Issuu

SPECIAL INSERT: 2018 Industry Calendar

NEW T-WINCH ROCKING THE STEEP SLOPES L&L Inc., Sutherlin, Oregon

PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE Buck’s Logging Winlock, Washington

GOING STRONG FOR THREE DECADES

Erickson Logging Gig Harbor, Washington

BURN LESS FUEL AND PRODUCE MORE

PONSSE NORTH AMERICA INC 90712 Huntley Court Coburg, OR 97408 Office: 541-343-6926 Sales: 541-554-6358 Håkan Berg Processor and Harvester Head Specialist Cell: 715-499-1848

PONSSE HARVESTING AND PROCESSING HEADS are widely used in track and rubber tired harvesters in US. PONSSE has been designing and manufacturing harvester heads for 30 years. The long-term experience and active listening of customer feedback shows in the products – every model is at the top of its class in productivity and reliability. DURABILITY WITH LOWER WEIGHT is ensured by using welldesigned structures and highest quality steel. Saw is quick and precise, feeding fast and strong, making our heads productive. MORE CUBIC METER PER HECTARE with PONSSE Opti control system designed for PONSSE heads.

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ON THE COVER Photo taken by Andrea Watts of the Buck’s Logging operation.

November/December 2017 Vol. 42 No. 11-12

Preparing for the Future and Adapting to the Times

Preparing for the Future and Adapting to the Times With over 40 years in Southwest Washington, there aren’t many hills this family hasn’t logged.

Going Strong for Three Decades Kurk Erickson came into the profession with his barn boots on.

New T-Winch Rocking the Steep Slopes Recently delivered from Austria, EcoForst’s T-Winch is putting on a show across the steep slopes of Western Oregon’s Coast Range.

Taking Care of Your Rubber Track Tips to help your company maintain and protect rubber track.

Going Strong for Three Decades

Firebreak Column — Mopping Up Across the nation, more than 28,000 people were fighting wildfires at the peak. Now the nation deals with the aftermath.

New T-Winch Rocking the Steep Slopes

Tech Review — Feller Bunchers A review of the industry’s top feller bunchers.

DEPARTMENTS

Page 4 .............................................................In the News Page 22 ................................................. Association News Page 40 ........................................................ New Products Page 41 ..................................................... Machinery Row Page 41 ............................................... Calendar of Events Page 41 .................................................Advertiser’s Index Page 41 ........................................................... Subscription

Taking Care of Your Rubber Track

24 |

www.forestnet.com November/December 2017 TimberWest

More Salvage in Lolo, Montana

Freres Lumber’s Veneer Plant Reconstructed, Back Online

Workers displaced by the disastrous fire on June 26 at Freres Lumber Co.’s Plant 4 are now back at work in their usual capacities in the veneer production facility in Lyons, Oregon. Freres crews and contractors worked at lightning speed and, in a remarkable four months’ time, brought the plant back online, producing its dry veneer used internally and sold all over the Pacific Northwest. “After four months and a lot of hard work, we’re up and running again,” says Kyle Freres, Freres Lumber vice president of Operations. “It has not been without trial and tribulation, however. We had hoped to be online last month, but a large-scale electrical failure held us up. On November 2, the electrical problem was resolved, and we are now, thankfully, operating again.” With the plant up and running, Freres Lumber is hiring additional workers. “Manpower is an issue at this point; some employees left after the fire. With the replacement of lighting lost in the fire, and the new interior paint, the work environment in the building is much improved,” notes Freres. Those interested in applying for jobs can contact Freres Lumber HR Manager Tim McCollister or visit https://frereslumber. com/careers/.

Senate Appropriations Releases Interior, Environment Bill

The High Plains/Midwest Ag Journal reported that the Senate Appropriations Committee released a fiscal year 2018 bill that addresses issues including the U.S. Forest Service firefighting budget, the Environmental Protection Agency, and certain threatened species. In a summary of the bill, Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Thad Cochran, R-MS, noted that the bill includes $5.8 billion for the U.S. Forest Service, including the full 10-year average for wildfire suppression costs as well increased funding for hazardous fuels reduction to help prevent catastrophic wildfires. The bill also includes $3.6 billion to fight wildland fires, representing fire suppression funding at 100 percent of the 10-year average and emergency suppression funds made available if regular suppression funding is insufficient to cover the costs of fighting wildfires, a committee statement said. 4

After this year’s wildfire in Montana’s Lolo National Forest, Northwest Montana’s county commissioners want to see more timber salvaged. The timber must be cut within the first year before weather and insect damage set in. To that end, the U.S. Forest Service is working hard to complete the assessments, environmental reviews, and public review processes required for area salvage operations to proceed. In Lolo, the Western News reported that the agency has proposed salvage operations on almost 4,900 acres that were burned by the Sheep Gap and Sunrise Fires. Before the public comment period closed Dec. 1, the commissioners of Lincoln, Mineral, and Sanders County sent a letter to the Forest Service, asking that it “maximize the number of acres designated for restoration and salvage” — and arguing that the harvest proposed by the Forest Service could be doubled. “We all kind of suffered the same plague,” said Lincoln County Commissioner Mark Peck. “The loss of revenue coming off the forests is bankrupting our counties, so we’re just trying to have a stronger voice. While we’re asking for more salvage, the Forest Service has done a tremendous effort of jumping on this.”

Katerra Factory Coming to Spokane Valley

The first permits were issued for a Spokane Valley factory that will produce cross-laminated timber and glulam, engineered wood products for high-rise buildings and parking garages. The California-based factory is expected to be 250,000 square feet and employ 150. The Spokesman Review reported that according to permit data from the city of Spokane Valley, the total project cost is estimated to be $35 million. It is being built at 19202 E. Garland Lane on land owned by Centennial Properties, a subsidiary of Cowles Co., which publishes The Spokesman-Review.

U.S. Home-Buying way up

In October, the speed of home buying increased by 6.2 percent, making it the third month in a row to record this kind of speed in the market and the best pace since 2007. Thanks goes to both the American economy and a growing shortage of homes, due to home pricing going up 13.6 percent this year. The Real Deal reported there are about 10 percent fewer property listings for existing homes compared to October 2016, and according to the Los Angeles Times, this is the lowest number of listings for existing homes since 1999. TW

TimberWest November/December 2017 www.forestnet.com

Editor: Diane Mettler, diane@forestnet.com Copy Editor: Beth Szyperski Contributing Editors: Lindsay R. Mohlere, Jack Petree, Buck Storlie, Andrea Watts ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Sales Mgr: James Booth – jbooth@forestnet.com Phone: (604) 506-8631 Director: Rob Stanhope – stanhope@forestnet.com Assoc. Publisher: Anthony Robinson –robinson@forestnet.com Sales Contact Information: Phone: (604) 990-9970 • Fax: (604) 990-9971 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Publisher & Production Manager: Sheila Ringdahl – sringdahl@forestnet.com Accounting Manager: Shelina Jessa – accounting@forestnet.com Corporate Office Information: Phone: (425) 778-3388 Fax: (425) 771-3623 timberwest@forestnet.com www.forestnet.com Send all materials - Insertion Orders, Contracts, Copy, Photos, Disks to: TImberWest Publications, LLC P.O. Box 610 (300 Admiral Way, Suite 105) Edmonds, WA 98020-0610 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Send both OLD and NEW Circulation information to: TimberWest Magazine Attn: Subscriptions P.O. Box 610, Edmonds, WA 98020 Fax: (425) 771-3623 • subscribetw@forestnet.com ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Advertising created by TimberWest Publications, LLC is the sole property of TimberWest Publications, LLC and may not be copied or reproduced without the express written permission of the publisher. 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 2017. All rights reserved. Subscription rates to qualified subscribers are Free and all non-qualified subscriptions in U.S. are $22 per year payable in advance. Canada $35 (U.S.). Other $40 (U.S.). Single copies paid in advance $4. Company affiliation, title, date and signature must appear on subscription forms. Publisher reserves the right to refuse non-industry subscriptions and advertising. All other advertising is accepted at the discretion of the publisher. Publisher does not assume any responsibility for the contents of any advertisement and all representations or warranties made in such advertising are those of the advertiser and not of the publisher. Back issues, if available, $4 each. Directory and Calendar issue $10 each. Canadian Publication Mail Product Sales Agreement #40740074. Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses to P.O. Box 86670 Stn. Main, North Vancouver, BC V7L 4L2 Printed in Canada at Horseshoe Press Inc. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to TimberWest, P.O. Box 610, Edmonds, WA, 98020-0610

ContractorProfile

Preparing for the Future and Adapting to the Times Buck’s Logging, Winlock, Washington

By Andrea Watts

ith over 40 years of working

in the Mossy Rock-Winlock area of Southwest Washington, there aren’t many hills that the Lyons family hasn’t logged. “We’ve been pretty fortunate to [have] spent 30 years in this area,” says Brad, while driving out to the first of several jobsites where his crews are working. When the road crests a hill to reveal a view that encompasses an expansive network of hillsides that are still tree-covered or in the greening-up period, he remarks, “We’re so spoiled working here.”

All in the Family

Pictured left to right are: Owner and President Brad Lyons; Bryce Lyons, Brad’s nephew who has worked with the company for over 10 years; and James Bowen, who has worked in the industry over 30 years and has done three or four tours with Bucks Logging. 6

TimberWest November/December 2017 www.forestnet.com

As owners of Buck’s Logging, brothers Brad, Bart, and Brent represent the fourth generation of the Lyons family out in the woods; Brent’s son Bryce is now the fifth generation. “We’ve done it for 40 years, and we get along great,” Brad explains when asked how the brothers find the balance between friendship and business. “We each got our thing we do.”

