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A Hatton-Brown Publication HATTON-BROWN PUBLISHERS, INC. Street Address: 225 Hanrick Street Montgomery, AL 36104-3317 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 2268 Montgomery, AL 36102-2268 Telephone (334) 834-1170 Fax 334-834-4525 Publisher David H. Ramsey Chief Operating Officer Dianne C. Sullivan

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Vol. 68, No. 2: Issue 679

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OurCover Goodnow Trucking does quality work for New England landowners, and owner Chris Goodnow sees value in being active on the issues. Story begins on PAGE 20. (Jessica Johnson photo; design by Shelley Smith)

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Subscriptions are free to U.S. logging, pulpwood and chipping contractors and their supervisors; managers and supervisors of corporate-owned harvesting operations; wood suppliers; timber buyers; businesses involved in land grooming and/or land clearing, wood refuse grinding and right-ofway maintenance; wood procurement and land management officials; industrial forestry purchasing agents; wholesale and retail forest equipment representatives and forest/logging association personnel. All non-qualified U.S. subscriptions are $50 annually; $60 in Canada; $95 (airmail) in all other countries (U.S. funds). Single copies, $5 each; special issues, $20 (U.S. funds). Subscription Inquiries—TOLL-FREE 800-669-5613; Fax 888-611-4525. Go to www.timber harvesting.com and click on the subscribe button to subscribe/renew via the web. All advertisements for Timber Harvesting & Forest Operations are accepted and published by Hatton-Brown Publishers, Inc. with the understanding that the advertiser and/or advertising agency are authorized to publish the entire contents and subject matter thereof. The advertiser and/or advertising agency will defend, indemnify and hold Hatton-Brown Publishers, Inc. harmless from and against any loss, expenses, or other liability resulting from any claims or lawsuits for libel violations or right of privacy or publicity, plagiarism, copyright or trademark infringement and any other claims or lawsuits that may arise out of publication of such advertisement. HattonBrown Publishers, Inc. neither endorses nor makes any representation or guarantee as to the quality of goods and services advertised in Timber Harvesting & Forest Operations. Copyright ® 2020. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.

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MyTake DAN SHELL

True Carbon Keepers Offer Real Solutions Looking back at the time spent in Oregon for the Oregon Logging Conference (OLC) and several other stories, sunny weather was a great complement to the event, which is many times held under adverse weather conditions.

Crowds thronged the exhibits both indoors and out as loggers view­ed the latest in logging machinery and technology and learned about everything from new and better ways of operating to regulatory and political issues surrounding the forest products industry.

While I was in Oregon the Timber Unity grassroots group rallied at the state Capitol in Salem to protest disastrous proposed cap-and-trade legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by setting up a complicated and expensive system of credits for reducing emissions that must be purchased if reductions can’t be met. What it amounts to is a tax that falls primarily on the transportation sector and adds costs that will certainly be passed along to consumers and other businesses (like most all of them) that rely on products, supplies and inventory shipped via truck.

While in Oregon I saw a newspaper article where the writer had picked up on the OLC’s theme this year—“Work­ ing Forests: Carbon Keepers”—to note that Oregon’s forest products industry was claiming to offer a solution to the emissions issue through thriving forests that capture carbon and sequester it in solid wood products while offering economic benefits as well.

On the other hand the writer cited research from Oregon State saying older, unmanaged forests do a better job of sequestering carbon. Though I confess to not seeing a copy of the study, quotes from a researcher involved implied that the study assumed most of the carbon from a clear-cut, for example, is released. Once again, this broad assumption underpins much of the opposition to using biomass-based energy when much of the assumption couldn’t be further from the truth.

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The folks in Arizona sure know the value of biomass utilization and the costs of doing nothing.

Basically, any material harvested from a given tract that’s not burned or left on the ground is sequestered. This includes all the fiber used for solid wood products and paper, and by weight that’s a much bigger percentage than what’s going into a boiler or fuel pellet. Happily, even the lumber from old bulldozed frame houses headed to the landfill continues to sequester carbon. Bill Strauss at FutureMetrics in Maine is the go-to guy for this topic, and he’s made presentations around the world showing what a proper accounting of carbon sequestration looks like. If only the writer in Oregon had talked to him.

Here’s the research I’d like to see: Imagine a 100 acre tract of timber on parking lot level ground, stocked at a consistent rate with the same species, divided into two 50 acre units. One unit grows and harvests timber on three 30+ plus year rotations, the other

unit is unmanaged.

Keep an accounting of what was grown and harvested and sequestered on the managed unit over 100 years, versus the volume of sequestration on the unmanaged side. I only know enough to be dangerous, but I’m betting the managed 50 acres through three 30 year rotations sequesters a higher volume of carbon over 100 years than the unmanaged 50.

One irony of Oregon’s cap and trade proposal is the state is essentially going alone, willing to put itself through economic pain for dubious benefits that really don’t amount to much in the overall scheme of things.

The state has a small population and is really not much of a polluter.

A much bigger impact and true move toward sustainability can be made with a national renewable portfolio program and incentives to expand renewable energy utilization across the nation, at all levels of the energy supply chain. That’s where the true Carbon Keepers—America’s loggers and forestry professionals—can truly shine.

Biomass and forest residuals have a major role to play in reducing carbon-based emissions and extending or replacing coal-fired electricity production. What makes it an energy source unlike other renewables is its baseload capability: Biomass is the only energy source that can make the lights come on when the sun isn’t shining and the wind isn’t blowing. Yes, it’s true that more biomass than coal must be burned to produce the same BTUs, but it’s also true that no one has ever seen and never will see a coal seedling or grow a ton of coal in 20-30 years.

Biomass utilization is not only truly sustainable but also provides forest health benefits beyond the pure carbon accounting through thinning programs that restore forest health and balance.

Unmanaged forests going up in wildfire smoke are serious sources of negative carbon sequestration, and research has shown thinned areas less susceptible to major wildfire damage.

The cap-and-traders may have good intentions, but they need to step aside here and support the true carbon keepTH ers: America’s working forests.

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NewsLines Washington State Hit With Three Lawsuits Following the late 2019 release of a plan to conserve marbled murrelet habitat on state-owned timberland, the Washington Dept. of Natural Resources (DNR) has been hit by three lawsuits, two claiming that DNR is abandoning its mandate to maximize timber sale revenue for state schools and another claiming the state didn’t go far enough in protecting murrelet habitat.

A small seabird that spends much of its time over salt water and nests in older age class coastal trees, the murrelet is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, and the DNR was required to produce a murrelet conservation plan.

The plan released by the state lowers timber harvest levels for 10 years, and sets an average harvest target of 465MMBF, which is 85MMBF less than the previous decade’s target that wasn’t ultimately met.

Upon creation of statehood in 1889, Washington was given more than 3 million acres, and the state constitution says they should be managed to fund schools and other public institutions. Washington DNR manages these and additional lands, mostly Depression-era tax foreclosures, that fund additional services such as fire protection and public libraries. Yet the DNR also has to follow state and federal environmental laws.

Skagit County, which relies heavily on revenues from state lands, was the first to file suit, claiming the DNR wasn’t following its constitutional mandate for maximizing school revenue. Another suit was filed by a group of timber-dependent counties and school and fire districts that make the same claim, but also that the DNR didn’t prioritize beneficiaries, used old data for its plan and failed to consider other plans that would have had less impact on school revenues.

A separate lawsuit filed by a coalition of environmental groups claim the plan doesn’t do enough to protect the murrelet and the state needs to find a new mechanism to fund schools.

Mississippi Hosts Asian Trade Group In a recent newsletter, Mississippi Loggers Assn. Executive Director David Livingston noted the state made history last year through the Mississippi Dept. of Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC) and the Southern U.S. Trade Assn. (SUSTA). The MDAC hosted a foreign trade delegation from China, India and Vietnam that was looking to purchase and import southern yellow pine (SYP) timber and lumber to their respective countries.

According to Livingston, the event was the first time SUSTA has helped sponsor a trade mission on anything other than food products. “In order for our industry to grow and prosper, it needs to find new markets for the tremendous amount of raw materials we 6

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can produce,” he says.

The meeting included a sawmill and logging job and forestry tour on the first day, and a second day of meetings between Mississippi officials and timber industry representatives. Livingston also cited the support of Dept. of Agriculture and Commerce and Ginger Williamson, timber commerce liaison, who organized two-day event.

Minnesota Loggers Consult On Unsold Sales Loggers in Minnesota gave state land managers suggestions on how to avoid unsold timber sales late last year after state DNR forestry staff led Timber Producers Assn. members on a tour of unsold sales. Focus of the tours were tracts in the DNR’s Warroad, Two Harbors, and Aitkin areas. TPA

members provided input on how to better design the tracts to make them more attractive to bidders.

The tours gave TPA members the opportunity to share their specific feedback on why particular tracts don’t sell and ideas on how sales can be more marketable. Foresters from various mills also participated.

Among the many points made over three days: Generally speaking, base prices should be lowered, where possible; the DNR should look for opportunities to lower prices with Price Guide Factors; the DNR should look at opportunities to allow summer chance on sales; the DNR should put cutting blocks closer together where possible to reduce equipment moves; and also improve appraisal accuracy.

Iowa Firm Must Pay For Illegal Harvest A judge has ordered Moravia Hardwoods in Moravia, Ia. to pay the state nearly $28,000 for timber harvested without permission from a state forest in south-central Iowa.

A statement from the Iowa attorney general’s office claims that Moravia Hardwoods lied to the state on a bond renewal application. The judge banned the company from buying timber for a year.

The case concerns a tract of private timber adjacent the Chariton Unit of Stephens State Forest that the company bought to harvest in 2013. Moravia Hardwoods marked the trees it wanted, the attorney general’s office said, and then directed loggers to cut the trees. But one of the loggers testified that some of the marked trees were on state land and he had informed Moravia reps.

