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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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Editor-in-Chief Rich Donnell Managing Editor Dan Shell Senior Associate Editor David Abbott Senior Associate Editor Jessica Johnson Associate Editor Patrick Dunning Publisher/Editor Emeritus David (DK) Knight Art Director/Prod. Mgr. Cindy Segrest Ad Production Coord Patti Campbell Circulation Director Rhonda Thomas Online Content/Marketing Jacqlyn Kirkland ADVERTISING SALES REPRESENTATIVES SOUTHERN USA Randy Reagor (904) 393-7968 • Fax: (334) 834-4525 E-mail: reagor@bellsouth.net

Vol. 67, No. 5: Issue 676

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019

OurCover Oregon’s Miller Timber Services operates a diverse company that handles all operations from seedling to stump. The company’s forward outlook and involvement in working to attract young people to the industry are big reasons why Miller Timber Services is Timber Harvesting’s 2019 Logging Business of the Year. The company runs multiple two-man CTL crews, plus trucking, firefighting and reforestation operations—and an experienced management team is key. Begin reading on PAGE 12. (Photo by Dan Shell; design by Brad Jackson)

OurFeatures

MIDWEST USA, EASTERN CANADA John Simmons (905) 666-0258 • Fax: (905) 666-0778 E-mail: jsimmons@idirect.com WESTERN USA, WESTERN CANADA Tim Shaddick (604) 910-1826 • Fax: (604) 264-1367 E-mail: tootall1@shaw.ca Kevin Cook (604) 619-1777 E-mail: lordkevincook@gmail.com

Oregon, Arizona News

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Building Unity, Burning Biomass

Alabama Operator School Training Tomorrow’s Workforce

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING Bridget DeVane 334-699-7837 bdevane7@hotmail.com Timber Harvesting & Forest Operations (ISSN 2154-2333) is published 6 times annually (January/February, March/ April, May/June, July/August, September/October, November/December issues are combined) by Hatton-Brown Publishers, Inc., 225 Hanrick St., Montgomery, AL 36104. 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 ® 2019. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Periodicals postage paid at Montgomery, Ala. and at additional mailing offices. Printed in USA.

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EPA Rule Doesn’t Support Biomass To Reduce Coal Use

ALC Annual Meeting

Hit The Beach In Alabama

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MyTake DAVID ABBOTT

many, and while many still came forward, many others didn’t. Jackson doesn’t blame them. “I can’t in good conscience put people at risk.” Instead, many who were already retired aine loggers and wood haulspoke on their behalf. products to bargain in good faith with ers now have the right to enMost of the voting followed party such organizations. This bill recoggage in collective bargaining lines and Republicans don’t believe in nizes that market forces that affect the after Governor Janet Mills signed into collective bargaining, Jackson notes. marketing and bargaining position of law on June 7 LD 1459, “An Act To The bill passed 21-14 in the Demoindividual farmers similarly affect the Expand Application of the Maine Agcrat-controlled Senate but was much marketing and bargaining position of ricultural Marketing and Bargaining tighter in the House, which is closely Act of 1973 to Harvesters and Haulers split between parties. In the end, JackThe goal is for loggers to of Forest Products.” Maine Senate son convinced two Republicans to President Troy Jackson,D-Allagash, cross the aisle and vote his way. be able to negotiate betwho is also a fifth-generation logger, “It was a significant win but I reter pay, better hours and sponsored the bill. member the losses we have been the ability to offer health Contractors are generally not through so many times.” What he insurance via a co-op. granted collective bargaining rights. thinks is different this time: this time However, states can exempt certain inthey have the International Assn. of dustries from federal anti-trust laws, Machinists and Aerospace Workers and Maine had already (IAMAW) union, with its made anti-trust exemp700,000 members, polititions for other key agrical connections and recultural industries in the sources standing with state—potato farmers, them. With IAMAW supfishermen and lobsterport, around 200 Maine men—to form cooperaloggers have formed the tives and collectively barNew England Loggers gain for improved condiCooperative and selected tions. This new bill exJackson as the new orgatends the same exempnization’s first president. tions to timber harvesters (The example was set by and log haulers by exthe Maine Lobster Union, panding the definition of New bill extends the same exemptions to logging and log haulers by expanding the formed in 2013 as “independent agricultural definition of “independent agricultural contractor” covered under existing labor law. IAMAW Local 207.) contractor” to include Jackson says it could those who harvest or haul forest prodindividual harvesters and haulers of work a lot of different ways. “The ucts under contract. forest products, and it expands applinumber one thing in the legislation is The bill states, in part, that “The cation of the Maine Agricultural Marthat there is no violation of anti-trust harvesting and hauling of forest prodketing and Bargaining Act of 1973 to laws if two loggers talk about prices.” ucts are performed by numerous loginclude harvesters and haulers of forLoggers are now allowed to negotiate; gers and forest products haulers who est products.” it will be up to them to do so. The goal individually are not able to bargain efWith this Act’s passage, Maine is for loggers to be able to negotiate fectively with forest landowners. The joins six other states–California, Orebetter pay, better hours and the ability marketing and bargaining position of gon, Washington, Idaho, Pennsylvania to offer health insurance via a co-op. individual loggers and forest products and West Virginia–that already have “If the loggers can stick together haulers is adversely affected unless similar exemptions for forest products and form the cooperative the bill rethey are free to join together volunfers to, then this could be a game businesses. tarily in cooperative organizations. changer for the current procurement The inequity of power in determining system that has stymied loggers for Passage compensation and the lack of opportudecades,” according to Danny DrucAs the bill was debated in the state nity to join together in bargaining over tor, the Executive Director of the legislature and loggers and truckers compensation can result in unfair conAmerican Loggers Council. “They were asked to testify, Jackson says, tract rates for the services of loggers would do well to take a look at the “The landowners were sitting right and forest products haulers. Current practices and outcomes from the there in the front row. It was an intimilaw authorizes the membership of farmers who are members of cooperadation tactic.” Retaliation from landfarmers in cooperative organizations tives who have been operating sucowners was an obvious concern for TH and requires handlers of agricultural cessfully under this structure.”

Maine Loggers Gain Right To Bargain But Will They Stick Together And Do It?

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019

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NewsLines ‘Timber Unity’ Defeats Bad Oregon Legislation

Recently created ‘Timber Unity’ Facebook page helped drive crowd to Capitol.

Loggers, truckers and others gathered by the hundreds outside Oregon’s State Capitol in late June—with trucks rolling and hardhats and caulk boots worn as badges of solidarity—to protest and ultimately help defeat proposed state cap-and-trade legislation that would have drastically raised fuel prices and hampered operations in multiple natural resource industries. Collectively, the groups helped to bring more than 2,000 trucks, tractors and other work vehicles to the state Capitol and circled it, horns honking and lights flashing while hundreds of supporters waved signs and showed solidarity. A driving force behind the protest was the ‘Timber Unity’ Facebook page, founded by Oregon grass seed farmer Marie Bowers and log trucker Todd Stoffel, who has operations in Oregon and Washington. Acting as an information and organizing vehicle, Timber Unity’s Facebook page grew to more than 50,000 followers in barely more than a month and was a major force in putting “boots on the ground” at the Capitol to protest the legislation. As a testament to their success in defeating the legislation, Bowers and Stoffel found themselves guests at the White House in July. Oregon politics gained national notoriety earlier this summer when the proposed cap and trade legislation led Republican legislators to abandon the session and Democrats threaten to have them arrested, leading to charges and countercharges on both sides of the political aisle. The state has long been dominated by liberal politics in the large cities of Portland, Salem and Eugene, and loggers and others have for years believed—rightfully so—that some of the policies supported in those urban communities would actually be paid for by Oregon citizens in rural communities. The cap and trade legislation was no different. After the issue gained national notoriety and proved so controversial instate, late in the legislative session Democrat party officials announced the cap-and-trade plan couldn’t gain enough votes from its own party. Photos courtesy of Associated Oregon Loggers

Loggers and workers from many other natural resource industries made their voices heard. 6

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Logging Community Visits White House American Loggers Council (ALC) Executive Vice President Daniel Dructor visited the White House on July 8 to hear President Trump deliver remarks on America’s environmental leadership. “It was a privilege to attend this White House event and recognize the accomplishments of this administration on natural resources and environmental issues,” Dructor says. “President Trump recognizes the importance of active forest management and the role of America’s loggers as part of the solution. Under this administration, the federal government and its land management agencies are making clear progress in using all available forestry tools, including thinning and logging, to address the impacts of wildfire, insects and disease on America’s federally owned forests.” In addition to the American Loggers Council, the nation’s logging community was represented by Associated Oregon Loggers Executive Vice President Jim Geisinger, Associated California Loggers President Mike Albrecht of Sierra Resource Management, Inc. of Sonora, Calif., and Todd Stoffel of Timber Unity, a grassroots movement of loggers and log truckers based in Oregon.

