Agriculture and Agribusiness

Forest Harvesting and Timber Transport Operations

Harvesting is where a rotation's value is finally realised or lost, in an operation that is both the most dangerous work in forestry and the largest single cost in delivering a log to a mill. This course covers both. Delegates work through harvest planning: coupe layout, extraction routes, landing siting and the road network that determines what a machine can reach. