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MODULE FOUR

Harvesting Timber

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Topics Covered

Marketing Timber

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Harvesting Timber

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Best Management Practices (BMP’s)

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Kentucky Forest Conservation Act (KFCA)

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Forest Roads

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Closing out the Harvest

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Logging Safety

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    • Timber markets vary based on:
      • Number and size of mills in area
      • Type of wood required by mills
      • Timber quality
      • Weather conditions
      • Timber volume/acre
      • Tract accessibility

Marketing Timber

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    • Establish sale objectives
    • Plan and layout sale area
    • Estimate inventory
    • Mark boundaries
    • Consider safety, aesthetics, and the environment
    • Develop sale prospects and advertise
    • Negotiate contracts
    • Execute the sale

Timber Sale Considerations

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Harvesting Systems

    • Animal logging
    • Cable Logging
    • Conventional logging
      • Also known as Tree Length Logging
    • Cut to Length Logging (CTL)
    • Helicopter logging
    • In-Woods Chipping
    • Shovel Logging

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Best Management Practices (BMP’s)

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    • 1972 Clean Water Act – empowered Environmental Protection Agency for water quality
    • Best Management Practices (BMPs) - voluntary guidelines for protecting water
    • Silvicultural exemption from CWA permitting but must protect water quality
    • Silvicultural activities must not contribute to nonpoint source pollution

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What are silvicultural nonpoint source pollutants?

    • Sediment
    • Organic materials
    • Temperature
    • Trash
    • Pesticides
    • Nutrients

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Potential Pollutants

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    • Kentucky General Assembly Council passed in 1998
    • Places primary responsibility on loggers
      • Private landowners should still be aware of law
    • Water Quality is one of the most important aspects of KFCA

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Kentucky Forest Conservation Act (KFCA)

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Forest Roads

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    • Minimize stream crossings
    • Avoid location perpendicular to contour
    • Locate roads as far from streams as possible
    • Reduce soil disturbance
    • Select appropriate road standard
    • Avoid unstable soil types
    • Select road grades as flat as possible
    • Design curves to accommodate expected traffic
    • Select appropriate road width
    • Maintain appropriate site distance for safety

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Erosion

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There must be three things present to have erosion:

    • Water (precipitation)
    • Slope
    • Exposed soil

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Brush dams are often used by loggers where bars can’t be installed.

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Examples of what NOT to do.

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Designed for skid trails, not having post-harvest vehicle travel – temporarily holds the soil until vegetation recaptures the skid road.

Water Bars

A small mound with trench built into a road or trail, angled slightly downslope.

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    • Logging is one of the most dangerous occupations
    • Safety standards developed and regulated by Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA)
    • Every harvesting operation will have their own safety requirements based on specific equipment and site conditions

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Logging Safety

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    • Personal protective equipment (PPE) required – hearing and eye protection, hard hats, steel-toed boots, chaps (when using chainsaws), and gloves. 
    • First aid kits required on site (approved logging first aid kits). 
    • Crew training on safety, first aid and cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR). 
    • Seat belts on all equipment. 
    • Roll-over protection (ROPS) on all equipment. 
    • Fire extinguishers on all equipment. 
    • No riders on equipment other than operator. 
    • Maintain 2 tree-length distance from cutter. 
    • Awareness of environmental conditions including electrical lines. 
    • Engage brakes and releasing all stored energy when parking equipment. 
    • Maintain safe distance between any flammable or combustible liquid and operating equipment. 
    • Identify and remove danger trees. 
    • Clear communication between equipment operator and any person on the ground. 
    • Secure all logs and equipment with chains, cables, or tie-down straps. 

Safety Considerations for Logging Operations

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Fatalities by Occupation

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    • Lost Time Accidents (unable to work) for the last 20 years:
      • All occupations – average 5-7 days
      • Logging – average 6-21 days
    • Time away from work
      • 1 day – 12%
      • 3 to 5 days – 20%
      • 30+ days – 43% 

Accident & Injury by Severity

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Closing Out the Harvest

    • Stabilize all roads and skid trails
    • Remove temporary stream crossings
    • Remove limbs/tops that were placed in streams from harvesting operations

C. Harper

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