GLTPA Hosts Michigan DOT Director Truck Tour Earlier in the summer Henry Schienebeck and Denny Olson of the Great Lakes Timber Producers Assn. (GLTPA) hosted Michigan Dept. of Transportation Director Paul Ajeba for lunch and a tour of roads and intersections in Michigan’s Brietung and Iron Mountain areas that are heavily frequented by log truck traffic. According to a recent report from GLTPA President Bruce “Sparky” Enstrom, Ajeba said he wanted to visit all areas of Michigan to get a firsthand look at transportation needs and issues, and as part of the tour the director rode in an 11-axle truck owned by Gene Brzoznowski. Enstrom noted the director was interested in border transportation issues between Wisconsin and Michigan, including weight permits and other issues, and said he’d be interested in exploring a reciprocity agreement of TIMBER HARVESTING & WOOD FIBER OPERATIONS

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NewsLines sorts between the two states in future meetings. Enstrom added that lots of time was spent discussing industry’s overall importance to the state’s economy, and the critical role transportation plays in building and growing a sustainable industry. “Although there may be less traffic here (in the Upper Peninsula) than in other areas of the state, it is extremely important to have a well-funded infrastructure to maintain access to raw materials,” Enstrom says.

concluded a study stating the conversion of one EGU at the Cholla power plant would have created a market for enough biomass to thin 50,000 acres yearly. In contrast, the 4FRI’s initial 10year contract awarded in 2012 that was to cover more than 200,000 acres in 10 years has treated barely 15,000 acres in seven years. The commission’s action also has additional consequences for the region’s

forests: Novopower President Brad Worsley says the move away from biomass will also affect his facility, which has a bit more than three years to go on a power contract. The state has a 15% renewables mandate, but the Novopower contract could well be replaced by solar and wind producers in the future. If that happens, Novopower will have no choice but to close, he says. Forest officials in the state say

Arizona Commission Rules Against Biomass Proposal

Restoration relies on biomass markets.

The Arizona Corporation Commission recently dealt a major blow to forest restoration efforts in the state by voting down a proposal to convert an electricity generating unit to burn biomass instead of coal at the soon-to-beclosed Cholla Power Plant. The conversion would have produced 60-90 MW of electricity from biomass and provided a critical market for raw materials coming off major national forest restoration projects in the state that aim to treat more than 2 million acres. Commission members who voted against the proposal cited its cost, which analysts had said would add $1-$3 to some Arizonans’ power bills. Throughout northern Arizona, officials for the past year had lobbied the corporation commission in attempt to create a market for the millions of tons of biomass coming from the U.S. Forest Service’s 4-Forest Restoration Initiative (4FRI). The effort has been hampered by a lack of markets for biomass, which makes up about half the raw material being produced. Currently only one plant in the state, Novopower, is producing power from biomass, and its 28 MW capacity is roughly three times smaller than the project proposed at Cholla. Arizona Public Service staff had Foremost Authority For Professional Loggers

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NewsLines large-scale thinning is necessary to prevent the kind of “post crown-fire erosion” that can destroy healthy watersheds, filling reservoirs with mud. Gila County Supervisor Tommie Martin advocated for the conversion of Cholla to biomass, noting that creating a market for biomass will spur the thinning efforts necessary to prevent future megafires from consuming entire forest communities. Losing such a large potential biomass market and potentially facing the closure of the state’s only high-volume biomass market would be catastrophic and leave direct subsidies as the only option, which is politically and fiscally unlikely to happen.

log inventory at closing. Hampton Lumber operates nine sawmills in Oregon, Washington and British Columbia, including two in the Burns Lake area of British Columbia. Hampton Lumber CEO, Steve Zika comments, “While economic conditions are extremely challenging right now for the lumber industry in British Columbia, we believe the long-term outlook for Canadian lumber is promising. We intend to build a new sawmill in Fort St. James and look forward to building relationships with local First Nations and other community partners similar to a successful joint venture we have with the Burns Lake Native Development Corporation in the Burns Lake area.”

Hampton Purchases BC Conifex Sawmill, License

Hardwood Lumbermen Aren’t As Upbeat In 2019

Hampton Lumber is purchasing the Fort St. James, BC sawmill and associated forest license from Conifex Timber Inc. for $39 million plus the market value of finished lumber and

Not surprisingly given trade tariff issues and a less-than-heated housing market, confidence has declined among U.S. hardwood lumbermen who responded to Timber Processing’s annual

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019

sawmill operations and capital expenditure survey. Over half of U.S. hardwood lumbermen (55%) are optimistic their business will be “good” or “excellent” in 2019 and into 2020, but it compares to 81% who responded likewise to the survey a year ago, representing a 26% decrease in confidence. More specifically, 18% expect business to be excellent in 2019 and beyond, compared to 29% in 2018, and 37% forecast their situation as good this year compared to 52% a year ago. Many of the lumbermen trickled down into the “fair” category at 40%, compared to 14% last year. Meanwhile, 5% of hardwood lumbermen see their business as poor or very poor this year, the same as last year. Many lumbermen pointed the tariffs imposed on U.S. hardwood lumber by China as a huge concern. American Hardwood Export Council reported that U.S. hardwood lumber exports to China fell 12.5% to a value of $1.332 billion in 2018 from 2017. Red oak held the most value by far, followed by white oak, ash, walnut and cherry. Hardwood

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NewsLines logs declined 5.2% to a value of $545 million in 2018. Lumber exports to China had reached a new high in 2017, before the trade dispute arose. An open-ended question asked what hardwood lumbermen are most concerned about with regard to their markets. The trade issue with China was prevalent in many of their concerns. Other concerns included: “Declining demand and pricing.” “Oversupply when weather dries out.” “Raw material supply.”

New SYP Sawmills On Fast Startup Pace Several new southern yellow pine sawmills are pushing the “go” button. Rex Lumber’s new sawmill at Troy, Ala. is starting up and should hit its stride in late summer. The greenfield mill broke ground less than a year ago in July 2018. This is Rex Lumber’s fourth SYP sawmill. Angelina Forest Products plans to begin commissioning in August at its new sawmill at Lufkin, Texas and hopes to begin selling some product in September-October. On the heels of its new sawmill startup at the beginning of this year in Talladega, Ala., Georgia-Pacific’s new sawmill project at Warrenton, Ga. is on plan, with the sawmill project at Albany, Ga. right behind it.

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Meanwhile Westervelt is clearing land and moving dirt at the site of its planned sawmill in Thomasville, Ala. The company anticipates a late 2020 startup. Biewer Lumber, which started up a new sawmill in 2017 at Newton, Miss., is in the process of adding a second (identical) line—including new crane, debarker, log cutup line and sawline—which is expected to start up in November.

Pinnacle, Tolko Team Up Again With BC Pellet Venture Pinnacle Renewable Energy has entered into a partnership agreement with Tolko Industries Ltd. to build Northern Pellet Limited Partnership, a new industrial wood pellet production facility in High Level, Alberta. The facility will use wood fiber sourced primarily from Tolko’s existing sawmill in High Level. The facility is expected to have a runrate production capacity of 170,000 to 200,000 metric tons per year. Under the terms of the partnership, Pinnacle will operate the facility and manage all aspects of customer relations, marketing, sales and logistics. Tolko will supply both heat energy and fiber to the facility under longterm supply agreements. Initial wood pellet production is expected to commence in fourth quarter 2020. The

capital cost of the facility is expected to be $54 million. Pinnacle and Tolko have a similar arrangement at the Pinnacle pellet mill in Lavington, BC adjacent the Tolko sawmill there.

Maine Study Details NE Logger Health Care, Issues Begun in 2018 and the first project of its kind in the Northeast, the Maine Logger Health and Safety Study focuses solely on understanding the health and safety concerns of Maine’s loggers. The study is a project of the Northeast Center for Occupational Health and Safety in Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (NEC), which promotes health and safety research, education, and prevention activities in the high-risk areas of logging, farming, and commercial fishing. To better understand the health and safety needs of loggers in Maine, the study team has been conducting quarterly surveys since spring 2018. Overall, 392 loggers have taken part in an initial survey and 307 continue to participate. Average age of participating loggers is 48, but some are fresh out of high school, and some have more than 50 years in the industry. Initial survey findings show that two-thirds of loggers had an annual checkup in the last year. However, one out of five loggers still does not have health insurance. Of all loggers, two out of every five currently experience musculoskeletal pain. More than one in every 17 loggers report having work-related injuries or illness in the past year. The project team met more than 80 loggers this spring offering free health screening around Maine. The researchers and health practitioners who provided the health exams received a warm welcome and learned a great deal by talking to the loggers in person. Loggers received a $25 LLBean gift card for participating in a health screening. Many of the health screenings were set up in logging company garages in conjunction with Professional Logging Contractors of Maine Spring Trainings. Two days of free healthcare screenings at the 2019 Loggers Expo in Bangor were also offered. The project team will conduct more free health screenings across the state in spring of 2020.