A forestry expert found that 131 trees, mostly white and red oak and black walnut, were cut in the state forest. Their value was estimated at $25,718.50.

RY Timber Juggles Sawmill Production Officials with RY Timber in Townsend, Mont. announced the company would indefinitely close its Townsend sawmill, and in turn expand operations at its Livingston, Mont. facility. The closure is expected to begin in April and affect 70 employees.

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NewsLines Company officials say the Livingston, Mont. mill will add 35-40 jobs after the Townsend closure, and some former Townsend employees may be transferred there. The two mills have each been operating at 50%-60% capacity, and the Townsend closure will put Livingston at full production.

RY Timber executives blame uncertainty surrounding federal stewardship projects in the area for log supply issues that led to the closure, but add they hope they can reopen the Townsend mill in a few years if several projects move forward. According to news reports, RY Timber gets about 70% of its log supply from federal lands.

Resolute Purchases Three SYP Sawmills Resolute Forest Products Inc. has acquired Conifex Timber Inc.’s three sawmills in the U.S. South for $163 million plus working capital delivered at closing. The three sawmills, with combined production capacity of 550MMBF, are located in Cross City, Fla. and Glenwood and El Dorado, Ark. “This transaction will provide immediate scale in the attractive U.S. South, with quality assets in a rich fiber basket, close to growing end-markets,” says Yves Laflamme, president and CEO. “Scaling our lumber business forms a key part of our stated transformation strategy. This transaction will also diversify our lumber production. When operating to capacity, almost 25% of our production will be in the U.S. South.”

Resolute intends to build on Conifex’s significant capital investments in recent years, including $55 million invested in El Dorado, $23 million in Glenwood and $12 million in Cross City.

Weyerhaeuser Sells More Timberland Weyerhaeuser is selling 630,000 acres of timberland in Montana to a private timberland investment company for $145 million in cash.

“The sale of our Montana acreage is part of our ongoing effort to strategically optimize our timberland portfolio,” comments Devin Stockfish, president and CEO of Weyerhaeuser.

“The transaction includes a diverse mix of softwood species and an exist-

Pinnacle Teams With Sawmills Pinnacle’s new pellet mill will be built near and in partnership with the new Two Rivers Lumber sawmill in Demopolis, Ala., which started up in 2017.

Pinnacle Renewable Energy plans to build an industrial wood pellet production facility in the Southeast U.S. at Demopolis, Ala., in close proximity to its Aliceville, Ala. facility. The new mill Pinnacle’s new pellet mill will be built near and in partwill be located adjacent an nership with the new Two Rivers Lumber sawmill in Deexisting large sawmill in mopolis, Ala., shown here, which started up in 2017.

Demopolis.

The Demopolis facility is expected to have annual production volume of 360,000 metric tons that will be sold overseas for the generation of electricity. Commissioning the Demopolis facility with initial industrial wood pellet production is expected in the second quarter of 2021.

The Demopolis facility will operate under a single partnership with Pinnacle, The Westervelt Company (TWC), and Two Rivers Lumber Company, LLC (TRL), holding 70%, 20% and 10% interests, respectively. TWC is selling a 10% interest of its currently held 30% interest in the Aliceville facility to TRL. Under the terms of the partnership, Pinnacle will operate the Demopolis facility and manage all aspects of customer relations, marketing, sales and logistics. Anticipated capital costs to construct the Demopolis facility is expected to be $99 million.

The Demopolis facility, to be located on the same river system as the Aliceville facility, will be constructed to ensure finished pellets can be barged and loaded at the port in Mobile, Ala., which is the same port used for pellets produced at the Aliceville facility. Long-term fiber supply agreements have been completed with the majority of suppliers, including TWC and TRL. Brian Luoma, President and CEO of The Westervelt Company, says, “Since we began working with Pinnacle last year at the Aliceville mill, we have built a strong partnership based on our shared commitment to safety, quality, environmental responsibility and our communities. This new venture with Pinnacle and Two Rivers allows Westervelt to participate in a growing market while capturing the advantages of the abundant resources in this area.”

Jay McElroy, President of TRL, comments, “We are excited to partner with Pinnacle and Westervelt in the expansion of their U.S. Southeast wood pellet production. Both organizations have great reputations and success stories. This partnership accomplishes our goal to further expand our investment into wood products and build upon our businesses in the region.”

Two Rivers Lumber, backed by logging firm Sumter Timber and trucking firm McElroy Trucking, started up its large production southern yellow pine sawmill in August 2017. ing 110,000 acre conservation easement which preserves public access in perpetuity.”

The transaction is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2020.

The company’s three manufacturing facilities in Montana are not affected by this announcement. “Our manufacturing operations in Montana continue

to deliver strong results,” Devin adds.

“Our people have done an outstanding job driving improvement in safety and operational excellence over the past several years, and they also do terrific work to support the communities where we operate.”

In November Weyerhaeuser completed the sale of 555,000 acres of timberland in northern Michigan.

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Oregon ODF Names Top 2019 Operators

Gahlsdorf’s crew working in western Oregon

O

regon’s state Dept. of Forestry (ODF) recently announced the latest group of its long-running “Operators of the Year” award highlighting contractors who, while harvesting timber or doing other forestry work, protect natural resources at a level that goes above and beyond requirements of the Oregon Forest Practices Act and consistently meet or exceed Forest Practices Act regulations.

Honored during ODF’s March 4 meeting in Salem, the three Oregon loggers named as 2019 Operators of the Year are: Southwest Oregon – Pacific Forest Contractors, Inc., of Eagle Creek Eastern Oregon – Steve Jackson of Steve Jackson Logging based in Ridgefield, Wash.

Northwest Oregon – Jim Gahlsdorf of Gahlsdorf Logging Inc. in Rickreall Oregon’s Forest Practices Act requires landowners and contractors to manage forests responsibly and protect streams and water quality, protect and enhance habitat, and reduce landslide risks. The law also requires landowners to replant forests after harvesting.

Videos of all three operators of the year and the Merit Award operator can be viewed at: https://www.oregon.gov/ odf/Working/Pages/default.aspx ODF Private Forests Division Chief Kyle Abraham said, “These operators have shown an outstanding ability to harvest the wood products Oregon and the nation need while protecting natu8

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ral resources. We’re pleased to honor the care and diligence they exercise to protect soil and water during harvest operations, often in challenging circumstances.”

Pacific Forest Contractors and owner Alex Davis of Eagle Creek represent Southwest Oregon. The company successfully harvested a unit severely damaged by a late winter snowstorm in 2019. Heavy snow bent many of the trees in a hazardous, helter-skelter pattern. Crews also did an outstanding job of protecting trees bordering a salmon-bearing stream, lifting logs up and sending them via rigging across the stream over the tops of retained trees.

Steve Jackson earned the Eastern Oregon Operator of the Year award for a careful harvest along a scenic roadway in Hood River County leading to popular hiking trails. Jackson protected multiple pockets of young trees, jump starting natural regeneration on the steep slopes. He was able to fell trees near an

upper fork of the Hood River without harming trees in the protective buffer.

And at the request of the U.S. Forest Service he also removed hazardous, non-merchantable trees along the roadside to improve public safety. The award also recognizes Jackson for decades of consistently applying best management practices to safeguard forest resources, even under challenging circumstances.

Jim Gahlsdorf, owner of Gahlsdorf Logging Inc., based in Polk County, earned the Northwest Oregon Operator of the Year award for minimizing soil disturbance by using an elaborate rigging system that lifted logs off the ground and over a high ridge to the yarder landing. The operation was in a steep, remote part of the Coast Range during fire season, which prompted the owner to take extra firefighting precautions.

The Northwest Oregon Regional Forest Practices Committee also issued a Merit Award to C and C Logging for the firm’s safety consciousness and innovative use of technology, including using a drone to carry line into areas of fallen timber.

Regional Forest Practices committees select the operators of the year and merit award recipients from among nominees sent in by landowners, ODF staff and others. In addition to the honors at the March Board meeting, special recognition was also provided at the Associated Oregon Loggers training and education event in January and the Oregon Logging Conference in February.

Oregon enacted the Forest Practices Act in 1971 as a national model for forest management laws. The law focuses on ensuring responsible forest operations and protecting natural resources in forestland. The Act has been updated many times based on new scientific information and values to create a balanced approach to natuTH ral resource management.

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Louisiana’s LLC Turns 25 Years Old In 2020 JanetTompkins

T

he formation of the Louisiana Logging Council (LLC) in 1995 can be likened to a clearcut—knocking down barriers between loggers in east and west, north and south Louisiana, and giving clearer visibility to the aim of improving the lives of loggers everywhere.

The LLC turns 25 in 2020 and many milestones have been reached in the years since its beginning.

“The Logging Council gave (loggers) a voice in developing forest policy,” said C.A. “Buck” Vandersteen, executive director of the Louisiana Forestry Assn. and the LLC. The LLC was formed under the umbrella of the LFA but with an independent board of directors.

Tony Lavespere remembers going to the first meeting of the American Loggers Council (ALC) with Derald Phillips before the Louisiana council was formed. They each owned independent logging businesses, but someone questioned whether they should sit at the table because they had no affiliation with a logging group in their state.

“Earl St. John, one of the founders of the ALC, had us all go around the room and identify our businesses.

When we said we owned our logging business, he said, “That’s good enough for me.’ ” But they and others knew that a logging council was what they needed in the state.

“All we wanted was to unite them as a group,” said Derald Phillips of Lena, the first president of the LLC. “We had one goal,” said Lavespere, “uniting the loggers in Louisiana.”

