FOREST TALK

Government needs a rethink, says FOA

THE FOREST OWNERS ASSOCIATION (FOA) IS SYMPATHISING

with some farmer frustrations over the pace of regulations being imposed on the primary sector which last month played out in nationwide protests.

FOA President, Phil Taylor, says the time has long since passed for anyone to think there are free rides on the environment.

He says it’s vital to acknowledge the need for new exotic forests to sequester enough carbon for New Zealand to reach zero carbon by 2050, without putting impossible burdens on sectors of the economy, including agriculture.

He adds that some of the constraints on agriculture now being imposed, or suggested, don’t make sense and jeopardise the viability of the productive land economy throughout New Zealand, pointing out the rules around designating Significant Natural Areas (SNA) in particular.

“It seems as though there is no vestige of vegetation anywhere – town, city or rural that can’t be arbitrarily classed as an SNA.

“The more foresters, farmers, or anyone who plants native trees in city backyards as well, and then takes care of and looks after these native trees or wildlife, then paradoxically the more officials are going to prevent them using their land in a productive way,” he says.

“If the government really wants to maintain and enhance indigenous biodiversity then it should turn its attention to a chronically under-resourced Department of Conservation estate. Or it should supply conservation services to meaningfully assist landowners in their own biodiversity efforts.”

Mr Taylor says plantation forests, like many farms, intrinsically have extensive native reserves, riparian strips and wetlands all throughout their forest blocks. Forestry companies have undertaken to follow best practice conservation measures to protect endangered species of birds, reptiles, bats, amphibians and plants. There are many examples nationwide where forest owners are leading conservation efforts with endangered species, he adds.

“It seems that there is a regulatory approach which starts with a rushed list of rules and then looks for places to make them fit.

“We all want to see better protection of our biodiversity, but one size does not fit all land and if we users of a land resource – foresters or farmers – are prevented from using that land then the national income takes a big hit in the long term.

“We do support many of the changes the government is undertaking. They are essential to preserve our environment, but they need to create a more sustainable economy at the same time. This is not in the least because forestry has a huge role to play in carbon lock-up and increased export earnings.

“However, if private land is going to be appropriated for the provision of public good, the government needs to rethink how the costs are going to be met and where the efforts are applied.” NZL

Forest Owners Association President, Phil Taylor.

MPI rebrand spend questioned

“THE MINISTRY FOR PRIMARY INDUSTRIES (MPI) HAS SPENT

almost three times as much on an unnecessary rebrand as it did on a support package for under-pressure fruit growers,” says ACT’s Primary Industries spokesperson, Mark Cameron.

“The ACT Party can reveal through Written Parliamentary Questions that MPI splashed out a million bucks to rebrand its existing business units. Meanwhile, fruit growers who are facing dire skills shortages and have been affected by weather events received just $350,000.

The rebranding was for New Zealand Food Safety, Fisheries New Zealand, Biosecurity New Zealand, and Te Uru Rākau – established within existing branches of MPI in April 2018. It cost a total of $959,688.

“How can stationery, templates, logos and vehicle signage for departments that already exist within MPI be more of a priority than fruit growers who are struggling because Government won’t let a labour force in to help them?

“When a branded pen is more important to the Government than an entire industry, you’ve really got to question what they’re thinking.” NZL

Outcry at methyl bromide extension

IN OCTOBER 2010, THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Authority (EPA) told the logging industry it had 10 years to stop releasing the significantly ozone-depleting gas, methyl bromide into the atmosphere.

That deadline elapsed in October last year, but industry calls for more time have now been granted for a fourth time with methyl bromide use more than doubling from 245 tonnes in 2006 to 663 tonnes in 2018. Three-quarters of a billion dollars’ worth of export logs were treated with methyl bromide in 2019, about a quarter of the total amount sent abroad.

The gas is used as a fumigant to kill pests on logs for export to India and China, pumped under tarpaulin-covered stacks of logs and then released into the air.

It is also toxic to humans and damaging to the ozone layer, and international agreements require it to be phased out.

Industry group STIMBR says full recapture is “impossible” and it has asked the EPA to reassess recapture requirements.

The EPA has now pushed the recapture deadline out to February 2022 to give exporters to India certainty they can fulfil orders.

“We say enough is enough. It’s completely unacceptable. We feel that what’s being lost sight of is the amount of this ozone-depleting neurotoxin that is used at the Port of Tauranga so close to where our kids play sport, the workers at the port and the residents nearby,” says Clear the Air Mount Maunganui spokesperson, Emma Jones.

“We don’t have the resources to keep fighting this and we just expect our institutions to do the right thing,” she adds.