ContractorProfile Brad handles the supervisor responsibilities and keeps the guys in wood, while Brent oversees the tower sides, and Bart and his wife Sherry and daughter Bristen manage the rock quarry that is also owned by the company. Brad’s wife Lori and daughter Erin manage the administration side of the businesses. The brothers entered the logging industry by following in their father’s footsteps. “I remember going out and working with Dad,” Brad says. “We made sure he didn’t leave the house without us.” Bart and Brad were 18 when they started driving the logging trucks. When their father transitioned the company to his sons, they kept the company name, Buck’s Logging, which was their dad’s nickname; his first name was Willard. Their uncles also worked out in the woods, often on the very same hills that Brad and Brent are now working on. Brad recalls recently taking his uncle out to a jobsite on Rayonier land, and the uncle remarked, “Looks just the same.” As is the case for many logging companies, at Buck’s Logging, the nearly 60 employees who work out in the woods, in the shop, and in the office are regarded as family. When passing by crewmen on the jobsite, Brad often has a personal anecdote to share: Russ Boggs, one of the shovel loggers, is the comedian of the group and can make up songs on the spot; and as the outfit’s mechanic, Colton Talley keeps all the equipment maintained — woe to the crewman who returns with a scratch on the equipment. Many of the crew have spent decades in the industry and although they leave Buck’s Logging to explore other opportunities, they often invariably return. Pat Bowen, who has three or four tours of duty on Brad’s crew and now runs one of the Doosan 300s, explains why he enjoys working with Buck’s Logging. “It’s fun here; we all get along.” When it comes to jobs, Brad says, “I like to think we got all the tools in our toolbox to do any job — two to three loads or 100 acres.” On average, they haul 50 loads a day, and they primarily work for Port Blakely and Green Diamond, along with Jorgensen Timber, but they will also take smaller family landowner jobs. “We’ll log anything that pays to log,” Brad explains. Of their relationship with Port Blakely, Brad is pleased to be one of their contractors. Between the good roads, being on top of the riparian management zones, and identifying the leave trees, he regards them as a “topnotch outfit.” Their jobs mainly entail clearcutting, or

Buck’s Logging uses a variety of equipment including a John Deere 3754D pared with a 2954D.

(continue on page 8)

www.forestnet.com November/December 2017 TimberWest

ContractorProfile (continued from page 7) making good habitat as Brad calls it, along with some thinning. His crew includes hand cutters but he will also contract work to TNB Mechanical Tree Felling, the father and son team of Tony White and David. “Everyone will tell you he’s one of the best around,” Brad says.

Careers for the Crew

With their crew of 54 men, Brad can easily run four sides, and today there are two shovel sides and two yarders running at full capacity. Although he recognizes which pairings of crewmembers work best, Brad will allow crew to try their hand at different jobs if they’re interested. “We try to make it so people can move up in the ranks,” Brad says, and Brent adds, “We are trying to get it so it’s more of a career than a job.” As an example, Jake Lyons had been a former driver but is now working in a processor, and Brad credits him with “getting pretty versatile.” In line with creating career opportunities at Buck’s Logging, but also to entice younger folks to join the profession, the company offers generous wages and healthcare and retirement benefits. Brad is also willing to explore different ways of doing business if it improves worker satisfaction and safety. Recently the company started paying truck drivers by the hour instead of a percentage, which increases safety on the road and reduces competition for loads. The company also frequently invests in new equipment. “When we buy a new piece of equipment, it shows our commitment to being here for the long term — shows the young folks we’ll be here,” says Brad.

The Buck’s Logging equipment lineup includes, among others, a Madill 071 and a Kobelco 290.

The Right Piece for the Job

On jobsites there is a gamut of equipment manufacturers featured: a pairing of John Deere 3754D and 2954D; a Madill 071

paired with a Link-Belt 290 and Kolbelco 290; and a pair of Doosan 300s, one of which is outfitted with a Southstar processing head. Of the Kobelcos, Brad says they have treated him pretty good, and for his Doosan purchase, Brad worked with Randy Harris and Bob Payton at Feenaughty Machinery in Portland, Oregon. The employees appreciate the new equipment. “It makes you take pride in your work,” says Kyle McKunne. He’s been in the industry for 25 years, and the reason he chose to work for Buck’s Logging is, “I didn’t just want to work for somebody. I heard good things [about Buck’s Logging].”

Safety First

Not only does Buck’s Logging invest in its equipment, the brothers also invest in their employees. Brad proudly shares that they have six master loggers, one of which is Bryce, and they have a master logger on every job. Of the training, Brad says it helps the men understand what’s going on because the “days of playing dumb are gone.” And Gary Hines goes the extra mile to protect his loads while hauling. He works to be safe on the road, not only for himself but also for the other drivers. 8

TimberWest November/December 2017 www.forestnet.com

(continue on page 10)

ContractorProfile Buck’s Logging equipment also includes a recently-purchased Doosan DX300LL with a Southstar QS600 processing head.

(continued from page 8) the company also vigorously promotes safety, which is evident when every crewman steps out of the cab — they’re all wearing hard hats — and there are end-of-the-month safety meetings that also function as dinner parties. “Around here, safety is a priority,” Brad says. “It makes you slow down and do it right.” As part of the safety culture, the company enrolled in the Washington State Labor & Industries Logger Safety Initiative Program during the first quarter of 2014, and they are now in Tier 3. Gary Hines, one of the drivers who has worked with Brad for 10 of his 31 years in the business, appreciates Brad’s emphasis on safety and encouraging employees to create safe working conditions. While hauling logs when the sap is running, Hines attaches a fiddle string, something he considers “real simple insurance” to keep the logs from slipping in case of an accident. Brad adds, “Hines is the first guy I’ve seen do that.” As the manager and supervisor, Brad sees his job as “making sure everyone is working.” And with the crew he has, supervising isn’t that difficult, he says. “I’m really lucky to have the crew I got. These guys will be around for 30 years.” Brad admits it was difficult to transition from being in the cab to being a supervisor, and he credits good role models for teaching him how to develop a management style, particularly Jim Sabin, who used to own H&S Logging, and still comes out to help even at 70 years old.

Succession Plan

Forestry applications with forwarders Excellent traction in heavy-duty service Strong bead and shoulder for high puncture resistance bkt-tires.com

TimberWest November/December 2017 www.forestnet.com

Although Brad doesn’t expect to retire soon, he is already developing the company’s succession plan. Bryce, Erin, and Whylo are being trained to take over the business, and together they already have 34 years in the industry. w “I think they’re looking forward to it,” Brent says, of his son, niece, and nephew eventually taking over the business. As for the crew, they appreciate being kept busy and working in a workplace where coworkers are friends. “It’s been one of the friendliest places I’ve worked at,” says Mike Hadaller. “We have a lot of fun getting the job done.” TW

CONFIDENCE BY DESIGN. “We typically harvest wood in the two to three tonne piece size and we are doing 500 to 600 tonnes per day. Once we looked into the idea of going purpose-built, it was a no brainer. It performs so much better, the reliability is there, ease of maintenance and the longevity. The 880D is built for the task and it has been a major benefit to the operation.” Colin Wroe, Whisker Harvesting 880D logger - Roadside processing

WWW.TRIADMACHINERY.COM

www.tigercat.com/colinwroe

PORTLAND, OR 503.254.5100

TACOMA, WA 253.722.5560

EUGENE, OR 541.342.7700

SPOKANE, WA 509.534.1900

PRINEVILLE, OR 541.447.5293

MT VERNON, WA 360.488.3948

ContractorProfile

GOING STRONG

for Three Decades Erickson Logging Inc., Gig Harbor, Washington

urt Erickson, owner of Erickson Logging, came into the profession with barn boots on. “I came from a dairy farming family,” Erickson says, “and then I started cutting firewood. I was just cutting cordwood and thought, ‘This is kind of stupid. I need to do something a little easier.’ And then from that, I migrated into logging.” Operating out of Gig Harbor, Washington, Erickson Logging Inc. has been contract logging for primarily private landowners for 30 years, and Erickson has never looked back. Growing Over the Decades

Since the company’s inception in 1988, with a firewood processor and three trucks, Kurt Erickson (right) stands with private landowner Bart Jensen. 12

TimberWest November/December 2017 www.forestnet.com

ContractorProfile 748 John Deere and three 648s. “We try all the different brands,” says Erickson. “Price is a factor, but I let my operators pick which one they want. We tried Caterpillar, Link-Belt, and Hitachi before we bought the Tigercat. Operator Tim Holsten decided he liked that one the best, so that’s what we went with.” Once the trees are down, Erickson brings in his six Kenworth trucks — all are able to convert from short loggers to long loggers — to get the wood to the local mills. “And all six trucks are set up with Whitlog gear.”

Creating His Own Competition

“Really good operators are hard to find,” says Erickson. Often he does his own training, including training his own son Kade. The 21-year-old is a fast learner, and Erickson expects him to eventually venture off and start his own logging company. “I trained him since he was a little kid. We spent a lot of time teaching him how to run skidder, processor, and shovel. I put him in the processors primarily just to get him to where he understood log quality. That’s one really important aspect of logging,” says Erickson. “I’ve tried to work with him a lot on appraising, and he’s gotten pretty good

Erickson has aggressively grown his business into one of Washington State’s largest privately owned logging companies. Now, he has enough mechanized equipment to run three ground-based logging sites and regularly processes 1 to 2 million board feet a month. “The first thing I had was a skidder — Garrett 22s — and kind of grew from those. Then I went to a CTR processor and one shovel. Then somewhere around the mid-tolate 90s and 2000, we started accumulating quite a bit more equipment as demand grew.” Today, Erickson owns two Doosan 300s — one with a 624 Waratah processor and the other a loader. He also has a Doosan 225 with a 620 Waratah processor, a 370 Hitachi with 624C processor, two Tigercat 830Cs with 5702 heads, a Tigercat 855C leveler with falling head, two Link-Belt log loaders (a 290 and a 240,) and four John Deere skidders — a

with that. He definitely will probably be competing against me at some point, and that’s fine.” In addition to his son Kade, Erickson leans heavily on his talented crew of 16, many who have been with him for years.