“The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) was being launched, and that would involve new standards nationwide that directly affected loggers,” said Vandersteen. “It was advantageous for loggers to work together on these issues and standards so they were in harmony with SFI.” Clyde Todd, who was the program director for the newly minted LLC, re-

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members the early years of safety training, board meetings, fundraisers for Log A Load for kids and important visits to the Legislature as exciting times. “The loggers were not just sitting in the same room (as other forestry interests) but making decisions on their own,” he added.

The logging safety committee preceded the founding of the council. During that time, foresters and loggers went around the state on Saturdays for classes. “The biggest issue was safety,” said Todd.

Legislative issues were Phillips also important to the council, and they made their presence known in the year after the LLC was formed. That’s when they got a permit for a log truck parade around the state Capitol in Baton Rouge during the session to spotlight logging issues. The number of loggers willing to drive their log trucks into downLavespere town Baton Rouge to make that statement was impressive.

Todd said the LLC presented a united front to legislators about the needs of loggers and the forestry community. From the beginning, the group met with legislators and kept political issues before their members at their quarterly chapter meetings. They have done that throughout the years.

Now one of their own— Jack McFarland from Winnfield—is a representative in the state legislature. Others have served on police juries where road issues are so important to loggers and the whole forest industry.

Dennis Aucoin, logging contractor and another former LLC president, said a big accomplishment was the OSHA partnership. “Everybody was a little hesitant about it, but it was very good for us,” Aucoin said.

Those council members who joined the partnership agreed to a courtesy inspection that would point out any infractions but without penalty. Not all

would be inspected but a random number would be. In exchange, the members would share all reports of injuries on the job with LSU professor Dr. Niels DeHoop each year. That way the primary causes of injuries could be highlighted in classes along with preventative measures.

“It brought OSHA (into the businesses) in a constructive, not punitive, way,” said Vandersteen.

Aucoin, Phillips and Lavespere agreed the Master Logger program and OSHA partnership saved lives. Today that partnership extends to all those in the Master Logger Program whether or not they are members of the council.

The Log A Load for Kids program with the Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) hospitals was a big part of the LLC, especially during its first decade. More than a million dollars was raised to benefit children at the four CMN hospitals in the state.

There were log auctions, raffles, golf tournaments and clay shoots arranged by loggers but participated in by all parts of the forest industry.

Loggers continue to donate money to Log A Load with an extra line item on their annual dues statement.

The LLC also approved a set of standards for loggers to get in-thewoods audits to receive a Smart Logging certification program is just another way the logger profile has been highlighted in the public eye.

“There were a lot of visionary folks who put this together in Louisiana,” said Danny Dructor, American Loggers Council (ALC) executive director. “They became charter members of the ALC, put together the OSHA partnership and made other improvements which later on probably also led to the formation of the Southern Loggers Co-op.”

Heading into the 25th year, the Louisiana Logging Council work moves on.

Before the sun rises, another log truck rolls out of the woods and the cycle continues. The loggers came out of the woods in 1995 to remind everyone— even other loggers—that without them, there is a forest but not an industry. TH

Janet Tompkins was editor of the Louisiana Logger magazine for 20 years before retiring in 2016.

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Challenge To Safety: Non-Routine Tasks studies have shown that industrial workers are 25-35 times more likely orking in the logging woods, to get killed or seriously injured when non-routine tasks significantly they are performing a task they have increase the likelihood of a serious ineither never done before, or only do jury or fatality incident to occur (SIF). occasionally. Some non-routine tasks Other contributing factors, primarily may have been successfully performed leadership, can also influence the in the past, but maybe not in the safest likelihood and severity of non-routine way, maybe with a lack of control SIF incidents. It is imperative that measures in place, no written plan, non-routine tasks are met with a solid etc. This can further skew your risk risk assessment tool that the entire assessment process with a false sense crew knows, and can repeat together, of security, allowing for bad decisions like SAPS: Stop, Assess, Plan, Share. to continue by not completely appreBe mindful of the non-routine task, ciating the severity of the hazard if recite SAPS, and remind yourself to: something fails.

Sometimes I hear, “I have completed this non routine task this way before, and it worked out fine.” This attitude carried out by a supervisor can be cancerous, and will spread to the crew and kill your safety Safety focus is critical, especially in unexpected situations. culture and 1. Slow down, stop, re assess the undermine the risk assessment process situation for the entire crew. The best leaders 2. Discuss the task with another truly lead by example. They take a qualified person near miss “good catch” and turn it into 3. Come up with a plan with cona teachable moment. In order to create trols in place the necessary capacity for safety and 4. Share the plan, procedure and a coachable, smart decision-making control measures with the crew. process, it is imperative that strong As I approach nearly 15 years as a leadership is coupled with a risk assafety professional, some of the most sessment tool like SAPS and supportcommon phrases I hear from employed with a documented non-routine task ers at investigations involving SIF plan to close the loop with OSHA. incidents are: “We’ve never done a Examples of non-routine tasks task like this before the accident…We or situations include: unplanned or weren’t trained for this task or don’t rushed equipment repairs…felling have a written plan…Usually, we only “jackpots”…clearing a “cat’s ass”… do this type of thing once in a while.” felling hazard trees…lines coming It is tragic when you hear these off drums…equipment stuck in mud types of comments after an SIF incior snow…hurriedly searching for a dent, because you know in your heart hydraulic leak and replacing a hose… that it could have been avoided. It’s moving equipment—the list is endless. fairly easy to identify the hazards asAlso, normal, routine tasks can besociated with the normal tasks loggers come “non-routine” when performed perform on a daily basis. However, in bad weather or with fewer people.

AsaYraguen

W

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Here are two typical questions that an OSHA compliance officer will ask an employer at the opening of an investigation involving a suspected non-routine task accident: 1. Do your employees routinely perform this kind of task?

2. Are there methods used to outline and inform employees of the hazards for tasks they are completing and were they trained on how to protect themselves from said hazards?

Before performing a non-routine task, simply conduct the following steps: Assess the hazard using your own risk assessment tool, like SAPS— Stop, Assess, Plan, Share.

Choose the exact control measures for each hazard encountered, with another qualified person as needed.

Develop a written procedure for the task, with the hazard control measures clearly specified.

Share procedure with entire crew.

Train and document, with signatures and dates, the workers performing the tasks of the procedure, recording the proper hazard control measures to be implemented, including the use of any specialized tools/equipment including PPE to qualify workers on the procedure with ability to demonstrate their skills and knowledge.

If it isn’t documented, it didn’t happen.

If you train your crew to follow these steps, your crew will be safer, and poised to make smart decisions.

Also, when an incident does occur, the conversation with OSHA will go much easier when you have the right answers and the required documentation.

From the horse’s mouth, see requirements in OSHA Div7 sub B 437-007-0110 Supervisory Responsibilities, 437-007-0135 Hazard Identification and Control, and 437-0070140 Training.

In conclusion, failure to identify a non-routine task or dismissing the need for written plans are the largest contributors to non-routine accidents. Follow these simple steps, discuss them as topics during your monthly safety meetings or pre-work site plan meetings, and you will set yourself up for TH success.

Asa Yraguen is Associated Oregon Loggers Safety Programs Coordinator

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Hurricane Michael Recovery In Gear No longer a salvage operation.

PATRICKDunning

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stimates of successful wood salrelief for timber producers. The Florida vage on timberland damaged by Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer SerHurricane Michael along the vices will administer the USDA block Florida Panhandle and southwest Georgrants alongside the Florida Div. of gia range from 10-16%, according to auEmergency Management. thorities; meanwhile many logging outFFS said more than 1.6 million acres fits have scrambled to contribute to the of pine was damaged, along with salvage effort, and some have suffered 697,000 acres of mixed upland stands, because of the market ramifications. and 503,000 acres of bottomland.

Making landfall on October 10, 2018 Georgia Forestry Commission estinear Mexico Beach in Bay County, Fla., mated nearly 2.4 million acres of forestthe Category 5 hurricane speared the land impacted and approximately 38 Gulf Coast with 155-160 MPH winds, million tons of timber valued at $763 leaving some communities still draped million damaged by the storm, including in blue tarp and desolate.

20.5 million tons of pine and 17.2 milThe Forest Inventory and Analysis lion tons of hardwood.

Program (FIA), which will include U.S Forest Service assessments in areas affected by the storm, could conclude as early as March, providing a before and after footprint on timber plots.

Initial reports by Florida Forest Service estimated the value of timber damage at $1.3 billion, pillaging more than 2.8 million acres of forestland either catastrophically (347,000 acres), severely (1.04 million acres) or moderately (1.4 million acres). More specifically, FFS said the storm impacted 500 A top priority now is putting timberland back into production. million trees, 16,000 private landowners and 233 communities Scott Griffin, Forest Management (about 4.4 years of annual forest harvest Chief of GFC, says the salvage effort in Florida). concluded in spring 2019 for the most The three counties most affected by part. “A lot of the wood deteriorated the storm in the Panhandle were Bay, after a while,” he says. “What we’re seeCalhoun and Gulf, but Gadsden, Jacking now is internal damage. Combine son, Liberty, Franklin, Holmes, Leon, dry season with pine bark beetles attackWakulla and Washington counties also ing stressed trees and you get unviable received damage. stands.” Griffin, who helped lead the Agriculture Commissioner Nicole charge following the storm, says high (Nikki) Fried announced that the U.S. volumes of wood on the ground limited Dept. of Agriculture has allocated the markets. Moving forward, GFC will $380.7 million in federal block grant continue to manage standing timber in funding for Florida farmers devastated moderately damaged areas.

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mented for 79,456 acres of forestland from south of Albany to Lake Seminole, representing a loss of 2.2 million tons of pine and 1.8 million tons of hardwood valued at $80.5 million. Severe damage was documented for 296,112 acres of forestland from south Albany to near Bainbridge. Damages total an estimated loss of 6.4 million tons of pine and 5.3 million tons of hardwood.

