Mandzak, John; Milner, Kelsey S.; Host, John. Production and product recovery 

 for complete tree utilization in the Northern Rockies. Res. Pap. INT-306. 

 Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain 

 Forest and Range Experiment Station; 1983. 17 p. 



Thinning operations on four different cutting blocks were monitored. The log- 

 ging system consisted of feller-bunchers, grapple and choker skidders, and on 

 the landing a whole-tree processor, chipper, and hydraulic loader. Variation in 

 productivity among study areas was analyzed with respect to stand and site 

 characteristics. Product alternatives and volumes were evaluated. Results indi- 

 cated that (1) logs and chips can be produced at acceptable daily rates of 89 to 

 193 tons of logs and 119 to 178 tons of chips, (2) the proportions of saw logs 

 and chippable material in the stand affect system productivity, and (3) complete 

 utilization of slash provided additional benefits compatible with public and 

 private forest management goals. 



KEYWORDS: logging productivity, commercial thinning operations, product 

 recovery 