At the Site

The day TimberWest was in the woods with Erickson, his operation was even-aged harvesting a piece for a private landowner. Erickson planned to send the cedar, maple, alder, fir and pulp to different mills, but it didn’t stop here. If he can work it out for his customers, Erickson will contract to have the cedar boughs cut and sold for holiday wreath making. On the day of TimberWest’s visit there was a skeleton crew cutting boughs, but at the peak seasonal times, up to 150 people can be out there cutting. “It’s just a nice little additional bonus for the landowner because, you know, there is only a certain time of year you cut cedar boughs,” says Erickson. Erickson also has road-building equipment, allowing him to build his own roads to (continue on page 14)

Erickson Logging has a robust lineup of machines from the Doosan 300 and John Deere skidder above to the Tigercat LX830 below. Erickson says price is a factor when it comes to purchasing machines, but more importantly it’s whether his operators like the machine.

www.forestnet.com November/December 2017 TimberWest

ContractorProfile (continued from page 13)

Kurt Erickson operating the 370 Hitachi with a 624C processor.

the sites without contracting out. He owns dozers, road graders, rollers, dump trucks and an excavator. In addition, Erickson is reclaiming an old coal site created back when Plum Creek excavated coal. He decided to start reclaiming the coal pits and the big open-pocketed seams created back in the late 1940s through the 1960s, when coal was drudged for energy. He’s putting the land back to its original contours, using the dirt acquired from the City of Seattle’s various construction sites. He caps it with two to three feet of topsoil and plants seedlings for future timber growth. “It’s really a tree farm,” he says.

Looking Ahead

Erickson feels it’s pretty easy to get work in this current high-priced log market — the highest it has been in nearly 21 years. But one must still be careful because log markets are fickle. “The market tends to go up somewhat slowly,” he says, “but when it comes down, it comes down rather quickly.” For example, he notes that cedar is currently at a peak of $1,500.00 a thousand. “For years, it was at $700, which can indicate a possible a correction on the horizon.” “It’s like the stock market,” Erickson adds, “It’s commodities. So, what’s always been [considered] a damaging effect is just market swing. If you’re any good at all, it’s not too difficult to stay busy, especially in [the summer] months.” Erickson feels that an even bigger challenge for the industry is the need to compete against union wages and the better hours the unions offer, especially with the truck drivers. “Our hours are horrible. A lot of these guys get up at one in the morning to go to work. With construction, you get up at four, you’re home by three and you made $30 to $60 and hour. I’ve lost two drivers to the union this year.” The downside to union jobs though Erickson says is that they slowdown in the winter, whereas his outfit and other logging operations run all year long. “You can’t keep employees if you don’t keep them busy,” Erickson says. “I work hard on keeping everybody working. Typically, we don’t have much turnover.” In the end, what is the key to Erickson’s success? Although he won’t divulge the details, the key, in his opinion, has been his marketing. He will also take the smaller jobs, down to five acres. And it certainly doesn’t hurt that Erickson has maintained his good reputation for 30 years. TW 14

TimberWest November/December 2017 www.forestnet.com

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ContractorProfile

New T-Winch Rocking the Steep Slopes

L&L Inc. Sutherlin, Oregon

Terry Mann standing next to a newly-delivered T-Winch.

By Lindsay Mohlere

lmost fresh off the boat from Austria, EcoForst’s T-Winch is putting on a show across the steep slopes of Western Oregon’s Coast Range. The T-Winch forest tethering machine — the first of its kind in the USA — was purchased this past summer by L&L Inc., from the EcoForst dealer, Precision Machinery in Eugene, Oregon. L&L put the T-Winch into service about four months ago, and it is being put to the test nearly every day. The manufacturer, EcoForst of Tragoess, Austria, states the T-Winch was designed to simplify timber harvesting on terrain that is steep or is difficult to access. Unlike many other tethering systems that have begun to surface across the U.S., the T-Winch is a self-contained mechanized tracked unit that can be positioned easily via handheld 16

controls. Powered by a 3-liter engine, pumping out 145 hp, the T-Winch is small compared to other tethering machines — 6’ tall, 13’ long, and 7’ wide. It tips the scales around 8.5 tons. Anchoring of the T-Winch takes place through the crawler movement and the attached blade. Additionally, the unit can be

TimberWest November/December 2017 www.forestnet.com

tied off to a block with fixed strutting belts to deliver maximum tractive force. Tractive force assistance and driving direction are preset by the operator via a remote control. (continue on page 18)

ContractorProfile Derrick Benson puts the Ponsse Buffalo through its paces on a steep slope.

(continued from page 16)

Evolution of a Company

L&L Inc. is a family-owned outfit out of Sutherlin, Oregon. The company consists of parents Louis and Lori Mann, brothers Terry and Ted, and long-time family friend, Derrick Benson. Originally from Philipsburg, Montana, the Mann family business was started in 1986 by Louis and Lori, thus

the name L&L. They concentrated on treelength logging until deciding to change their direction to cut-to-length in 2004. At that point, they went looking for machines to fit their business model and ultimately decided on Ponsse. In fact, they became the first operator in the West to use Ponsse. “Their machines are built for what we do.; thinning and small diameter thinning,” said Terry Mann. He adds that with

TimberWest November/December 2017 www.forestnet.com

its lighter footprint, the equipment was designed for the type of jobs they do. “Doesn’t have to be big destructive iron. The technology is better than anyone else.” The company fields a 2015 Ponsse Scorpion King harvester, which Terry describes as “Awesome,” a 2012 Ponsse Buffalo forwarder, and a 2011 Ponsse Buffalo Dual. L&L also has a CAT 320 shovel and a couple of dozers in its equipment stable. L&L does its own hauling utilizing a 2006 International Paystar Mule Train, operated by Ted Mann. In addition, the company has a 2006 KW T-800, which serves as a lowboy or a mule train. Contract haulers are also used when needed. When the economy began to fade around 2009, the Mann family took a hard look at their future. They had a lot of work, but mills were closing, and the markets were drying up. At the time, they thought about closing the company down. Fortunately, they got a call from Lee Miller of Miller Timber Services. Miller

ContractorProfile needed help on a thinning project near Bend. So, in 2011, the Mann family packed up like the settlers of old and traveled to Oregon in a column of equipment, RVs, and kids.

The Pioneering Spirit Lives On!

According to Terry Mann, L&L worked for Miller until early 2017, when they began taking on their own contracts. Again, the family’s pioneering spirit and solid faith foundation opened the door for opportunity when the T-Winch became known. Terry said the company took a huge step by going into tethering. “Our first impression was we didn’t want to have anything to do with it. But as the technology started to progress and the government came up with some regulations, we looked at it again. A lot of guys were jumping in with both feet. It looked like it was going to be a part of the future of this industry, and we definitely wanted to be on the leading edge of that. Not only for the opportunity, but also so we can get a fair price for the work that we do. It expands our operating capabilities. It also makes us a more desirable contractor in the eyes of the landowners,” he said. “The T-Winch really interested me when I first saw it three or four years ago,” Terry continued. “We’ve been watching it since. This spring the owner of EcoForst, Markus Krenn, was in the U.S. and I got ahold of him. He came out to the Northwest, and it just clicked. My dad and I both felt right about it, just one of those things. We went over to Germany, talked to some loggers over there, and we made the decision to get it. At that time, we really saw a future with this so we went to a couple of landowners and explained what we had in mind, that we were interested in this system, but only if it was something they wanted to apply. We had to be kept busy if we were going to buy it. They were very excited about it.” Currently, the company works for Giustina Land & Timber but has also logged for Seneca, Weyerhaeuser, and Lone Rock.

Little Outfit, Big Results

Just because L&L Logging is a small, four-guy, one-woman outfit, it doesn’t mean they’re short on production. In its beginning, the company was much larger, relying on hand crews to cut tree-length timber. In the early 90s, L&L evolved to more mechanized work, and when they changed direction into cut-to-length, the company morphed into a tight family operation. Last year, L&L knocked out 35,000 tons and expects to do more this year. Daily production hovers between two and ten truck (continue on page 20)

(Left to Right) Terry Mann, Ted Mann, Louis Mann, and Derrick Benson.

INTRODUCING A COMPLETE LINE OF

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www.forestnet.com November/December 2017 TimberWest

ContractorProfile

(continued from page 19) loads per day. “We added another machine that my dad’s running,” Terry said. “It’s a Ponsse Buffalo Dual, basically like the machine Derrick runs. The bunks are all removed, and the grapple comes off. We put a harvester head on it. It’s good for small jobs that can get done with just one machine. When we’re working all together, it helps balance out the production.” The company sees the addition of the T-Winch to their equipment roster as a solution to some of the operational challenges of logging in steep slope country. “Steep ground is always a challenge. Every job we do, it seems like there’s a piece, or a corner, or a draw that we can’t get on. The T-Winch allows us to get to those places and, a lot of times, go beyond what the landowner really expected,” Terry said. Terry added that their usual work method on the steep slopes is that he will hook up to the T-Winch with the harvester and drop over the edge. When he’s finished, he brings the harvester up top. At that point, the cable is easily shifted to Derrick’s forwarder, and he then drops over the lip. While he’s in “the hole,” Terry works the flatter ground to keep production at maximum levels. Working at a fast pace, the crew can quickly reposition the T-Winch without much hassle. “It pulls about 17,000 pounds, and it will use all of it pulling up the hill. But we’re not even tied back. The blade is buried, and it doesn’t even wiggle,” Terry said, adding that the winch is extremely frugal on fuel. “What’s really crazy is the fuel this thing burns. It’s under a gallon an hour,” he said. “We’re saving more than that in the forwarder because the T-Winch helps it up and down. The combined fuel usage of the two machines is less than when we run without it. The T-Winch allows us to push further into the year and further down the slope.” TW 20

Top: Ted Mann leaves the landing on one of many trips to the mill. Above: T-Winch strapped down and on the job. Below: The T-Winch drum holds 1,640 feet (500 meters) of .73 inch (18.5 mm) rope.