Those affected the worst in Georgia include Seminole, Miller, Baker, Dougherty, Lee and Crisp counties, while Decatur, Mitchell, Worth, Early, Calhoun, Sumter and other counties experienced damages.

David Dickens, PH.D., Forest Productivity professor at the University of Georgia, anticipates a final salvage rate of 16% with percentages fluctuating in Alabama and Florida.

“We were hoping to get 25% recovered in stands but there weren’t enough trees,” he says.

Dickens was on the forefront of the salvage effort after Hurricane Hugo in 1989, where he says 60% of wood was recovered.

Charles Ives, a logging operator based in Quitman, Ga., says as terrible as Michael was, it had a positive spin. “It had gotten so wet there was nowhere left for us to work,” he says. “It gave us something to do because we didn’t have anywhere else to go.” There was initial hesitation to travel to the west side of the state to Baker County but continual rain following the storm forced their hand so they took a track loader and track cut-down machine to the devastation zone, which gave them a slight advantage.

“A lot of us waited and didn’t go at the very start,” Ives says. “We kept saying we weren’t going to get involved over there but we ended up going. Markets were low on inventory due to wet TIMBER HARVESTING & FOREST OPERATIONS

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conditions which resulted in getting paid higher rates for storm wood.” Tract conditions weren’t easy on his equipment either. “The ground was really bad and picking up stray limbs was like sifting through pixy sticks,” Ives recalls.

Sitting just outside the path where peak wind gusts occurred, Ricky Anderson, owner of Anderson Logging Inc., in Temple, Ga., says he still feels some discomfort. In his efforts to help clean damaged areas southbound, Anderson says the acces- Various recovery programs are boosting landowner assistance. sible timber is still a burden. “The mills don’t like twisted wood, The mills surrounding Havana have you have to do a lot of saw work and it’s recovered in some fashion. Aside from aggravating,” he says. “And it’s only the reforestation efforts taking place on good for so long.” The post-storm marcompany land, one problem Dunson kets haven’t been favorable for Andersees moving forward is the well-being of son, who downsized his operation from private landowners. “There’s very little two crews to one to better bend with the revenue available to the landowner beeconomy. “I had an opportunity to sell cause they took a beating on stumpage,” my other outfit, but I didn’t. I’m seeing a he says. “Finding new stumpage in the lot of loggers go out of business.” future will be tough, we’re going to have Logging foreman Jacob Paschal, to pan out further.”

Albany, Ga., says their chipping operTroy Walden, owner of Walden Timation hasn’t taken a lot of days off ber Harvesting Inc., Altha, Fla., had gotsince the storm hit. “We had a lot of ten out of the business shortly before the storm wood we were on, the problem storm hit, but was enticed by the opporwas, there was nowhere to deliver the tunity to recover storm wood. It didn’t wood,” he says. “West Georgia got hit work out as he had hoped. “All the timhard and we had ample opportunity to ber that blew over, there was about 30 go over there and chip all day but million worth of timber damage in my there’s not a lot of opportunities to sell area,” Walden says. “I just didn’t see it.” Paschal says some hauls averaged how I could make a living anymore.”

80-100 miles. Loggers are still acThe storm wood market was good shorttively digging up pine stumps in some term, Walden says, but believes all the places. But, he says most local mills salvage timber that can be utilized, has have stopped receiving storm wood already been. “I hate to say it but all the due to blue stain and bark slippage. wood that’s left is rotted. They’re doing Keith Dunson, procurement contracall they can but this damaged timber is tor for Havana Logging Co., Havana, going to hurt the industry down the Fla., says looking at what the storm did road.” Walden notes a small patch of rejust a few hours after was devastating. lief is Apalachicola National Forest sell“I mean, you’re talking about 5 million ing tracts. But even then, he says that dollars worth of timber under contract won’t last long. being completely wiped out.” His core Dewayne Sheppard, a used equipment timber buying area sits in the fourdealer and logging operator based in Hacounty area which suffered the most devana, Fla., also suffered losses because struction. It took about one month to of the storm’s impact. With production get situated because most of their logdown 30%, his attempt to capitalize on gers’ homes were damaged. “Our guys storm wood was temporary. “The mills had to get their lives in order before offered us more money but it didn’t add they could help other people,” Dunson up in the long run,” he says. says. “A lot of them didn’t have a place Wewahitchka, Fla. was one of the to lay their head, we’d let them use our hardest hit by the storm, sitting in Gulf equipment to get limbs off their houses County. Ted Whitfield, timber dealer of and patch roofs.”

Whitfield Timber Co., says there’s a

high percentage of long-term damage surrounding the region. “It overwhelmed the community,” Whitfield says. Currently working through a 25% loss in production, Whitfield is just trying to recover what he can. “Most of the timber is gone, that’s the biggest problem moving forward,” he believes. “You should have seen it the morning after.” Of the landowners Whitfield knows, he says no one has received any financial compensation yet. He is hopeful it could come as soon as Quarter 1, 2020.

The Farm Service Agency has a cost-share program called the Emergency Forest Restoration Program, administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to assist private landowners in restoring land damaged

by Hurricane Michael. Cost-share payments cover up to 75% of approved restoration practices and limited to $500,000 per person or legal entity.

Through consistent engagement with USDA officials, Florida secured nearly half of the $800 million in federal block grant funding announced for Florida, Georgia, Alabama and North Carolina disaster relief programs. The funds will compensate timber producers for lost value of their crop damaged by Hurricane Michael, helping them clear downed trees and replant. Block grant funding will also help producers repair and replace irrigation infrastructure damage from Hurricane Michael.

“This funding is a huge victory for Florida’s timber producers, whose resilience in the year following Hurricane Michael has been extraordinary,” Fried says. “Our priority will be moving this funding forward so that timber producers can have checks in hand and trees in the ground. Thank you to the USDA and Secretary Perdue for helping us put Florida’s farmers first.”

Georgia governor Nathan Deal signed into law the Forest Debris Management Program, an emergency disaster relief initiative assisting cleanup efforts and funding to those impacted in the 28-county area. As of December 1, 2019, approximately 35% or 60,000 acres have been certified for clean-up

by GFC. “We appreciate the efforts of forest landowners who have been dealing with the challenges of storm fallout and cleanup,” Georgia Forestry Commission Director Chuck Williams says. “One of our main goals, to keep forests as forTH ests, remains a top priority.”

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Weather Boosts 2020 OLC Crowd EUGENE, Ore. unny weather and the latest logging technology and services were both in abundance at the 82nd Annual Oregon Logging Conference (OLC) in late February as thousands of people visited the three-day show, including more than 1,500 high school and elementary school students and educators. “The Oregon Logging Conference is always an opportunity for everyone to get to know who we are and what we do,” said OLC Conference Manager Rikki Wellman. “We are the largest show of this type, west of Mississippi,” she added, referring to over 325 participating vendors, with both outside and inside exhibits and displays.

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Loader competition finals draws lots of attention on show’s last day.

Southstar’s Quadstar QS600 head with 4 feed rollers, 29.5 in. capacity

Tigercat 6050 Carbonator woody debris conversion system

Iggesund Forest’s new open-end saw bar mounting system

New Ponsse H9 harvester head: Four feed rolls, 26.5 in. diameter capacity

Trilink’s new HV95 Semi Chisel Harvester Chain, ¾ in. pitch

2020 Kenworth Logger Model W900L with Cummins X15 565V 1850 engine

Komatsu 875 forwarder offered in both 6WD, 8WD

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The Annual Oregon Women In Timber (OWIT) dinner and auction raised $93,000, with all proceeds to benefit OWIT’s award winning Talk About Trees program.

The High School Skills Competition featured more than 100 high school students from 10 schools in Oregon demonstrating crosscut sawing, choker setting, axe throwing, power sawing and more. The top four teams were: 1st– Clatskanie Middle/ High Schools; 2nd—Waldport High School; 3rd—Philomath High School; and 4th—Crook County High School.

The OLC Foundation helped raise more than $29,000 during two days of auctions, held during the Thursday and Friday morning breakfasts. Money raised will help provide scholarships to students pursuing careers in logging and related careers.

The popular 11th Annual Log Loader Competition, sponsored by Link Belt and Triad Machinery, featured winners from past events going at it among the 33 people from six states who demonstrated their skills.

Great weather all three show days kept visitors hopping.

First place went to repeat winner Zane Bryant, of Bryant Logging. Second place was Ross Cribbs of Van Well Timber, and third place was Bryan Chipps of Green Diamond Resource Company.

“We couldn’t put on this successful

show without the support of all of our sponsors, and the participation of all of our vendors,” Wellman said. “We are proud to promote and showcase the logging industry,” she added, “and contribute to its continued growth and expansion.”

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Peterson 2710D horizontal grinder

Doosan DX380LL-5 log loader with T-Mar grapple

New Pat Attachments logging grapple drew interest.

New Deere 900M Series tracked feller bunchers

Summit Attachments automated logging yarder

Weiler walk-around included S350 skidder.

Morbark 40/36 Whole Tree Drum Chipper: 800 HP, 23 in. diameter capacity Caterpillar 548LL log loader

Keto 873 processing head with 360° Rotator feature

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AOL Celebrates ‘50 Years Strong’

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elebrating a major milestone, Associated Oregon Loggers held its 50th Annual Convention in late January, attended by more than 400 members, friends, and guests at Eugene’s Valley River Inn. According to AOL Interim Executive Vice President Rex Storm, the group’s 50th Anniversary Convention was a rewarding success, with great attendance, informative speakers, social time with peers and fun entertainment. “We celebrated the association’s five decades of service and being the voice for Oregon loggers,” Storm said, noting the program was delivered by the voluntary efforts of dozens of AOL members, and of course AOL’s professional staff.

