama-era expansion of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument and the Bureau of Land Management’s 2016 Resource Management Plans for Western Oregon O&C lands. (continued on page 8)

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Investments in wildfire prevention and suppression paid off in Washington this year.

“Statewide, we saw the second-most ignitions in Washington’s history this year, including the tragedies that were the Gray and Oregon fires,” said Hilary Franz, who as commissioner of public lands oversees the Department of Natural Resources. “But we kept 95 percent of DNR protection fires under 10 acres and remained well below the 10-year average for acres burned.”

Approximately 165,000 acres in the state burned during the 2023 fire season — well below the 10-year average of 470,000 acres.

That is a testament “to the investments we have made in resources like additional aircraft, more firefighters, better training, and the great work done by firefighters and interagency partners,” said Franz.

Those investments include $500 million over 10 years from the legislature to hire more firefighters, fund better equipment, and improve forest management.

The Department of Natural Resources employs the state’s largest firefighting force, and this year it was assisted by the placement of 40 aircraft around the state to improve response time when a blaze is sparked.

Enhancing that response for the first time are 21 infrared cameras at high elevations, constantly watching for signs of fire.

Officials also credited a collaborative approach from the state department. “There’s much broader cooperation today than there has been in the past,” said Steve Wright, executive director of the Washington Fire Chiefs. “Franz reached out to break down barriers, and DNR is much more at the table than before.”

In addition to seeking funding for fire prevention and suppression, Franz has helped develop a 20-year Forest Health Strategic Plan to improve forest resiliency,

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TimberWest Magazine — November/December 2023 — www.forestnet.com

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IN THE NEWS “We are asking the Supreme Court to answer a question that all Americans should care about, one that gets to the heart of our democracy and the separation of powers doctrine enshrined in the United States Constitution: who makes the laws regarding federal land management, Congress or the Executive Branch?” said AFRC president Travis Joseph.

“Whether you’re living in Southwest Oregon near the illegal expansion of the

monument, in Utah where numerous presidential proclamations have placed massive areas off limits in recent years, or in Washington, D.C., where concerns about the protection of our democracy and Constitutional processes are top of mind, this case and its outcome are critical to the future management of our Federal lands,” said Joseph.

Joining AFRC in petitioning the Supreme Court is the AOCC, which

represents the western Oregon counties that, by law, receive half of the timber receipt revenues generated by active management of O&C lands.

The 2016 Resource Management Plans and the monument expansion have negatively impacted the counties’ ability to sustain essential public services, and their communities have suffered economically due to the dramatic decline in sustainable timber harvests on O&C lands.

Federal Grants Available To Boost Forest Products

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The White House announced the U.S. Forest Service is making nearly $50 million in grant funding available for proposals that support crucial links between resilient, healthy forests, strong rural economies, and jobs in the forestry sector.

Made possible by President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, this funding will spark innovation, create new markets for wood products and renewable wood energy, expand processing capacity, and help tackle the climate crisis.

“A strong forest products economy contributes to healthier forests, vibrant communities and jobs in rural areas,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “Thanks to President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, we are investing in rural economies by growing markets for forest products through sustainable forest management while reducing wildfire risk, fighting climate change, and accelerating economic development.”

The open funding opportunity comes through the Forest Service’s three key grant programs to support the forest products economy: Wood Innovations Grant, Community Wood Grant, and Wood Products Infrastructure Assistance Grant Programs.

The agency is seeking proposals that support innovative uses of wood in the construction of low carbon buildings, as a renewable energy source, and in manufacturing and processing products. These programs also provide direct support to expand and retrofit wood energy systems and wood products manufacturing facilities nationwide.

The Forest Service is requesting proposals from eligible entities in the private, nonprofit, and government sectors including Tribes, local and state governments, businesses and for-profit entities, institutions of higher education, as well as public utility, fire, conservation, and school districts, among others.

TimberWest Magazine — November/December 2023 — www.forestnet.com

ContractorProfile

Washington Brothers Focused on Growing Forests of the Future Bekkevar Logging & Trucking Adds New Ponsse Machines, Ecoforst T-Winch

By Dawn Killough

S

EQUIM, Washington –

Ole Bekkevar sees his logging business as similar to farming. “We’re trying to propagate and retain good quality soils and water for the future

generations of forest,” he said. “So as far as impact goes, we want to make as little impact as we can. We want to leave it in a better state than what it was when we got there.”

The company’s cut-to-length logging machines are one reason why it is able to leave a small footprint where it works. In

fact, the most recent equipment additions were a Ponsse Scorpion harvester and a Ponsse Elephant forwarder from PacWest Machinery, Bekkevar Logging & Trucking Inc. is a family-owned and operated company that has been in business since 1974. Today the

From left, Nelson and Ole Bekkevar and road supervisor Darin Moriarity with Ponsse Scorpion King harvester.

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TimberWest Magazine — November/December 2023 — www.forestnet.com

ContractorProfile

company is owned and operated by Ole, who was interviewed for this article, and his older brother, Nelson. They grew up in a farming and logging family and worked summers with their father harvesting timber. Nelson started working in the family business when he graduated from high school in 2005; Ole got a two-year degree in natural resource management and then joined the company in 2008.

The company is based in Sequim, Washington, which is about 60 miles west of Seattle, across the Puget Sound. Most of its work takes place within an hour’s drive.

Bekkevar Logging & Trucking has about 30 employees, which includes supervisors, two office workers, and four mechanics. The company usually runs three to five timber harvesting jobs simultaneously, with a crew of four or five workers on each job. Most jobs are timber harvests on state or federal forest land.

The company has an array of machines and equipment to conduct various types of harvesting operations. In addition to performing cut-to-length logging with Ponsse machines, the company does road construction, tree-length shovel logging, and cable logging.

The Bekkevars added cut-to-length logging in 2013. They did their homework before deciding to invest in Ponsse equipment. They tried equipment from several manufacturers and found Ponsse performed best.

This year the brothers invested in a new 2023 Ponsse Scorpion King harvester – the machine was demonstrated at the Pacific Logging Congress In-Woods Show – and a new 2022 Ponsse Elephant forwarder from PacWest Machinery. Both purchases were to upgrade aging machines. In addition, the company has an older Ponsse Scorpion King and a Ponsse H10 harvester head that is attached to a Link-Belt 4040 machine. (continued on page 12)

One of the newest machines for Bekkevar Logging & Trucking is this Ponsse Scorpion King harvester. The company also added a new Ponsse Elephant forwarder this year.

TimberWest Magazine — November/December 2023 — www.forestnet.com

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ContractorProfile

Yarding operations include this Madill 071 yarder and Falcon Claw grapple carriage. The company also has Skagit, Boman, and Acme equipment. (continued from page 11)

Getting the wood out with Ponsse Elephant, one of the largest forwarders offered

by Ponsse. The Elephant can carry a payload of nearly 20 tons.

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The Ponsse Scorpion King harvester is an eight-wheel machine powered by a Mercedes-Benz 280 hp Tier V engine and has separate hydraulics for the harvester head and crane. It features Ponsse’s Future Cabin and the company’s patented stabilization system. Like the Ponsse Scorpion harvester, the crane is mounted behind the operator cab for unobstructed visibility.