Tauranga Moana Fumigant Action Group lawyer, Kate Barry-Piceno, says parts of the extension decision were unlawful, adding that some companies had sunk serious money into cleaner but more expensive alternatives expecting the deadline to be enforced, while those that did not were benefiting from the continued extensions.

“Ultimately the buck stops with the regulators. It is their job to force industry into line. It appears as if the Ministry for Primary Industries has, alongside the EPA, allowed the logging industry to not step forward into the space and show sound environmental leadership around the regulation that, at an international level, New Zealand had committed to,” she told RNZ. “The EPA is failing in its duty to protect the environment and the health and safety of people.”

An application to allow an alternative fumigant called EDN, developed and sold by the international Draslovka Group, has been before the EPA for nearly four years. The group says EDN has a negligible environmental risk and very low risk to health. NZL

Visa streamlining a good start

GOVERNMENT IS INCREASING THE

duration of Essential Skills visas and streamlining the application process to smooth the way for employers and their people, says business service organisation, EMA.

Chief Executive, Brett O’Riley, says it is a step in the right direction to addressing labour demand.

“We’ve long said that we need to prioritise those we already have in the country to fill the skills gap that has always existed here but been exacerbated by border closures.

“Our members have been telling us they’ve been losing people to their home countries because they haven’t had applications processed quickly enough, or had any certainty,” he says.

“The increase in duration of Essential Skills visas for jobs paid below minimum wage from 12 months to 24 months from July 19, is a good start.

“Equally important is the streamlining of the application process for Essential Skills visas remaining in their current roles. Removing the labour market test, and medical and police certificate requirements, if Immigration New Zealand already has the information, just makes sense,” says Mr O’Riley.

“We understand the Government’s longerterm vision is to grow more talent here and build a more self-reliant labour market and we wholeheartedly support that, but migrants are part of the fabric of our society and will always be needed.

“The EMA is keen to continue to work with Government to break down barriers that enable migrants to continue to contribute to the New Zealand economy and strengthen its communities.

“We look forward to hearing more about further changes so we can keep our members up-to-date,” he says.

He adds that EMA supports calls for an amnesty for Pacific Island overstayers, given the resulting opportunity to increase participation in the workforce and in education. NZL

Tairūwhiti elevation data invaluable

“ACCESS TO THIS LEVEL OF RICH DATA FOR TAIRĀWHITI IS A

monumental achievement as it covers the entire district. This is the first time the area has been surveyed in this level of detail,” says Principal Scientist for Gisborne District Council, Dr Murry Cave, of data from the Tairāwhiti/Gisborne district LiDAR project. Now available on the LINZ Data Service (LDS), the data will enable better erosion and flood hazard management in the region.

“It has unlocked opportunities to help address wide-scale erosion control problems in the district. Other projects will include LiDAR differencing in Gisborne City’s water supply catchment, rural landslide risk assessments, legacy landfill risk assessments and revised tsunami inundation zones,” adds Mr Cave.

Council plans to use LiDAR for active fault mapping across the region, flood hazard mapping for rural towns, forestry management and compliance monitoring.

Gisborne District Council received funding from the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) Erosion Control Funding Programme and Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) to develop a high accuracy regional elevation model of the entire district using airborne LiDAR surveying.

Council has already started using the data to work on revised flood hazard mapping for the Taruheru and Waimata River systems, using the high-resolution LiDAR data to define the ground surface more precisely and enable the development of a more reliable flood hazard model.

It has also been used as a gravel management tool in a recent project assessing the gravel resources in the Waiapu River system. It highlighted areas where gravel extraction has resulted in increased erosion and areas where the river is aggrading.

The data has also helped Council to get a better understanding of landslide risk in Gisborne’s hill suburbs and changes to sediment loads in the Waipaoa Catchment.

The full dataset has already been provided to agencies undertaking regional research and projects including GNS, Scion, Auckland University and Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research.

A workshop will be held later in the year to allow Council staff and other users to showcase how the data is being used. NZL

GDC Land Manager, Mark Cockburn, looking at a LiDAR model of the lower Waipaoa River.

$800 million US forest acquisition

NEW FORESTS, HEADQUARTERED IN SYDNEY, HAS ACQUIRED

the 156,000-acre (63,000 ha) Hilt-Siskiyou Forest, a mixed-conifer forest along the California and Oregon border, from the Fruit Growers Supply Company (FGS) alongside an institutional investor client.