Storm added the convention theme, “50 Years Strong,” shows how much AOL has changed over five decades and will continue to change and adapt.

During his opening address, AOL President Greg Schmitz said, “I want to affirm that the “state of your association is moving forward in 2020 with a positive direction. AOL programs must evolve and change with our changing world to give best value to our member companies.” President Schmitz described three principles that focus AOL’s Executive Committee and association programs: Strengthen and grow AOL’s positive program impact for forest contractors.

Conduct strategic planning to develop a 2020-21 budget and organization—by considering changing markets and service needs.

Align AOL’s staffing to strengthen strong business relationships with members and coalition partners Loggers heard from 36 informative speakers over the three days of programming. Speakers addressed many topics, including: trucking and driver training; leadership strategies that can work for your company; AOL-M&G insurance services; SAIF-AOL workers comp group insurance; a new direction in federal forestry; Timber Unity grassroots allied efforts; Oregon’s legislature; preventing fraud; forest practices; and contract logging business innovation.

Friday evening’s ‘Shoot for The Stars’ fundraiser for the 2020 Log A Load For Kids campaign successfully raised over $82,000 for three Oregon Children’s Miracle Network hospitals.

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AOL President Greg Schmitz presents 2019 Woman of the Year award to Rachel Surcamp.

Her company, Surco Log, is AOL’s only continuously operated 50-year member.

Co-Chairs Marilyn Gahlsdorf and Jean Zuber presented ceremonial checks to the hospitals, bringing AOL’s 2019 Log A Load campaign to $132,311.

Rachel Surcamp with Surco Log Inc. was recognized by President Greg Schmitz as the AOL’s 2019 Woman of the Year. Rachel over the past two years demonstrated unexpected courage and initiative to learn and persevere, returning to Oregon from Florida in 2018 to become office manager of Surco Log in Springfield, and in 2019 became her family’s third generation legacy, when she took over management at Surco Log. According to Storm, Rachel’s grandfather, Lou Surcamp, was a leading AOL Charter Member, and long-time AOL board member—who helped found AOL 50 years ago. Rachel’s parents, Rod and Aashild were also loyal AOL board members and the 2004 Logger of the Year.

“We are proud to honor Rachel and Aashild’s woman-owned family logging business, as AOL’s one and only continuously operating 50-year member,” Storm says.

Dick Gilkison with Gilkison & Dad Inc. in Cottage Grove, received honors as AOL’s 2019 Logger of the Year. After 30 years of learning his craft employed by other logging outfits, Dick Gilkison in 1984 began a family business with the best partners in the world—wife Barb, and sons Mike and Bret. According to Storm, Gilkison is an advocate for AOL ser-

vices, regularly standing up at conferences to vocally encourage fellow loggers to participate in AOL Group insurance programs.

A longtime long span tower yarding specialist, Gilkison & Dad sold its yarder to continue with ground-based jobs. Dick proudly informs others that, “bigger is not always better.”

Senior Safety Management Consultant, Roger Lulay, received a 25 Year Service Award to recognize Roger’s dedication and expertise brought to the AOL staff team. We thanked Roger for his more than two and a half decades of contribution to AOL member companies. Retaining and developing quality employees is the solid timber of any organization.

During the Saturday Contractor’s Lunch, AOL honored the two living “First Men” of AOL: The only living AOL Charter Member is Edgar “Eddie” Roberts of Oakridge-based Roberts Logging Co. Now retired, Eddie still lives in Oakridge and sent well wishes though he was unable to attend.

Recognized for his 50 years of AOL service and five decades of membership (current honorary member), Wilbur Heath of Cottage Grove attended. Heath was AOL’s 1st and 7th president, 1st Co-Chair of Oregon Log A Load For Kids, AOL Champion Award winner, and he was featured on the cover of LIFE Magazine in 1989 at the height of the old-growth timber and spotted owl controversy.

The Saturday evening Awards & 50th Anniversary Program included an “AOL 5 Decades Tribute, 1969-2019.”

Narrated by past president Mike Wiedeman (1997-98), the slide show and story looked in the rearview mirror at AOL accomplishments in the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s and 2010s.

Storm emphasizes that at 50, the association still aims its sights on being a solid voice for Oregon’s logging contractors and providing valued services for their success.

“This convention was the capstone to celebrate AOL’s effective history, its member companies, and its volunteer leaders,” Storm said. “This celebration helps us aspire to leading future gains for forest contractors.” TH A longer version of the article ran in the AOL Mainline newsletter.

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New England Family Loves Special Projects Landowner satisfaction a company specialty.

JESSICAJohnson WINCHESTER, NH ollowing his family’s legacy, Chris Goodnow, 40, has been working in the woods for as long as he can remember. His father, Lloyd, who is still on the Goodnow Trucking job every day, has worked in the New England timber and lumber business his whole life. Lloyd’s grandfather worked timber during the logging camp era. When Chris’ friends and the other kids around town were playing football at the fire station park, he was greasing trucks or helping work on chip trailers.

So, while Lloyd is the boss man of Goodnow Trucking, it’s easy to see why Chris would step up and run daily operations for the family’s logging and trucking business. His mother, Kathy, still handles all the bookwork, including payroll, general accounting and banking, while Lloyd handles a lot of the ordering of parts and supplies, and generally watching what’s going on money-wise.

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“They try to keep me out of the paperwork,” the good-natured Chris says of his family.

Straight out of high school, Goodnow joined the business—and he’s incredibly proud of the work his dad, his brother, Matt, and he do. For Goodnow, it’s not just about the cutting and hauling and doing everything possible to keep the operation running Chris Goodnow efficiently and profitably.

Instead, the Goodnow Trucking crew does its best to service the landowner first and foremost.

“It is always important to have good, strong relationships with sawmills, pulp mills, chip plants, but in reality you’re working for the landowner: Harvesting their wood for them, trying to get the best money for it. Sometimes it feels

like you are chasing markets. I don’t like to chase around for whatever product is moving the best right now,” Goodnow explains.

He chuckles as he adds, “I never seem to be the lucky one that’s in the stuff that’s the hot commodity at the time.”

The crew, while small, is productive. Goodnow says he consistently gets an average of 20 loads per week with three trucks. But, for him, the small-scale “special projects” are what makes timber harvesting exciting. That’s where the crew’s ability to take care of landowners in (typically sensitive) New England often sets him apart from the rest.

These types of projects, usually on public lands around watersheds or in highly visible areas, Goodnow says

The crew uses a mix of vintage and late model equipment—and remains “very efficient” according to Goodnow.

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are a nice change of pace also chip mainly for small from working for a more local producers, greenhouses industrial landowner where and schools that co-fire wood it is a prescription cut of with other heat sources. everything 12 in. and up and not to worry about speOperations cific small hemlock trees, for example. He adds, “I Goodnow’s equipment is a like the challenge of doing mix of vintage and late model. that type of stuff; it takes it The crew gets it done with to a different level.” Undertwo feller-bunchers, a 2008 standably, this kind of harJohn Deere 843 wheeled mavesting means the crew is chine and a 1998 Prentice 620 more methodical with how tracked model. Goodnow does it merchandizes timber and all the cutting, and says while processes loads. his cutters are older, he’s exThe crew is typically tremely productive with them about an hour from the so he doesn’t pile a lot of hours shop in Winchester, NH on them. The Prentice has less working in New Hampthan 8,000 hours on it. Overshire or Massachusetts in a sized trees are felled manually.

50 mi. radius to the south.

Two Caterpillar skidders, Most work is in blocks a 2002 525B and 2010 525C, move trees to the landing sized anywhere from 50 where a 2011 Tigercat 234 acres to 100, cutting the slasher-loader with CSI defive typical species found limber and Pro Pac circle saw in the area: hemlock, red processes logs for hauling. oak, maple, black birch Trucks stay busy as the crew consistently puts out at least 20 loads per week.

The crew also uses a Prentice and white pine.

384 slasher-loader, which did Logs are mainly marketsmall-scale mills have closed. There’s ed to Kennebec Lumber in Greenfield, all the slashing and delimbing prior also a strong Canadian presence and to the purchase of the Tigercat. “We NH, as well as Hancock Lumber in influence in the market. usually put two cranes on the landing, Maine, and Durgin & Crowell Lumber The Goodnows will not truck logs one to slash off the skidders and one Co. in Springfield, NH. Goodnow says across the border, but they do sell logs to to load trucks. We also have a 1987 markets have changed a lot in recent Canadian mills for pick up on the landHood 2400 loader that used to load all years—he remembers a time when each ing. “We call them when we have loads the trucks,” he explains. small town dotting New England had a ready, and they make the arrangements After the chip market changed, Goodmom and pop sawmill, or three. Now as to have the logs trucked,” he explains. the bigger mills get more efficient those now upgraded an older chipper for a In addition to logs, the Goodnows

Goodnow says each piece of the operation is important, but the loader is the most critical part of the operation doing the majority of the work.

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Precision, knowing he’d be forced into making specialty chips and his older machine just wasn’t holding up and needed replacing. The 2004 Precision 2675 whole tree chipper only has 3,000 hours on it. Purchased used from a wood yard in Ohio, the chipper is basically brand new, Goodnow says: He had sent his father to look at another machine, and the Precision unit was parked right next to it. “We said forget the other chipper; this thing is in such good shape.

We made them an offer and they took it,” he says of how the chipper basically fell into his lap.

Logs are hauled with a four truck fleet, three Internationals (two ‘98 models and one ‘95) and a 2013 Volvo. The three Internationals get the lion’s share of the work, each having over a million miles on them. Similar to the forestry equipment, trucks are kept up with maintenance-wise, and therefore run well.