The Ponsse Elephant is one of the largest forwarders offered by the Finland manufacturer. The eight-wheel machine can carry a payload of nearly 20 tons. It is designed and built for long transport distances, difficult terrain, and steep slopes.

(For more information about Ponsse equipment, visit www.ponsse.com.)

The support and expertise of Ponsse personnel have continued to earn the repeat business of Bekkevar Logging & Trucking.

“They’re well-rounded in knowing about the machines, how to operate them and how to sell them, unlike our experiences with other manufacturers,” said Bekkevar. “You can talk to pretty much anyone there, and they can tell you or teach you about their equipment.

With other manufacturers, their salespeople often don’t understand how to operate the

TimberWest Magazine — November/December 2023 — www.forestnet.com

ContractorProfile machine or the mechanics of it. They’re just great salesmen.”

Earlier this year the Ponsse Group signed a dealership agreement with PacWest Machinery. Ponsse also sold its service business and shop facility in Coburg, Oregon, to PacWest. Going forward, PacWest will be responsible for the sale and maintenance of Ponsse forest machines in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.

“The collaboration agreement with PacWest expands our operational area on the West Coast of the United States and provides Ponsse with opportunities to grow its business in the United States,” Juho Nummela, president and CEO of Ponsse, said when the agreement was announced.

“PacWest’s extensive network brings Ponsse services closer to our local customers. There is a lot of potential for the cut-to-length logging technology on the West Coast.”

PacWest Machinery is part of the Joshua Green Corporation, a private company established in the 1890s. PacWest also operates as a dealer for Volvo and Metso in Oregon, Washington and North Idaho. The company has sales and service centers in Spokane, Seattle, Portland, Mount Vernon, Pasco and Eugene.

Bekkevar Logging & Trucking also

added a new Ecoforst T-Winch 30.1 this year to tether equipment operating on steep terrain, and in recent years it added a Falcon grapple carriage and a Hilltop Aerial heavy lift drone to carry haywire or strawline.

The company is equipped with an extensive list of other machines. For tree-length harvesting the list includes a pair of Tigercat track feller bunchers (an LS855 and an LX870D), two Cat skidders (545 and 518), a Cat 325 log loader, a Doosan 300 log loader and a Doosan DX225LL log loader, and two Madill 3800 shovels. Processing is done with a Link-Belt 290 forestry machine matched with a Waratah 623 head and the Link-Belt 4040 with Ponsse H10 head.

For cable logging and yarding operations, the Bekkevars have a Madill 071 yarder, a Skagit 737, Skagit BU 84, two Boman carriages (9100 and 7900), an Acme 23 carriage, and a Ford-powered line horse mounted on a Mack truck.

The company builds its own logging roads because the Bekkevars believe it is more efficient, and they can build roads that will work with the type of harvest equipment for the job. For building roads the company is equipped with three excavators (Cat, Link-Belt, and Volvo), three Cat bulldozers, a Terex XA400 jaw crusher, a Champion

motor grader, John Deere and Volvo bucket loaders, and other equipment.

The Bekkevars own a couple of log trucks, so they subcontract most of their hauling to local owner-operators.

The forests in the region where the company works are almost exclusively Douglas fir. At the time Bekkevar talked with TimberWest, the company was harvesting on three thinning projects, trees 35-75 years old and 5-23 inches in diameter. The company supplies logs to mills in the region operated by Interfor, Canyon Lumber, and Sierra Pacific.

Business has been steady since 2008 until recently, according to Bekkevar. “It seems like just within the last couple of months the markets have slowed or softened. There’s not as much of a demand for the products, and the mills aren’t selling as much.” The company has trimmed its work week to four days to align with reduced mill quotas.

Bekkevar Logging & Trucking places a high priority on good logging practices.

It holds a number of professional certifications: Accredited Logger of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, Accredited Logger of

TimberWest Magazine — November/December 2023 — www.forestnet.com

(continued on page 14)

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ContractorProfile (continued from page 13) the Society of American Foresters, and Accredited Logger of the Washington Contract Loggers Association. Many employees are Master Logger certified.

The quality of their work sets them apart, said Bekkevar – the logging site and the logging roads. “We can do a more economic and less environmentally impactful job because we know what will work and what won’t work,” he said. “We’ve had issues in the past working with some mills. Cheap contractor roads just don’t hold up to the impact, the heavy trucks and hauling day-to-day, month after month. It shows in the woods.”

The roads and drainage ditches the company leaves behind should be serviceable into the future. “They should be left in a state that they can be good for a few years without maintenance and to avoid environmental impacts,” said Bekkevar.

The cut-to-length harvesters, processing at the stump, enable the company to leave slash throughout the job site – an important forest conservation benefit. “We’re trying to leave as much slash as we can in the woods so that it’s suitable for replanting for future generations,” said Bekkevar. “The slash has a lot to do with the nutrients that are available for future trees, so it’s important that plenty of it gets left behind. More importantly, you can plant trees that aren’t impacted by the amount of slash,” he added.

Bekkevar is married with two young children; in his free time he enjoys riding offroad motorcycles. His older brother, Nelson, also is married with two young children, and also enjoys riding off-road motorcycles, RVing, and collecting and restoring old tractors.

Bekkevar Logging & Trucking is equipped with a pair of Tigercat track feller bunchers, an LS855 and an LX870D.

Processing is done by Link-Belt machines pictured above, one with a Waratah head and one with a Ponsse. Also shown is one of the company’s two Doosan loaders.

The company added this new Ecoforst T-Winch 30.1 this year to tether equipment operating on steep terrain.

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TimberWest Magazine — November/December 2023 — www.forestnet.com

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ContractorProfile

Washington Part-Time Logger Does It All CBA Logging Adds FAE Tracked Carrier with Mulching Attachment

Charlie Alexander

The FAE PT-300 tracked carrier can be powered

by Cat or Cummins engines ranging from 275 to 325 hp. It can be paired with four types of hydraulic units: forestry mulchers, tillers, stump cutters, and dozer blades.

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TimberWest Magazine — November/December 2023 — www.forestnet.com

ContractorProfile

By Jan Jackson

C

HEHALIS, Washington

– When a logger like Charlie Alexander insists on working alone, his equipment becomes both his best friend and his trusty crew.

The newest addition to the company is an FAE model PT-300 tracked carrier with a mulcher attachment.

Alexander works at a power plant and does logging work in his free time. As an owneroperator and sole employee of CBA Logging, Alexander is a one-man band, doing what he loves, the way he wants to do it.

Alexander purchased the FAE PT-300 tracked mulcher earlier this year. He demonstrated the machine for FAE at the Pacific Logging Congress In-Woods show in September before taking delivery of the machine. Alexander uses the tracked mulcher to help manage his own sizable tree farm, do clean-up for other loggers and landowners, and perform maintenance work on rights-of-way and firebreaks.

Alexander, 53, born and raised in Chehalis, started working in the woods as a boy by helping his father, who logged parttime. The second-oldest of five boys, he can call his brothers to give him a hand if needed, although they work in other industries.

