Timber harvesting guidelines are often developed and implemented to protect environmental values and maintain site productivity. This research investigated the affects of these harvesting guidelines on the productivity of felling and skidding machines.
This research was published in Forest Science 57(5) of 2011, and was titled “The Effect of Timber Harvesting Guidelines on Felling and Skidding Productivity in Northern Minnesota”. The authors are listed at the end of the article. The research evaluated how applying the Minnesota Timber Harvesting and Forest Management Guidelines, along with operator and tract-specific factors, could affect the productivity of feller bunchers and grapple skidders in mixed aspen, hardwood and conifer stands.
In order to do this, productivity data and other information was collected from five harvesting operations spread over 52 clearfell sites. Post-harvest aerial photography was examined and post-harvest on-site visits took place. Analysis of the data revealed many variables that affected the productivity of both the feller buncher and skidder. Implementing the guidelines had minimal effect on the productivity of the feller buncher. The use of a harvesting operational map or preharvesting and winter harvesting guidelines improved feller productivity. However, several factors in the guidelines adversely affected skidder productivity. These included irregularly shaped clearfell areas (for aesthetics), the use of skid trail routes versus the shortest distance to the landing, and a reduction in the number and size of landings.
In conclusion, the authors did indicate that the feller operator may be able to lay out the harvesting block more effectively to reduce some of these effects on the skidder.
The authors were Denys Goychuk, Michael Kilgore, Charles Blinn, Jay Coggins and Randall Kolka.
Source: http://saf.publisher.ingentaconnect.com/content/saf/fs/2011/00000057/00000005/art00004