THE AUTHORS 



RESEARCH SUMMARY 



JOHN M. MANDZAK is research and development super- 

 visor for Champion Timtjerlands, Milltov*/n, Mont. He was 

 responsible for planning and supervising operations and 

 logistics on this study. 



KELSEY S. MILNER is a research forester for Champion 

 Timberlands, Milltown, Mont. He was responsible for data 

 collection and analyses for this study. 



JOHN R. HOST is a research forester, Improving Wood 

 Resource Utilization Work Unit, Intermountain Forest and 

 Range Experiment Station, Forestry Sciences Laboratory, 

 Missoula, Mont. He was responsible for planning and 

 coordinating this study. 



ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 



This study was a cooperative effort between the Inter- 

 mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station and 

 Champion Timberlands. The Intermountain Station pro- 

 vided supplementary funding, study planning, and report 

 publication. Champion Timberlands provided the work 

 sites, personnel, and equipment for the study, along with 

 a conscientious effort to do a good job. 



This study could not have been undertaken without the 

 help and cooperation of Hahn Machinery, Incorporated, of 

 Two Harbors, Minn., and Strong Manufacturing Company 

 of Remus, Mich. Both manufacturers provided new test 

 machines, competent operators, and more than adequate 

 support. 



St Onge Logging Company of Missoula, Mont., provided 

 skidding and loading equipment, with skilled and consci- 

 entious operators. Midnight Logging Company of Huson, 

 Mont., provided a Melroe Bobcat feller-buncher and a 

 skilled operator. 



Profitable management of second-growth timber in the 

 Northern Rockies will be influenced by the economics of 

 small timber harvesting. The small average stem size of 

 second-growth stands coupled with low product values 

 tends to make current logging systems uneconomical in 

 many areas. 



In this study, a whole-tree harvesting system designed 

 to produce logs and chips was evaluated on four sites, 

 each with a different silvicultural prescription. The system 

 consisted of: feller-bunchers, grapple-equipped rubber- 

 tired skidders, a tree processor, a whole-tree chipper, and 

 a hydraulic log loader. Production rates for the overall 

 system and for its various components were developed 

 with time-motion study techniques. Variation in productiv- 

 ity between study areas was analyzed with respect to 

 stand and site characteristics. 



Results of this study indicated: (1) The system can pro- 

 duce chips and logs at acceptable rates for a range of site 

 and stand conditions. Daily production ranged from 89 to 

 193 tons (81 to 176 tonnes) of logs and 119 to 178 tons 

 (108 to 162 tonnes) of chips. (2) The proportions of chip- 

 pable and sawable material available in the stand affect 

 overall system productivity and productivity of system 

 components. (3) The complete utilization of slash by the 

 system provided additional forest management benefits. 

 These included: reduction in bark beetle hazard, reduction 

 of future site preparation activities (especially burning), 

 and improved appearance of harvested stands. 



The use of trade, firm, or corporation names in this 

 publication is for the information and convenience 

 of the reader. Such use does not constitute an of- 

 ficial endorsement or approval by the U.S. Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture of any product or service to the 

 exclusion of others which may be suitable. 