“This announcement marks a significant milestone for us, both in terms of growing our assets under management in California and Oregon and with respect to the ecological significance of the area. We look forward to continuing Fruit Growers Supply Company’s tradition of stewardship of this forest, including maintenance and protection of critical wildlife habitat and watersheds, alongside the sustainable harvest of certified timber,” says Jon Loevner, Director of US Investments at New Forests,

The Hilt-Siskiyou Forest is the latest sustainable forestry investment by New Forests in the United States. New Forests says its investment strategy in the US is to acquire and manage forestry assets for sustainable timber production, environmental market exposures, and conservation, in order to generate higher returns than a timber-only management approach and to create climate change mitigation outcomes and positive community impact. The global forestry investment management firm seeks to deploy at least $500 million in capital for multiple clients in US forests over the next 24 months and is actively considering additional investments in the Pacific Northwest, Lake States, New England, and Appalachia.

The Hilt-Siskiyou Forest is a high-quality asset currently managed for sustainable timber production under the Sustainable Forestry Initiative certification standard. FGS has owned and operated core areas of the Hilt-Siskiyou Forest for over a century.

This acquisition forms part of New Forests’ broader investments in the Klamath River watershed. In 2011, New Forests financed and developed the first forest carbon project in the California regulatory carbon market in partnership with the Yurok Tribe on land held by the Tribe near the Klamath River.

In 2016 and 2018, New Forests acquired, on behalf of investors, several forest properties in the Klamath River watershed, including the Ke’pel Creek and Pine Creek forests, which the company enrolled in California’s climate programme to conserve the properties for long-term carbon storage and growth. In April of this year, New Forests, the Yurok Tribe, and the Trust for Public Land announced a transaction that returned Ke’pel Creek, a property that forms part of the Yurok Tribe’s ancestral territory, to the Tribe.

FGS, a sister organisation to the Sunkist citrus growers’ cooperative, has a long history on this property, dating back to the early 20th century, when FGS acquired the core Hilt block to provide raw material for citrus crate manufacturing. NZL

Local Government underpins policy

LOCAL GOVERNMENT NEW ZEALAND’S (LGNZ) MEMBER COUNCILS

last month passed seven remits to direct LGNZ’s policy advocacy, several of them relevant to the forestry industry.

LGNZ is the body representing New Zealand’s 78 local councils, providing a unified voice for the sector and a pathway for continuous improvement.

All 78 member councils were able to debate and vote on proposed remits at the LGNZ Annual General meeting.

The remits included rating value of forestry land, tree protection and carbon emission inventory standards and reduction targets.

The rating value of forestry land remit calls for LGNZ to request the Valuer General to amend legislation to allow local government to address growing disparities between the rating valuation of forestry land and other land uses. It was proposed by Gisborne City Council and supported by: Hauraki District Council; Western Bay of Plenty District Council; New Plymouth District Council; Hastings District Council; Manawatū District Council; Ruapehu District Council; Whakatāne District Council; Central Hawkes Bay District Council; Wairoa District Council; and Waikato District Council. This remit was passed with 81% support of the sector.

The tree protection remit calls for the urgent repeal of current provisions in the Resource Management Act (RMA) that restrict tree protection, restoring councils’ rights to adopt and enforce locally appropriate policies to protect trees in their district. Proposed by Auckland Council and supported by Auckland Zone, it was passed with 79% support of the sector.

The carbon emission inventory standards and reduction targets remit calls for LGNZ to work with central government to develop consistent emission inventory standards for use by local and regional authorities; to set science-based emissions reduction targets to support delivery on New Zealand’s National Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement, and on the nationwide emissions budgets being established by government via advice from the Climate Change Commission. It was proposed by Palmerston North City Council and supported by Zone Three. This remit was passed with 96% support of the sector.

Other remits passed included funding of civics education, promoting local government electoral participation, WINZ accommodation supplement review, and liability – building consent functions. NZL

JP Morgan acquires leading forest management player

IN WHAT IT SAYS IS AN EFFORT TO DIRECTLY IMPACT THE

transition to a low-carbon economy and provide ESG-minded investment opportunities related to climate, conservation and biodiversity, JP Morgan Asset Management has acquired forest management and timberland investing company, Campbell Global. The terms of the deal with Campbell Global’s parent company, BrightSphere Investment Group, were not disclosed. The acquisition does not impact current investment strategies for Campbell Global clients.

“This acquisition expands our alternatives offering and demonstrates our desire to integrate sustainability into our business in a way that is meaningful,” says George Gatch, Chief Executive Officer of JP Morgan Asset Management. “Investing in timberland, on behalf of institutional and high net wealth individuals, will allow us to apply our expertise in managing real assets to forests, which are a natural solution to many of the world’s climate, biodiversity and social challenges.”