Despite the age and mileage, Goodnow likes his trucking fleet—the rigs get better fuel mileage, don’t run DEF and are in general lighter. “The Volvo is a 2013, best of the best, top of the line truck, but my dad likes running

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Maintenance

Goodnow himself works the buncher.

the old Internationals,” Goodnow says with a shrug. The care the guys show the older trucks pays off. In 2018, the International with over a million and a half miles was pulled for a level one DOT audit. It passed with flying colors and got a CBSA (Canadian Border Services Agency) sticker on both the truck and trailer.

Trailers are a mixed bag of Stairs and Manac. Chip trailers are Wilkens and East.

How does the crew keep so many older pieces running? “We have a really big garage,” the logger says. “We work on all our own equipment. And we keep up on the maintenance, if something is getting worn out we take it apart and fix it.” A benefit to running older equipment is knowing the equipment, he says, and being able to work on it themselves saves big on service costs.

Oil is changed in forestry equipment every 250-300 hours; trucks are pulled every 12,000 miles for oil changes and are run through the shop every weekend to get checked over and greased. The crew has a 1988 Ford F800 service truck with hydraulic crane, with only 68,000 miles on it.

Anything that can’t be handled in the woods with the aid of the service truck is hauled to the shop.

The crew doesn’t like to move equipment to the shop for just anything, but the nice 65x120 ft. space, with four big bays, can house a good portion of the company’s equipment if needed. In the inclement weather of New England it sometimes comes in handy to get out of the elements. The

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shop is also 10 miles from Goodnow’s house, and while he says he doesn’t always leave work at work, there is some separation between work and home.

Involvement Goodnow is extremely involved in the industry outside of the woods, serving a two-year term as New Hampshire Timber Harvesting Council Chairman in 2018-2019, a sister organization to the New Hampshire Timberland Owners Association (NHTOA). The Timber Harvesting Council was started 26 years ago to promote public opinion of logging and increase awareness around safety. Goodnow says the council was desperately needed as the industry sometimes has to fight those that might be misinformed.

Goodnow has been active for many years, having been pulled into the organization by one of NHTOA’s program directors, Eric Johnson, now deceased. One of the first things Goodnow did was participate in the Professional Loggers Program (PLP), which offers voluntary certification

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The crew, from left, Dylan Bresnahan, Lloyd Goodnow, Chris Goodnow and Matt Goodnow

and continuing education. “I decided to do the program because it can’t hurt us,” he explains. For Goodnow, participation in PLP, attending the annual convention and going to the American Loggers Council annual meetings have helped him tremendously. The work the groups are doing is impactful, and is getting attention.

“I am so proud of how much work the association has done. We get some attention for a small state with a pretty limited group of loggers; it’s impressive what can get done,” he explains.

In 2018, New Hampshire’s govern-

ment passed a short-term subsidy that helped keep biomass as a viable market for loggers and those in the wood industry.

In 2019, Governor Sununu and the state government shot down a measure that would help prop up that sector again. While the measure failed, it was very, very close to passing. Goodnow was part of the NHTOA/Timber Harvesting Council that lobbied for its passing. “We missed it by just a little bit this time, but in 2018 we pulled it off. We have state reps and senators’ attention, and they do listen to us.” TH

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Out of the Woods: Wood Makes Impact Minnesota’s Peter Wood is definitely not your typical logger.

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omething’s different about logger Peter Wood—maybe it’s his radio show, political activism or union membership. Definitely different. A third generation logger from Canyon, Minn., Wood and his son Vincent “Vinny,” who represents the fourth generation, continue the family business, Wood Forest Products, which spans nearly 100 years.

Wood and his family live on the original homestead established by his grandfather in 1917. Like many farmers of the time, his grandfather logged in the winter in order to eke out a living. Peter’s father and his uncles followed in those same traditions.

Wood began working in the woods at a young age and was seriously injured in a loader accident that nearly cost him his life. It took many months in the hospital, and many surgeries, to save his leg. However, that experience did not deter him from returning to the

woods and making a career of logging.

Today, Wood and his son Vinny run the operation. Vinny was exposed to the logging business at a young age, and quickly learned about the in-thewoods side of logging and began operating equipment as soon as he was able. Vinny attended a couple of years of college, but having grown up in the woods, decided that is where he wanted to be and joined his father fulltime logging. At 21 years of age, Vinny is learning the trade in order to someday assume the family business for another generation.

Proficient in all of the equipment, Vinny runs the 2013 TimberPro 735B feller-buncher and 2010 John Deere 648H skidder, while Peter runs the 2000 Denharco Telescoping Boom Delimber, and 2012 Hood loader/ slasher, and they both drive truck (2016 International, 1987 International and a 1989 Cabover International),

along with some seasonal truck drivers, pulling six axle rail trailers and chip vans. They produce biomass with a 2012 2300 Vermeer Chipper.

The 1989 International Cabover Day Cab is not your typical logging truck in the Midwest. In fact, it is quite unusual and arguably the ugliest truck hauling wood in Minnesota. But this is another example of innovation by Wood Forest Products. As Peter says, “I get paid to haul wood, not iron. This truck allows me to haul more wood to the mill.”

There are three kinds of loggers in the world. First are those who stay in the woods and pretend nothing outside of the landing affects them. This group prefers to do their own thing, they don’t get involved in efforts beyond their operations. Second are those who will complain and imagine they solve all of the timber industry problems in the coffee shop or pub. Then there are

Wood Forest Products is a fully mechanized, multi-generation business.

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This ’89 International Cabover Day Cab rig isn’t the prettiest, but delivers a bigger payload.

the few who see the bigger picture, who step up, get involved, and work to address the timber industry’s challenges, not just for themselves, but for the overall good of the timber industry and the next generation. Peter Wood is of the latter group, sacrificing his time, money and experience to bring the loggers’ voice to the table.

Not one to accept the status quo, Peter does not recognize preconceived boundaries or limitations. He has proven his willingness to embrace innovation and change just as the timber industry has evolved over the 100 years that the Wood family has been logging.

As an example, Wood Forest Products was one of the first and leading logging companies to go into the biomass markets in the early 1990s with chipping and grinding operations. Peter asserts that the decision was not necessarily driven by profit (compared to conventional timber production) but rather the ability to leave an aesthetically appealing post-logging site for the landowner.

This approach was particularly important for private landowners who were generally more concerned with the appearance of their land after the timber had been harvested.

This practice proved beneficial as it generated more private timber harvesting opportunities for Wood Forest Products once others saw their logging

Peter Wood, left, is training son Vinny to one day take over the operation.

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Wood’s involvement in promoting the industry includes multiple tours and presentations to local school children.

sites. His early involvement sentatives of the American in the biomass chipping and Logging Industry. grinding markets taught him In many ways the logabout the process and equipging industry hasn’t ment designs. In fact, as a rechanged much over the sult, companies like Vermeer past 100 years since RDO regularly operated proWood Forest Products totype biomass equipment on began, though it has his logging sites to field test evolved greatly from a and derive feedback/recomtechnical perspective. mendations from Wood ForStill, the fundamental est Products. business dynamics remain According to Tom Ruegethe same: Loggers workmer, Vermeer-RDO Forestry ing with little to no negoand Recycling Specialist, tiating leverage, minimal Wood Forest Products was benefits, and uncompetivery helpful in the design of tive wages. Maintaining a Wood has met with and hosted dozens of government officials, including the Vermeer WC2300 chipworkforce and attracting presidents, first ladies and legislators. per. “Early on he met with new employees has beengineers from Vermeer to come extremely difficult, let them know what loggers needed for way from the logging woods. One sayand this threatens the future viability a biomass chipper,” he remembers. ing is that if you are not at the table of the American logging industry.

“Peter Wood cares about the timber you are probably on the menu. If the One common and major challenge timber industry is not helping, we’ll industry and fellow loggers and is within the logging industry is the need have to eat whatever others cook up. willing to help better the industry for for health insurance. Most logging That’s why Wood has become a leadall.” Tom Ruegemer, Forestry and Recompanies in Minnesota do not proing timber industry political advocate cycling Specialist. vide health insurance for their employin Minnesota and DC: ees. Many family logging operations He has hosted Secretary of Interior are paying family premiums near Activism meetings at his shop; Secretary of Agri$2,000 per month with a $10,000 Challenges in the timber industry go culture Forums; chauffeured First Lady $12,000 deductible. beyond the logistics of harvesting and Laura Bush; been appointed to GoverRecognizing this challenge, Wood, hauling timber. A lot of political decinor’s Task Forces; participated in Presalong with a handful of loggers and the sions and actions that directly impact idential and Vice Presidential events; Associated Contract Loggers & Truckthe timber industry, usually negatively advised political campaigns; and seers of Minnesota, began exploring the more than positively, are made a long cured a White House meeting for reprepossibilities and benefits of organizing 28

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logging companies. After three years of developing an agreement with the International Union of Operating Engineers, Wood Forest Products was the first logging company in Minnesota to become a union operation.

The agreement provided a wage structure relatively compatible with current industry margins, plus retirement, health insurance and training.

The health insurance alone reduced out-of-pocket health costs by over half with far more coverage and services.

The potential labor pool was another significant benefit. James Larson, who is a Union Operating Engineer, was normally laid off in the winter. Larson now opts to continue working and contributing to his Union benefits by signing on with Wood Forest Products as a truck driver for the winter.

“Continuing to work through the winter allows me to not have to tap into my accumulated banked hours for healthcare benefit premiums, as well as add to my pension account,” Larson says. “Additionally, driving a logging truck allows me to maintain, refine and expand my skills and be a better operator. If Wood Forest Products was not a union operation, there would be little benefit in working through the winter.”