TimberWest November/December 2017 www.forestnet.com

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www.nordchaintirechains.com NordChain is the new brand name for the same products that have been produced since 1930, formerly known as Gunnebo. Today, NordChain product lines offer proven quality and are characterized by outstanding traction and long service life, as well as excellent fit and overall performance.

Nordic Traction Group, the parent company of Clark Tracks, Scotland and Nordchain, Finland, offers a full line of traction products. Nordic Traction has partnered with Wallingford's Inc., North America’s largest manufacturer and distributor of logging supplies, to market these tested and proven products throughout all of USA and Canada.

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AFRC Is Growing!

Do you love being outdoors and in the woods? Are you looking for a challenging, but rewarding, job that is different every day and exposes you to new learning opportunities? Are you passionate about the local forest products industry and its contributions to economic and environmental sustainability in Western Oregon? Do you want to work for a team-oriented organization obsessed with making a difference in public land management? If so, the American Forest Resource Council (AFRC) might be the right fit for you. Check out our website (amforest.org) for details.

American Forest Resource Council (AFRC). A new video produced by the Oregon Forest Resources Institute (OFRI) tells their story. “Build a House – Frame a Future” highlights the forest sector’s contributions to the Springfield/Eugene Habitat for Humanity project sponsored by AFRC, whose members donated locally produced wood products, volunteer hours, or cash donations to help build a new home in east Springfield for Nayeli and Alitza. The year-long project was completed this past summer. “This project embodies what the forest

products industry is all about,” said AFRC President Travis Joseph, who was born and raised in Springfield. “We work in the woods, help care for our public lands, and make products every Oregonian depends on every day — including the lumber in our homes. Our members care deeply about the communities in which they live, work, and play, and this home is another reminder of that commitment. You can watch “Build a House – Frame a Future on YouTube: https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=E1RQDlIEhU4. TW

Pacific Logging Congress Announces New Board Members

The Pacific Logging Congress (PLC) recently welcomed four new board members. Lindsay Baska, office manager at Mike Pihl Logging, has grown up with the logging company and in the forest industry. Lindsay started working in the Mike Pihl Logging office when she was in high school. She enjoys learning about the history of the industry from her dad, Mike Pihl. Larry Heesacker owns and operates A-1 Logging Inc. out of Yamhill, Oregon. Larry started out in 1985 with a chainsaw and a pickup truck. Today, Larry and his wife Donna have built a solid reputation as one of Yamhill County’s most trusted loggers. Peter Jackson, a licensed land surveyor and a professional forester, has been employed by Green Diamond Resource Company for almost two decades. Pete also serves on the Blue Lake Fire Protection District Board of Directors and the Mountain Western Log Scaling and Grading Bureau Board of Directors. Anthony Robinson is the associate publisher of Logging and Sawmilling Journal and TimberWest Magazine. Anthony’s 10year career in forestry and natural resource management includes project management, consulting, operational planning, harvesting, mining, and geographic information systems. “Each of these individuals embodies the spirit and goals of the PLC,” says PLC President Jeff Wimer. “They bring with them talent, expertise, and energy and will be a great asset to the PLC. We’re excited to have them on board.”

New Video Celebrates AFRC Support of Habitat for Humanity Build in Springfield

After some less-than-ideal living situations, Springfield resident Nayeli Navarrete Bravo and her daughter, Alitza, recently became homeowners thanks to a partnership between Habitat for Humanity and the

www.forestnet.com November/December 2017 TimberWest

EquipmentSpotlight

Taking Care of Your Rubber Track

By Buck Storlie, ASV Holdings Inc. testing and reliability leader

ompact track loaders are

one of a jobsite’s most versatile pieces of equipment, so when it comes to the machines’ rubber track undercarriages, these tips couldn’t be more applicable. Simply taking the time to implement these steps can help contractors get a lot more mileage from their machines. That saves money in service and replacement costs and reduces downtime.

Equipment Usage

Improper or aggressive operation is a major contributor to excessive wear. In addition, certain applications result in much higher wear than others. To minimize damage, operators should be trained on proper operation before they use the equipment. Counter-rotations, or sharp changes of direction, are a big cause of premature undercarriage wear. This is especially true when driving over highly abrasive material. Not only do counter-rotations often lead to cuts in the track, they also result in material build-up on the tracks’ outer edge that gets into the undercarriage. Track systems with rubber wheel designs have the advantage of being open, compared to closed steel designs, allowing material to spill out. But it’s still possible for the abrasive material to get stuck among the roller wheels, lugs, and track. Although the components that are mostly rubber are more forgiving to each other than steel-on-rubber designs, materials can cause chips and cuts. To reduce the risk, encourage operators to use three-point turns. Operators should also avoid spinning the tracks, especially on abrasive surfaces, as it can result in cuts in the rubber and unnecessary undercarriage wear.

More Clean, Less Wear

Aside from using proper operating techniques, drivers should regularly clean a compact track loader’s undercarriage, since its cleanliness directly impacts the wear rate. The cleaning frequency depends on the applications and materials operators use the machines in, but daily cleaning is usually sufficient. Remove cohesive and abrasive material, such as mud, clay, and gravel, as often as

Watch for deep cuts, about 4 inches or larger, that dig into the core of the track where the inner cords are embedded. 24

(continue on page 26)

TimberWest November/December 2017 www.forestnet.com

EquipmentSpotlight (continued from page 24) possible, even several times a day. This limits wear to undercarriage components or material buildup that can increase track tension. Remind operators that cleaning off materials such as mud at the end of the day is easier than trying to remove it the next morning after it has dried. Pay close attention to cleaning around the front and rear roller wheels, where material can accumulate. Use a pressure washer, if available, otherwise a small shovel or similar tool is sufficient. The most important items to remove are highly abrasive objects, as they can damage the inside of the track and undercarriage components.

Achieving the Best Track Life

Contractors should closely inspect rubber track undercarriages regularly. First, look at the track, the part of the compact track loader that gets the most abuse. The average rubber track life is about 2,000 hours but can be as high as 5,000 if maintained well. On the other hand, neglecting a rubber track can result in a wear life as low as 500 hours. To get the longest track life, check track tension and condition daily, conduct visual checks for damage, and lubricate grease points. The track tension should match what is listed in the equipment manual. A loose track can result in ratcheting — lugs skipping over sprocket rollers — which accelerates wear or damage to the lugs. A loose track also increases the risk of derailment. Alternatively, a track that’s too tight can accelerate wear on bearings, wheels, and sprockets. Examine the outside of the track for damage. Rubber track treads accumulate cuts and missing chunks over their lifetime, but these are often cosmetic and may not affect performance. Watch for deep cuts, about 4 inches or larger, that dig into the core of the track where the inner cords are

Replace rubber track drive wheels when two-thirds of the rubber is gone. This wheel is still usable. embedded. Bad cuts, such as this, may get worse and make track replacement necessary. Also, check the tread depth. When wear makes it difficult or impossible to properly tension tracks, then it’s time to replace them. Next, look at the drive lugs. Lugs encounter wear over time, especially when working in abrasive materials. Side slopes can also be hard on lugs, resulting in one side of the lugs wearing more than the other. Check that the lugs still fit well with the sprocket rollers. A track isn’t usable if lugs are worn down so far that they continually skip over rollers when the track is properly tensioned. This usually happens when about 50 percent of the lug is gone. Drive wheels wear similarly to the tracks and lugs. Replace a wheel when two-thirds of its rubber is gone and look at the sprocket rollers about every 50 operating hours. Rubber track undercarriages use steel outer

The tread in this track is gone and is at the end of its serviceable life. 26

TimberWest November/December 2017 www.forestnet.com

roller sleeves that cover steel pins on the sprocket and engage with the lugs. Replace sleeves when they are 50 percent worn or when they show signs of cracking. The steel sprocket pins can be rotated 180 degrees during sleeve replacement to prolong their service life, as the pins are stationary and typically only wear on one side.

Achieve High ROI from Good Service

Contractors should inform operators of proper operation tips and ensure they clean and inspect the tracks regularly. Proper care can prevent problems and lengthen track life, which keeps costs low. Teach and practice careful operation and take a few minutes every day for cleaning and inspection — small tasks that will often result in a high return on investment. Photos courtesy of ASV TW

This damaged lug can be removed with the track remaining fully functional.

Photo Credit: U.S. Department of Agriculture

FireColumn

Mopping Up By Lindsay R. Mohlere

his year’s fire season was a brutal fist fight, with the Western states taking a pounding from the get-go. Across the nation, more than 28,000 people were fighting wildfires at the peak. The cost this year is somewhere over $2.4 billion and still counting — the most expensive year ever. Approximately 14,000 square miles were scorched nationwide, a 43 percent increase over the 10-year average. In Oregon, the Eagle Creek blaze in the Columbia Gorge and the Chetco Bar fire near Brookings made national headlines. Montana saw over a million acres torched. California’s wine country nearly went up in smoke. Fire Season 2017 was downright ugly, but now the fires are out, and the mop-up begins.