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Playing The ‘Long G

Logging Business of the Year Miller Timber Services is helping make the company’s wood basket as competitive as possible. PHILOMATH, Ore. ooking steadfastly into the future, Lee and Sue Miller and their management team and the employees of Miller Timber Services are working to help create a successful logging business and industry that’s younger and more diverse. They are doing this by running equipment that’s smarter and more environmentally sensitive while developing competitive operations that bolster all parts of Miller’s regional industry, helping make Miller Timber Services’ wood basket more successful and competitive in a global economy.

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Miller Timber Services operates four divisions: L&B Reforestation, Miller Timber CTL, a wildland firefighting operation and a trucking side and has been a fixture in western Oregon since its founding in 1981. Owner and company President Lee Miller has had the vision to build the business— he’s quick to say with help from others—that supports the full cycle of forestry, from seedling to stump and everything in between. Miller and others with the company are also involved in outreach to young people to attract them to the forest industry, working with Oregon State

University, the Oregon Logging Conference and other groups to talk with the up and coming generations and promote the industry. Going the extra mile, making the extra effort is what sets Miller Timber Services apart and makes the company Timber Harvesting’s 2019 Logging Business of the Year. Miller Timber Services is the 22nd logging operation to win this prestigious national award, which began in 1998, and the second logging company from Oregon. Miller Timber Services employs 120 currently, though that number could swell quickly with a busy fire TIMBER HARVESTING & FOREST OPERATIONS

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g Game’ DANShell

and evolving. No doubt the biggest change overall is a switch from traditional logging equipment to all Ponsse CTL systems during the past decade. Every Monday morning Miller, Vice President CTL Systems-Chief Forester Matthew Mattioda, Vice President-Operations Mike Chapman, CTL Operations Manager Mark Wilhite and Transportation Manager John Fortado have a production meeting, some calling in by phone if need be. The group goes over scheduling for the week, and there’s usually a hot topic or issue that needs to be addressed, Miller says. “We’re able to change direction as a team, and everyone knows what we’re doing,” Miller says. When TH visited in early summer, the wildfire division was completing a week-long rookie firefighter school and there were numerous logging teams in the field. “We manage very much as a team, and try to cover for each other’s weaknesses while playing to our strengths,” Miller says. “Once you get all the pieces together, it’s amazing how strong you can be.” Mattioda notes the company practices “full cycle forestry from seedling to stump, protecting the resource, growing the resource, caring for the resource and also promoting this industry in a positive light to the general public.” He adds that the company’s owners “let us explore those things we need to explore to lift the entire company and our clients and partners up to the next level.”

Miller: Building company since 1981.

Mattioda: “Smart iron” CTL maximizes value.

History

and tree planting season and sometimes is near 200. Though much of their work is in western Oregon, Miller Timber Services operates cutto-length (CTL) logging teams across the Pacific Northwest. L&B Reforestation is the same: lots of work in western Oregon but also for landowners all over the Northwest. The wildland firefighting division has a State of Oregon crew contract along with a national crew contract. Miller Timber was recently selected as one of the top private wildland fire crews in the nation. Miller and a key group of eight managers keep the company rolling Foremost Authority For Professional Loggers

Miller grew up on a cattle ranchtree farm near Siletz, Ore. His father was a timber cruiser, before settling down as rancher-tree farmer. An uncle, Dick Sykes, had graduated from Oregon State University Collage of Forest Engineering and went on to a successful career owning logging camps in in Alaska. “My father thought Oregon State College of Forestry was the best forestry school in the world,” Miller remembers, adding that he was destined to be a future Oregon State Beaver from an early age. He earned an OSU Forest Engineering degree, graduating in 1980. “My goal was to become a contract logger,” Miller says, noting that it wasn’t really the best time to be going into the industry, with the early ’80s recession hitting the West Coast timber industry hard,

CTL teams run with processing heads, booms and forwarder cranes matched to applications, capacities and timber size. SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019

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CTL Switch

Instructors conduct classroom session during weeklong “rookie” firefighter school.

Management team keeps Miller Timber Services moving, from left: Mike Capanna, reforestation & herbicide manager; Javier Cabeza, shop manager; John Fortado, transportation manager-head dispatcher; Savannah Rariden, internal compliance specialist; Lee Miller, President and owner; Charla Koeppe, administrative manager; Preston Green, operations specialist; Matt Mattioda, Vice President, chief forester; and Mark Wilhite, CTL operations manager.

and old-growth logging issues that would drastically change timber dynamics in the Northwest beginning to build. Miller’s first job out of OSU was working for the reforestation and site prep division of Publisher’s Paper Co. which owned timberland and paper mills in the state. Due to the recession of the early ’80s the company soon shut down the reforestation operation in favor of outside contractors, and Miller had an opportunity in 1981 to form his own business as a reforestation contractor—the beginning of Miller Timber Services. By 1987 the company had moved to its current location in Philomath Oregon and was doing pre-commercial thinning (PCT) along with the reforestation. That same year brought another change to the company, as a bad fire season had Miller Timber Services equipment and personnel helping the Oregon Dept. of Forestry fight fires, 14

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and the company began developing the firefighting division. By 1990 Miller Timber Services was running a reforestation side, several firefighting crews and a PCT operation. The company’s first foray into CTL began soon after, with a Fabtek 4-roll processing head on a Deere 490 carrier and a Timberjack 1010 forwarder. The company briefly worked with a partner, Dewey Goodell of Leeway Logging, as the CTL effort expanded into more traditional logging systems. The partnership dissolved in the early ’90s, and Miller ended up with one yarder crew and a CTL crew, an operation that was expanded to five yarding crews within a decade. By the end of the ’90s, Miller was running the yarding crews with an emphasis on cable thinning, plus another 60-80 employees involved with reforestation, and another 40 or so in the firefighting division.

“We were growing, but at a low rate, and we were doing more big tower clear-cuts,” Miller remembers. Yet as the company moved into the new century, he remembers seeing more CTL thinning opportunities, “and we also started seeing consistent improvement in cut-to-length equipment with the ability to work with bigger timber and on steeper ground,” he says. Miller also remembers a Pacific Logging Congress demo around mid 2000s, where he watched a Ponsse Ergo harvester work on a hillside and was impressed with the machine. Miller later demoed a Ponsse machine and liked it, then visited Ponsse’s main U.S. office in Rhinelander, Wis. and other loggers in Wisconsin using the machines. Miller Timber’s first Ponsse machine was an Ergo 6WD harvester with H7 head and C4 crane. “We put an operator on it and ran that machine for six months without a service call,” Miller remembers. “That was an eye opener for us.” The company quickly added a Buffalo King forwarder, and has since converted all its traditional logging equipment to Ponsse harvesters and forwarders. Miller notes that the company has a great working relationship with Ponsse. Right now, he says, “We’re in a good spot as far as our equipment lineup, covering the full array of challenges on the ground and the different tree species.” Currently, Miller Timber Services runs Ponsse cut-to-length equipment: Harvester models include Bear 8-wheel machines, with Herzog-Alpine tethering winches, there are also Ergo 8-wheel harvesters some tethered and Scorpion King harvesters. Ponsse forwarders include Elephant Kings with tethering winch, Buffalo King, an Active Frame Buffalo and standard Buffalo. Miller notes that the Bear harvesters run with H8 Ponsse processing heads and C6 cranes, the Ergo’s use H7 heads and C5 cranes and the Scorpion Kings run with H6 heads. “The heads and cranes are all in balance” for handling the timber and terrain that the company encounters, Miller says. The CTL machines are all fitted with Nokian tires and Olosfors EX tracks. Oregon bars and chains are used on all processor heads. The machines are matched to comTIMBER HARVESTING & FOREST OPERATIONS

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plement each other, and Miller Timber keeps harvester-operator teams intact for as long as possible. “The longer they stay together the more productive and stable they are,” Miller says. Building a team starts with training, and new logging employees typically spend a couple of weeks around the office to learn the company culture and everything about the machine they’ll be operating. “The first thing they do is read the operator’s manual, then we put a grease gun and wrench in their hand and have them check nuts and bolts and oil and fluids,” Miller says. Spare machines kept at the office facility are used as training units, and there’s a small “obstacle course” where new operators can run the machines, move logs around and get a feel for CTL operations. Much of the training is done under longtime employee Jose Gallardo, who also takes new operators to the field to ride with both harvester and forwarder operators for a few days before they fly solo. Historically, “It’s been take a guy, throw him in a rig and let him sink or swim,” Miller says. “We’ve seen great results from just a little training.”