There’s a reason Alexander has kept his business small and works by himself. “As far as working alone, I’m not a very good coach, and I find it easier doing it all rather than telling someone else how to do it.”

A member of the Washington Tree Farm Program, most of his business comes from word-of-mouth referrals. “I’m known as the guy that’s a logger, brush mulcher, road builder and miscellaneous hazardous material mover. I love doing it.”

Charlie Alexander uses his FAE model PT-300 tracked carrier with a mulcher attachment to do clean-up work for other loggers and landowners and to perform maintenance work on rights-of-way and firebreaks.

Besides his new FAE PT-300 track mulcher Alexander has a Komatsu 300 HD shovel, a Clark 666 skidder, and a Dresser TD-15 bulldozer. He fells by hand, rents equipment or contracts for some logging tasks, and he hauls with his own trucks.

Chehalis, where Alexander lives and has his business, is a small city not quite 30 miles due south of Olympia, Washington. The region supports forests of Douglas fir, hemlock, alder, maple, and cedar in the foothills between southwest Washington’s Cascade and Coastal Mountain ranges. The terrain can be steep, the ground, soft. Alexander supplies logs to mills within about a 100-mile radius.

Alexander has bought equipment over the years from Cascade Trader in Chehalis.

In fact, even his father did business with the equipment company. “They treat us pretty good,” said Alexander. “They’re family friends.”

Alexander invested in the FAE PT-300 tracked carrier and mulcher to replace another machine that burned up. “Between me and Rich Lennox, who owns Cascade Trader in Chehalis, we found FAE USA,” the U.S. business unit of FAE, which is based in Italy.

“When I found FAE’s dedicated track carrier, I saw that I could cover a lot of ground a lot better and a lot more quickly than I ever did before,” said Alexander. “It’s the best investment I’ve made.” (continued on page 18)

As a small contractor, Charlie Alexander rents equipment or subcontracts for some logging tasks; he hauls with his own trucks.

TimberWest Magazine — November/December 2023 — www.forestnet.com

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ContractorProfile

Alexander demonstrated his FAE tracked carrier and mulcher at the Pacific Logging Congress In-Woods Show at Rainier, Washington, in September. (continued from page 17) Alexander is interested in possibly adding some FAE attachments. For example, the company makes a tiller head that goes below the surface and mixes the mulch with the soil. Other FAE attachments can grind stumps and roots and also rocks. “I’m just waiting for my wallet to fill back up a little more to see which one I’m going to get next,” he said.

Mike Samples, the Northwest FAE USA representative, had previously had discussions with Alexander, who at the time was interested in an attachment for road-building work. “I’ve stayed in touch with him since,” said Samples, “so when it came time to replace his track mulcher, we took both he and Rich to Georgia to see FAE USA’s whole operation and let him try out the PT-300 in person.”

“We can teach someone how to operate the machine in an afternoon,” said Samples, “but there’s a separate learning curve for it to be productive. We’ve found the fastest and best operators are in Washington, California, and Alaska, and Charlie Alexander was one of them.”

The FAE PT-300 tracked carrier can be powered by Cat or Cummins engines ranging from 275 to 325 hp. The carrier, with oscillating undercarriage, can be paired 18

with four types of hydraulic units: forestry mulchers, tillers, stump cutters, and dozer blades.

The hydraulic system provides excellent reliability and efficiency, and the spacious cab is designed for comfort, ergonomics, and operator safety. An integrated system featuring a network of sensors to monitor key operating parameters ensures optimum performance. Applications include forestry clean-up and maintenance, stump removal, fire mitigation and protection, right-of-way and roadside and railroad vegetation maintenance, wildlife habitat protection and food plots, creation and maintenance of trails, and more.

FAE is an Italian company that designs and manufactures attachments for tractors, excavators, skid steers, special vehicles, and tracked vehicles for forestry, agricultural, road construction applications. It also manufactures tracked carriers for forestry and agriculture. Attachments include forestry mulchers, tillers, stump cutters, and more.

The company offers more than 90 products and 400 models.

FAE has four manufacturing facilities, six commercial branches, and a network of authorized dealers around the world. Its U.S. operations are based in Georgia.

(For more information about FAE and its products, visit www.fae-group.com.)

The FAE PT-300 track carrier and mulcher enables Alexander to leave a cleanlooking job, but there are other benefits, too.

“I see too many guys leave a job looking like a bomb went off,” said Alexander, “and I like to leave it like a red carpet was just laid down.”

“It’s more than making it look good, though,” he continued.” Grinding all that biomass and leaving it right there on the ground helps stabilize the soil, which is much better than burning it or hauling it off.” In addition, as the mulch decomposes it returns nutrients to the spoil, which aids in new growth.

With the track carrier, “I can do it in all kinds of wet, steep terrain,” added Alexander.

Alexander’s wife, Tiffany, does the books for the business. They have an adult son.

The business is based in their home, and Alexander also has a shop on his property.

Alexander said he and his family like to ride motorcycles and ski in nearby White Pass.

“Chehalis is a tight knit community, and I have a lot of wonderful friends,” said Alexander. “I love this work and the machinery it takes to do it and have all my life.

When I leave the house in the morning, I’m not headed for a job. I’m headed for a good day.”

TimberWest Magazine — November/December 2023 — www.forestnet.com

Prepare Equipment to Conquer the Cold

By Jacob Sherman

Y

ou rely on heavy equipment, like

log loaders and road builders, to harvest, process and transport timber efficiently. However, harsh winter weather and sub-zero temperatures can pose challenges for these machines and require specialized care. Winterizing equipment is critical to prevent equipment failures and costly downtime. Follow these tips to safeguard your equipment and ensure that it can withstand the colder months.

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1.

Inspect, Maintain Your Equipment

Before winter sets in, perform daily or pre-operation inspections of your excavator or road builder undercarriage. Look for signs of wear, damage or loose components on the tracks, rollers, idlers and sprockets. Lubricate and adjust track tension as needed. Remove packed snow and ice from the undercarriage. Failure to clean the undercarriage on a regular basis can lead to premature wear of the components and may cause unplanned machine downtime. Whenever performing

maintenance on the machine, always check the operator’s manual before starting work.

2.

Change Engine Oil; Switch to Winter Fuel

Colder temperatures can affect your machine’s ability to run efficiently, especially if it does not have the proper engine oil. In winter, oil gets very dense and might have a hard time at start-up circulating through the engine without proper lubrication. However, the oil you put in shouldn’t be too thin or it won’t stick to the components.

TimberWest Magazine — November/December 2023 — www.forestnet.com

Be sure to check the quality of your diesel engine fuel to ensure it is suitable for your engine. Use high-quality, winter grade fuel and consider using cold weather additives.

Replace fuel filters. Make sure the diesel engine is in good working condition.

Inspect the machine’s battery and wires to make sure they haven’t frozen or become stressed due to extremely cold temperatures.

There is always a draw on the battery, so it will need to be fully charged after use unless it has been maintained or disconnected while in storage. A trickle charger can be connected to help build the voltage at a lower rate, which can improve battery life. Inspect and clean the battery connections since corroded terminals can cause hard starting and charging issues. Use a battery blanket or insulation to help keep the battery warm when your machine is not in use.