Campbell Global is a recognised leader in global timberland investment and natural resource management. Based in Portland, Oregon, the firm has over three decades of experience, $5.3 billion in assets under management and manages over 1.7 million acres worldwide with over 150 employees. All employees will be retained and Campbell Global will remain headquartered in Portland. JP Morgan oversees forests around the world, including in 15 US states, New Zealand, Australia and Chile. NZL

Tragic fatality could have been avoided

FORESTRY BUSINESSES ARE BEING REMINDED ONCE

again to make sure work is being done correctly, safely and to higher industry standards – or risk seeing their workers injured or killed.

This follows a tragic forestry fatality on the East Coast which could have been avoided if industry guidance had simply been followed, after safety audit results had previously identified clear issues, says WorkSafe.

Two companies appeared in court on 24 March 2021 for sentencing following the incident, with the sentencing decision being released on 16 July 2021. Ernslaw One had engaged Pakiri Logging to assist with harvesting at West Ho forest in Tologa Bay.

In February 2019, a breaker out worker for Pakiri Logging was struck by a log being hauled out of the valley on a skyline cable. The victim died at the scene as a result of his injuries.

A WorkSafe investigation found both parties had failed to ensure the dangerous work was being carried out safely.

“Pakiri were not ensuring crew were following correct protocols while breaking out and harvesting work was taking place,” says WorkSafe’s Area Manager, Danielle Henry.

“Our investigation found that the parties’ workers were not abiding to recommended safe retreat distances. At the time of the incident, the victim was 18-20 metres away from the skyline cable when he should have been at least 45 metres away.

“Audits commissioned by Ernslaw and Pakiri from May to September 2018 highlighted issues with the way in which a particular break out crew for Pakiri was operating. Despite issues identified in these audits being available to the companies months prior to the incident, the companies failed to take corrective action.

“Had the two companies discussed the audit results as and when they were provided and taken action as a result of the issues identified, then this tragic incident could have been avoided.

“This highlights the importance of clear communication and the need to follow industry practice – especially in a high risk industry,” she says.

Pakiri Logging was fined $468,000 and Ernslaw One was fined $288,000 at the Gisborne District Court while the companies have been ordered to share in reparations to the families for a total of $238,000.

Both were said to have a duty to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers, while the workers were at work in the business or undertaking. Their failure to comply with that duty exposed break out workers to a risk of death or serious injury, arising from breaking out activities. NZL

A true loss

WorkSafe Forestry Lead, Grant Duffy, left his mark on the forestry industry.

THE FORESTRY INDUSTRY HAS LOST

one of its most passionate safety advocates.

WorkSafe’s Forestry Lead, Grant Duffy, passed away at just 59 on 23 June 2021 after a fall.

“Grant worked relentlessly throughout his career to achieve better outcomes for workers in New Zealand, and for the last eight years his focus was on health and safety in the forest estate,” says WorkSafe Chief Executive, Phil Parkes.

“His commitment to making forestry safer was borne out of his fundamental belief that every worker has the right to go home healthy and safe at the end of every day. I have no doubt that there are many forestry workers who continue to earn their livelihoods as a direct result of Grant,” he says.

In the days before his tragic accident Grant was still calling out the risks in the sector. He had been at a Rayonier Matariki Forestry contractor day presenting on what Forest Industry Contractors Association CEO, Prue Younger, calls ‘de-risking the industry’ with a particular focus on the risks for tree-fallers.

“Contractors at the event are telling me of the very sobering overview he presented.

“Although Grant was the regulator, he ‘got it’ and he worked hard to find a balance in providing support and playing devil’s advocate. He was a deep thinker and he provoked great debates,” says Ms Younger.

Others have also paid tribute to Grant’s work, including Fiona Ewing, National Safety Director of the Forest Industry Safety Council who praised Grant for his strong advocacy of worker welfare. “His willingness to tackle things differently led to our successful co-design work on Toroawhi, learning reviews and understanding risk workshops. He was also prepared to hold the sector to account. There’s still much work to do in the sector and we should continue that work to honour Grant’s legacy.”

Mr Parkes says people, families and communities in forestry are better off because of Grant’s passion and commitment.

“What Worksafe, FISC and many others across the industry are doing today in forestry that is so different from the past is in no small way because of Grant,” he says.

Glen Mackie from the Forest Owners’ Association says Grant had a particular focus on how work is actually done rather than as imagined.

“Grant understood the challenges there are in working in forestry and had a deep appreciation of the people working in our industry. Just recently Grant was introducing a strategy he called “The Journey” – an 18-month programme to promote existing solutions, and develop entirely new thinking and methodologies.

“We were very fortunate to have such an active, forward thinker working to make forestry safer,” Mr Mackie says. NZL

Addressing COVID-19 mental health burnout together

Story: Robyn Bennett MPhil (OSH), President of the New Zealand Institute of Safety Management (NZISM).

