7th Annual COFE Seminar In Review

Article by Mike Crouse

The seventh annual Western Region Council on Forest Engineering (COFE) Seminar convened at the Valley River Inn to a packed house with the theme of “Improving Forest Harvesting Operations.” The seminar is scheduled the day prior to the Assoc. Oregon Loggers Annual Meeting, and a very worthwhile addition. The idea behind the seminar is to “disseminate technical information” and in doing so amongst colleagues, gives you a glimpse at both the future and the present, with some solutions and better methods of harvesting in this era.

The program was divided into three sessions, the first on new techniques for steep slope harvesting and transportation. Oregon State’s (OSU) John Sessions, on evaluating accessibility for non-conventional forest products, in particular chip vans and moving poles. In surveying the road system, there are charts and programs that can help you evaluate your truck, trailer, and the best approach in solving your transport.

Brian Boswell, FP Innovations (formerly known as FERIC) explained, “...the bug kill is an issue in pushing the harvest,” and with much of the affected acreage being on steep ground. BC’s Steep Slope Initiative Projects are using LiDAR with the BCC Forest Safety Council steep slope hazard assessment tools,” he said. “Their hope is to set up a range of machines and their stability... developing a table for stability.” Amongst the harvesting systems they’ve considered one of the interesting options discussed included a remote control forestry machine particularly applied to steep slopes. One such harvester is a Gremo Besten 106RH, under development, investigating the feasibility of remote controlled equipment.

Benjamin Flint, a graduate student at OSU, presented his research on steep slope harvesting using Ponsse cut-to-length systems, outlining more effective approaches, that increase production and safety,

Glen Murphy (OSU) outlined issues on controlling costs and profits.

Larry Cumming, Pres. of Peterson Pacific Corp. outlined the growing demand for higher quality and greater consistency in woody biomass. “Small chips are needed for efficiency,” Cummings emphasized, and noted the importance of better screening to control fiber consistency. “They (consuming power generators want a product that is) clean, low ash, no dirt, high density, and with good flow properties (for easy and consistent input into their processors).

The second session was on wood quality: markets and feed stocks. Jeff Morrell (OSU) emphasized the growing interest in the time between trees being harvested and processed at the mill, the issue being a variety of fungi, which can affect the wood’s appearance and quality. “A lot of problems come from the woods into the mill,” Morrell noted. What can we do about this? “Control the time in the woods, control time in the log deck and try not to leave wood on the ground for so long.” The issue is not just wood quality, but public perception of wood. “We look at wood as THE renewable material,” said Morrell, “... and if it gets the reputation for being moldy, we could encourage alternative materials. Not a good alternative.”

Hans-Sup Han, Humboldt University, reviewed his research on forest biomass harvesting and operations, covering three projects: pre-hauling and centralized processing; integration of in-woods biomass conversion for enhanced forest biomass feedstock supply; and life cycle inventory and assessment of woody biomass energy.

The third session covered harvesting operations management, led off by Jim Dooley with Forest Concepts, LLC, speaking on benefication of chipped and shredded woody biomass, again with the emphasis being on clean and uniform consistency for woody biomass for final consumption. Clearly the issues of size and quality are a primary interest in many markets.

John Marshall, retired Roseburg Forest Products, alerted the audience on the ramifications of the Mine Act and Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), noting, “...Our rock quarries out in the woods are covered under the 1977 laws...1977 Mine Act,” and the high potential for it’s impacting your operations if you’re involved with rock pits. “The act applies to ALL mining & mineral operations in the USA and it’s territories, regardless of size.”

The problems come as a direct result of the legislative history and consequent wording within the law, stating it be given the, “... ‘broadest possible interpretation,’ (with the) inclusion of ANY operation out there that could be construed as mining,” thus subject to regulation, rules, fines, and potential onerous criminal implications.

His encouragement: to understand and inform yourself, to avoid problems. “Quarry owners and operators both need to have knowledge of the Act and its standards

Contractors providing services at a quarry need to be aware of their status as either an operator or an independent contractor.”

The final presenter was Steve Swanson, Weyerhaeuser Company, demonstrating an innovative replacement of old culverts with a very innovative design that vastly improved the project.

COFE is well worth one’s time, learning, comparing, and finding innovative solutions to the problems faced in the business of caring for the land and producing the products society needs.