Warm up the engine with a block heater before starting work; they are available as an option on most forestry equipment.

Running the engine for 5 to 10 minutes makes it easier on your equipment and essential components.

3.

Address Comfort, Safety Features

Machine comfort and safety for you and your operators are essential for maintaining productivity and preventing accidents.

Remember to: • Wear appropriate winter clothing and personal protective equipment.

• Add insulation to the cabin to enhance comfort.

• Maintain cabin heaters and windshield defrosters to keep the cabin warm and maintain visibility.

• Regularly clear snow and ice from cabin windows, mirrors and lights.

• Keep steps leading to the cab free and clear of snow and ice to prevent slips and falls.

• Maintain a well-stocked first aid kit, emergency supplies, and a communication plan in case of unexpected situations.

(continued on page 22)

TimberWest Magazine — November/December 2023 — www.forestnet.com

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TechColumn (continued from page 21)

4.

Follow Proper Machine Operation

5.

Inspect Attachments

Winter conditions can bring a range of hazards: ice or snow-covered terrain, reduced visibility due to snow, and the potential for equipment malfunctions caused by cold temperatures. Follow these tips for operating equipment in winter: Adjust operating practices for winter conditions, including slower and more cautious speed, digging and lifting to avoid accidents.

Pay attention to load handling in snowy and icy conditions to prevent tipping or instability.

Regularly monitor weather conditions using forecasting tools to decide when to work or suspend operations.

Winterizing heavy equipment logging attachments, such as grapples and other log handling tools, can be as crucial as preparing the machine itself.

• Examine each attachment for wear and tear, bent components, or any signs of damage.

Repair or replace any damaged parts.

• Thoroughly clean each attachment,

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removing dirt, debris and rust. Make sure all moving parts are well lubricated.

Grease joints, hinges and pins to prevent freezing and reduce friction.

• Consider applying protective coatings to metal surfaces to prevent rust and corrosion.

• Check for leaks, ensure that hydraulic lines are well insulated, and maintain appropriate fluid levels. Cold temperatures can affect hydraulic performance, so consider using low-temperature hydraulic fluids.

• Keep a stock of spare parts and maintenance kits specific to your attachments.

• Whenever possible, store attachments in a dry, sheltered area when not in use.

• Make sure you and your operators are trained on the proper use and care of winterized attachments.

Winter conditions can be unpredictable for forestry and logging operations, but winterizing your equipment and operator training can help you face the elements. Regular refreshers on winter-specific techniques and safety practices are essential for efficient operation when the temperature drops. ( Jacob Sherman is the DEVELON dealer and product marketing manager. He has more than 20 years of experience in various aspects of the equipment industry, including sales, marketing and management.)

TimberWest Magazine — November/December 2023 — www.forestnet.com

ContractorProfile

California Woman Wears Many Hats

Wood-Mizer Manager Is a Champion for ‘Urban’ Wood

Wood-Mizer WM1000 industrial sawmill is being used to cut material from this old growth redwood.

The log was salvaged from a windfallen tree.

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TimberWest Magazine — November/December 2023 — www.forestnet.com

Jennifer Alger with slabs of tulip wood.

She is the co-owner and president Far West Forest Products, which specializes in ‘urban’ and reclaimed and salvage wood.

Her father Jim Evans, shown below with a slab cut from tulip poplar, manages the sawmill operations.

By Tim Cox, Editor

O

LIVEHURST, California

– Jennifer Alger wears many hats, but all of them have to do with forest products and making good use of socalled ‘urban’ wood. She wears a hat for Wood-Mizer, too.

What’s ‘urban’ wood, and why would most logging contractors give a hoot about it?

Think trees removed in urban areas by arborists, tree service contractors, and even logging contractors and land-clearing contractors. Think trees that have to be removed for utility line set-backs. Think trees knocked down by storms. Think trees killed by insects or fire. They can be a source of work and wood for small logging contractors as well as even some larger businesses.

In addition, Alger has something to offer even larger logging contractors – a software program you can use to manage your log inventory.

As you might guess, Alger grew up in a traditional forest products family – in her (continued on page 26)

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(continued from page 25)

In addition to the Wood-Mizer WM1000 industrial sawmill shown above, Far West Forest Products has two Wood-Mizer portable sawmills, an LT40 Super and an LT50.

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TimberWest Magazine — November/December 2023 — www.forestnet.com

case, in the greater Sacramento area. Her father, Jim Evans, was a logging contractor and worked as far north as the Washington border and even in other states, like Arkansas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico.

In the 1980s the logging industry in California experienced a decline. Her father did contract felling in the winter. He also went door-to-door to ‘rescue’ trees that were destined for removal and mill them into blanks to be used to make gun stocks. That market went into decline as gun manufacturers transitioned into synthetic materials for stocks. In the early 1990s he began producing packaged firewood for ‘big box’ stores and another firewood company, and he also invested in his first Wood-Mizer portable sawmill to make lumber and do custom sawing.

Alger wasn’t interested in the family business. Wood products “was a heckuva lot of work,” Alger recalled, and she wanted to get out of it. She did a stint in the corporate world, working for Hewlett-Packard for nearly seven years. She wore several hats during her tenure with Hewlett-Packard, too, working on an award-winning team that helped automate accounting procedures, among other things.

She decided to go back to her roots and began managing and marketing her father’s business, which produced firewood and a small volume of lumber on a Wood-Mizer portable sawmill. Today she is the co-owner and president of the company, Far West Forest Products. She manages sales and marketing and oversees the retail store in Olivehurst. Evans, in his early 70s, manages the sawmill operations in nearby Sheridan.

The company has several Wood-Mizer portable mills along with an iDRY lumber kiln and a Wood-Mizer kiln, which uses Nyle Systems components. The business employs 14 people, including four in the sawmill operations. Others include a saw filer, sales representatives for lumber and Wood-Mizer products. About 25 vendors supply logs or lumber products to the company.

When she rejoined the family business Alger began examining the lumber the business was selling and where the logs were sourced. “What differentiated Far West Forest Products from other companies?” she asked.

“What we did was urban logging,” she continued. Her father sourced logs from tree removal work in urban areas, hazard tree removals, trees removed for utility line set-backs, trees downed from storms, firekilled trees, and so on. They also partnered with a lot of arborists who dropped trees at their location, allowing the arborists to avoid

These arches were milled from salvaged redwood. The Urban Wood Network connects tree managers, arborists, lumber producers, and others to connect the links in the urban wood supply chain. tipping fees or disposal costs. “We sent the higher value logs into lumber and the lower value went into firewood,” said Alger.

She began marketing the company’s lumber with that in mind. Only 5-10 percent of the company’s logs were sourced from traditional timber harvesting. “We decided to market it as urban salvage and reclaimed wood – wood not harvested for timber value and repurposed into a second life.”

“Far West helps people to rescue wood that is either urban, salvage or reclaimed that would have gone into the waste stream,” said Alger. “And we provide tools for other people to do that as well.” The company provides training so others – arborists, tree service contractors, small sawmill owners – can sell their wood products through the store.