THERE HAS BEEN A GROWING VOLUME OF

discussion about the health impacts of burnout on workers.

Longer hours, expectations to do more and an ongoing feeling of uncertainty due to COVID-19 fatigue continue to take a toll. For many it can seem like a never ending treadmill that is almost impossible to escape.

Two years ago the World Health Organisation (WHO) took the significant step of adding burnout to its International Classification of Diseases – it’s defined as a syndrome resulting from unmanaged chronic workplace stress.

Other research from WHO and the International Labour Organisation links long working hours to health impacts, concluding that 55-hour work weeks increase the chance of stroke by 35% and dying from heart disease by 17%, compared to working 35-40 hours. The study was based on pre-COVID data so it’s possible the statistics are now higher.

Closer to home, an AUT study by Professor Jarrod Haar found that workers under the age of 30 years old are 206% more likely to be burned out and young people can be affected just as much as managers.

Productivity, or actually the lack thereof, is also a drum that continues to be beaten in New Zealand – leading companies are on average less than half as productive as top companies in other small advanced economies, says the Productivity Commission. And clearly, adding hours does not make us more productive but does increase workplace stress, and subsequently worker burnout.

In the workplace, the pressure of catching up after 2020 and coming to terms with a new abnormal brings more burden and can affect performance and productivity, when exactly the opposite is required – for many it is becoming a vicious circle.

The challenge is that, while we acknowledge burnout is prevalent, very few see it as a workplace risk that needs to be proactively raised and managed, when the opposite is needed.

Burnout should be managed collectively – we should all be comfortable raising our hand and not having to deal with it alone. There are many ways to reduce it, but recognising it as a wider issue and then managing it with fairness, understanding and support is vital.

Over the past year we’ve all seen this approach in action. We have been fortunate to have very clear, concise and direct messaging in response to COVID-19 – Be Kind, Stay Home, Save Lives. This became the foundation for a new language of care that has touched every workplace and home.

It’s been a good start but there’s also a need to move a step further towards a duty of care for each and everyone around us. This involves checking in and looking after one another, being honest and open, and not only talking about everyday happenings but being able to express thoughts and feelings without judgement.

The issue of burnout is ubiquitous and the problem insidious. It has crept up on us as we’ve taken on greater loads while trying our best to make things work during an uncertain time.

We can limit its impact, despite the softer discussion of how we are feeling or coping perhaps being alien or even uncomfortable.

We all know COVID’s been stressful but we can put misgivings aside and encourage each other to talk more openly. Whatever our role at work, we all have a part to play. Now is the time to have conversations fairly and truthfully so we can start to address burnout together. NZL

Seriously cool loader

AFTER 63 YEARS OF WHEEL LOADER PRODUCTION, CASE

Construction has released the next series in its line-up of wheel loaders. The G Series, from 12-27 tonne, takes the F Series platform and introduces a whole new cab, full of industry leading features. 1987 saw the introduction of the innovative CASE Cooling-Cube system, which shifted the engine to the rear of the machine and brought the inter-cooler, engine, transmission and hydraulic coolers forward behind the cab, arranged in a cube shape. This meant none of the coolers were stacked together and each had clean cool air to better manage machine and component temperatures.

The introduction of the hydraulic reversing fan solidified the CASE Cooling-Cube design as market leading and the optimal way to not only keep the machines cool, but also reduce maintenance and downtime due to the radiators working at maximum efficiency.

That radical platform change led to the engine sitting at the back of the machine, up to the 20-tonne model. This allows the engine to act as an extra counterweight over the back axle, at a low centre of gravity, allowing the CASE machines to lift more payload than other equivalent machines. Owners quickly found more payload with a smaller machine equals a lower running cost, with an increased return on investment (ROI). This design change also allows easier access to the engine for regular maintenance and daily checks at ground level.

With this platform to leverage off, the G Series builds major efficiencies through a brand-new operator platform and moving to a FPT’s patented HI SCR 2 Stage 5 rated system.

Moving the dash monitor on to a new pillar-mounted 8-inch display and replacing the 3-piece windscreen with a single rounded piece of glass has taken visibility to a whole new level, virtually eliminating blind spots for the operator. Combined with a low sloping rear bonnet and built-in reversing camera, the operator knows exactly what is going on around the machine at all times.

Add in the premium air-seat mounted console, electrohydraulic controlled joystick, built-in proportional auxiliary sliders, new system control keypad and the operator has everything in close reach, making for a highly productive work area that is low fatigue in any application.

The new optional factory-integrated payload weighing system increases accuracy for loading out, making sure the optimal weight is achieved every time and allows for material, production and output tracking easily, through the Sitewatch portal.

