Treesearch

WCOST is a computer program designed to estimate the stump-to-truck logging cost of cable logging young-growth Douglas-fir. The program uses data from stand inventory, cruise data, and the logging plan for the tract in question to produce detailed stump-to-truck cost estimates for specific proposed timber sales. These estimates are then used, in combination with specific landowner objectives, to assess the economic feasibility of cable logging a given area. The program output is summarized in tabular format by harvesting component. Input parameters also are presented in a summary table.

Much of the nonindustrial, private forest land in the Northeast is characterized by small diameter trees with low volume. Conventional harvesting systems used in logging these stands generally results in submarginal economic returns. Often, small-scale harvesting systems have economic advantages in these areas. Time and motion studies were conducted for several small tractors over a range of silvicultural treatments to estimate preliminary cycle times and production rates. Further research is progressing to incorporate this and additional simulation results into a generalized stump-to-mill...

Results demonstrate how the economic feasibility of commercial hardwood thinning is impacted by tree diameter, product mix, and primary product markets. These results indicate that multiproduct harvesting can increase revenues by $0.01/ft³ to $0.32/ft³; and that small shifts in price levels or haul distance can postpone commercial thinning approximately 10 years.

This paper documents the results of a study to determine the cost and productivity of two tree-bucking and product-sorting methods used by West Virginia loggers harvesting three to four types of roundwood products. The methods include manual chainsaw bucking and bucking with a hydraulically powered chainsaw slasher. Results show that chain saw bucking of trees averaging 53ft³ produced 2,155ft³/productive hour. This compares to 1,109 ft³/productive hour for mechanized bucking of trees averaging 33 ft³. Utilization levels below 50 percent for each method indicate that both were capable of...

Although deferment cutting is not a practice common in the United States, it has been used in Europe to harvest some forest stands. After a deferment cutting, the residual stand resembles a seed tree cut; however, residual trees are not cut when the regenerated stand becomes established. Instead, residual trees remain until the regenerated stand is at the end of a rotation. Hence the name "deferment" cutting.

Site index curves are given for forest tree species found in the eastern United States. A total of 127 site curves are presented including formulation for computing both total height and site index.

Compares nutrient accumulation in adjacent plantations of red and jack pine in the upper Great Lakes. Describes equations developed to predict biomass and nutrient accumulation based on stand basal area and height.