People Power When Miller Timber shut down its cable logging sides, many of those employees became CTL machine operators. “We have a lot of employees who’ve been with us 20-plus years, but we also have some good young new ones,” Miller says. He notes that the company has plenty of older employees, a couple of drivers over 70, “And we need those guys for their experience, wisdom and steadiness they bring. But at the same time, I think we have to get young.” Miller Timber has been a big backer and participant at the Oregon Logging Conference Future Forestry Workers Career Day, and earlier this year Miller participated in a multi-part podcast sponsored by Associated Oregon Loggers, Inc. (AOL) that featured two landowners and two loggers discussing the best ways to attract people into the industry and keep them. The company makes a point of letting its younger employees participate in demos and presentations to young people, Miller says. “We want young people to be able to see themselves in the person we have speaking, so kids in the group can look up and say ‘I Foremost Authority For Professional Loggers

CTL Benefits, ‘Smart Iron’

he benefits of CTL systems are well known, with their softer environmental footprint. Since working with his first systems, “We’ve seen a constant improvement in the equipment to handle bigger timber and steeper ground,” Miller says, adding that the company has also seen a much lower injury rate and better safety record as well without the full-time employees working on the ground as when they According to Miller, digital capabilities are opening up ran cable yarding systems. new technologies and systems to drive value and Promoting the benefits of provide gains for loggers. CTL logging and the benefits for mills to better buy into the concept, Mattioda says it’s basically moving the merchandising process to the woods. “The machines and processing heads have a tremendous ability to utilize wood fiber in the most efficient manner possible and are very good at squeezing the maximum value out of each tree,” he explains. Mills can work with CTL operators to specifically order the log specs that the mill runs most efficiently with recovery and market value in mind. “If a certain size log has more value than others, the machines will look for that,” Mattioda says, adding that the processor heads can also eliminate defective material getting loaded on the truck. “These systems are very good at optimizing total stem value, and that allows a mill to better utilize raw materials,” he adds. From his travels and looking at other logging operations in the U.S. and places like Finland and New Zealand, Miller believes that at some point the move toward more and heaver iron maxes itself out with fewer returns with more machines per side. His work with CTL systems and the data generated, plus the overall growing impact of digital technology on all areas of the forest products industry, has Miller thinking more about “smart iron” instead of “big iron.” “We just see digital work as really important for the industry moving forward, and the gains you can realize from gathering data are amazing.”

want to be like that someday.’” Instead of trashing the younger generation for lack of work ethic, Mattioda believes many of the next generation just need a chance. “There’s a lot of good kids out there and we need to have faith in them and give them the tools they need,” he says. “It’s critical that our industry reach out to young people and important for (my) generation of leaders to foster young folks to lead this industry in the future.” Miller says that as a business owner, he has a distinct profile of the companies he likes to contract with: ideally locally managed. He believes it’s important to do so and helps retain quality employees. “Employees come to us looking for long-term employment,” Miller says. “A large company headquartered somewhere else doesn’t care about you, and cares even less

about your people—and you are all about your people.” It’s all part of building that longterm competitive wood basket, Miller believes. “We work for some great companies and great people, people who play the long game and work for the community,” he says. “Employees become loyal to that, and they develop emotional ownership.”

Operations Miller Timber Services is situated on 15 acres, much of it an old reclaimed mill site, at the west end of Philomath, just across Hwy. 34 from Georgia-Pacific’s sawmill there. The facility features an office-administrative building (about to be expanded), plus buildings housing the CTL shop for woods equipment, separate log SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019

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Extensive support facilities include a log truck, pickup and CTL shops and small fabrication facility, plus storage and administrative building.

truck and pickup truck shops and a fabrication shop. A chain and bar shop works on the Oregon bars and chain used by the harvester heads. Additional buildings store firefighting equipment, supplies and more. Service capacity includes two log truck mechanics, two pickup mechanics and two CTL machine mechanics, along with Ponsse service techs when needed. Miller Timber Services operates 18 trucks, all Peterbilt units, that run with General and Whit-log trailers and Vulcan scale systems. Tires are from Bridgestone. Shop Manager Javier Cabeza and assistant Missy Koeppe keep the service and maintenance work flow scheduled and parts ordered. The company adheres to manufacturer service intervals for woods equipment and trucks, and is currently developing software to track each machine’s service history. Mechanics recently gained the ability to go to the Ponsse web site with their tablets and locate parts and parts drawings and other technical information. Even though they weren’t required to do so at the time, Miller Timber Services added ELD systems to its trucks a year ago. The systems are from J.J. Keller and include software that allows performance tracking in real time. Miller Timber is in the midst of an upgrade and expansion of its digital office-administrative systems, says Administrative Manager Charla Koeppe, with the company since 2001. The process began by looking for an app that would allow employees who may be scattered across several states 16

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Winch systems added in past five years have greatly reduced hard to access hand-falling areas.

to send in time and payroll and job cost information by smart phone. Working with their accounting software provider Bennett Porter out of Portland, Miller is now installing the People Savvy human resources software that will allow the company to better integrate and manage its human resources activities across three divisions. The new software package even offers recruiting modules as well as

scheduling and benefits administration, W4s and W2s, compensation and performance in addition to the payroll and wage and hour system they went looking for initially. “We’re in the process of installing it, but because we have the different divisions and each operates a little differently, it can be complex,” Koeppe says, adding that she hopes to be able to completely transition from the old system by the end of the year. ➤ 18 TIMBER HARVESTING & FOREST OPERATIONS

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Firefighting, Reforestation

Firefighters learn water tank siphoning as part of field activities to turn them into effective crews.

wo key divisions for Miller Timber Services cover reforestation and firefighting. ● The reforestation business may have been Miller’s entry into the forest industry, but the operation has branched into multiple related activities along the way, says Mike Capanna, who manages Miller Timber Services’ L&B Reforestation operation. In a given season, the company will employ up to 80 tree planters and plant as many as 5 million seedlings across Oregon, Washington and Idaho. The Miller facility includes its own cooler that can hold up to 50,000 seedlings. Capanna adds that L&B’s spraying program works almost year-round in multiple applications, including noxious weeds, site prep, hardwood competition, grass and release spraying, all of it backpack work in crews of six to 10 guys. The L&B crews also handle broadcast burns and slash pile burning, and some chain saw-based PCT as well, in addition to pruning, fertilizing and road clearing. Many of the reforestation workers also work for the fire division, Capanna says. In a tough season, “Everyone here works on wildfires,” he exclaims. ● Miller Timber services has been offering multiple wildland fire suppression crews for more than 30 years. Miller has been involved with the group for years, and this year is President of the National Wildfire Suppression Assn. Miller Timber Services offers crews for initial attack, fire suppression, mop-up, standby preparedness and all hazard incidents. The company also provides fire engines with water tanks up to 990 gal. and tenders that can transport 4,200 gal. of water. The firefighting division is headed by Heidi Cleveland, Wildland Firefighting Manager, who’s worked with Miller Timber Services 20 years. “We take a lot of pride in the product we are able to put on the fire line and how everyone performs out there,” she says.

16 ➤ Savanna Rariden is internal compliance specialist and trucking administrator in a critical role: making sure drivers stay compliant with all state and federal regulations. In addition to keeping up with the regs, she orders permits and books driver motel rooms. She also led the installation and implementation of the log truck EDL systems. Company controller Susan Neuman has worked for Miller Timber Ser18

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vices since 1989 and has a strong accounting background. A new employee is training with her to cover the expanding work load. Receptionist Alyssha Olsen keeps front office traffic moving while handling the log accounting. Miller Timber Services is a longtime member and finds great value in being a part of Associated Oregon Loggers. “They always put out a lot of good information about what’s going

Miller Timber Services currently employs 120— and up to almost 200 workers in a busy season.

on in the timber industry and play an important role in representing the loggers in Oregon politics,” Miller says, adding that his company works through AOL for its safety program and also workers’ comp agent. Lee Miller met his wife of 39 years, Sue, while working on his degree at Oregon State University. Sue has retired from teaching school and now helps out around the company. They raised twin daughters Jenn and Tori in a community heavily involved with the forest products industry. Jenn and her husband, Justin, have advanced degrees in chemistry and enjoy working in the health care industry. Tori recently finished a criticalist residency in veterinary medicine and her husband, Leroy, has started his career as a physician assistant. The 2019 year has been great for Lee and his wife, as they welcomed a granddaughter and grandson into their family. While Miller, age 63, plans to continue to work for many years, the growth of the family has initiated him to develop plans for the future of Miller Timber Services. The extended family has started to work with a family business consultant, Mark T. Green, to ensure Miller Timber Service remains a thriving business once he retires. Miller Timber Services plays a critical role in northwestern Oregon’s wood basket and local economy—and Miller is definitely one to play the long-game for TH his community. TIMBER HARVESTING & FOREST OPERATIONS

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Industry School Trains Operators Potential employees receive training and certification.

up to production without losing money. The forestry industry is one of the main engines driving Alabama’s rural economy. According to the Alabama Department of Commerce, it contributes $23 billion to Alabama’s economy annually. Alabama’s Logging Equipment Operator School is just one of two such programs nationwide. The other course, Forest Equipment Operator Training School, operates out of North Carolina with similar goals as FWTI.

