Proceedings of the IEA/BA Task IX, Activity 1 International Conference Mobile, Alabama USA March 1-3, 1994 Edited by Bryce J. Stokes and Timothy P. McDonald U.S.D.A. Forest Service DeVall Drive Auburn University, Alabama 36849 Hosted by Scott Paper Company Sponsored by IEA/BA Task IX, Activity 1 Electric Power Research Institute Oak Ridge National Laboratory U.S. Department of Energy Southern Forest Engineering Center Auburn University Southern Forest Experiment Station U.S.D.A. Forest Service Southeastern Regional Biomass Energy Program Demonstration Sponsored by Morbark Industries Table Of Contents Foreward Session I (Moderator - Jim Decosmo) Industrial short rotation intensive culture operations,Thomas H. Morgan, Jr Harvesting costs and utilization of hardwood plantations, Timothy P. McDonald and Bryce J. Stokes Short rotation forestry in loblolly pine, Alan P. Bruce Utilization of cottonwood plantations, C. Jeffrey Portwood Stand Establishment and Culture of Hybrid Poplars, Charles E. Kaiser, Donald E. Rice, and Kirk R. Wallace Development of a flail harvester for small diameter brush and coppiced trees to produce energy/chemical feedstock, Robert A. McLauchlan, Andrew Conkey, Greg Scherer, Peter Felker, and Stan Brown Mechanization of short rotation intensive-culture wood crops, William B. Stuart Growing Eucalyptus for Pulp and Energy, James A. Rydelius Session II (Moderator - Sam Foster) Management of irrigated hybrid poplar plantations in the Pacific Northwest, Charles A. Wierman Mechanization potential for industrial-scale fiber and energy plantations, Bruce Hartsough and Randall Richter Establishing and tending poplar plantations in the North-Central U.S., Dan Netzer and Ed Ward Hansen Silvicultural techniques for short rotation Eucalyptus plantations in Brazil, Ken McNabb The effects of whole tree harvesting on fuel quality and coppicing ability of SRIC willow crops, Juha Nurmi and Jyrki Hytönen Utilization of short rotation forestry from an effluent disposal scheme, Hamish T. Lowe, Ralph E.H. Sims, and Jim A. Cooper Session III (Moderator - Joseph Saucier) Developing sustainable integrated biomass systems, Jane H. Turnbull Current status and future directions for the U.S. Department of Energy's short rotation woody crop research, G. A. Tuskan, M.E. Downing, and L.L. Wright Update of short rotation intensive culture in Canada, Marie-Louise Tardif Mechanisation of short rotation intensive culture forestry (in the UK), Damian Culshaw Study Tour File posted on March 5, 1996; Date Modified: February 24, 1999 Forward This International Conference was unique in that it attempted to bring together from around the globe those interested in a special aspect of short rotation forestry. The organizers were extremely pleased with the interest and participation in the conference. The meeting provided an arena to exchange scientific and technical information, to learn the current status of such activities, to identify additional resources and collaborators, and to stimulate a growing interest in the problems and opportunities associated with mechanization in short rotation forestry. The meeting successfully accomplished the intended objectives of fostering exchange and promoting new interests. A total of 69 persons attended, representing seven countries. The co-chairmen would like to recognize and express appreciation to many people and organizations for their assistance. Several sponsors contributed funds and support. Major sponsors were the International Energy Agency/Biomass Agreement Task IX, Activity 1, and the Southern Forest Experiment Station of the USDA Forest Service. Other sponsors were Oak Ridge National Laboratory -US Department of Energy, Electric Power Research Institute, Southeastern Regional Biomass Energy Program, and the Southern Forest Engineering Center. We are deeply grateful to Scott Paper Company for hosting the conference and field tour, and to Morbark Industries for supplying the equipment for the demonstration. The employees of the Engineering Research Unit, USDA Forest Service in Auburn worked hard to make the meeting a success, and their efforts are sincerely appreciated. We owe our thanks to the moderators and speakers who gave excellent informative presentations and provided papers for the proceedings. We also want to extend our thanks to the presenters' sponsoring organizations and recognize the support they provided to the conference. Most of all, thanks are due to the conference attendees for their interest in the meeting. At the conclustion of the conference, it was obvious that interest in the subject was widespread and that several issues remained unresolved. During the final session, there was discussion on continuing the exchange of information and improving collaboration in short rotation mechanization. It was resolved to begin the process of establishing an informal working group of those interested in research in short rotation mechanization. Hopefully, in the ling term, this group can sponsor additional conferences and provide for increased technical exchange and collaborative research. If you would like to have your name added to the mailing list for this working group, please reply to the co-chairs at the enclosed address. Bryce J. Stokes & Timothy P. McDonald, Co-chairs USDA Forest Service DeVall Drive Auburn University, AL 36849 Phone: 205-826-8700 FAX: 205-821-0037 Stokes, Bryce J.; McDonald, Timothy P., comps. 