Wood products made from urban trees and similar salvage material has an appeal to some people, she noted. “Our consumers love the fact these people were not taking their trees down for the timber value…They loved the fact that these woods would have gone into the waste stream had we not provided markets for them.”

According to a study commissioned by the U.S. Forest Service, 7.2 billion board feet of furniture grade lumber could be recovered annually from wood sourced from urban areas, fires, utility set-backs, orchard removals, and other similar settings.

Remember those hats? Alger is also director of the Urban Wood Network Western Region, a network of 260 members that connects tree managers, arborists, lumber

producers, and makers to connect the links in the urban wood supply chain.

With the aid of a U.S. Forest Service grant, Alger developed the network – which includes quite a few Wood-Mizer customers – to make use of trees killed in northern California from bark beetle infestation.

“We developed markets for that wood so smaller landowners, under 40 acres, who could not interest larger logging contractors, would have a place to sell their logs or wood products.”

Alger also is the founder of USRW Inc. (Urban Salvaged and Reclaimed Woods), a non-profit that promoted the use of urban, salvaged, and reclaimed wood.

TimberWest Magazine — November/December 2023 — www.forestnet.com

(continued on page 28)

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(continued from page 27) USRW, funded by a grant from CAL FIRE (California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection), developed the first ever Urban Lumber Standards for North America. The standards enable chain-of-custody and certification for urban wood, known as USRW Certified Urban Woods. The chain-of-custody tracks the sourcing, processing, drying and labeling for sale in order to legitimize the urban wood products and industry.

“I observed networks both formal and informal around the nation sharing a common mission,” said Alger. “Recognizing the strength in unity, USRW convened with other networks in 2019. We collectively decided to adopt the name Urban Wood Network as the official network title and retain USRW as the name for the standards that were in development.”

Alger worked with an expert team of developers and customer experience specialists to develop AncesTREE Urban Lumber Market, an inventory management system and enterprise application. AncesTree enables users to adhere to industry standards, track the chain of custody, manage their inventory, and generally better manage and grow their urban lumber businesses.

“People love the stories about wood,” said Alger, and one of her company’s biggest selling points has always been the story of the tree from which the lumber product originated. As the company grew, it was a struggle to manage inventory and maintain the connection from the unique backstory of a tree to the lumber. Inventory management was a hodgepodge of clipboards and notepads, marking paint, spreadsheets, and other outdated tools.

“We had to come up with an inventory management system to help tell the story of every piece of wood,” recalled Alger. “I couldn’t find a system that would do what we needed.” AncesTREE, available as a smart phone app, tracks the ‘ancestry’ of the wood, through the chain of custody, with tags and QR codes. “It will work for regular loggers, too,” she noted.

People with the app are entering inventory into their own databases to be sold on the AncesTREE Urban Lumber Marketplace.

‘This will allow architects, designers and builders to find urban wood from many small producers in one aggregated location,” said Alger. “Because we are working within the confines of nature’s inventory supply, we can’t predict a harvest the way you can in traditional timber, so this will allow a buyer to see which urban wood producer has what material, and they can aggregate their purchase from multiple suppliers to get enough to complete their order.”

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Finally, Alger is the manager of WoodMizer’s California operations, which also supports Wood-Mizer in Nevada, a position she has held for over 20 years. She assists customers in selecting the Wood-Mizer equipment that best suits their needs, sawmill parts and blade sales, hands-on sawmill training, woodworking and other wood processing equipment, saw blade sharpening, as well as technical support and service.

Alger is well versed in Wood-Mizer

equipment. Far West Forest Products has two Wood-Mizer portable sawmills, an LT40 Super, an LT50, and a WM1000 industrial model.

Alger was approached by the manufacturer to represent the company because she and her father had referred so many people to Wood-Mizer who eventually became Wood-Mizer customers. She decided to “give it a little try and see how it goes.”

Beautiful kitchen island top is made from deodar cedar. It was milled from urban wood, the chain-of-custody tracked by the AncesTREE inventory management app.

Tulip poplar logs being loaded onto a trailer.

TimberWest Magazine — November/December 2023 — www.forestnet.com

SAFETYALERT Buncher Operator Hurt While Removing Debris Background

Injury

A feller buncher operator was conducting a first thinning operation on a summer morning in the south-central U.S. Conditions were wet from a rain shower earlier in the day. The operator was experienced with all pieces of in-woods equipment, having over 30 years of logging experience.

The impact resulted in extreme pain to his left wrist. The operator immediately left the job site and sought medical attention. A medical exam concluded that he had sprained the tendons directly below his left wrist. The doctor issued a wrist brace and prescribed rest for several days. The injured operator has since returned to work.

Unsafe Acts and Conditions

The operator noticed that his view was becoming obstructed by an excessive buildup of limbs and debris at the base of the cutting head. To clear the debris, the operator completely de-energized the machine. He used the front left tire as a platform to gain better access to the cutting head to remove the debris. He routinely performed this task two or three times per day.

Recommendations for Correction Accident

When the operator climbed atop the tire, he lost his footing and slipped as a result of the wet conditions from the morning rain.

As he fell, he attempted to catch himself with his left arm, striking his wrist on the upright portion of the cutting head.

• Always identify potential risks and develop a mitigation strategy to reduce the likelihood of slips, trips, and falls.

• Consider using a garden rake or similar long-handled device to remove accumulated limbs or debris from equipment.

(Source: Forest Resources Association)

TimberWest Magazine — November/December 2023 — www.forestnet.com

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OREGON LOGGING CONFERENCE

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TimberWest Magazine — November/December 2023 — www.forestnet.com

OREGON LOGGING CONFERENCE

TimberWest Magazine — November/December 2023 — www.forestnet.com

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OREGON LOGGING CONFERENCE

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TimberWest Magazine — November/December 2023 — www.forestnet.com

OREGON LOGGING CONFERENCE

TimberWest Magazine — November/December 2023 — www.forestnet.com

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NEW PRODUCTS TREKLOS Grapple Systems

This grapple system is designed to utilize the maneuverability and functions of an excavator, (whether it’s a large or mini) to easily handle trees, brush, boulders, logs or any other hard to handle item.

The engineers at TREKLOS have developed a mechanical rotator that is designed to give the operator full 360 degree grapple rotation control without a traditional hydraulic rotator.

That means you only need 1 hydraulic circuit, (such as the thumb circuit, choosing either the thumb or the grapple) to operate the open and close of the grapple and keep the full functional use of the thumb, using the heel bar rake for the thumbs gripping surface for items that are to big or awkward to grab with the grapple.

This system uses a separate mounting plate that’s designed to fit any of the multitude of excavators on the market then bolts into place on the grapple body.

For more information call 503-516-2300.

The BL0/EX can be equipped with BL/ MINI blades or C/3/MINI teeth and is available in two working widths, 56 or 80 cm.

For more information visit www.faegroup.com.

Diamond Mowers Offers DC Pro Drum Mulcher

FAE Introduces New BL0/EX Forestry Mulcher

FAE introduced the new BL0/EX forestry mulcher for 2 to 4 ton excavators, bringing Bite Limiter technology to even the smallest excavators.