THOMASVILLE, Ala. one not up to snuff. Through the Alaorking through an early bama Career Center systems, FWTI summer heat wave, the offers Workforce Innovation and OpForest Workforce Training portunity Act funding, which is federal Safety Institute’s (FWTI) Logging funding set aside for work-force deEquipment Operator School preview velopment and on-the-job training. Logging is still considered the most day in Thomasville, Ala., in late June “We do everything we can to get dangerous occupation. FWTI Director showed how the industry can benefit by these people hired,” Dailey says. “We of Training Ray Clifton stresses safety supporting efforts to develop to each student. “At the local workforce training. very beginning of the class: Sponsored by the Alafull safety training, perbama Forestry Assn. (AFA), sonal protective equipment, the course is designed for safety inside the machine, students with little to no logeverything,” Clifton says. ging experience. Six students Safety meetings are held completed the class and redaily. He drills safety into ceived Professional Logging students’ heads until it beManager (PLM) qualificacomes second nature. Stution and are prepared to enter dents spend 50-80 hours in the workforce immediately machine cabs. Whoever following graduation. The isn’t in a machine is looking for safety errors and first two weeks are spent in using the radio to commuthe classroom learning about nicate with one another. timber harvesting, forestry Graduates posing on Media Day following completion of training course. Every class is different management, logging equipthan the last. Location of ment operation and forest the course is determined at sustainability with an emlogger interest meetings, phasis on safety. In addition, held in various “logger students receive safety certifriendly” communities. “We fications. The hands-on portion of travel the state and educate students about the different the four-week course took careers in the forestry inplace on a 100-acre tract in Clarke County provided by dustry,” Dailey says. “We Scotch Lumber Co. try to be in every single county we can. We do career fairs, job fairs and forGetting Older estry career days.” The logging force is growing older. By 2026, Instructors provide hands-on training on woods machinery. Development nearly 50% of employees in the industry will be retiring, according don’t want to train these people and Though conceived seven years ago, to AFA workforce development coorthen nobody hires them.” the project didn’t fully get off the dinator Maggie Dailey. This year’s The program allows employers to ground until two years ago. An Attensurvey by Timber Harvesting conreceive 50-75% reimbursement of new dance Improvement and Dropout Precluded that 56% of U.S. logging conemployee pay from six weeks up to vention (AIDP) grant from the state of tractors are older than age 50. Cursix months. As long as they write a Alabama was instrumental in helping rently just 18% of logging contractors training program describing how much fully launch the program, which now are under age 40. That’s down 22% time it’s going to take to get a person has an 80-85% success rate in finding since 2016. trained and coordinate with local busiemployment for graduated students. Even with the work force thinning, ness service representatives, the emTo date, 22 students have successfully employers can’t afford to hire someployer gains ample time to get them completed the course: six from What-

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ley, six from Wetumpka, with the course as secondfour from Double Springs, to-none. “This is something three from Greenville and I’ve wanted since I was in three from Chambers kindergarten,” Wright says. County. “It was hard to find employThe trick to making this ment with no previous exprogram succeed is to get perience but I am glad I help from loggers who rechave an opportunity to be a ognize the need and can part of the program.” Rayhost a class on their site. mond Jackson, who was “The biggest challenge is also hired on with Sumter getting the equipment,” Timber Co., praises ClifWarrior Tractor & Equipment provided a ’19 John Deere 648L skidder. Clifton says. The AIDP ton’s ability to teach. “Mr. grant alone does not cover the cost of Deere 648L skidder. Scotch Lumber Ray was fantastic. He made sure we assistance, equipment and additional Co. donated a Cat 234 loader and Cat went over everything I need to know trainers. “We’re thankful to have had a 620D skidder while AFC provided a to be a professional logger. I’ve host logger in every situation who let 650J John Deere dozer. learned everything about safety, BMPs us work with them and use spare “We’re just happy to help,” Hare and SMZs.” equipment,” Clifton says. “Finding says. “Ray is right, we have to impleThe next course was scheduled to equipment dealers when bouncing ment younger men and women into start in Ozark, Ala. on July 8. Souththroughout the state is tough but we’ve this industry before it’s too late.” And ern Timber Co. provided the tract and had some equipment dealers really Clifton is more than appreciative for Flint Equipment of Dothan, Ala. dohelp us out a lot.” any help he receives. “Everybody nated all machinery. Warrior Tractor and Equipment in helps out a little bit and we pull this Clifton believes the logging industry Monroeville, Ala., Scotch Lumber Co. thing off,” he says. is moving to a more corporate structure. of Fulton, Ala., and the Alabama ForSix students graduated June 21, two “Loggers, dealers, paper companies and estry Commission all chipped in to of whom were hired immediately by the sawmills are going to have to recogbring this most recent course to fruiSumter Timber Co. in Jefferson, Ala. nize that the workforce needs to be detion. Warrior Tractor territory manChristian Wright, graduate of the most veloped,” he says. “The industry is TH ager Craig Hare donated a ’19 John recent class, describes his experience going to have to step up.”

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New EPA Rule Hits Biomass Plan ignores accepted sustainability principles. and provide a dependable, diverse supply of electricity that all Americans can afford,” EPA states. “When ACE is fully implemented, we expect to see U.S. power sector CO2 emissions fall by as much as 35% below 2005 levels.” The ACE rule establishes emissions guidelines for states to use when developing plans to limit carbon dioxide (CO2) at their coalfired power plants. Specifically, ACE identifies heat rate improvements as the best system of emission reduction (BSER) for CO2 from coal-fired power plants, and these improvements can be made at individual facilities. States will have three years to submit plans, which is in line with other planning timelines under the Clean Air Act.

ormulating a response that had been in the works more than three years, in June the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Trump Administration submitted its Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) for publication in the Federal Register, replacing the Clean Power Plan (CPP) that had been constructed by the Obama Administration. The ACE is in response to President Trump’s Executive Order 13873—Promoting Energy Independence and Economic Growth, with special emphasis on coal-fired energy production and carbon dioxide emissions reduction, and state independence to regulate procedures. The ACE claims that the Obama CPP was overreaching and drew challenges from a large number of states, trade associations, rural electric co-ops, and labor unions, which argued that the CPP exceeded EPA’s authority under the Clean Air Act. “Unlike the Clean Power Plan, ACE adheres to the Clean Air Act and gives states the regulatory certainty they need to continue to reduce emissions

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Biomass Misses Cut The ACE states that although biomass co-firing methods are technically feasible and can be cost-effective for some designated facilities, “any potential net reductions in emissions from biomass use occur outside of the regulated source and are outside of the control of the designated facility, which is incompatible with the interpretation of the EPA’s authority and the permissible scope of BSE.” EPA states it sought comment on the inclusion of forest-derived and non-forest biomass as non-BSER compliance options for affected units to meet state plan standards. In response, the EPA received comments both supporting and opposing the use of biomass for compliance. Some comments noted that co-firing with biomass cannot be a “system of emission reduction” as it increases CO2 emissions at the source. The ACE states: “EPA is now clarifying that biomass does not qualify as a system of emission reduction that can be incorporated as part of, or in its entirety, as the BSER. The BSER determination must include systems of emis-

sion reduction that are achievable at the source. While the firing of biomass occurs at a designated facility, biomass firing in and of itself does not reduce emissions of CO2 emitted from that source. Specifically, when measuring stack emissions, combustion of biomass emits more mass of emissions per BTU than that from combustion of fossil fuels, thereby increasing CO2 emissions at the source. Recognition of any potential CO2 emissions reductions associated with biomass utilization at a designated facility relies on accounting for activities not applied at and largely not under the control of that source, including consideration of offsite terrestrial carbon effects during biomass fuel growth, which are not a measure of emissions performance at the level of the individual designated facility. Use of biomass in affected units is therefore not consistent with the plain meaning of “standard of performance” and cannot be considered as part of the BSER. ACE states that many comments agreed with the ACE proposal that biomass co-firing should not be part of the BSER because it is not sufficiently cost-effective, there is not a reliable supply of biomass fuel accessible nationally, co-firing with biomass has a negative impact on unit heat rate, and co-firing requirements would redefine the source. “Biomass fuel use opportunities are dependent upon many regional considerations and limitations—namely fuel supply proximity, reliability and cost. While there are a few existing coalfired EGUs that currently co-fire with biomass fuel, those are in relative close proximity to cost-effective biomass supplies. Therefore, even if biomass firing could be considered a ‘system of emission reduction,’ the EPA is not able to include the use of biomass fuels as part of the BSER in this action due to the current cost and achievability considerations and limitations discussed above.” ACE acknowledges that numerous comments supported the inclusion of biomass as a compliance measure. Some reiterated the EPA’s 2018 policy statement regarding biogenic CO2 emissions, which laid out the Agency’s intent to treat biogenic CO2 emissions from forest biomass from managed forests as carbon neutral in forthcoming Agency actions. Specifically, these comments stated that the nature of biomass and its role in the natural carbon cycle (i.e., carbon is se- ➤ 33 TIMBER HARVESTING & FOREST OPERATIONS