A Major Mop-up Objective: Fix Wildfire Funding

The Resilient Federal Forest Act of 2017 has passed the U.S. House. The “yes” vote had 222 Republicans and 10 Democrats for the bill. Now it goes to the Senate. Over the past five years, similar bills have landed in the Senate only to be stuffed into the round file... the politician’s version of a mop-up. Given the current political complexion, this bill might get a better shake. It combines both a funding fix and provisions for expediting logging, reducing the environmental review process, and limiting litigation. I’ve said before that I think this bill hits the target, but many see it as too much, too soon. According to Russ Vaagen, V.P. Vaagan Bros. Lumber Co., the bill could “lead to more volume being offered faster. Unfortunately, it may make some groups reluctant to stay at the collaborative table. If these projects start reflecting a heavy-handed approach that isn’t

TimberWest November/December 2017 www.forestnet.com

supportable by conservation groups, then it will erode well-earned support and dissolve into a battle once again.” Even Sonny Perdue, the head cheese at Ag, doesn’t think it’s a good idea. He has said the Resilient Federal Forest Act could kill the funding fix. He said the congressional folks should be “single minded” on this point. We’ll see what happens when the Senate starts to carve into this bill. They need to fix the funding dilemma, and hopefully, they’ll come up with a management compromise that both sides can stomach — but don’t hold your breath. Our erstwhile politicos need to snap their suspenders and take a stand.

Mopping Up: Walden Takes a Shot

Oregon Congressman Greg Walden, R-Or, has introduced a bill called the Scenic (continue on page 30)

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FireColumn Mopping Up: Only the Brave

(continued from page 28) Columbia Gorge Restoration Act of 2017, which addresses the rehabilitation of the damage caused by the Eagle Creek fire. The bill would expedite the implementation of salvage logging operations in the nearly 50,000-acre fire footprint. The bill was referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry. Since then, no one has heard a word. Gee, imagine that!

Mopping Up: Pioneer Salvage Back on Track

In a recent memorandum, the District Court of Idaho denied the request for a temporary restraining order brought by Wildlands Defense, Alliance for the Wild Rockies, and the Native Ecosystems Council to stop the North and South salvage operations on Idaho’s Pioneer Fire. The fire, which started July 18, 2016, in the Boise National Forest and torched nearly 200,000 acres, was the largest wildfire on Forest Service lands in 2016. The Forest Service Incident Information System estimates total suppression costs exceeded $97.5 million. In September 2016, the Forest Service began working with interested parties to devise a restoration plan. In this collaborative effort, the Forest Service met with the Boise Forest Coalition and reached an agreement to begin the salvage work in August of 2017, nearly a year after the fire. Shortly thereafter, the suit was filed, but unlike most restraining order attempts, it did not stop the salvage work while waiting for the court’s decision. Now, with the suit denied, the salvage logging and hazardous tree removal contractors can go forward without looking over their respective shoulders wondering when the next wild-eyed attorney waving a restraining order will appear.

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TimberWest November/December 2017 www.forestnet.com

On June 30, 2013, 19 members of Prescott, Arizona’s Granite Mountain Hotshots lost their lives in a tragic burnover while fighting the Yarnell Hill wildfire, northwest of Phoenix. The fire turned out to be one of the deadliest in recent history. Only the Brave, a new film by director Joseph Kosinski, is based on the tragedy. Showing in theaters now (and probably available on disc), the film is as much an emotional rollercoaster as it is a tribute to all the brave men and women who fight wildfires for a living. Theirs is a dangerous job, and the heartbreaking story of Yarnell Hill further underscores the dire circumstances our firefighters face every day. Starring Josh Brolin, Miles Teller, and Jeff Bridges, Only the Brave follows the Granite Mountain Hotshots through three fire seasons until the burnover at Yarnell Hill. We all know these characters well. We know their camaraderie. And we know their fear. They are one of us. They are all of us. Only the Brave is a mesmerizing story that comes to life like a burning ember launched from a crowning pine. It’s a tragic adventure and a heart-scorching tearjerker. Go see this movie. Get this movie. It’s worth every nickel. TW

What’s Burning Now! BAERs Are Underway

After the mop-up has been completed and the smoke has disappeared, Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) teams arrive on the scene to conduct a burned area survey to evaluate the impact of a recent fire. BAER surveys are “rapid assessments of the burned areas that evaluate imminent post-fire conditions of burned watersheds and determine the potential for increased post-fire flooding, debris flows, and rock slides and other potential threats to values at risk.” To date, BAER teams are on the Eagle Creek Fire in Oregon’s Columbia River Gorge, and in Washington, surveying federal lands on the Diamond Creek, Uno Peak, Jack Creek, Jolly Mountain, and Norse Peak Fires for imminent post-fire threats to human life, safety, property, and critical natural or cultural resources. That’s a wrap. Stay safe out there! (Talkback - TWfirecolumn@gmail.com) (Source: InciWeb, ODF, WA/DNR, NWCC, USFS, AP, NIFC) Photo credit: U.S. Department of Agriculture/USFS

Feller Bunchers Caterpillar

Cat® track feller bunchers are designed with the best combination of lift capacity, swing torque, and tractive effort ratios to boost production. Purpose-built durability and low operating costs increase profitability. The Cat 521 and 522 B Series machines are near-zero tail swing machines, which help reduce damage to the residual stand. The 521B is a non-leveling model best suited for plantation thinning, biomass

harvesting, and medium-production select or clear-cut applications; the 522B is a leveling machine for select or clear-cut logging. The Cat 541 Series 2 and the Cat 552 Series 2 are full tail swing machines designed for high-production clear-cutting or final felling in rough terrain. The 552 Series 2 is a leveling machine, and recent updates enhance operation on steep slopes. These track machines are equipped with the Cat C9 ACERT™ 303 hp engine, which has a proven track record of reliability and durability. The closed center hydraulic system includes fully adjustable electric over hydraulic controls with two pumps for smoother multi-functioning. Large structures are designed for longer life and durability. Tracks and all undercarriage rolling components are high grade to extend track life, reduce repair costs, and increase stability. The machines have excellent ground clearance and an open carbody design, increasing mobility by eliminating interference with obstacles. The steep slope harvesting enhancements for the 552 Series 2 enable more efficient, productive, and reliable machine performance on steep terrain and also promote safety and comfort. www.cat.com/ forestry

Barko

Purpose-built from the ground up to provide exceptional productivity and efficiency, the Barko 260B-F feller buncher incorporates extensive input from leading engineers, end users, and other forestry professionals. The 260B-F is driven by a fuel-efficient 225 hp Cummins QSB6.7 Tier 4 Final diesel engine with SCR after treatment. It includes an extreme cooling engine package and a 36-inch-diameter Flexxaire auto reversing fan. 32

TimberWest November/December 2017 www.forestnet.com

The feller buncher features a D7A undercarriage with 8-inch chain pitch for added stability with larger attachments in the 60,000-pound class machine size. It delivers exceptional drawbar pull (1.13 to 1 ratio) and provides 65,481 foot-pounds of tractive effort. Ground clearance is 29 inches. Dual swing motors provide continuous rotation and high swing torque of 50,787 foot-pounds. The machine features a heavy-duty, oversized swing bearing and offers outstanding reach with any attachment. Brute strength is complemented by responsive IQAN hydraulic controls specifically designed for Barko, featuring hydraulics tailored for feller buncher applications. Customized within Barko’s rigorous quality standards, IQAN provides infinite variable control for the hydraulic system, including programmable settings for different operators. The state-of-the-art operator’s station provides optimum operator comfort and excellent visibility. A rearview camera with a 7-inch LED color display is optional. The 260B-F comes with a 1.25-inch polycarbonate window, while an air knife system keeps the front and skylight windows clear of debris. A patented forward-sliding design allows the cab to move out 36 inches for easier serviceability. Additionally, a large, hydraulically-opening gull wing door offers direct access to the engine and components. www.barko.com

John Deere

John Deere M-Series tracked feller bunchers are available in six models ranging from the 803M to the 959M. With various improvements over previous models, the 25 percent increase in horsepower and longer and wider undercarriage in this series provide customers maximum power and stability, even in the toughest terrain. The 859M and 959M models feature a patented leveling system. This sensor technology maximizes the forward tilt angle (26 degrees forward), while electronically avoiding mechanical interference when also tilting to the side. Operator comfort and productivity are boosted through the optional tilt and leveling cabs — especially on steep slopes. Additionally, the M-Series machines provide up to 45 percent more tractive effort, enabling the machines to navigate extreme terrain. M-Series cabs are known for their ergonomic controls including (continue on page 34)

TechReview (continued from page 32) their adjustable armrests and air-conditioned seats, and the climatecontrolled cab provides maximum comfort. Floor-to-ceiling front and side windows and an overhead skylight give 44 percent more visibility on the 800M machines and 22 percent more on the 900M machines.

thermostatically controlled auto-reversing fan to keep hydraulic oil cool under extreme work conditions. The XT-3 features a cab designed with a focus on operator comfort and convenience. It is spacious, with large windows and bright LED lighting that provide for a commanding widescreen working view. The advanced IQAN-MD4 control features intuitive Komatsu programming making the system very easy to use. The 7-inch LED color touchscreen displays all system readings with all major information being only one or two touches away. The XT-3 Series can be equipped to meet a wide range of customer needs. There are up to nine hydraulic system arrangements, two heavy-duty boom, and four heavy-duty arm options that accept a broad range of disc saw, bar saw, and processing head cutting attachments. KomatsuForest.us

Technologies Element PSW

Robust booms available in the M-Series feature thick plates and larger pins and bushings to ensure support and longer lifetime. The M-Series machines are also available with TimberNavi™, an easy-to-use, integrated mapping solution. TimberNavi offers operators maximum visibility to the land they’re harvesting, improving operator efficiency and productivity in the woods. TimberNavi increases the operator’s spatial understanding of the jobsite, terrain information, harvesting areas, and points of interest on a map, which in turn helps enhance productivity, increase uptime, and deliver lower daily operating costs. www.johndeere.com

Technologies Element offers the ELTEC 220, 270, and 310 series. The ELTEC 310 heavy-duty tracked feller buncher, powered by a 320 hp Cummins diesel engine, is designed and purpose-built to deliver high productivity for the demands of 24/7 final felling application. The heart of the enhanced hydraulic system is the engine-driven, series-mounted, variable displacement axial piston pumps that provide high flow performance. A fifth dedicated hydraulic pump is added for feller buncher saw head operation.