The timber industry has allowed an alternative narrative to dictate public perception and reinforce misconception of the value, contribution to forest health, and benefits of logging as a tool in forest management. While listening to the radio in his equipment while logging, Wood contemplated the notion that somebody should do a radio show about the timber industry.

He contacted a talk radio host that he knew, Brad Bennett of WDSM 710, and pitched the idea to him. Bennett invited Peter to come on the radio show to talk about the logging industry for 15-20 minutes.

That initial appearance evolved into a monthly one hour talk radio segment called “Let the Sawdust Fly,” which has run for 3½ years. Appearing with Wood on the show is generally a guest from another sector of the logging industry such as: John Deere, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement, a logger or trucker, a professional lumberjack competitor, a forester, a mill representative or a trade association director as well as call-ins from political representatives.

The timber industry could not afford to pay for this type of positive air time which educates the public and pro-

Spreading industry’s positive image, Wood hosts a radio show that informs the public.

motes the industry to an audience of thousands. The broadcasts can be heard via live stream the last Wednesday of the month at 9:00 a.m. CST at www. wdsm710.com. Podcasts of prior episodes can also be found at this website.

Wood has been involved in additional public education outreach as one of Minnesota’s logging representatives with the Provider Pal Program hosting numerous school field trips to logging sites, and visiting schools throughout Minnesota.

All of these efforts were recently recognized when Wood was presented the 2019 Buzz Ryan Award for his efforts in conserving natural resources and promoting good forestry. The selection comes from the Minnesota Forestry Employees Assn. comprised of current and former Minnesota DNR, Div. of Forestry employees.

The award is named after Buzz Ryan, a legendary District Forester for 47 years, an acclaimed historian on early Minnesota logging and forestry who dedicated his life to forestry.

One of the most admired characteristics of the American logger is their independence, but this is also one of the

greatest weaknesses of the American logger. When loggers work together, stand together, and support one another everybody benefits. Wood Forest Products has demonstrated that type of willingness to work to improve the logging industry through political advocacy, public education and awareness.

Wood adds, “If you are not comfortable or able to be directly involved in promoting and defending the logging industry, then the least you can do is support those who do promote the timber industry through membership in state and national associations.”

Like Wood Forest Products, many logging companies across the country are multi-generational companies, with each generation building upon the business developed by the previous generation. The challenges are numerous, but collectively loggers can influence the direction and lead the effort. Loggers like Peter Wood who are willing to be innovative, get involved and be at the table, will shape the future of tomorTH row’s timber industry.

Scott Dane is Executive Director of Associated Contract Loggers & Truckers of Minnesota.

From left, Associated Contract Loggers & Truckers board member, Gary Shemon, ACLT President Mike Nielsen and Wood in DC during a visit to lobby legislators.

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EquipmentWorld Maxam Expands Customer Service Team To accommodate rapid growth and leverage customer support services, Maxam Tire announced the expansion of the Customer Service Team based in Danvers, Mass.

With major investment and continued growth in its specialty segments such as mining and forestry tire products, the Maxam dealer network has grown substantially. To meet the expansion of its dealer base, Maxam has brought on additional Customer Service Representatives (CSR) to provide knowledgeable assistance on account-related matters.

“The decision to expand our customer service team in Boston was a logical step into our business growth strategy. Boston is filled with diverse talent and with the Maxam Global Dealer Servicing Network growing over 1,800 strong, we need a dedicated group of people to help us stay true to our mission of being a valuable business solutions provider,” says Troy Kline, President of Maxam Tire North America.

Carter Machinery Acquires Alban Tractor Salem, Va.-based Carter Machinery, a leading Caterpillar, Inc. dealer, announced an agreement to acquire the assets of Baltimore-based Alban Tractor Co., Inc. In connection with the acquisition, Carter Machinery will become the Cat dealer in an expanded service territory that will now include northern Virginia, Washington DC, Maryland and Delaware.

For more than 92 years Carter has

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serviced customers throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia and southern West Virginia, becoming one of Caterpillar’s top performing dealerships.

“Carter’s growth is evidence of the caliber of our employees’ expertise and the speed at which they service the industry to ensure customer success every day,” says Drew Parker, CEO, Carter Machinery. “Carter is enthused about expanding our services to more customers with the same commitment that our Virginia and West Virginia customers have come to rely upon.”

cat forestry, off-road industrial and material processing product lines including feller-bunchers, skidders, loggers, carbonizers and more.

“We are excited about this new partnership with Tigercat,” says Ron Barlet, Bejac President. “We are confident that our experience and commitment to quality service combined with the best product on the market will amount to a first class customer service experience.”

Tigercat Teams With Bejac Corp.

Maxam Tire North America announced that Caterpillar Inc. has validated and approved the 875/65R29 Maxam MS405 L4 tire for use on specific Cat 982M medium wheel loaders.

The Maxam MS405 65 Series program is engineered for high torque, harsh applications where extreme traction is required. Featuring a deep E4/L4 lug pattern that combines excellent grip, stability and performance, the MS405 provides users a solution that meets all harsh demands. Developed with a cut-resistant tread compound and deep undertread, the puncture-resistant MS405 allows superior productivity and minimal downtime.

The addition of the MS405 furthers Maxam’s strong relationship with Cat as Maxam currently supplies 23.5R25 MS302 as a factory fitment option on Cat 950GC, 950L, 950M, 962L, and 962M in certain regions. Maxam MS302 tire sizes have also been validated and approved for future factory fitment on additional Cat medium wheel loaders.

Tigercat recently announced that Bejac Corp. is now the authorized Tigercat dealer for California and Nevada. With more than 35 years of experience in the heavy equipment industry, Bejac is a leader in the sale and service of machinery for niche markets including the forestry, scrap and waste recycling, green waste, and demolition industry.

Headquartered in southern California, with 10 locations in California, Nevada and Arizona, Bejac is strategically positioned throughout the Southwest to deliver its products and services quickly and effectively.

“We are very happy to welcome Bejac to the Tigercat dealer network,” says Kevin Selby, Tigercat sales manager for the U.S. “Bejac is a leader in specialty sectors and is focused on emerging products to help customers improve their businesses. Bejac’s commitment to customer support will be a great match for our products.”

Bejac will be offering the full Tiger-

Maxam MS405 Approved By Cat

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New Technology 2020 Chipping & Grinding Technology Peterson 4300B Chipper The 4300B Peterson Drum Chipper is a high production chipper that does not require oversize permits for road transportation and is suited for high volume biomass producers who have a wide variety of feed material from logs up to 26" (61cm) in diameters, to brush and other feedstock. The 4300B Drum Chipper is powered by a C18 CAT 765 HP (570kW) engine. At 52,000 lbs.

(23,586kg) and 8 ft. 4¾ " (255cm) width

the chipper utilizes a 36" diameter by 40" wide (91 by 102 cm) drum with wear resistant AR450 wear surfaces on the drum pockets and shell. A sloped feed deck makes feeding the chipper easier. The optional material sizing bars and chip accelerator minimize oversize twigs and branches in the chips, and help ensure tight chip packing and fully loaded chip vans. Traditional babbitt type knife systems are standard equipment. Chip length can be

changed from ¼ to 1¼ inches (6 to 32 mm) by adjusting knife extension and feed speed.The 4300B’s new generation of controls includes Peterson’s high-production Adaptive Control System with an LCD display that provides the operator the complete engine and system parameters to simplify setup and efficiently operate the machine. The control panel also includes self-diagnosis, making troubleshooting easy. Visit petersoncorp.com

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SelectCuts As We (ALC) See It

Trucking Issue Like ‘Gorilla Dancing’ DAVE DUREN So, I’m driving south bound on U.S. 59, just entering the city limits of Diboll, Tex., and on the left, behind the car/truck fuel convenient station, sits a state trooper unit with a loaded log truck. Curiosity gets the better of me, so I made a U-turn to check it Duren out.

I recognize the trooper as one who presents in logger training and education for the Texas Logging Council (TLC), and I pull up beside him as he was walking alongside the log truck trailer. I greet the trooper and ask him how he was doing; you know, the typical cordial greeting. However, since he knows what the TLC is trying to do to promote truck safety, he voluntarily

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gives me a few details about the stop. He does not name anyone, and I don’t even think there is a company name on the side of the door. It’s just another log truck going through a typical inspection.

What I learned about the incident really begs the questions, HOW and WHY does this stuff keep happening? For three years I’ve been the TLC’s coordinator and heard this statement numerous times: “So and so isn’t pro logger trained, doesn’t have the proper insurance, and yet they roll into these mills just like the rest of us.”

What am I talking about with my questions? It turns out the driver of this truck did not have a proper driver’s license and, by the way, didn’t have one the last time he was stopped in the same truck by the same trooper a month or so ago. The truck and trailer were not registered, and there

was no insurance. With the appearance of the tires and the apparent lack of maintenance, I would not have been caught dead in that truck.

Two things are happening here. The state has a revolving door policy when it comes to removing unlicensed drivers from the highways, and some of the area mills have a “look the other way policy,” because they are certainly not checking anything.

This past year the conversation in several people’s minds has been, “where are we going to find enough trucks to log the mills?” Truck safety is being preached basically from shore to shore in the hopes of stabilizing rising insurance rates threatening the profitability of logging contractors.

How long do you have to dance with a gorilla? Until the gorilla slams you down, or gently releases you. Sometimes, it’s hard to tell who the gorilla is.

Guest columnist Dave Duren is Texas Logging Council Coordinator for the Texas Forestry Assn.; visit www.texasforestry.org/programs/council.

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SelectCuts La. Forest Festival Set for April 24-25 One of the few festivals in the U.S. that truly celebrates the timber industry, the Louisiana Forest Festival in Winnfield, La. is set for April 24-25.