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ALC Annual Meeting Set For Perdido Beach In Alabama America’s national logging group sets agenda.

he American Loggers Council is hosting its’ 25th annual meeting in Orange Beach, Ala., located at the Perdido Beach Resort on the Alabama Gulf Coast. Beginning September 26, and running through through September 28, the events hosts seminars, membership meetings, executive committee meetings, ALC Board of Directors meetings and special awards presentations. September 26 begins with a tour of a local logging operation, followed by a reception at the Perdido Beach Resort and an Executive Committee meeting. September 27 features a breakfast buffet, followed by seminars and guest speakers covering issues from around the nation. The President’s reception, dinner and auction follows in the evening. September 28 starts with a breakfast buffet and ALC Board of Directors and full membership meetings. The ALC Awards Luncheon honors activists and sponsors along with an awards luncheon presenting the President’s Award and the Logging Activist of the Year Award. The President’s farewell reception and farewell banquet include the roll call of the states, Timber Harvesting’s Logging Business of the Year presentation, and the passing of the gavel. This year’s event is hosted by the Alabama Loggers Council and Alabama Forestry Assn. “Come relax in the surroundings, enjoy the scenery along the Gulf Coast shoreline, and find out why we are proud to call Alabama our home,” ALC President Chris Potts says. For more information, contact ALC: 409-625-0206; email americanlogger@

Logging tour from 2018 ALC Annual Meeting in Oregon

aol.com; visit amloggers.com. The 26th annual ALC meeting will be held in Branson, Mo., at the Hilton Branson Convention Center September 24-26, 2020.

Team Safe Event Prior to the commencing of the ALC, a Team Safe Trucking Training and Workshop Day will take place September 24-25 nearby at Caribe The Resort in Orange Beach. The event features training sessions, marketing tips, safety, insurance and general inquiry reports. The Team Safe Trucking Training and Workshop Day will begin September 24 with on-board scales training and Train-The-Trainer training. Developing driver training programs at the mill, defensive driving and driver fatigue will also be sessions featured throughout the day. Emphasis on working with your insurance company and tips to improve the industry image through marketing and commu-

nication will conclude the day. Dr. Joe Conrad, assistant professor of forest operations at the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources at the University of Georgia, will begin the second day of talks discussing transportation challenges and solutions. Finding ways of attracting new drivers to the industry and effectively training them will be discussed to facilitate the development of safety-focused drivers. Announcements from state logger associations, mill operators, timber managers, forest transportation owners and drivers, insurance providers and ALC board members will commence after lunch before adjourning. “Our mission is to reduce accidents through enhanced driver training and effective fleet management and to recruit new, safety-focused drivers to deleiver a sustainable and profitable supply chain,” TST President Jeremiah O’Donovan says. To find out more, visit teamsafetrucking.com. TH

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EquipmentWorld Tigercat Increases Presence In Australia Tigercat announced that Damien Ambrose and Nick Cate have been appointed to the positions of product support representative for Australia. Based in Tumut, New South Whales, Damien is joining Tigercat with more than 24 years of experience in the forestry industry. Damien has worked with the Tigercat product since it first arrived in Australia in 2000, first with former Tigercat dealer Forest Centre, and then as a field service mechanic, service manager and branch operations manager for Australia’s current Tigercat dealer Onetrak. “I have worked with the Tigercat product for many years now and I believe the company is the leading manufacturer of forestry equipment in the market,” says Damien. “I value the level of customer support Tigercat provides and I am excited to be a part of this great team.” Damien will be providing field support for Tigercat’s growing customer base predominantly

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across the regions of southeastern Australia and Queensland. Based in Perth, Cate will focus on providing after-sales technical and operational support to Tigercat’s growing customer base in Western Australia. He previously worked for New Zealand Tigercat dealer, AB Equipment, as a field service technician and has a strong background in engine reconditioning. Cate has a variety of practical experience with the Tigercat product line and has completed Tigercat training related to skidders, harvesters, track carriers and forwarders.

Nokian Expands Production New Plant Investments, R&D Nokian Heavy Tyres, Nokia, Finland, will increase its production of commercial tires up to 50% and more than double the number of new products by investing heavily in production and product development. The total investment, which includes the construction of a new 3,500 m2 R&D

building, will be EUR 70 million. “The construction schedule was ambitious, but we have kept it well,” says Matti Kaunisto, development manager. “Once the building is finished, it will boost our innovation work and speed up the time-to-market.” Another construction project involves expanding the production facilities. “The building is erected and the installation of machinery is in full flight,” says plant director Pasi Antinmaa. “We will reach the full capacity in 2021 as stated.” Besides enabling more capacity and future growth, the new facilities serve an important role by supporting smoother flow and a safer work enviroment.

Pitts Heavy Haul Adds East Texas Truck Center Pitts Heavy Haul announced the East Texas Truck Center (ETTC) in Baytown, Texas will add Pitts Heavy Haul lowboy trailers to its offerings. In addition to Pitts Heavy Haul low-

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EquipmentWorld Trailer-Mounted Racks Add More Safety Protection Standard cab-mounted headache racks for hauling trucks help with smaller objects and provide a level of protection, but do little minimize the risk of logs sliding forward and crushing the truck cab during a sudden stop or evasive maneuver. According to Jimmy Locklear with Forestry Mutual Insurance Agency, loggers should take a close look at adding trailer-mounted headache racks that do a better job of keeping logs bolstered inside the confines of the trailer during a sudden stop while also preventing a load from spilling. Locklear believes driver and public safety must be constantly evaluated and improved. “I want to encourage all logging and trucking operations to give serious consideration to adding a trailer mounted headache rack if you don’t already have them,” he says. Preventing the rack of logs from gaining momentum during a crash and can substantially decrease overall damage and reduce injuries.

Foremost Authority For Professional Loggers

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EquipmentWorld boys, ETTC offers truck repairs, parts and maintenance, glider truck sales and used truck sales. “Our customers rely on our experienced staff to provide the best possible service at the best possible value,” explains ETTC VP of Sales, Terry Livingston. Pitts Heavy Haul manufactures hydraulic removable neck lowboys, fixed neck lowboys, hydraulic folding tail lowboys and construction grade tag-along lowboys, which are available at dealerships throughout the Northeast, Southeast and Midwest.

John Deere Completes Forestry Training Facility John Deere recently completed the construction of a 7,500 sq. ft. facility in Coal Valley, Ill. to better meet internal training demands, along with supporting customer visits and events. The building is part of the Construc-

John Deere’s new forestry training facility

tion & Forestry Training Campus and includes three classrooms that can be used separately for training purposes, or combined to hold more than 250 people for larger events. In addition, there is nearly 4,000 sq. ft. of covered canopy space for outdoor training and equipment walkarounds. “The primary function of this new facility is to provide much-needed additional classroom space for dealer sales staff and technician training,” says David Reilly, manager, worldwide training, John Deere Construction & Forestry. “Training is a core part of our program, but beyond that, the C&F Coal Valley Training Campus also hosts other important events throughout the year.” The facility will also include a John Deere simulator—further bridging the gap between the classroom and jobsite. Onsite events include customer-specific activities where they can demo equipment and interact with John Deere experts. “With this new facility customers and dealers can walk out of the classrooms and directly into the demonstration area,” adds Tim

Hilton, manager, Demonstration Sites, John Deere Construction & Forestry. “We’re excited to share this new experience with dealers, technicians, customers, and media.”

Tigercat Launches New Coverage Program Tigercat announced the launch of SECURE - its new extended coverage program. SECURE offers customers a selection of four competitive coverage plans for engines and drivetrain components that begin after the standard warranty period on drivetrain components has ended. SECURE increases engine and drivetrain component coverage to 3-year/6,000 hours, with the option to add in travel time and mileage allowance. It is a factory-backed program that can be applied to any machine equipped with a Tigercat FPT engine. This program replaces all extended warranty offerings previously available. The program is available for purchase up to one year after the machine’s service date, allowing you the flexibility to increase your machine coverage after your machine purchase. Visit the Tigercat Coverage page in the related links below to learn more about the SECURE extended coverage program. Visit tigercat.com.