The FAE BL0/EX is one of the smallest fixed-tooth mulchers on the market, capable of shredding light vegetation, shrubs, and trees up to 8 cm in diameter. It can be used for vegetation maintenance along roadsides, railroad tracks, canals, rivers, and lakes, for managing and protecting wildlife habitats, and for maintaining commercial green areas and sporting grounds. The head is designed for high-productivity, durability, and easy maintenance.

Bite Limiter technology is ideal for high-productivity vegetation management, designed with reliable and efficient shredding in mind. The rotor with Bite Limiter technology comes with special wear-resistant steel profiles that limit the reach (bite) of the teeth. This reduces power demand and promotes a consistent working speed, ensuring excellent performance when mulching any type of wood. Bite Limiter technology also minimizes rotor stalling and optimizes fuel consumption.

The BL0/EX’s direct drive motor minimizes maintenance and enables a more compact body size for better maneuverability. The head’s clean profile and compact design are also made possible by the hydraulic block with a flow regulator valve built into the motor, along with the thumb bracket in the frame.

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Diamond Mowers is offering the DC Pro drum mulcher for a new level of mulching performance for loaders up to 75 hp. It is the latest addition to the company’s lineup of land clearing and vegetation management attachments.

The DC Pro is engineered with a 50-inch cutting width to slice through trees and brush and mulch material up to 8 inches in diameter. It boasts fast spool-up times and class-

leading productivity. Built on Diamond’s proven Excavator Drum Mulcher platform, it is optimized for use with skid-steers and compact track loaders.

The DC Pro drum mulcher is designed to be an additional resource for a wide range of users. It is differentiated by its lighter weight of just 1,350 pounds and its 63 CC, twospeed, bent-axis piston motor. Larger than others in its class, this high-torque hydraulic motor allows the DC Pro to spool-up faster and deliver greater force to power through more and larger material.

It is “more productive than other options in its class based on processing capacity and speed,” said Dan Stachel, executive vice president of Diamond Mowers. Its lighter weight makes it versatile and suitable for a variety of land maintenance tasks, such as managing overgrowth, maintaining fence lines, and

creating defensible space. “The streamlined profile also affords good operator visibility and maneuverability, while the chassis positions the center of gravity close to the loader for optimal stability – even on steep slopes.”

For more information visit www.

DiamondMowers.com.

Fecon Acquires TREEfrogg

Fecon, a leading global manufacturer of heavy-duty site preparation attachments and forestry accessories, has acquired TREEfrogg, a manufacturer of tree trimming saw attachments for skid-steers and compact track loaders. The acquisition expands the right-of-way clearing solutions offered by Fecon in the forestry mulching and vegetation management industry.

Designed to fit small to midsize carriers, TREEfrogg’s patented tree trimming saws allow landscapers, landowners and others users to perform tree maintenance with machines they already have quickly, safely and economically. Fecon will rebrand the saw attachments as Trim Ex. “We are excited to add the TREEfrogg trimming saws to the Fecon line,” said Jeff Stanley, Fecon’s senior vice president of product development. “This addition expands the offering to our agricultural, rural and DOT customers, giving them a productivity-enhancing solution for selective tree trimming.”

The innovative attachments are an

TimberWest Magazine — November/December 2023 — www.forestnet.com

NEW PRODUCTS excellent solution for tackling overhanging tree limbs and other vegetation along easements, right-of-ways, roads, fence rows, paths and other applications. Cutting faster than a chainsaw bar, the Trim Ex 26S saw attachment features a 24-inch carbide-tipped forestry blade that spins at 3,000 rpm and operates with standard flow machines between 10 gpm to 27 gpm with no high flow needed. The operator hydraulically rotates the saw head from the cab as much as 180 degrees to optimize the cutting angle and increase productivity. The boom telescopes to 18 feet total length, which provides a working height of 26 feet. Combined, the highspeed saw, rotating head and telescoping boom allow the operator to make continuous, clean cuts from one machine position.

By eliminating the need for chainsaws, bucket trucks or other expensive, dedicated machinery, the Trim Ex 26S attachment can

reduce the often manual labor of tree trimming to a tenth of its cost, according to Fecon.

For more information visit www.fecon. com.

Rotochopper Hosts Students

Rotochopper recently hosted several student groups to tour its factory in conjunction with the Central Minnesota Manufacturers Association virtual tour of manufacturing as part of Manufacturing Month.

The tour gave visitors an inside look into the rise of automation and robotics in Rotochopper’s manufacturing facility and its equipment products.

Several student groups in the region toured the company’s plant. They included the West Stearns CEO (Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities) group, the Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa (BBE) high school welding class, and the Kimball high

school small engines class.

Rotochopper also participated in EPIC (Exploring Potential Interest & Careers) with several employees meeting with students to talk to them about careers in welding and manufacturing. Rotochopper donated the steel state of Minnesota cut outs and platforms used for the hands-on welding project.

ASSOCIATION NEWS NHLA Elects Three New Board Members

The National Hardwood Lumber Association elected three new board members during its annual convention and exhibit showcase in Louisville, Kentucky, recently.

The newly elected board members are Matthew Gutchess of Gutchess Lumber Co., Tim Pleimann of Farrow Lumber Company, and Chris Rider of AHC Hardwood Group.

Retiring from the board was Jordan McIlvain of Alan McIlvain Company.

Board members serve three-year terms with a maximum of two consecutive threeyear terms.

The NHLA board of directors determines and holds the association to its mission and goals, establishes policies to guide the board and staff, ensures financial solvency and integrity, and helps represent the association.

Prior to serving as chief, he was the Pacific Southwest regional forester from 2007 to 2021, where he was responsible for 18 national forests in California covering 20 million acres. He also oversaw state and private forestry programs in Hawaii and the U.S.-affiliated Pacific Islands.

Moore has also served as regional forester for the Eastern region in Wisconsin, forest supervisor for Mark Twain National Forest in Missouri, and a myriad of other roles throughout the agency. He began his 45-year career in 1978 with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in North Dakota and joined the Forest Service in 1981.

The 2024 Oregon Logging Conference will be held Feb. 22-24 in Eugene, Oregon.

For more information about the conference or to register, visit www.oregonloggingconference.com.

Moore to Talk at the 2024 Oregon Logging Conference

Oregon Loggers Form Health Benefits Trust

Randy Moore, the Chief of the U.S. Forest Service, will be the keynote speaker at the 86th Annual Oregon Logging Conference in February.

“I am very excited, as president of the Oregon Logging Conference this year, in having Chief Moore as my keynote speaker at the conference,” said OLC president Steve Henson.

Moore oversees a workforce of more than 31,000 employees who manage 193 million acres of national forests and grasslands.

The Associated Oregon Loggers has formed the AOL Health Benefits Trust. The trust will soon be ready to offer comprehensive health benefits to AOL members – in partnership with Health Net of Oregon – for 2024 enrollment.

The association health benefits portfolio for 2024 will consist of medical, prescription, dental, vision, life, and alternative care benefits.

