Productivity of a Tree-Length Forwarder for Logging on Wet Sites
Authors
Ben D. Jackson
Louisiana State University Agricultural Center; Baton Rouge, LA, U.S.A.
W. Dale Greene
University of Georgia; Athens, GA, U.S.A.
Alvin L. Schilling
International Paper Company; Hattiesburg, MS, U.S.A.
Abstract
A GEMCO tree-length forwarder was used to harvest pine from wet sites. It produced payloads of 26.9 metric tonnes with an average cycle time of 72 minutes. Hourly production averaged 32.9 metric tonnes per PMH while addition of the forwarder and a second loader to the system increased system cost by US$ 67.97/PMH. Use of the forwarder was less expensive than building all-weather roads to harvest timber in wet weather where volume accessed was relatively low or an extensive road network was required.
