Biomass Power Plant Project Gains Footing; Austria’s Klausner Picks North Carolina; New Pellet Player Announces NC Plant; UK’s Drax To Build Pellet Plants In South; ALC/FRA Leaders Discuss Industry Issues; GP Acquires Former T-I Building Products.

Timber Harvesting Associate Editor Jessica Johnson travels to Hazlehurst, Georgia to visit Ussery Timber, Inc. Dane Ussery, a former farmer, entered the logging business in 1999 when a friend sold him all of his logging equipment and connected him with several mills and equipment dealers. Running a successful logging operation is done by, “Doing a good job and being an honest person”, says Ussery.

Timber Harvesting Associate Editor David Abbott spends some time with Ferguson Forest Products in Luray, South Carolina. Owned by Frampton Ferguson, the company prides itself on ingenuity and it’s ability to navigate around one challenge after another. Ferguson believes in getting the most out of his equipment, often stretching equipment hours to the limit. Ferguson also serves on the board for the South Carolina Timber Producers Association.

Timber Harvesting Associate Editor David Abbott visits Clarence E. McNamara, Jr. Logging in Newberry, Michigan. Owner Clarence McNamara marked his 50th anniversary working in the woods in 2012. McNamara began working with his father’s logging operation at 18-years-old in 1962 and the company became his in 1975. The operation fields two crews, and McNamara’s philosophy is to, “match the right equipment mix and crew to the job.”

This article originally appeared in the September/October 2012 issue of Canadian Forest Industries. Written by James Menzies, the article discusses the fact that EPA rules are adding costs and restricting options for Class 8 truck buyers. Since 2007, the price of a new Class 8 log truck has gone up by nearly $20,000, thanks mostly to the cost of complying with government imposed emissions mandates.

Caterpillar Makes Changes Regarding CFP, Approves Three-Way East Texas Dealer Agreement; New Division Of GCS Handles Grinder Wear Parts; Deere Intensifies Forestry Focus; Precision Husky Signs Dealer For Brazil.

John Deere FD55 Disc Saw Felling Head; Cat B Series Zero Tail Swing Track Feller-Buncher; Simformotion LLC Cat Simulators FM Log Loader System For Forestry; RWF Bron 2013 475 Forestry Mulcher; Tigercat 5702 Felling Saw.

As We See It: Becoming Active; Logger/Farmer Parnell New Leader Of ALFA; Researchers Eye Poplar As Bioenergy Stock; LAL Gun Ticket Drive Works Well For MLA; SLC Sets Records As Changes Occur; SCTPA Annual Meeting February 1-3 At MB Resort.

The Logger Feedback questions in Timber Harvesting’s November/December issue, and on it’s web site, were as follows: 1) If you had the opportunity, and rates were attractive, and you could get financing, would you seriously consider expanding your operation(s) in the near-term (3-6 months)? 2) If you were willing and able to expand, do you feel that you could find the employees to do so?