The program will deliver valuable benefit plans at competitive pricing to AOL members.

Oregon Loggers Set Convention January 19-20

Associated Oregon Loggers will hold its annual convention at the Spirit Mount Event Center, Hotel and Casino in Grand Ronde, Oregon, Jan. 19-20.

The organization has a block of rooms reserved with special pricing. Cutoff date for special pricing for reservations is Dec. 27. To make a reservation call the hotel at (800) 760-7977 and using group Code 4193 Associated Oregon Loggers.

The Spirit Mountain Event Center, Hotel and Casino is a premier entertainment destination featuring superb conference facilities, with a luxury hotel connected to the conference center. It features five onsite dining and lounge options, casino, free entertainment, RV park, and more.

For more information or to register, visit the AOL website at www.oregonloggers.org.

California Loggers Will Meet January 22-23

Associated California Loggers will hold its annual meeting at the Peppermill Casino Resort Spa in Reno, Nevada, Jan. 22-24.

It will be the organization’s 50th annual meeting.

The event will include a banquet, live auction and silent auction.

For more information visit the ACL website at www.californialoggers.com.

TimberWest Magazine — November/December 2023 — www.forestnet.com

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MACHINERY ROW Patrick Lumber Adds New Hardwood Mill

Patrick Lumber Manufacturing has begun work to add a hardwood sawmill at its manufacturing facility located in Philomath, Oregon.

The new mill will be equipped to cut hardwood lumber, an unusual move in Oregon, where the vast majority of mills process softwoods such as Douglas fir and Ponderosa pine, the state’s most common tree species. While softwoods dominate, the forests of Oregon and northern California also contain large volumes of Oregon white oak, Pacific maple, tan oak, madrone, chinquapin, myrtle, and Oregon ash.

Attempts by others to develop markets for these species have mostly failed, other than a few mills that primarily cut alder.

With no commercial outlets for the fiber, hardwoods have become a nuisance for land managers working to improve forest health and are an increasing component of wildfirethreatened overstocked stands.

“We saw a real opportunity here,” said Patrick Lumber CEO David Halsey, “We can produce and market products that are in demand while also making it possible for forest managers to more economically perform activities that further the health of our forests.”

Halsey believes the mill will be the only commercial hardwood sawmill in western Oregon that is not primarily cutting alder.

As such, its fiber-sourcing area will extend hundreds of miles, from northwest Oregon to northern California. Logs for the mill will be supplied from private, tribal, state, and federal lands.

When complete, the mill is expected to produce about 150,000 board feet of hardwood lumber per month, a four-fold increase over a smaller mill Patrick initially considered.

Equipment being installed at the mill includes a refurbished Salem head rig band

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mill with a 36-inch opening, three-knee carriage and Inovec light curtain scan optimization, along with a Powell rotary gang edger.

The mill is being funded in part by a $1 million Community Wood Grant provided by the U.S. Forest Service.

“The chance for federal support for the project was a game-changer,” Halsey said.

“It allowed us to think bigger and consider how we could make a much more significant impact for the community and the forests.”

Kronospan Acquires Roseburg Particleboard Mill in Louisiana

Kronospan, a leading producer of wood panel products, has executed an asset purchase agreement with Roseburg Forest Products to acquire Roseburg’s Simsboro, La., particleboard facility.

Details of the deal were not disclosed.

Completion of the acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of regulatory approvals. After the closing, the Simsboro plant will accelerate the growth of Kronospan’s wood panel production in North America.

“The acquisition of the Simsboro mill, along with its talented and experienced team of managers and associates, will allow us to bring products to market more efficiently and will improve service to our customers,” said Hans Obermaier, CEO of Kronospan’s North American operations.

Kronospan plans to modernize the Simsboro particleboard facility.

Roseburg is heavily invested in the composites industry, manufacturing particleboard and MDF at plants across North America.

The company recently announced significant investments in two new composite plants in Dillard, Ore., that will manufacture medium and high-density fiberboard and MDF trim suitable for exterior applications.

Kronospan operates wood‐based panel production facilities worldwide, including two U.S. plants in Alabama and Pennsylvania.

American Forest & Paper Honors International Paper

The American Forest & Paper Association announced its Better Practices, Better Planet 2030 Sustainability Award winners. The awards recognize exemplary sustainability programs and initiatives in paper and wood products manufacturing.

International Paper was honored to receive a Leadership in Sustainability Award for Resilient U.S. Forests for its innovative approach to promote forest bird awareness and conservation within the forest product supply chain in partnership with the American Bird Conservancy.

“We are honored by AF&PA’s recognition of our efforts in partnership with the American Bird Conservancy,” said Sophie Beckham, vice president and chief sustainability officer for IP. “This partnership has given us the opportunity to work with landowners, suppliers, conservationists, and bird specialists to support wildlife diversity in the landscapes from which we source fiber.”

International Paper and the conservancy formalized a multi-year partnership in 2020 with the goal of integrating bird conservation into IP’s fiber procurement operations.

This partnership advances IP’s commitment to sustaining forests and reversing the decline of forest birds.

Given the scale and scope of IP’s operations, this partnership brought together IP’s strengths and expertise in fiber procurement and the conservancy’s expertise in bird conservation to contribute to reversing population declines in forest birds.

“Our sustainability awards are outstanding examples of our goals in action,” said AF&PA president and CEO Heidi Brock.

“We received our highest number of sustainability awards applications to date. We are so pleased to present these awards and deeply value the innovative work being done across our industry to advance safety, sustainability, and diversity, equity and inclusion.”

TimberWest Magazine — November/December 2023 — www.forestnet.com

Better Practices, Better Planet is one of the longest standing sustainability initiatives for a U.S. manufacturing industry. The program was established more than a decade ago.

Freres Engineered Wood Hosts Tour

Freres Engineered Wood hosted policymakers and community leaders as part of a three-day tour called the Manufacturing & Innovation Roadshow. This event, presented by Oregon Business & Industry and the Manufacturing Council of Oregon, was held to educate leaders on the importance of Oregon’s manufacturing sector and

CALENDAR January 12-16 Western Pallet Association Annual Meeting, Rancho Mirage, CA 360-335-0208, www.westernpallet.org January 16-18 Association of Equipment Distributors (AED), Summit, Las Vegas, NV 630-574-0650, www.aednet.org

celebrating its contributions to Oregon’s economy.

The company hosted about 30 people on a tour of its small log veneer plant and veneer drying, grading and sorting facility in Lyons, Oregon, and one-of-a-kind mass ply plant nearby.

“Few if any of the visitors had been through a veneer manufacturing plant,” said Freres president Rob Freres. “They saw raw logs being debarked, cut and heat conditioned; our state-of-the-art rotary clipping and multi-point diverter system; along with the first in the world use of a pair of 8-foot composers made by Meinan from Japan to January 19 Associated Oregon Loggers Annual Meeting, Grand Ronde, OR 503-364-1330, www.oregonloggers.org

February 8-9 Sierra-Cascade Logging Conference, Anderson, CA 530-222-1290, www.sierracascadeexpo.com

January 22-24 Associated California Loggers Annual Meeting, Reno NV 916-441-7940, www.californialoggers.com

February 13-15 GLOBExCHANGE, Vancouver, BC 604-695-5000, www.globeseries.com

February 5-7 Indiana Hardwood Lumbermen’s Assoc.

