Matching skidder size to wood harvested to increase hardwood fiber availability: a case study

Abstract

Integrating what we know about growing trees with what we know about harvesting them can increase the economic availability of wood fiber and add value to future crops. Results for the oak/hickory forest type in West Virginia show that up to 1,736.61 ft³/ac. of wood fiber can be harvested 10 years sooner than usual by simply matching the size of the machine to the size of the wood harvested. Specifically, the study focused on the gains that can be made by matching the size of machines to size of the wood harvested, by utilizing harvesting machines better and more efficiently, and by training machine operators to be more efficient. Gains of up to 40 percent in present net worth can be attained by early thinning of a stand when harvesting machines are matched to wood size harvested.

Citation

LeDoux, Chris B. 2000. Matching skidder size to wood harvested to increase hardwood fiber availability: a case study. Forest Products Journal 50(10):86-90