This year’s event features numerous logging equipment displays and related exhibits. There are 13 lum-

berjack events to cheer on, featuring pro timber sports competitors from across the U.S., including six different chain saw events. The festival features great food (It’s Louisiana after all!), a children’s area with fun games and crafts, plus contests and prize drawings.

Special events include recognition of the Louisiana Logger Assn.’s

(LLA) outstanding logger of the year and an “in memory” logger, plus a concert from Nashville entertainers Ashton Shephard and Jeff Bates and some excellent local musicians. Noting that timber is the number one agricultural crop and industry for Winn Parish, and the state of Louisiana, Toni McAllister, executive director of the Louisiana Loggers Assn., says, “The Louisiana Forest Festival represents both historical and modern forestry and logging practices as we pay homage to our history and celebrate our future with deep roots in the timber community around us.”

For more information visit www.laforestfestival.com or the Louisiana Forest Festival Facebook page. Note: Entry to all events is free.

Forest History Group Has New NC Facility The Forest History society (FHS) recently moved to a new 16,750 sq. ft. facility in Durham, NC, this past January. The moves concludes a successful $7.1 million capital campaign to build a new library, archives and headquarters. The new facility is more than twice the size of FHS’ former building, and its location on an 8 acre site allows for future expansion.

The Forest History Society is the only organization dedicated to the preservation and dissemination of forest history around the world, particularly the relationship of humans and trees and forests through time. The library’s 12,000 volumes and its extensive archival holdings contain information on such topics as water, wildlife, recreation, range mining, climate, transportation and agriculture as it relates to forests.

Log A Load Breaks $2 Million In 2019 Last year was another successful year for Log A Load for Kids and Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (CMN), with a grand total of dollars raised to benefit local children’s hospitals in 2019 of $2.2 million! Whether it’s skeet shoots, fish fries, golf tournaments or auctions, the creative fundraising platforms are never lacking, and neither are the dollars raised. As the charity of ➤ 38 choice for loggers across the Foremost Authority For Professional Loggers

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InnovationWay Tigercat Harvesting Head Tigercat continues to expand its range of harvesting heads with the new 568, a robust, productive 4WD harvesting head for roadside processing. The 568 offers excellent productivity and reliability. Optimized harvester head hydraulics maximize performance and efficiency, while robust, high quality components provide longterm reliability. Large diameter hoses and large capacity valves provide ample strength to match the greater hydraulic flow and power of Tigercat carriers.

Timed knife arms and triangulated wheel arms allow the operator to pick quickly from the pile and to maintain positive tree contact when feeding. The floating front knife and fixed back knife ensure good quality delimbing. Single or dual-track measuring wheels with a horizontally pivoting trailing-arm design, along with priority-flow length measuring, provide superior length accuracy.

The patented 4WD – 2WD auto-shift drive system provides extra power and positive grip when feeding large trees, fast speed in smaller trees, and full manual control when needed. With Tigercat’s 4-2 drive system, you get speed and powerful feeding all in one. The 568 starts in 4WD, maximizing feed force for faster acceleration and to quickly power through bigger trees. As the load drops, it automatically shifts to 2WD, improving efficiency and increasing feed speed. The system shifts back and forth seamlessly with no operator input required, all while maintaining precise and accurate length measurements.

The 568 harvesting head uses the Tigercat D5 control system. The system allows the operator to monitor lengths, diameters and species in real-time to ensure maximum productivity with a simple and intuitive Tigercat-developed user interface.

The Tigercat D5 control system is available in three levels of bucking control and reporting: Tigercat D5 Prio, Tigercat D5 Prio PC and Tigercat D5 Optimization, allowing operators to tailor the system to their needs. Visit tigercat.com.

Tigercat Roadside Processor The Tigercat 850 processor is a purpose–built roadside processor delivering outstanding performance and impressive fuel economy. Designed for high volume roadside processing, the Tigercat 850 offers many advantages including better service access, higher cooling capacity and processor head optimized hydraulics. The Tigercat FPT N67 engine delivers 159 kW (213 HP) at 2,100 RPM for Tier 2 and Tier 4f emission compliance.

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lead to responsive control, quick feed speed and powerful delimbing capability for high productivity. A high capacity swing system with dual swing drives provides ample torque and speed for high performance processing. The powerful, strength-to-weight optimized boom is designed specifically for processing and high stacking.

Operator visibility is unmatched in the quiet, comfortable, ergonomically designed cab. The hooked boom design, and narrow side posts provide excellent righthand side visibility.

An integrated cab riser and the rearview camera system contributes to all-around visibility for the operator. Optimally positioned controls and a large touch screen display improve ergonomics and machine monitoring. Reduced noise levels help the operator enjoy the auxiliary audio input port, Bluetooth audio and hands-free calling.

Service access allows the ability to step down into the center of the machine for clear, unobstructed access to the engine and daily service points. Large enclosure doors and a service platform provide easy access to other service points. A large cast counterweight with a swing-out door allows access to the engine from the rear of the machine. Visit tigercat.com.

Waratah Felling Head Waratah Forestry Equipment has released a new large felling head model, the FL100. The large directional felling head, designed for 30+ metric ton carriers, improves productivity, increases durability and extends uptime for steep slope, shoveling and traditional felling applications.

“The high-capacity Waratah FL100 gives our customers the benefit of added productivity in a very capable head,” says Brent Fisher, product marketing manager for Waratah.

“It has high-capacity grapple arms engineered for improving operational picking and holding force of logs—this provides exceptional operational capabilities in traditional felling and steep slope shoveling applications. It also includes a valvein-head design and our new TimberRite X-20 control system, simplifying installation.”

New features on the FL100 that contribute toward maximum productivity include continuous rotation and dual rotate motors that enable high rotation power requirements. As a large class of directional felling head with a 1m (39.3") cut capacity, the FL100 also features extra-long, continuously curved opposing arms for enhanced grapple capacity and picking capability and a 1470mm (57.8") opening and .78 m2 (8.4 sq. ft.) payload capacity.

The FL100’s forward placed saw unit allows for easier cutting of larger timber. For power in small or large capacity loads, the FL100 has one cylinder per arm plus a synchronizing link for maximum grapple holding force and control.

This new head also leverages Waratah’s TimberRiteT measuring and control system. The TimberRiteT X-20 stand-alone controller provides configurable settings for improved head performance, productivity and measuring accuracy. Visit waratah.com.

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SelectCuts 35 ➤ country, CMNH is always so amazed and grateful by the uniquely focused, grass-roots efforts from Log A Load to raise money for our network hospitals.

In addition to the great fundraising that took place, this year was a monumental year for Log A Load. For this first year since its inception, Log A Load is now operating as an independent 501c3. Log A Load can now create a strong org structure within the logging community to maximize and leverage local corporate sponsors on a national scale. In short, it’s a great beginning to what should mean more money for kids in need. With this change came the separation from a long time, valued partner for many years, the Forest Resource Association (FRA). Many thanks go to the FRA family for the key role they played in the laying the foundation for Log A Load for Kids.

All across the U.S. there are Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, and Log A Load’s fundraising efforts have been vital to their local CMN Children’s Hospitals helping sick or injured children in the community.

Overall CMN Children’s Hospitals

provide 32 million patient visits for 10 million children every year.

Whether it is a broken bone or a serious disease or transplant, these hospitals are ready to provide the help and resources for these young children— and America’s loggers are some of their biggest supporters.

California Offers $80 Million For Forest Restoration The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire) has announced the availability of over $80 million for forest health and fire prevention projects.

The money comes from the Greenhouse Gas Reductions Funds allocated by the legislature for California Climate Investments (CCI) to implement on the ground.

There are four goals of CCI: Restore forest health and conserve working forests; protect upper watersheds where the state’s water supply originates; promote long-term storage of carbon in forest trees and soils; and minimize the loss of forest carbon from large, intense fires. There is no other state with a forestry program

Pennsylvania is the 12th state to enact a purple paint boundary law.

Such legislation, highly recommended

by National Woodland Owners Assn., gives landowners the option to post their property with purple paint strips instead of “Posted” or “No Trespassing” signs. The approved color is bright purple readily available commercially. It is to be applied in strips a minimum of one inch wide and no less than 8 in. long. The specifications may vary by state. The paint may be on boundary trees or posts between 3 ft. to 6 ft. off the ground.

The alternative boundary paint posting option was developed by the Arkansas Forestry Commission in response to complaints of “No Trespassing” signs being torn down. It was named the first winner of NWOA’s annual Outstanding Forestry Law recognition program in 1986 as a “model law” with the recommendation that other states do the same.

Easy Access to current advertisers! http://www.timberharvesting.com/advertiser-index/

Listings are submitted months in advance. Always verify dates and locations with contacts prior to making plans to attend.

March 25-27—Hardwood Manufacturers Assn. National Conference & Expo, JW Marriott, Nashville, Tenn. Call 412-244-0440; visit hmamembers.org.

April 1-3—Intermountain Logging Conference, Mirabeau Park Hotel & Convention Center, Spokane Valley, Wash.

Call 208-245-3425; visit intermountainlogging.org.

April 3-4—Loggers Plus Expo, Bloomsburg Fairgrounds, Bloomsburg, Pa. Call 315-369-3078; visit northernlogger. com.

April 3-5—Forst Live, Exhibition Center, Offenburg, Germany. Visit forst-live.de.

April 7-9—Kentucky Forest Industries Assn. annual meeting, Brown Hotel, Louisville, Ky. Call 502-695-3979; visit kfia.org.

April 24-25—Associated Logging Contractors annual meeting, Best Western Lodge at River’s Edge, Orofino, Idaho.

Call 800-632-8743; visit idahologgers.com.

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Pennsylvania Purple Paint Now Means ‘No Trespass’

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