Convention & Expo, Indianapolis, IN 317-288-0008, www.ihla.org

January 17-19 Truck Loggers Association Annual Convention, Vancouver, BC 604-684-4291, www.tla.ca

tape veneer together into continuous 4-foot wide sheets.”

Oregon is among the national leaders in per-capita manufacturing output with thousands of manufacturers and more than 200,000 employees. The Manufacturing & Innovation Roadshow participants traveled across the state to visit nine businesses.

Freres Engineered Wood has operations that include finished plywood, lumber, veneer and structural composite lumber, mass ply products, biochar, and a cogeneration facility that supplies renewable power for the local area.

February 6-8 Society of American Foresters Rising Professionals Conference, Baton Rouge, LA 301-897-8720, www.eforester.org

February 22- 24 Oregon Logging Conference, Eugene, OR 541-686-9191 www.oregonloggingconference.com February 26-27 Calif. Forestry Assoc. - Forest Strategies and Innovations, Sacramento, CA 916-444-6592, www.calforests.org

AD INDEX COMPANY PG# AGRI-COVER, INC..............................................29 BAILEY’S ...........................................................22 DC EQUIPMENT / MODERN MACHINERY.......... 13 DYNA PRODUCTS................................................9 HILLTOP AERIAL................................................22 KOMATSU AMERICA / MODERN MACHINERY.... 15 LBX / TRIAD MACHINERY / BEJAC.....................39 LOFTNESS............................................................ 7 MORBARK............................................................2 OLOFSFORS.........................................................5 PIERCE PACIFIC................................................. 21 PONSSE ........................................................... 19 TIMBERMAX.......................................................40 TIMBERPRO / MODERN MACHINERY / BEJAC...23 WCLA CREDIT UNION........................................27 YOKOHAMA OFF ROAD TIRES / ALLIANCE..........8 CALENDAR JANUARY...............................KOMATSU AMERICA FEBRUARY....................................... CATERPILLAR MARCH............DC EQUIPMENT/ MODERN MACH. APRIL................LBX / TRIAD MACHINERY / BEJAC MAY........................................... QUADCO GROUP JUNE..........................................................BANDIT JULY................................................SENNEBOGEN AUGUST................................................ MORBARK SEPTEMBER.....................................................FAE OCTOBER................................................ AG WEST NOVEMBER.................................................RAYCO DECEMBER.............................................LOG MAX TimberWest Magazine — November/December 2023 — www.forestnet.com

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GuestColumnist

Awake at the Wheel: How Fatigue Impacts Log Truck Driver Safety

By Allison Clonch

W

e have all experienced mo-

ments when fatigue creeps up on us, causing our eyelids to droop and our bodies to become sluggish. What most people do not experience is battling such overwhelming fatigue while maneuvering a massive log truck on the highway.

Fatigue for log truck drivers and how it impacts accident risk is a concern that affects not only the truckers’ safety but also the safety of everyone else sharing the road. Researchers at the University of Washington’s Pacific Northwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center studied the factors that impact fatigue and accident risk among log truck drivers. This Guest Column will share why fatigue poses a risk to log truck drivers and explore practical recommendations to help them stay alert while on the job.

The Pacific Northwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center at the University of Washington has been serving agricultural, fishing, and forestry workers throughout Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and Alaska since 1996. The goal of the center is to conduct research that supports the health and well-being of workers, strengthens communities, and enhances agricultural productivity.

The center’s logging safety and fatigue project began in 2021. It was sparked by concern from industry stakeholders in Idaho in response to an increase in log truck accidents. The project had three main components: 1) an analysis of federal crash data, 2) a survey of loggers and log truck drivers, and 3) in-depth interviews with log truck drivers.

The project aims to understand risk factors for injury or fatality in log truck crashes and how real-world log truck drivers are confronted and respond to fatigue on the job.

The findings ranged from the expected to downright surprising. Overall, those who responded to our survey reported a good quality of life and high job satisfaction. However, with regards to sleep and fatigue, 49 percent of respondents reported working more than 55 hours per week, and 21 percent started their workday between 1:30 and 4:30 a.m.

The analysis of the federal crash data uncovered a 34 percent increase in reported crash frequency from 2011 to 2019 between Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and 38

Montana. Interestingly, log truck crashes in Washington or Oregon were significantly less likely to result in an injury or fatality relative to Idaho and Montana, a finding that could be the topic of future research.

As one of the drivers who was interviewed recounted, “Probably at least once a week there’s a day where I didn’t get enough sleep and notice myself getting that 1,000mile stare. Like, ‘Hunh, I don’t remember much about the last 10 miles, but I don’t hear any banging or squealing, so I don’t think I ran anything over.’ ” Long hours and lack of sleep can take a toll on even the heartiest driver’s body and mind. When fatigue sets in, the consequences can be dire: fatigue impairs one’s ability to think, reaction times, and decision-making abilities -- key factors in safe driving.

It comes as no surprise that we can see more evidence of this relationship in publicly available data. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), driver fatigue is a contributing factor in around 13 percent of large truck crashes. Fatigue-related accidents often result in severe injuries and fatalities due to the sheer size and weight of trucks.

In our research using FMCSA data from Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and Montana, we found that 34 percent of accidents involving a log truck resulted in at least one injury or fatality. Many of these were likely influenced by driver fatigue.

Recommendations to Combat Fatigue:

1. Prioritize Sleep and Rest: It might sound obvious, but ensuring you get enough sleep before hitting the road is crucial. Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night.

Adequate sleep helps your body and mind recover, keeping you more alert while in your truck. If you had a particularly tiring day, consider taking a power nap for 10-15 minutes before getting on the road.

2. Plan Regular Breaks: Driving can be monotonous, contributing to fatigue. Plan your daily route with scheduled breaks.

During these breaks, step out of the truck, stretch your legs, and get some fresh air. These small breaks can work wonders in combating fatigue and revitalizing your focus.

3. Stay Hydrated and Snack Smart: What you put into your body affects how you feel. Dehydration can exacerbate feelings of tiredness, so keep a water bottle handy.

Additionally, choose snacks wisely. Foods rich in protein and complex carbohydrates provide sustained energy, unlike sugary snacks that lead to crashes in energy levels.

The relationship between fatigue and accident risk among log truck drivers is important to be aware of, for loggers, log truck drivers, and everyone in between. Staying awake at the wheel is not just to get you to the mill faster – it is a matter of life and death. By entertaining these practical recommendations, log truck drivers can make a significant difference in their own safety and the safety of those around them.

Next time you’re behind the wheel, remember: Rest well, take breaks, and fuel your body with the right snacks. Your actions can make a world of difference in preventing fatigue-related accidents and ensuring safer roads for everyone.

(Allison Clonch is a third year PhD student at the University of Washington, where she is studying environmental and occupational health.)

TimberWest Magazine — November/December 2023 — www.forestnet.com