An Assessment of Biomass Harvesting on Small Woodlots in New Hampshire June 1984 New Hampshire Division of Forest and Lands with the Cooperative Extension Service University of New Hampshire B31 Robert J. Berti, Project Leader AN ASSESSMENT OF BIOMASS HARVESTING ON SMALL WOODLOTS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE Prepared By Robert J. Berti FORECO, Forest Resource Consultants Rumney, New Hampshire 03266 Project Leader and Consultant for the New Hampshire Biomass Project Prepared for New Hampshire Department of Resources and Economic Development, Division of Forests and Lands • and Cooperative Extension Service University of New Hampshire June 1984 The New Ham~hirc Cooperative Extension Senicc·, progr..un' and policic-; arc con'L~tcnt \\ith peninent Federal and Slate laws and regulations on non-<Ji><:riminaiion rl"£arding me~ • ..:olor. naiional origin, religion, sc.x. age, ''r handicap. TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract ................................................................................ i Acknowledgements ....................................................................... ii Project Summary .................................................................. .... iv Foreword ............................................................................... 1 I Situation ......................................................................... 2 II Goals and Objectives ............................................................... 2 III Procedures ............... ... .... ........ ................................. ... 3 IV Findings ....................................................................... 4 A. Silvicultural .............................................................. 4 B. Economics ........... ........................................ ........ 4 C. Estimating Biomass Yield ................................................... 5 D. Logging and Equipment .................................................... 5 V Discussion ....................................................................... 8 A. Opportunities for Biomass Harvesting ....................................... 8 B. Equipment .............................................................. 11 C. Estimating Biomass Yield ................................................. 12 D. Training and Supervision .................................................. 13 E. Producer Considerations .................................... ....... ... ... 13 F. Annual Growth of the Resource ............................................. 16 VI Conclusions ..................................................................... 20 VII Recommendations ................................................................ 21 APPENDIX A. Descriptions of Study Areas & Logging Systems ................................ 23 B. Stand Data ............................................................. 34 C. Labor and Productivity Chart .............................................. 36 D. Stand Characteristics of 21 Study Areas ....................................... 37 E. Basal Area: Green Weight Table ............................................ 38 F. Comparison of Fuel Consumption in 13 Study Areas ............................ 39 G. Damage Assessment ...................................................... 40 H. Average Annual Growth .................................................. 41 I. Marking Layout and Supervision ............................................ 42 J. Biomass Harvesting Demonstrations ......................................... 43 K. Review of the Literature ................................................... 44 ABSTRACT A 400 acre study of biomass harvesting was conducted on twenty-one woodlots from 4 to 39 acres in size. A mix of equipment was evaluated in different terrain and stand conditions. Landowner and silvicultural ob­ jectives varied; most woodlots required only a partial, or selective harvest although three clearcuts were in­ cluded for comparison. Silvicultural objectives were met on all sites, and residual damage was less than with traditional harvesting. Equipment, job layout and supervision were examined in detail. Average yields from thinnings were 35 tons per acre. From the data obtained estimates of the available biomass resource in the southern two-thirds of the state were made. The project demonstrated that mechanized, biomass harvesting on small woodlots, is both economically and silviculturally feasible and desirable. NOTE: The use of trade, firm, or corporate names in this publication is for the information and conve­ nience of the reader. Such use does not constitute an official endorsement or approval by any of the cooperating agencies of any product or service to the exclusion of others which may be suitable. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Cooperation was the keystone of this project. Many individuals, agencies and organizations, both public and private, contributed to the success of the New Hampshire Biomass Assessment. The following people and their organizations deserve special thanks: * University of New Hampshire, Cooperative Extension Service David Buxton, who helped evaluate equipment and assisted · in the preparation of field demonstrations. Nicholas Engalichev, whose timely comments and suggestions helped guide the project. * Department of Resources and Economic Development, Division of Forests and Lands Tom Miner, who made the project a reality by providing members of his staff for assistance and the initial timber stands to operate. Robert Nelson and Philip Verrier who provided time and patience. * University of New Hampshire Dr. James Barrett, who provided assistance in developing the biomass yield table. Carl Johnson, Jr., whose special efforts at the computer gave the project its useful biomass for­ mula. * New Hampshire Department of Fish and Game Henry Laramie, who provided technical assistance in wildlife habitat improvement. * Hawkensen Enterprises Lloyd Hawkensen, whose visionary ability helped to conceive the project and provided timely assistance in market development. * Connecticut Valley Chipping Corporation Jamie Damman, who helped to move the chips when markets were poor. * Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests Paul Bofinger and Bruce Hovland, who provided guidance, advice and two excellent woodlots to experiment on. Marcy Lyman, whose nutrient loss study is an important part of this project. * New Hampshire Timberland Owners Association John Herrington, past executive director; and Charles Levesque, present executive director; who recommended private landowners whose timberland was used in the study, and who gave their helpful thoughts and comments. * Wagner Woodlands Norm Beane and Frosty Sobetzer, who provided two woodlots to experiment on. * The Markets - S.D. Warren, Westbrook, Maine - Concord Steam, Concord, New Hampshire - The Balsams, Dixville Notch, New Hampshire - Groveton Paper, Groveton, New Hampshire who often agreed to buy chips even when market conditions were poor. ii The Contractors Daniel Keniston, Woodstock, New Hampshire William Crowley, Loudon, New Hampshire James Walker, Epsom, New Hampshire who somehow survived the project and without whose time and patience the study would not have been possible. Special Note of Thanks: Arthur Dodge, Program Leader, Forestry and CFM Supervisor, Cooperative Extension Service Theodore Natti, State Forester, Division of Forests and Lands whose continued guidance and unselfish assistance throughout the project were greatly appreciated. David Schumann, U.S. Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Jan Van Loon, Connecticut Valley Chipping Corporation Howard Nowell, New Hampshire Department of Fish and Game, who reviewed and edited the final report. Jane Difley, who made the final report a reality! Staff at Foreco Kenneth Sutherland, Jr., and Peter Everts who assisted in so many ways. Ronald Klemarczyk, who provided special assistance in supervision, layout, and map making and received the 5 a.m. phone calls. Sarah, Kim and Anne, who answered the phone calls, did the typing and added the figures. iii PROJECT SUMMARY The New Hampshire Division of Forests and Lands and the New Hampshire Governor's Council on Energy submitted a proposal to the USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry seeking funding to support a cooperative demonstration project to document the potential for selective forest harvesting on small woodlots using mechanized biomass* harvesting technology. The project was to assess the economic viability and silvicultural effectiveness of mechanized and integrated harvesting technology for the benefit of private, non-industrial landowners, professional foresters, and loggers; and to encourage markets for resulting wood products. An ad-hoc technical committee was established to assist in preparing the work plan, meeting funding re­ quirements, coordinating activities, and preparing the necessary reports. This field study documented operations on over four hundred acres, comprising twenty-one woodlots of less than forty acres. At the same time current literature on nutrient losses from whole tree harvesting was reviewed. The results show that whole tree harvesting and chipping, when properly practiced, are not only feasible, but desirable. Woodland owners, loggers, foresters and planners can benefit from the project's findings. Forest Owners Of the 4. 7 million acres of commercial forest land in the state, two-thirds are held by 90,000 private, non­ industrial forest owners. Biomass operations achieved a number of owner objectives, even