Komatsu

Komatsu’s XT-3 Series features a modern forestry cab and control system with improved ergonomics. Combined with high-lift capacities, powerful swing torque, and robust Komatsu undercarriages,

The heavy-duty forestry boom and arm with dual boom main cylinders are designed and built to withstand the lifting and twisting forces of the toughest forestry harvesting operations. Operator comfort and safety are highlights, as it features the newly-designed, extremely operator-friendly ELTEC Forestry Cab. www.technologieselement.com

TimberPro

The TimberPro TL765C is the largest of the C-Series purposebuilt track machines. Designed exclusively for the forest industry,

these XT-3 Series machines have proven to be easy to operate while providing high productivity, operator comfort, and reliability. Komatsu’s pioneering 4-way leveling carrier with setback boom design and zero tail swing is highly maneuverable and maximizes lift capacity. The independent hydrostatic track drives maximize the multifunction travel, cut, and swing performance. Models include the XT430-3 (non-leveling), XT430L-3, XT445L-3, and the XT460L-3 ranging in operating weight from 62,240 lbs. to 74,320 lbs. Each model features a 300 peak hp (224kW) Cummins 8.3-liter engine and 58,400 lb-ft of swing torque. All machines have a high-capacity cooling package with a 34

TimberWest November/December 2017 www.forestnet.com

TechReview the TL765C was built to handle extreme terrain and severe climates. The TL765C is a tail swing design that is offered with two different boom configurations to optimize its performance in a feller buncher, processing, or controlled felling application. The buncher has a maximum reach of 23’6” and a lift capacity of 15,000 lbs. The 765C features a Cummins QSL9, delivering 342 hp. Two large swing drives with class leading swing torque make easy work of demanding uphill shoveling. A dedicated hydrostatic track drive system with massive final drives combines multifunctioning performance with extreme climbing power. The TL765C robust, yet simple, design allows for ease of maintenance and less down time. The TL765C also offers a heated and cooled air ride seat, Bluetooth stereo, rear view camera, high output LED lighting, and Parker’s IQAN MD4 control system. www.timberpro.com

The Tigercat FPT C87 Tier 4f engine delivers 330 hp at 1,900 rpm, and a closed loop track drive system offers outstanding multifunctioning performance along with greater hydraulic efficiency. The LX870D uses Tigercat’s patented super-duty leveling base featuring massive pins and cylinders, tapered roller bearings, and

Tigercat

Tigercat X870D and LX870D track feller bunchers represent an important evolution of the 800 series machines in response to feedback from operators, owners, and technicians. From the ground up, the X870D and LX870D are new machines. The D-series model has an enhanced cab with expanded sight lines to both the right and left sides. The cab interior finish is refined, and instrumentation has been thoughtfully placed to optimize ergonomics. The SkyVIEW and RearVIEW camera system provides a wide field of vision and can be toggled between front and rear with the push of a button. Maintenance access is outstanding with a clamshell style retracting roof enclosure providing clear and easy access to the engine, valves, and cooling system components with a side platform for daily service access.

thick steel plate throughout. The new R7-163L track frames are 13 inches longer for increased stability on steep slopes. This model comes optionally equipped with Tigercat’s telematics solution, RemoteLog, which has been designed from the ground up to meet the needs of loggers and features a robust satellite datalink and easy-to-use web portal. New machines equipped with this option come with a free one-year subscription. www.tigercat.com TW

www.forestnet.com November/December 2017 TimberWest

2018 OREGON LOGGING CONFERENCE - FEBRUARY 22, 23, & 24, 2018 REGISTRATION APPLICATION

P.O. Box 10669 ∙ Eugene, OR 97440 ∙ Tel 541.686.9191 ∙ Fax 855.866.0572 COMPANY __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ADDRESS ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ TELEPHONE________________________________FAX_____________________________EMAIL__________________________________________________ CITY ______________________________________________________________ STATE ___________ ZIP_______________________________________

Please List Names Of Individuals Attending Conference: (attach sheet for additional names) _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

PLEASE COMPLETE INFORMATION BELOW Registration - Fee includes Thurs. & Fri. Breakfast Tickets Spouse Registration - Fee includes Thurs. & Fri. breakfast tickets (Spouse must pay registration to qualify for Professional Logger Credits) Walk-in (does not qualify for Professional Logger Credits or meal tickets) Desserts for Dreams Tickets – Friday, Feb. 23, 2018 Friday Celebration Party Tickets – Friday, Feb. 23, 2018 Breakfast Tickets – [ ] Thursday PAYMENT: CK #

[ ] Friday @ $25 per person each day

Cash CC Invoice DATE

TimberWest November/December 2017 www.forestnet.com

INITIAL

Price

Total

$95 x $50 x

=$ =$

$20 x $30 x $50 x $25 x

=$ =$ =$ =$

Total Due

Oregon and Washington Forest Practices Seminar Topics

LC directors and seminar

chairmen, Bodie Dowding(OFP) and David Boyd (WFP) announced the topics selected for the upcoming Oregon and Washington Forest Practices Seminars. OFP seminar will be presented in the Wheeler Pavilion and WFP seminar will be presented in the Exhibit Hall South meeting room.

Oregon topics include:

• How the Forest Practices Act (FPA) Has Changed • Update: ODF Policy for Steep Slope Logging • Adaptive Management Reflected in New Rule Changes • Agency Overview of the New Salmon, Steelhead, and Bull Trout Rules

• Industry Implementation of the New Salmon. Steelhead and Bull Trout Rules • Best Management Practices for FPA Low Compliance Areas • Aerial Spraying: Local Politics Driving Statewide Politics • ODF’s Fire Severity Aircraft Program

Washington topics include:

• Policy Challenges and What that Means to You • Logging in the Black – Post Burn • Challenges of Permitting and Logging in the Black Make sure to register today to take part!

Events Not to Miss

on’t miss these events taking place during the

three-day conference.

• Ladies Dessert for Dreams, Friday, Feb. 23, 12:30 pm to 3 pm, in the Vista Ballroom at the Eugene Hotel. This year’s charity is St. Charles Hospice.

Hands-On Seminar: Winch Assist and Tether Systems

ne of the more exciting seminar this year will be a hands-on semi-

nar put on by Technical Forest Solutions — Logging and Cutting with Winch Assist and Tether Systems – Safety and Site Selection Frank Chandler and Vince Wilbur, of Technical Forest Solutions, from Kelso, Washington, will be moderating the following topics:

• New Safety BMP’s (Best Management Practices) for Washington State Travis Nailon, Washington Dept. of Safety and Health, will address Washington State safety regulator concerns / findings and best management practices. • What to Look for on Inspections and Safety Standards Around Wire Rope and Rigging Brett Doyle and Pete Weekly, Woods Logging Supply • How the Steep Slope Systems Have Been Implemented on Tree Farms Rex Pittullo,Head Manager atWeyer-haeuser will cover steep slopping logging over the past few years. What to look for in selecting a winch-assist site—what works and what doesn’t.

• OLC Log Loader Competition, Friday and Saturday, Feb. 23 and 24. The exciting event is sponsored by Triad Machinery and Link-Belt out on the display area. • Sawdust Bowl, Thurs and Friday, Feb. 22 and 23, held in the Performance Hall of the Convention Center at 4:30 pm to 6 pm after a long day at the conference. • OLC Buffet Dinner and Dance, Friday, Feb. 24, 7 pm to 12 midnight. Come celebrate OLC’s 80th anniversary at the Playwrights Hall at the Eugene Hotel. • Family Fun and Education, Wood Carvers, High School Skill Demonstration, all taking place Saturday, Feb. 24, in the Wheeler Pavilion and out in the display area.

“80 YEARS EVERGREEN AND GROWING” LANE COUNTY EVENTS CENTER & FAIRGROUNDS - EUGENE, OREGON TENTATIVE PROGRAM AND SCHEDULE OF ENTERTAINMENT

