In the January/February 2015 edition of My Take, Timber Harvesting magazine Executive Editor DK Knight highlights an article written by Josh Tovey, Tigercat Industries Service Engineer, regarding Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF). Tovey writes, “All forestry equipment manufacturers are going through the growing pains and education process of dealing with Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) as production of Tier 4f machines accelerates. This “new” fluid that invokes such concern has actually been used for some time, introduced commercially to on-road markets in 2004. (Tigercat introduced its first Tier 4f machine, a 620E skidder, in September 2013.) By providing proper education to dealers and customers, the introduction of additional models using DEF has had minimal impact to the end user. Much like fuel, there are specifications and handling procedures that must be respected to ensure the complete system functions properly.”

Travis Taylor Eulogized In Winnfield, Louisiana; Enviva, Hancock Form Pellet Partnership; Deere, Tigercat, Others Book InWoodsExpo Space; Potlatch Completes Timberlands Purchase; Portucel To Build Pellet Mill In Greenwood, South Carolina; Drax Gears Up For Exciting Year; Rentech Focuses On Plant Startups; Firm Says Pellet Mill Construction This Year; Biomass Power Plant One Step Closer; GES Announces Chip/Pellet Mills; New OSB Plant Appears Bound For Corrigan, Texas

Timber Harvesting magazine Associate Editor Jay Donnell visits H.D. Olstedt Logging in Scappoose, Oregon. Olstedt family members have logged in the Northwest for four generations. Herbert, 61, oversees H.D. Olstedt Logging today and is on the job nearly every day, but his son, Dan, 37, has taken control of day-to-day operations and spearheaded the growth of the family business in recent years through good planning and management. Dan describes himself as “the yarder guy” and his older brother, Matt, as a “machinery guy.” That they’ve continued the family tradition is no surprise, considering they’ve had roles in the woods since they were young teens. “This is all I ever wanted to do,” Dan says, adding, “Dad has let us make our own mistakes and I think we’ve gotten stronger because of that.” After Dan graduated from Portland State in 2003 he fully immersed himself into his father’s business, which maintains a shop and office in Jewell, Ore. in the northwest corner of the state.

Timber Harvesting magazine Associate Editor Jessica Johnson highlights loggers who are helping raise awareness and funds for various cancer charities. From a pink feller-buncher in Maine to a pink Kenworth in Michigan to a set of neckties emblazoned with pink hardhats, several driven loggers are stepping up to fight cancer, the second leading cause of death among Americans. For some of these loggers, it’s not just about breast cancer awareness; it’s so much more. Timber Harvesting first covered this new wave of cancer awareness in its July/August 2013 edition when it spotlighted White Oak, Inc., a Maine business that painted its 2011 Tigercat 822C feller-buncher pink. The buncher operator, Dustin Marquis, Dustin Marquis came up with the idea to use the hours the machine was in operation to raise money for cancer research.

Timber Harvesting magazine recently reached out to the principals and/or partners of six leading logging businesses from across the country, asking them to respond to eight timely questions. Their responses show just how similar and dissimilar the logging component is by region or within a region, presents what their greatest challenges are, provides a snapshot of how the businesses fared in 2014, and how the principals feel about their operations going forward. It’s an enlightening read. TH deeply appreciates their participation.

The January/February issue of Timber Harvesting magazine features the 2015 Equipment Directory, our annual comprehensive list of products, services, supplies, machinery manufacturers and suppliers, associations and trade shows.

Oregon Logging Conference February 18-21

John Deere Tracked F-B, Harvester; Peterson Horizontal Grinder; Komatsu Next-Gen Forwarder; Timberblade Saw Teeth; Bandit Forestry Mulcher

As We (ALC) See It: Achieving Sustainable Business Practices; SCTPA Annual Meeting February 6-8 In MB; WSRI Is Accepting Research Proposals; Wisconsin, Mississippi Get I-41, I-22 Provisions; Greene Interim Dean At Warnell-UGA; Louisiana, Oklahoma Mills To Require More Wood