Nokian Heavy Tyres Acquires Wheel Maker Levypyörä Oy In line with Nokian Heavy Tyres’ growth strategy, the company is acquiring a Finnish heavy equipment wheel company, Levypyörä Oy. With its two business lines, wheels and steel structures, Levypyörä serves several original equipment manufacturers and aftermarket customers in forestry, agriculture and earthmoving applications. “With the acquisition, Nokian Heavy Tyres can offer innovative new solutions to its existing customers and increase wheel volume as well as further improve its service level. Levypyörä has already been a trusted partner of ours for many years. The acquisition provides additional growth opportunities and offers a full-service solution for our key OEM and AM customers,” says Manu Salmi, Managing Director, Nokian Heavy Tyres. 30

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InnovationWay John Deere Forwarders

bility to the rotor for maintenance. Equipped with a Caterpillar Tier 1V C9.3 455 HP engine, or an optional, export only C9 Tier III, 350 HP engine, at 41,000 lbs. the 1700D is the lightest of Peterson’s grinder series, and is easily transportable. Visit petersoncorp.com.

Alliance CTL Tires

The new John Deere 910G and 1010G forwarders provide loggers with a reliable solution designed with their needs in mind. Equipped with ultra-comfortable cabs and available with a variety of boom, load space, axle and cabin options, the 910G and 1010G machines can be customized for different worksites or operational needs. Available in a six-wheeled or eight-wheeled configuration, the 910G and 1010G models are ideal for early-to-late thinning operations and smaller end final felling applications. Both machines feature an improved design, including a shorter frame in front of the engine to reduce overhang, making operation easier in challenging terrain. Balanced bogie axles, rigid front axles on the six-wheel model, and an unbalanced front bogie axle option offer increased durability. The 910G and 1010G models are available with a fixed or rotating and leveling cab. All booms come standard with precise boom control, and the CF5 boom is available with optional Intelligent Boom Control (IBC). The IBC feature simplifies boom operation, automatically controlling the lift, slew and the extension of the boom based on the location of grapple, increasing accuracy, productivity, and number of loads per shift. The 910G and 1010G models feature the TimberMatic control system, which includes a configurable user interface, cruise control and inclination display. An extension of the control system, the TimberMatic Maps solution utilizes a mobile network to share real-time product information between machines, such as harvester and forwarder, as well as with the managers in the office. Visit deere.com/forwarders.

Peterson Horizontal Grinder

Peterson Pacific Corp has introduced the new Peterson 1700D horizontal grinder—a smaller and lighter model than their other grinders but still delivering impressive production. Heavy duty and mobile, the 1700D can easily reduce a wide range of wood biomass materials. Its large feed opening measures 54" x 27". When boosted by Peterson’s high lift feed roll, the feed opening’s maximum lift of 41.5" can tackle the largest of feedstock, and allows excellent accessi32

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Alliance Tire Group (ATG) has launched two tires into the demanding CTL market under its Alliance Forestar line. The Alliance 643 Forestar III LS-2 and Alliance 644 Forestar III LS-2 feature steel-belted construction and special chunk-and-chip-resistant compound to meet the challenges facing tires on heavy CTL machinery. They are engineered to minimize soil compaction and surface disturbance, and to excel in the broad range of conditions CTL harvesters face year-round. The Alliance 643 features wide shoulder lugs specially designed to accommodate tracks and chains. A specially engineered hexagonal bead ensures snug contact between the tire and rim, eliminating wheel slip. Like the 643, the Alliance 644 also features a reinforced hexagonal bead as well as four shoulder-to-shoulder steel belts that ensure complete protection of the tread area and maximum integrity of the tire casing. A hefty stabilizer bar beneath the tread on the 644 also improves traction and tire life, adds Goodwin. Visit atgtire.com.

Doosan Crawler Excavator Doosan Infracore North America, LLC, is expanding its crawler excavator lineup with the new DX170LC-5 excavator. The 17-metric-ton model falls below the 80,000 lb. gross vehicle weight rating limit for simplified and less expensive transportation. This new excavator size allows for easier transportation, especially for small- to mid-size contractors who perform light excavation projects. It reduces the need to obtain a special transport permit when moving to and from jobsites. The width and combined weight between the machine, trailer and Class 7 towing vehicle meets current transportation requirements. (Owners should still check local requirements when transporting equipment.) Operators will be able to choose from four work modes— digging, breaker, shear and lifting—to maximize efficiency and fuel economy in specific applications. Doosan crawler excavators come standard with a rearview camera, enhancing operator visibility on jobsites to help minimize damage to the machine and unnecessary downtime. An optional sideview camera is available. The Doosan DX170LC-5 will come with a standard 3-year subscription to the DoosanCONNECT® telematics system, which allows equipment owners and fleet managers to remotely monitor machine location, hours, fuel usage, engine idle versus work time and error codes, as well as engine and hydraulic temperatures. Visit doosanequipment.com. TIMBER HARVESTING & FOREST OPERATIONS

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22 ➤ questered during biomass growth that occurs offsite) makes biomass a carbon-neutral fuel, and therefore that biomass should be eligible as a compliance option under this rule. Commenters opposing the inclusion of biomass for compliance asserted that biomass combustion does not reduce stack GHGs emissions, as it emits more emissions per BTU than fossil fuels, and therefore should not be eligible for compliance. Some comments noted that the scientific rationale underlying the use of biomass as a potential GHG reduction measure at stationary sources relies primarily on terrestrial CO2 sequestration occurring due to activities offsite (i.e., activities outside of and largely not under the control of a designated facility).

Ignores Biomass Dynamics William Strauss, a leading proponent of biomass co-firing, well known wood bioenergy consultant and president of FutureMetrics, referred to EPA’s ACE as “Orwellian logic.” Strauss notes that ACE ignores the basis for why using biomass for power and heat is the prin-

ACE plan ignores biomas sustainability.

cipal pathway for decarbonization in most other developed countries. “By only counting the CO2 emissions at the source and ignoring the continuous absorption of CO2 by sustainably managed forests, the EPA has excluded a proper consideration of the dynamics that keep the net CO2 added into the atmosphere neutral or even negative,” Strauss states. Strauss notes that in Europe, wood pellets and wood chips are recognized as low carbon fuels because a full life-cycle analysis shows that under well-crafted (and necessary) sustainability criteria, the combustion of those fuels is carbon neutral. “The supply chain carbon footprint accounting, given that fossil fuels are used in trans-

portation and in the electricity used to upgrade the biomass into pellets, typically yields an 85% or more reduction in net CO2 added to the atmosphere,” he says. “Because of the carbon benefits, biomass derived fuel makes up about 60% of the total renewable energy in the EU28.” ACE determinations are inaccurate in stating that “accounting for activities not applied at and largely not under the control of the source” is a reason to ignore carbon sequestration under well-managed forest sustainability protocols, he adds. “In fact, UK and EU utilities that are substituting pellets for coal account for ‘activities’ that are across the Atlantic Ocean from their emissions sources! The nearly 9 million tonnes of pellets that will be exported from North America this year for use in power plants are all subject to rigorous requirements to prove that the carbon stock in the landscape that is the source of pellet production feedstock is not being depleted.” Strauss says EPA is ignoring well-established protocols that supported about $1 billion in pellet exports from the U.S. in 2018. Almost all those exports were certified by independent third-party entities as sustainably sourced and thus able to qualify as low-carbon fuel for power stations. “It is only with blinders on and with half-baked logic that the EPA is able to ignore the net carbon intensity of coal generation, the consequences of rapidly increasing atmospheric CO2 concentrations, and the benefits of substituting wood pellets produced from renewing forests for coal,” Strauss says. “Amazingly, the EPA’s own estimates show how the ACE rules essentially gut future CO2 emissions reductions.” FutureMetrics has published two white papers (in 2015 and 2017) explaining why it makes good economic sense to consider co-firing wood pellets in utility power stations. “While those papers failed to influence the policy making exercise that appears to have started with a predetermined conclusion that ignores climate change, they are still relevant and have information on job creation and other economics benefits that policymakers should pay attention to,” Strauss says. TH A version of the article appeared in Timber Harvesting associated publication Wood Bioenergy.

Foremost Authority For Professional Loggers

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Dust&Rust Readers are encouraged to send historical items.