Plus, the optional joystick steering and adaptive sensitivity across all electrohydraulic controls means the machine can be set up to suit all operators, providing them with a loader that is easy to use and highly productive.

Combine all those features with an efficient powertrain that allows the engine to produce the horsepower required to achieve a high daily production with minimal fuel use, and the G Series running costs and productivity are sure to keep Kiwi owners happy. NZL

More than just sowing seeds

THE PAST DECADE HAS SEEN SIGNIFICANT INCREASE AROUND

environmental issues from the public, local and central government on the primary sector. Whether these issues are real or perceived, the general public and government are expecting the primary industry to do better, says OsGro Seed Services.

The forestry sector is no exception to these pressures. On 1 May 2018, the new National Environmental Standards for Plantation Forestry (NES-PF) took effect which replaced the Regional Council plans. The NES, as its name suggests, is a National Standard for harvesting and roading operations and regulations are based on soil Erosion Susceptibility Classes (ESC) for the area in question.

There is increasing pressure to ensure correct environmental practices are followed, to ensure such issues as erosion and sediment are not contributing negatively on New Zealand freshwater quality.

OsGro Seed services has been working with the forestry sector for the past nine years, developing a range of products to help companies meet the obligations of local authorities, working with a growing number of forestry companies throughout New Zealand to establish a specific range of seed mixes suitable for use within the forest.

Over this time OsGro has developed a range of seed mixes with the following key attributes: • To provide ground cover as quickly as possible. • To establish on a range of soil types. • To establish in far from perfect sowing conditions. • To establish and persist in low soil fertility soils.

Developing this range has been no easy task considering nearly all plant breeding of grasses and the like in New Zealand is either focussed on the agriculture or turf industries. These mixes can either be applied by hand sowing or hydro seeding.

The company has seen a significant uptake in oversowing cutover forest within the sector, especially on environmentally sensitive site. Most oversowing of cutover forests is happening in the Autumn within 18 month of the forests being harvested. Oversowing cutover forestry is happening on sites and benefits include: • Reduction of erosion and sediment into waterways. • Weed suppression. • Reduction in numbers of self-sown seedlings pines.

Companies that are currently using this method are finding once the oversowing seed is established it forms a mat, which reduces competition from weed species and significantly decreases the number of self-sown seedling pines. OsGro is planning on doing further trial work this coming year on oversowing cutover forests in the Hawkes Bay

Not all situations are the same, says the company’s Jeremy Oswald. “Over the past nine years we have developed an understanding of current forestry practices and challenges the industry faces, Although we have developed a range of base seed mixes for roading, earthworks and oversowing, we still customise these specifically for your individual forest and situation.”

OsGro Seed Services is a family-owned Seed Company based in Marlborough, servicing clients throughout New Zealand and offering a range of high quality seed to the agriculture, forestry and horticulture sectors. OsGro is a firm believer in modern science coupled with traditional family values. NZL

New factory options for excavators

KOMATSU FOREST HAS MADE STRONG MARKET GAINS OVER

the past decade in the New Zealand market with the Komatsu excavator range from Japan. This has been greatly assisted by the major guarding shop companies who carry the various excavator modifications to meet the demands of the local market for forest cabs, high/wide undercarriages, guarding packages and the like. Over the years the modification level and sophistication has risen dramatically which unfortunately has had a huge impact on pricing due to the large number of labour hours involved, says MD of Komatsu Forest, Brett Jones.

Machine pricing has always been a major factor for contractors with the harvesting rates being so competitive. Therefore over the last couple of years Mr Jones has been negotiating with Komatsu’s Osaka factory to supply the high-cost items from the factory at factory production price levels. This will help to reduce the overall machine pricing in the long term and provide a faster turnaround in the guarding shops.

“It has been a step by step process, with the first item to arrive in New Zealand being the PC300LC-8 high/wide undercarriage which has just been followed up by the special forestry booms set,” he says.

The development of these items has been a joint effort between Komatsu Forest and the Osaka factory with these two major items soon to be available on the PC270LC-8 as well. In recent months Komatsu Forest has delivered two of the PC300LC-8 factory high/ wides to the following contractors, saying feedback to date from both contractors has been excellent: • Anderson Logging from Southland has a Komatsu PC300LC-8 fitted with a factory high/wide undercarriage, along with an EMS rear entry cab and log loader boom set. This grapple loader can also be used for a shovel application. This is Doug Anderson’s fourth PC300LC, all fitted with high/wide undercarriages but the last two were supplied with the factory-fitted Komatsu undercarriage. “I’m especially impressed with the extra frame strengthening of the factory high/wide as well as the standard bottom roller guards,” comments Doug. He had hoped to have the new factory booms but unfortunately they weren’t ready at the time. “Still got a good price advantage as it was still cheaper than a smaller purpose-built and the Komatsu has a good proven record,” he adds. “Great value for money”. • Graham Logging has a Komatsu PC300LC-8 fitted with a factory high/wide. In this case the guarding was carried out by Active Engineering – involving the forestry cab and general guarding package. This unit has been set up with a Woodsman FH 1350 felling head. Chris Graham operates a couple of Komatsu wheel machines and recently required a felling machine due to changes in his logging requirements. After careful consideration he selected the Komatsu PC300LC with the new factory high/wide which provided a quicker delivery due to less modifications. “I was impressed with the high/ wide design and the quick delivery time was the real tipping point in my purchase decision,” says Chris. “The track power has been impressive and the PC300LC is very flexible being the right size for a processor and it’s rigged for an easy swap in the future,” he adds.

