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May 2008 Classifieds

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The Lighter Side of Logging

Little Tommy was doing very badly in math. His parents had tried everything: tutors, flash cards, special learning centers, in short, everything they could think of. Finally, in a last ditch effort, they took Tommy down and enrolled him in the local Catholic school.

After the first day, little Tommy came home with a very serious look on his face. He didn’t kiss his mother hello. Instead, he went straight to his room and started studying. Books and papers were spread out all over the room and little Tommy was hard at work. His mother was amazed. She called him down to dinner and to her shock, the minute he was done he marched back his room without a word and in no time he was back hitting the books as hard as before.

‘No Box’ by David Abbott

For Steven Hardee, 34, owner of Hardee Timber, Inc., second best is just first loser. Although he has only been in business for himself for seven years, he isn’t willing to settle for anything less than the top.

“I drive perfection,” Hardee says bluntly. With money so tight in the current market, he says, there is no room for mistakes. Of course, he admits, nobody really is perfect, but it is the goal at which he aims, and he insists that he and his men hit as close as possible to that mark as often as possible. He holds himself and his crew to high standards for production, efficiency, safety, cleanliness, maintenance, accuracy and innovation. His goals are as ambitious as they are straightforward. “I want to be the best there is at what I do,” he says.

Company Crew by Tonya Cooner-Vots

It sounds too good to be true: come to work each morning, harvest timber to meet and surpass the day’s production goal, then go home with little to worry about except getting a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow isn’t a day to dread, it’s just another regular working day. No, it’s not a fairy tale, but a job situation that’s rarely found these days—a company logging crew.

In this case, the crew works under the name of Keadle Logging, which is a division of Keadle Lumber Enterprises (see related story on page 30). The crew works to feed the central Georgia yellow pine sawmill which produces nearly 80MMBF annually. While only a portion of their harvesting activity is performed on company land holdings, the crew is active year round. “All sawlogs cut by this crew go to our mill,” says Bill Craft, wood procurement and land manager for Keadle Lumber. “They provide about 10% of the mill’s total needs.”

Earning Respect by Tonya Cooner-Vots

There’s a motto that’s evolved over the years at Keadle Lumber Enterprises (KLE): “To stand still is to go backwards.” It’s based on the premise that if you stand still, the world and technology will pass you by. Remaining competitive in the global economy is top priority on Keadle Lumber’s list as it produces dimension lumber at a rate to keep it afloat in today’s lumber market.

The southern pine mill has a capacity of 78MMBF, and according to mill principals is on target for this year. In 2006, the mill produced 76MMBF, consisting of 70% 2 in. dimension, 16% 5⁄4 decking, 9% small timbers and 5% 1 in. boards.

Value Management by Jennifer McCary

Billy Corey’s approach to the logging profession is driven not so much by production as it is by value. As one of a small number of logging operators in eastern North Carolina who buy, harvest and market their own timber, the independent owner of Tim-Con Wood Products asserts, “We think the key to any harvesting operation is value management. You’ve got to get every dollar that’s out there, from the tree to the end user.”

Corey, 60, started his logging career working on company logging crews where he advanced to supervisor of logging operations. In the mid-1980s when company crews were phasing out, Corey opted to strike out on his own, naming his company after his children, Timmy and Connie. A fitting acknowledgement, he observes, since they’re the reason he works so hard anyway.

Current Industry News

The American Loggers Council held its annual Spring Board of Directors meeting and fly-in to Washington, DC on April 3-5, 2008, with close to 40 in attendance. I am proud to report to you that more than 50 visits were made to congressional offices and federal agencies on behalf of all of the loggers of this great nation.

ALC members visited with their respective congressional delegates on issues such as the 2007 Farm Bill, the Clean Water Act Amendment, the Renewable Biomass Facilitation Act, diesel fuel prices, truck weight, labor laws and proper forest management of our public lands allowing for the federal timber harvesting programs to move forward.

New Product Information

Higher horsepower on Prentice skidders has reduced cycle times and boosted productivity with no increase in fuel cost per ton. An increase from 173 HP to 190 HP has resulted in a 6.8% improvement in cycle times, a 7% increase in drawbar pull and an average 8.5% boost in load startup torque. These improvements will result in higher production.

For example, if a logger were producing 50 loads of wood per week, the 190 HP Prentice skidder would add over three extra loads, or 88 tons, per week. At $40 per ton, the extra wood would generate over $3,500 in additional income per week, with no increase in work hours and no increase in fuel cost per ton.

Let The Shows Begin! by Tonya Cooner

This year brings about a new round of industry show and logging demos. This year will see the 2008 iterations of two popular biennial shows including the 31st East Coast Sawmill and Logging Equipment Exposition, fondly dubbed “the Richmond show,” and the Mid-South Forestry Equipment Show in Starkville, Miss. will celebrate its silver (25th) anniversary.

Many loggers plan for these demonstration events far in advance. When the time comes, they load up the crew and family to revel in the festive atmosphere, check out new equipment, attend meetings and continuing education seminars as well as visit with friends from across the industry.