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2018 - Activities Held At The Eugene Hilton 4p.m. – 6:30p.m. Pre-Registration – Meet & Greet - “Hosted Beer & Wine” – Sponsor: Wilcox and Flegel 4p.m. - 10p.m. Doors Open for Silent Auction benefiting “Talk About Trees” 6:30p.m. OWIT Dinner and Live Annual Auction – Call OWIT at 503.831.1593 to order tickets. “Hosted Beer & Wine” – Playwrights Hall, Eugene Hilton THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2018 - Program Sessions Held At Lane County Fairgrounds 7a.m. - 4p.m. Registration - Main Convention Center Lobby – Sponsor: Rotobec 8a.m. - 5p.m. Equipment Displays Open 7a.m. - 8a.m. Opening Session Breakfast - Wheeler Pavilion – Sponsors: Peterson CAT & Caterpillar Ticket included with paid registration 8:00a.m. – 11:00a.m. Oregon Logging Conference Foundation Auction: Auctioneer Jaime Yraguen, Basco Logging Call to Order: Wheeler Pavilion - 2 PL Credit President’s Address: Rick Kriege, 2018 President, Oregon Logging Conference Keynote Speaker: Kathy Abusow, President & CEO, Sustainable Forestry Initiative Inc. 9a.m. - 4p.m. Chainsaw Wood Carver – Outside Demonstration Area 10a.m. - 1p.m. Elementary School Education Tours, Presented by: Oregon Logging Conference, Oregon Women in Timber and Forests Today and Forever 11a.m. – 12p.m. Hands On Seminar 1 – 1 PL Credit - Outside Display “Log Roll Out – Log Defects and the Result in Products” 1) Jayme Dumford, Swanson Bros., Lumber, Noti, Oregon 2) T.J. Hammerschmidt, Swanson Group., Glendale, Oregon 12p.m. - 1p.m. Free Time to View Equipment Displays 1p.m. Meeting Called To Order - Wheeler Pavilion 1:30p.m. Operators of the Year Presentation – Oregon Department of Forestry 2:00p.m. - 3:30p.m. Better Ideas / New Technology - 1 OPF Credit 1) SmartFlow – New Crane Control Technology, Dave Wellman, Dist. Sales Mgr., Western NA, Komatsu North American 2) Technology in Yarder Based Mechanical Harvesting, Dale Ewers, Falcon Forestry Equipment 3) Kespry Drone & Technology integration in Product Design of Forest Equipment, Matt Flood and Christopher Hardwoods, John Deere 4:30p.m. - 6:30p.m. Sawdust Bowl “Hosted Beer & Wine – Performance Hall, Convention Center Sponsors: Ritchie Bros Auctioneers and Carson FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2018 - Program Sessions Held At Lane County Fairgrounds 7a.m. - 4p.m. Registration - Main Convention Center Lobby – Sponsor: Rotobec 8a.m. - 5p.m. Equipment Displays Open 7a.m. - 8a.m Hosted Breakfast - Wheeler Pavilion – Sponsor: Pape’ Group Ticket included with paid registration 8a.m. Oregon Logging Conference Foundation Auction: Auctioneer Jaime Yraguen, Basco Logging 9a.m. - 4p.m. Chain Saw Wood Carver –- Outside Demonstration Area 8:30a.m. - 11:30a.m. Oregon Forest Practices Seminar - 3 FP Credits - Wheeler Pavilion 1) “How the Forest Practices Act (FPA) Changes”, Lena Tucker, Division Chief, ODF Private Forests 2) “Update: ODF on Steep Slope Logging”, Josh Barnard, Field Support Manager, ODF 3) “Adaptive Management Reflected in New Rule Changes”, Jennifer Weikel, ODF Private Forests Wildlife Biologist. 4) “Agency Overview of the New Salmon, Steelhead, and Bull Trout Rules”, John Krause, ODF Stewardship Forester 5) “Industry Implementation of the New Salmon, Steelhead, and Bull Trout Rules”, Paul Betts, Pre-Sales Forester, Miami Corp. 6) “Best Management Practices for FPA low compliance areas”, Paul Clements, Compliance and Training Coordinator, ODF Private Forests 7) “Aerial Spraying; Local Politics Driving Statewide Policies”, Katie Fast - Executive Director of Oregonians for Food and Shelter 8) “ODF’s Fire Severity Aircraft Program”, Neal Laugle ODF Aviation Unit Manager 8:30a.m. - 10:30a.m. Washington Forest Practices Seminars - SE Meeting Room Exhibit Hall, 2 WAFP or 2 PL Credit 1) “Policy Challenges and What That Means to You”, Jenny Knoth, Research Scientist, Green Crow, 2) “Logging in the Black – Post Burn” Jason Moon, SDS Lumber 3) “Challenges of Permitting and Logging in the Black – Post Fire Salvage”, Rohan Theobald, Hancock Forest Management, Colville, WA 10a.m. – 11a.m. Business Seminar 1 - 1 PL Credit - SW Meeting Room – Exhibit Hall Mass Timber – Revisit CLT Valerie Johnson, President, DR Johnson Lumber Co. 11:30a.m. – 3:30p.m. “OLC” Log Loader Competition – Sponsored by Triad Machinery and Linkbelt - Outside Visit www.oregonloggingconference.com or call 541-686-9191 1:00p.m. – 2:p.m. Business Seminar 2 – 1 PL Credit - Wheeler Pavilion “Rebranding An Industry” Wendy Farrand, Consultant, Limerick, Maine 1:00p.m. – 2:00p.m. Hands On Seminar 2 – 1 PL Credit – Freightliner NW, Auditorium “Evergreen and Growing” Michael Houghton, Western Region Vocational Sales Manager, Freightliner Trucks 1:30p.m. - 2:30p.m. Commercial Thinning Seminar - SE Meeting Rm, Exhibit Hall – 1 PL Credit 1) “Why Thin? Silviculture Overview, Management Objectives, Economics”, Steve Keniston, Region Forester, Weyerhaeuser Riley Stephenson, Operation Forester, Starker Forests 2) “Thinning Techniques: Types of Equipment, Limitations, How to Select an Equipment Mix and How to Know if You Get a Good Outcome.”, Lee Miller, Miller Timber Services 3) “Markets: Where to Sell CTL Logs, Long vs Short, Pro / Con of CTL Logs”, Steve Keniston, Region Forester, Weyerhaeuser 4) “Manufacturing: Utilization of Small Logs”, Bruce Delicaet, General Manager, Hew Saw US Inc. 38

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Business Seminar 3 – 1 PL Credit - Wheeler Pavilion, “Finding Your Next Foreman” Wendy Farrand, Consultant, Limerick, Maine 2:30p.m. - 3:30p.m. Exhibitor Hands On Seminar 3 - 1 PL Credit – Technical Forest Solutions, Outside display Area “Logging and Cutting with Winch Assist and Tether Systems – Safety and Site Selection” 1) “New Safety BMP’s (Best Management Practices) for Washington State”, Travis Nailon, Washington Dept. of Safety and Health, Olympia, Washington 2) “What to Look for on Inspections & Safety Standards Around Wire Rope & Rigging”, Brett Doyle and Pete Weekly, Woods Logging Supply, Longview, Washington 3) “How the Steep Slope Systems Have Been Implemented on Tree Farms”, Rex Pittullo, Head Manager, Weyerhaeuser Company, 4:30p.m. - 6:00p.m. Sawdust Bowl “Hosted Beer & Wine” Performance Hall, Convention Center Co-Sponsors: US Bank Columbia Pacific Region 300p.m. -4:00p.m.

EVENTS HELD AT THE EUGENE HILTON 12:30p.m. - 3p.m. LADIES’ DESSERTS FOR DREAMS – Charity Event for St Charles Hospice 12th Floor Vista Ballroom, Eugene Hilton Visit www.oregonloggingconference.com or call 541-686-9191 for more information and tickets. 7p.m. – 11p.m. 80th OLC Celebration Buffet Dinner & Dance – Playwrights Hall, Eugene Hilton Sponsor: Kriege Logging LLC 7p.m. – 8p.m. Doors Open - Hosted Beer & Wine Tasting 7p.m. – 8:30p.m. Buffet 8p.m. – 12p.m. Dancing to Music by Outlaw Shine SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2018 - All Activities Held At Lane County Fairgrounds 9a.m. - 2p.m. All Exhibits Open To Public – Convention Center & Parking Area Family Fun and Education Activities – Wheeler Pavilion –Sponsor: KEZI TV Wood Carvers – Outside Demonstration Area High School Forestry Skills Exhibition - Outside Display Area Sponsors: Nygaard Logging and Warrenton Fiber 10a.m. - 12p.m. “OLC” Log Loader Competition – Sponsored by Triad Machinery and Linkbelt - Outside

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

Panels and Seminars at a Glance The OLC will offer a wide range of panels and seminars to choose from. Earn professional logger credits while you stay current on these topics. THURSDAY Hands-On Seminar 1 – 1 OPF Credit Log Defects and the Result in Products Presenters: Jayme Dumford, Swanson Bros Lbr Co. T.J. Hammerschmidt, Swanson Group. Better Ideas/New Technology in Logging Panel – 1 OPL Credits Moderator: Terry Mann, LL Forestry • SmartFlow – New Crane Technology Komatsu North American • Technology in Yarder-Based Mechanical Harvesting Falcon Forestry Equipment • Drone Technology John Deere FRIDAY Oregon Forest Practices Seminar – 3 FP Credits Moderator: Bodie Dowding, ODF • How the Forest Practices Act Changes • ODF Policy for Steep Slope Logging, Josh Barnard • Adaptive Management Reflected in New Rules Changes • Agency Overview of the New Salmon, Steelhead, and Bull Trout Rules • Best Management Practices for FPA low compliance areas • Aerial Spraying; Local Politics Driving Statewide Policies • ODF’s Fire Severity Aircraft Program

Washington Forest Practices Seminars - 2 WAFP or 2 PL Credits Moderator: David Boyd, Hancock Resource Management • “Policy Challenges and What That Means to You”. • “Logging in the Black – Post Burn” • “Challenges of Permitting and Logging in the Black – Post Fire Salvage” Business Seminar 1 - 1 PL Credit • Mass Timber – Revisit CLT Moderator: Craig Olson, Weyerhaeuser Columbia Timberlands Valerie Johnson, President, DR Johnson Lumber Co. Business Seminar 2 – 1 PL Credit • Rebranding an Industry Moderator: Mike McKibbin, Stimson Lumber Co. Wendy Farrand, Consultant Hands-On Seminar 2 – 1 PL Credit • Evergreen & Growing speaker Michael Houghton, Freightliner Moderator: Travis Myer GM Land and Forest Management • Commercial Thinning Seminar Moderator: Matt Bliss, Roseburg Forest Products Business Seminar 3 – 1 PL Credit • Finding Your Next Foreman Moderator: Mike McKibbin, Stimson Lumber Co. Wendy Farrand, Consultant Hands-On Seminar 3 - 1 PL Credit • Logging and Cutting with Winch Assist and Tether Systems – Safety and Site Selection Co-Moderator: Frank Chandler and Vince Wilbur, Technical Forest Solutions, Kelso, WA

Barko Launches 270B Logging Processor

The Barko 270B processor is purpose-built for its application, providing several performance advantages over equipment commonly used for processing jobs. Offering exceptional horsepower, swing torque, and tractive effort, the 270B features a dangle head boom configuration for picking, delimbing, cut-to-length harvesting, and stacking.

stick boom option reaches 32.5 feet (9.9 meters). Additionally, the extended option features a narrow boom tip, allowing the operator to reach past standing timber in thinning applications. This also helps operators minimize damage to the trees being harvested. www.johndeere.com

Pettibone Introduces Cary-Lift 254i

Pettibone has introduced the Cary-Lift 254i to its line of pipe, pole, and log handlers. The Cary-Lift is particularly adept at moving and placing heavy pipe in stock yards and construction sites. The Cary-Lift 254i features a unique overhead lift arm design, giving the operator full front visibility when lifting or transporting loads — a sharp contrast to the lift arms on wheel loaders, which are located directly in front of the vehicle. Additionally, Cary-Lift forks are capable of tilting down 90 degrees for specialized lifting tasks, such as unloading pipe from railroad gondola cars.