1994. Proceedings of the International Energy Agency, Task IX, Activity 1 Symposium "Mechanization in Short Rotation, Intensive Culture Forestry"; 1994 March 1-3; Mobile, AL. Auburn, AL: US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Forest Experiment Station. 166p. Papers published in this proceedings were submitted by the authors in electronic form. Editing was done to ensure a consistent format. Authors are responsible for content and accuracy of their individual papers. The use of trade or company names of products or services in this proceedings is for the benefit of the reader. Such use does not constitute an endorsement or approval of any service or product by the conference sponsors to the exclusion of others that may be suitable. This publication reports research involving the use of pesticides. It does not contain recommendations for their use, nor does it imply that the uses discussed here have been registered. All uses of pesticides must be registered by appropriate State and/or Federal agencies before they are recommended. Caution: Pesticides can be injurious to humans, domestic animals, desirable plants, and fish or other wildlife -- if they are not handled or applied properly. Use all pesticides selectively and carefully. Follow recommended practices for the disposal of surplus pesticides and pesticide containers. File posted on March 5, 1996; Date Modified: February 21, 1999 Industrial Short Rotation Intensive Cultural Operations Thomas H. Morgan, Jr., Scott Paper Company, Mobile, AL USA Paper presented at the Mechanization in Short Rotation, Intensive Culture Forestry Conference, Mobile, AL, March 1- 3, 1994 INTRODUCTION This paper presents a brief history of Scott Paper Company in Mobile, Alabama in general and an outline of our work with Short Rotation Intensive Hardwood Culture in particular. The Mobile plant began as Hollingsworth and Whitney in the 1930s and was purchases by Scott paper in the 1950s. Scott Paper Company manufactures personal care products and printing media at the Mobile site. Two hundred thousand ha of timberland in the southeastern United States supply 40 percent of the fiber needs for this plant. Presently all pulpwood is chipped at the Mobile site for consumption in our pulp mill. Final transportation of pulpwood to our Mobile site is done primarily by water with 90 percent all solid wood delivered by company-owned river boats and barges and the balance trucked into the gate. Our co- generation facility produces 100 MW of electricity (mill's demand) on site. In producing this electricity, the co-generation plant uses 110 t per hour of wood waste, among other energy sources. Four in-woods biomass harvesting crews produce 225,000 t of this wood waste from non-merchantable biomass in stands of timber scheduled for harvest. The balance comes from our chip plants, and is also purchased from other wood-using industries in this area. Fiber Resource Strategy and Operations As stated earlier, fee land produces approximately 40 percent of our fiber needs and constitute our most cost-efficient source. This land base is comprised of about 60 percent pine plantations managed on even-aged 25 to 30 year rotations primarily on pine uplands and flat sites. Lobolly and slash pine dominate formerly planted species. The remaining acreage of our fee land base is managed for hardwood production. These stands are predominately bottomland hardwood sites that are regenerated naturally by "silvicultural" clearcuts. A relatively small amount of our land base is dedicated to short rotation intensive culture hardwood plantations. These stands are predominately sycamore plantation intensive cultured on 5 year rotations. SRIC plantations are placed on upland pine sites in order to provide a source for winter season hardwood fiber. Scott employee timber buyers negotiate and purchase about 60 percent of the timber coming off land not owned by Scott Paper Company both by dealing directly with other landowners or purchasing timber from other wood producers directly at out yard gates. Uniquely, Scott Paper Company's Southeastern Timberland is dedicated