Komatsu Forest will continue the development of its Komatsu hydraulic excavators to match the New Zealand and Australian market demands. The PC300LC-8 and PC270LC-8 high/wides will be shipped from the factory without their standard cabins to save costs and time. These models will also be available from the factory with a Komatsu WG forestry boom set. The next project, which has already started, will be a purpose-built forestry cooling system which will include a complete new cooler matrix with a reversible hydraulic fan, taking this product range to another level. NZL

Ultimate stump removal

AS PART OF ITS PRODUCT PORTFOLIO,

Mobile Screening and Crushing (MSC) NZ offers Dipperfox Stump Crusher attachments, which are several times faster and a lot more fuel efficient than the traditional methods of stump removal. Now the same job gets done four times faster, with a much cleaner end result.

The Dipperfox Stump Crusher 850 Pro is ideal for clearing the ground after deforestation, preparing plots for construction or farming, trenching or urban landscaping. Stump Crusher attachments attach to various sized excavators, by Dipperfox.

The Dipperfox Stump Crusher’s new technology for stump removal, is 8-10 times more efficient than other methods currently used, says MSC. The outcome is similar to a stump grinder – the whole stump and roots will be cut into 30-50mm chips, but compared with stump grinding, the whole process will take 20-120 seconds, depending on hardness and diameter of the tree. Plus, Dipperfox is capable of drilling 900mm under the chip to smash the roots. Its blades are made from wear resistant steel and are “basically rock-proof”.

MSC says the main benefits compared to other methods include: • 10 times faster than other known stump removal methods. • 180 stumps in one hour – fastest and most efficient drill on the market. • Drilling speed per stump: 20 seconds. • Suitable for forest and urban challenges. • No waste to utilise left behind (grinded stump will be used as fertiliser for the ground). • Can be used with any excavator between 14 to 30 tonnes. • Automatic speed/torque adjustment (built-in long-lasting 2 speed dynamic gearbox). • No electricity, no cables to connect (fully hydraulic operation). • Unit can be stored in outside conditions. • Bolt-able consumables (double-sided cutting blades, screw). • Easy to maintain – long (250-hour) oil change cycle. • Light weight – which allows for transport to the jobsite with pick-up truck or car trailer.Reduced nose pollution, compared with grinders. • Unique in its class – patented technology. • MSC is a nationwide provider of material processing equipment and services, with over 25 years in business. NZL

Making inroads with off-highway tyres

GLOBAL OHT (OFF-HIGHWAY TYRE) BRAND, ASCENSO, HAS BEEN

making a name for itself in this country since Whangarei-based Treadway was appointed New Zealand distributor. Ascenso is the newest major brand to be added to Treadway’s inventory.

With more than 40 years in the field, family-owned and operated Treadway offers a wide range of industrial, construction, agricultural and earthmoving tyres and ancillary equipment, together with the expertise to accompany them.

Ascenso OHT products range from bias ply tyres (suitable for higher loads) to high-end steel radial (for superior tread wear), as well as all-steel belted tyres for the toughest applications.

New Zealand is experiencing a boom in infrastructure expansion and large-scale construction projects. With the economy accelerating following the most recent pandemic lockdowns, a surge of government and private investment in works that require off-road vehicles is ramping up demand.

And the demand for robust and reliable OHT tyres has probably never been greater worldwide, with many countries – notably China and the United States – making massive investments in infrastructure, driven by factors as diverse as climate change, population growth, geopolitical rivalry, shipping bottlenecks impacting traditional global supply-chains, and (in developing countries) the availability of funding from the World Bank or China’s Belt and Road Initiative. A key reason for its popularity is the brand’s positioning in the medium price range sweet spot.

Ascenso is a Spanish word meaning ‘ascent’ or ‘rise’; hence the tagline ‘never stop rising’, which signifies brand-owner Mahansaria Tyres’ (MTPL) commitment to constant improvement and innovation.