Powered by a 225-hp Cummins Tier 4 Final diesel engine with SCR aftertreatment, the 270B offers excellent fuel economy and features large fuel and DEF tanks for longer job cycles between refills. A 36-inch-diameter auto reversing fan with automatic blade pitch control further optimizes engine efficiency. www.barko.com

John Deere adds Final Tier 4 Engines and Introduces Extended Boom Option

The John Deere 900M-Series Tracked Feller Bunchers and 900MH-Series Harvesters are now equipped with Final Tier 4 (FT4) engines, offering fuel and fluid-efficient machines without sacrificing power and performance. John Deere is the leader in FT4 technology, offering a diesel particulate filter (DPF) solution that is known for its ability to reduce the dependency of diesel exhaust fluid (DEF). Built on decades of John Deere engine experience and millions of hours of FT4 runtime, the 900M-Series and 900MHSeries machines deliver premium performance, optimum fluid efficiency, increased reliability, and economical operating costs.

With the required emissions change, John Deere FT4 engines maintain power density, torque, and transient response, which results in productivity, uptime, and more value for customers’ machines. In addition to excellent fuel economy, the design of the engine aftertreatment system results in exceptionally low DEF usage. John Deere also introduced its extended boom option for 800MH-Series Tracked Harvesters. With a design based on customer feedback, the new extended boom stick offers a longer reach option, enabling operators to minimize the number of cut trails. Designed for use with smaller attachments, the new extended 40

TimberWest November/December 2017 www.forestnet.com

The 254i is powered by a 225-hp Cummins QSB6.7 Tier 4 diesel engine with DOC and SCR aftertreatment. The machine provides a maximum load capacity of 25,000 pounds and max lift height of 14 feet. Offering 4-wheel drive with 2-wheel, 4-wheel, and crab hydraulic power steering modes — and with the wheelbase limited to just 12 feet — the 254i can achieve a turning radius of 23 feet, 6 inches. www.gopettibone.com

Fecon Adds DCR Viking Axe Mulching Knife

Fecon Inc. has announced the new DCR Viking Axe knife tool as part of its Viking Tool Series. This patented tool includes an integral, easy-to-use gauge that ensures proper cutting angles are maintained.

The tool is double sided and easily flipped for a new cutting edge when the first side is completely worn. This doubles the tool life, in comparison to other knife tools. The thicker blade creates a more durable edge, increasing the overall life of the knife; the angle is also easier to sharpen. Ribs behind the knife’s edge contribute to increased strength and durability. The tapered tool body allows chip material to flow efficiently with an optimal attack angle. www.fecon.com TW

Morbark Completes Acquisition of Rayco

Morbark LLC announced it has completed the acquisition of Rayco Manufacturing Inc. This transaction represents the first addition since affiliates of the private equity firm Stellex Capital Management LP acquired Morbark in 2016. The purchase of Rayco represents a significant move toward the company’s strategic focus on broadening the range of tree care and industrial equipment, aftermarket parts, and service offered to their customers. John Bowling, CEO of Rayco, stated, “Our family is very proud of the legacy we have established and nurtured over the past 39 years. As a family-run and owned business, we view today’s transaction as an opportunity to continue growing our business while joining an even larger family.”

Deere Completes Acquisition of the Wirtgen Group

Deere & Company has completed its acquisition of the Wirtgen Group, the leading manufacturer worldwide of road construction equipment. In June, Deere announced a definitive agreement to purchase the international privately held company. “The Wirtgen Group will enhance the

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size, scale, and stature of our construction equipment business and will help Deere continue its global growth,” said Samuel R. Allen, Deere & Company chairman and CEO. The Wirtgen Group has a global footprint with approximately 8,200 employees and sells products in more than 100 countries through a large network of company-owned and independent dealers. www.JohnDeere.com

Finland’s President Awards Ponsse for Internationalization

Sauli Niinistö, the President of the Republic of Finland, gave Ponsse Plc a special recognition, awarding the company the annual Internationalization Award. The Internationalization Award is a recognition granted to Finnish companies that have gained international success and to the communities behind them. The special recognition was based on Ponsse’s long-term profitable and sustainable international growth and modernization. According to the jury, the aim was to give this recognition to a company that has had a significant impact on the success of an entire industry and other companies operating in the same field and, through its activities, has had a significant long-term impact on society. TW

CALENDAR January 16-18 Associated California Loggers 45th Annual Meeting, Reno NV 916-441-7940, www.calog.com January 17-19 75th Annual Truck Loggers Association Convention, Victoria, BC 604-684-4291, www.tla.ca January 18 Council on Forest Engineering - Western Meeting, Eugene, OR 503-226-4562, www.westernforestry.org January 18-20 Associated Oregon Loggers’ 48th Annual Convention, Eugene, OR 503-364-1330, www.oregonloggers.org January 15-19 Association of Equipment Distributors (AED) Summit & Condex, Las Vegas, NV 800-388-0650, www.aednet.org February 7-9 17th Ann. Forestry Forum, Coeur d’Alene, ID 208-883-4488, www.forestersforum.com February 9-11 Sierra-Cascade Logging Conf. & Forest Products & Construction Equip, Anderson, CA 530-222-1290, www.sierracascadeexpo.com February 22-24 Oregon Logging Conference, 80th Conf. & Equip. Show, Eugene, OR 541-686-9191 www.oregonloggingconference.com

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www.forestnet.com November/December 2017 TimberWest

guest columnist

Tooke to Take Charge By Jack Petree

he USDA Forest Service has a new Chief. Sworn in September 1, 2017, Tony Tooke, a career forester/ bureaucrat is the first “easterner” in years to head up the Forest Service. Tooke takes charge as the Forest Service stands balanced, one foot in the future and one foot in the past, at the cusp of change regarding how the nation’s forests are to be managed in response to changing public perceptions about why those forests exist. The decisions Tooke makes in the next handful of years will define forestry in the United States for decades after his departure. An important issue Tooke will deal with is a Forest Service initiative titled “Forests on the Edge,” an approach to ecosystem management that could dramatically expand the service’s influence and/ or control over the private forests of the nation. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue’s comments on announcing Tooke’s appointment point to some of the dichotomies the new chief will have to address almost immediately. “Tony has been preparing for this role for his whole professional life, and at a time when we face active and growing fires, his transition into leadership will be seamless,” Perdue announced. “He will oversee efforts to get our forests working again, to make them more productive, and to create more jobs. His focus will be on ensuring we are good neighbors and are managing our forests effectively, efficiently, and responsibly, as well as working with states and local governments to ensure the utmost collaboration.” Broad brush generalizations are dangerous, but can also allow for a better view of the big picture. In broad brush strokes, the national forest system was established as a sort of non-identical twin to the national parks system in the latter decades of the 1800s and the early years of the 1900s. The national parks were set aside to permanently preserve spectacular and unusual lands (Yellowstone, Yosemite, etc.) in fairly pristine condition

for the enjoyment of future citizens. The national forests, on the other hand, were set aside to assure the resources a growing nation requires (especially, but not exclusively, timber) would always be available; parks were managed for preservation purposes while the national forests were managed for ongoing resource sustainability, with timber and water being of special concern. After World War II, driven by the building boom created as veterans came home,

married, had families, and wanted homes, production became a focus for the Forest Service. For the next several decades, maintaining sustainable forests for sustainable harvests was at the forefront of the Forest Service’s management of national forests. Beginning in the last decades of the 20th Century and continuing today, a variety of “environmental” movements made their influence felt. In a recent essay for the Property and Environment Research Center (PERC), Roger Sedjo, a Senior Fellow at Resources for the Future, a think tank based in Washington, D.C., succinctly described the impact the environmental movement has had on the Forest Service: “Today, the Forest Service might reasonably be viewed as an agency with two main purposes: maintaining biodiversity and serving as a wildfire-fighting organization. There are also concerns about the role these forests may play in sequestering—or, in the case of wildfire, releasing—carbon…One result of these changes has been a de facto remaking of the Forest Service’s mission. With the decline in timber production on

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national forests, the major function of the Forest Service in the future could become tourism, habitat maintenance, and wildfire control. This is the direction the Forest Service has moved in recent years. Of concern to some, one of the service’s initiatives over those recent years has been the Forests on the Edge program. In recent years, the program has spent an inordinate amount of time, money, and energy producing a huge amount of material detailing perceived threats to the larger American forest coming as a result of activity (especially “development”) on privately held forests of the nation. The effort has slowed in recent years, possibly due to budget shortages caused by wildfire response, but the tools and the philosophy are ingrained and in place. Reading through hundreds of pages of documentation, it is clear the Forest Service has intended to dramatically expand its cooperation with local, regional, tribal, and state governments concerning the regulation of private forests in coordination with the forests the service is directly supposed to be concerned with. That coordination and direct participation in influencing public policy can be viewed as either good or bad depending on the viewer’s perspective, but it is certainly something new for the service; something private forest owners should be tracking from a regulatory perspective. Tooke has been a major player in the Forest Service’s development of an Ecosystem Management approach to forestry. An ecosystem approach requires management coordination between all the forests in a system, including those on the edge. It remains to be seen where Tooke stands on expanding the influence of the service regarding activities that will be allowed (or not allowed) on privately owned forested lands. Both private forest land owners and environmental groups seem to like and respect the new chief. Hopefully that respect will enhance the odds that Chief Tooke may be able to resolve some of the dichotomies pointed out by Secretary Purdue. TW

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