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SelectCuts As We (ALC) See It

Success Starts At Home DANNY DRUCTOR The American Loggers Council is described as “loggers working for loggers.” The forest products industry is very broad and diverse in our country, ranging from forestland owners to manufacturers. The ALC works to promote and strengthen the whole industry. Dructor However at the end of the day, we are the only organization that focuses on supporting the needs and interests of professional timber harvesters. As loggers, we must stand up, speak out and support each other, because nobody else will. “Loggers working for loggers” is a constant theme of our “As We See It” columns not only because it defines who we are, but how we as loggers can be most effective. The strength of our organizations is our members—our 30 state and regional logging association members and our individual members. The ALC is at its best when everyone works as a well-oiled machine to achieve a shared goal, whether it’s passing legislation, promoting professional logging standards, or improving safety for log truck operators. When one part isn’t working, the machine tends to break down. And when loggers are active at the grassroots level, there’s nothing that we can’t accomplish. I was reminded of this in June, when individual loggers and log truck drivers organized themselves as “Timber Unity” at the end of the Oregon legislative session. Concerned about proposed “cap and trade” legislation, these individuals got together on Facebook and put together demonstrations at the State Capitol unlike anyone in Salem had ever seen. Its third demonstration, consisting of hundreds of log trucks, attracted thousands of people in the timber industry to make their voices heard. Timber Unity was successful in helping to defeat this harmful legislation, which was a top priority of the state’s governor and legislative leaders. These loggers and log truck drivers didn’t just show up because they were called upon by the Associated Oregon Foremost Authority For Professional Loggers

Loggers (AOL), our member association representing over a thousand logging companies. They showed up because they were informed—thanks to AOL’s efforts to educate them—about how this legislation would affect them, and were passionate enough to put their work and businesses aside to go to the Capitol and make a difference. It is an example of how our industry is stronger when an association, with its professional staff and lobby team, is supplemented by an organic and truly-authentic grassroots effort of people supporting each other. The ALC was launched 25 years ago when a group of loggers decided we needed a strong, consistent presence in order to impact issues on a national level. As a trade association, we are stronger than ever. But an association itself cannot solve all the problems facing an industry. It requires commitment by individuals to get educated and to take the time to contact their legislators, attend the meetings and ultimately influence the decisions. ALC and its association members will continue to travel to Washington DC to work on our shared priorities. Yet success for our industry always starts at home, at the grassroots level, of individuals taking responsibility for themselves to get involved and make things happen. That’s the true definition of “loggers working for loggers.” The American Loggers Council is a 501(c)(6) not for profit trade association representing professional timber harvesters throughout the United States. Dructor is executive vice president of the ALC. For more information, phone 409-625-0206, email americanlogger@aol.com or visit amloggers.com.

Former California Logger Leader Ed Ehlers Dies

Edward Delaney Ehlers, who served as executive director of Associated California Loggers for almost 30 years, retiring in 2007, died peacefully in his sleep on July 30 a few days into his 86th year. After graduating from Fresno State College in 1955, Ehlers served in the Navy as a rated journalist on land and aboard the USS Worcester and USS Columbus from 1955 to 1957. While working as a Regional Planner in Merced, he met his wife of 57 years, Nancy Greenfield, who was working for the city of Fresno. After their mar-

riage in 1961, Ehlers worked as a Regional Planner for the University of Oregon. In 1965 he returned to California to work for the State to design and arrange the construction of the new flood-free town of Klamath, Del Norte County, Calif. after it was destroyed by the Klamath River Flood of December 1964. The intersection of US 101 and Ehlers Way in Klamath is named in his honor. Ehlers was the Deputy Director of the Department of Navigation & Ocean Development under Governor Reagan and was a member of the Governor’s Select Committee on Law Enforcement Problems. As Chief Deputy Director of the Department of Conservation, he oversaw the Division of Forestry and initiated the efforts to convert S-2 military airplanes for use in the fight against forest fires. He was the past president of the California Forest Center at Cal Expo which educated State Fair attendees through a living forest exhibit and for many years served as a member of the Cal Expo Agricultural Advisory Committee. He also served as President of the National Council of Forestry Assn. Executives. Ehlers enjoyed camping at Lake Tahoe and Yosemite and cars of all eras—from his father’s 1926 Model T Ford pickup truck to keeping up with the latest models. He was an avid student of military history and enjoyed his time as a volunteer at the Aerospace Museum of California. He will be greatly missed by his wife, Nancy; his daughter, Julie Ehlers of New York City; his son, Kirk Ehlers (Stacey) and granddaughter Ava Ehlers of San Diego and his many friends. Services were held August 6 at East Lawn Memorial Park Chapel in Sacramento. In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to ACL’s Log a Load for Kids program in Ed’s name. Log a Load for Kids, c/o Lisa Medici, PO Box 969, Westwood, CA 96137.

Wisconsin Leading State In Midwest Forestry A new national study by the National Alliance of Forest Owners that includes a report on the economic impact of privately owned forests shows Wisconsin led the Midwest in the number of timberland acres (16.5 million), total employment in the ➤ 38 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019

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SelectCuts 35 ➤ forestry sector (174,848) and value of timber sales ($21.6 billion) in 2016, the most recent year for which complete data were available. The report is based on data from the US Census Bureau, the Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Forest Service. Each of those figures has increased since 2010, the last time the organization looked at national data. The new report, released this month, shows employment in the forestry sector increased by nearly 5%, and timber sales in dollars were up by nearly 10%. Henry Schienebeck, Executive Director of the Great Lakes Timber Professionals Assn. and chairman of the Wisconsin Council on Forestry, said that while paper mill closures across Wisconsin in the last decade have hurt the timber industry in some instances, other factors have made up for it. Though the state’s consumption of pulp wood has dropped, Schienebeck said, foresters have seen increases in saw timber and the higher quality wood that goes into making hardwood flooring, furniture and other products where quality matters. That’s been one way the state’s overall industry has seen growth.

Forestry Students At GP Diboll Sawmill

Stephen F. Austin State University forestry students recently wrapped up a six-week summer course learning how to turn trees into lumber. Last week the group of 58 forestry students toured one of the longest-operating mills in the nation, Georgia-Pacific’s Diboll Lumber Mill in Texas. The junior and senior college students have spent weeks in the field understanding reforestation, harvesting and the process of manufacturing wood products such as lumber, plywood and composite panels. Danny Wright, GP Diboll Lumber Plant Manager, notes that Georgia-Pacific has worked closely with SFA through the years to provide students with an up-close look at lumber operations. “Many of these students will end up working in the forestry industry and it is important that they see first-hand all aspects of the business,” Wright says. “We strive to give students the total experience, from the time a log enters our facility to when it is converted into lumber and loaded on trucks for delivery. We are proud to partner with SFA to offer these students the real-world experience.”

“Some of our forests are getting a little older,” Schienebeck says. “What that means is we’ve actually got more sawtimber that’s growing.” The great majority of forest land in Wisconsin is privately owned. Of about 16.5 million timberland acres, according to the report, about 4.7 million acres are public lands, and the

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September 5-7—Great Lakes Logging & Heavy Equipment Expo, UP State Fairgrounds, Escanaba, Mich. Call 715-282-5828; visit gltapa.org. September 8-10—Alabama Forestry Assn. annual meeting, Perdido Beach Resort, Orange Beach, Ala. Call 334265-8733; visit alaforestry.org. September 13-14—Michigan Forest Assn. annual meeting, Holiday Inn, Grand Rapids, Mich. Call 517-816-7879; visit michiganforests.org. September 13-15—Forest Resources Association Fly-In & Fall Board Meeting, Phoenix Park Hotel, Washington, DC. Call 202-296-3937; visit forestresources.org. September 20-21—Kentucky Wood Expo, Embassy Suites Newtown Pike, Lexington, Ky. Call 502-695-3979; visit kfia.org. September 26-28—American Loggers Council annual meeting, Perdido Beach Resort, Orange Beach, Ala. Call 409-625-0206; visit amloggers.com. 38

other11.8 million belong to companies or individuals. Dave Tenney, CEO of the National Alliance of Forest Owners, said a healthy economy around forestry has the effect of protecting forest lands because it makes it less likely that the lands will be sold or developed for farmland or other uses.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019

Easy Access to current advertisers! http://www.timberharvesting.com/advertiser-index/ This issue of TIMBER HARVESTING is brought to you in part by the following companies, which will gladly supply additional information about their products. American Logger’s Council BITCO Insurance John Deere Forestry Demo International Doosan Infracore North America Duratech Industries International Forest Chain Corp Haglof Sweden Husqvarna Forest & Garden Komatsu Forestry Division Maxam Tire North America Olofsfors Peterson Pacific Ponsse North America Precision-Husky Prolenc Manufacturing Rapid-Span Structures Tigercat Industries Titan/Goodyear® Farm Tires Wallingford’s Westtech Maschinenbau GmbH White Mountain

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