MTPL’s state-of-the-art manufacturing base, located within one of India’s Special Economic Zones, has a current capacity of 40,000 units annually, projected to rise to 70,000. Pursuing new products and processes, the Indian facility is already manufacturing tyres featuring innovative tread patterns with self-cleaning capabilities and extrastrength carcasses.

“Quality tyres with longer life deliver lower total ownership cost – an attractive proposition to purchasing officers, farmers, earthmoving and construction companies. Having previously created two of the world’s leading off-highway tyre brands, we are excited to now be taking Ascenso to global markets,” says MTPL CEO, Yogesh Mahansaria.

“As we are already exporting to 45 countries, we believe Ascenso can be a serious competitor in the value segment,” he adds. NZL

Telematics boost productivity, minimise downtime

JOHN DEERE IS IMPROVING THE ABILITY

for customers to maximise machine performance and uptime through updates to the JDLink™ platform. Available on most new models, John Deere’s JDLink telematics solution delivers valuable fleet insights directly into the hands of the machine owner or fleet manager.

Customers now no longer need to renew their JDLink connectivity service subscription and can enable their JDLink service on any compatible machine in their organisation at no additional charge.

Additionally, once customers enable JDLink connectivity, they can select to automatically activate all future JDLink compatible models, further streamlining fleet management. With this update to the JDLink service offering, it is easier than ever before for customers to maximise machine productivity and minimise downtime.

“John Deere has offered telematics for well over a decade and the boost in machine monitoring and machine uptime has been an overwhelming benefit to our customers,” says John Deere Product Marketing Manager, Connected Solutions, James Leibold.

“With the next phase of our JDLink offering, we are making it easier for customers to manage their fleets. Instead of needing to keep track of renewal dates by each machine, owners and fleet managers can look at monitoring their equipment holistically and can focus on what’s important – keeping their job sites running.”

The JDLink service enables customers access to vital data, such as machine location and utilisation, time in idle, fuel level, upcoming maintenance, machine alerts, and more, all from a web or mobile platform. Beyond machine monitoring, the JDLink solution also enables John Deere Connected Support, for the dealer to remotely identify critical issues and act, or remotely send software payloads to ensure the machine is running efficiently. NZL

Photo: FCNSW

ForestTECH 2021 is a go!

EVERY YEAR ONE MAJOR FOREST TECHNOLOGY SERIES IS

run in this region. It’s designed by and for Australasian forestry resource managers and inventory foresters. It’s been the one event each year since 2007 where remote sensing, GIS, mapping and forest inventory specialists and, for the first-time last year, tree crop and silvicultural managers – get together.

Amidst the uncertainty of events in the COVID-19 environment, the Forest Industry Engineering Association (FIEA) is delighted to announce that ForestTECH 2021 on 23 and 24 November is on! The format for the annual technology series run in both Australia and New Zealand has been modified to enable planning with some degree of certainty for ForestTECH 2021 delegates, presenters and exhibitors.

This year, like 2020, the conference, workshops and exhibitions, will be run physically in one location, Rotorua, New Zealand. Live links from the New Zealand event are being set up for those unable to travel into Rotorua. With the uncertainty still surrounding international travel and whether borders will be open later in the year, the live virtual linkage will ensure that international delegates can still be actively involved. Last year, a record number of international delegates from over 20 countries were able to pick up this option.

Two distinct themes will be covered. In addition to the usual technology updates on remote sensing, data collection and forest inventory management, a second day will focus on mechanised or automated operations for planting and silviculture. This was trialled last year for the first time. Overwhelmingly the written feedback from delegates and exhibitors said that this same focus should be applied for 2021.

The economics are starting to stack up and the technology addresses the growing issue of labour shortages that are being faced over the planting season. Mechanised or machine planting is already successfully being used across Scandinavia and in South America. Research, trials and commercial operations were successfully undertaken in the central North Island of New Zealand last planting season. More extensive plantings using the mechanical planting systems are planned for this year in both the CNI and in northern NSW (with both pine and eucalypts).

In addition to New Zealand presenters, key technology presenters and forestry companies from Canada, Finland, Germany, South Africa, Chile and Australia will be presenting this year. Three additional half-day pre-conference workshops for those delegates attending in Rotorua have also been set up for delegates.

Workshops on Imagery & Remote Sensing with ArcGIS, changes to the Forestry Emissions Trading Scheme, updates on National Environmental Standards for Plantation Forestry and a half-day Remote Sensing Cluster Group meeting to cover recent research on tree inventory and detection with an update on the Tools for Foresters initiative have been organised for the day before the conference.

Full details can be found on the event website: www.foresttech. events/ft21. NZL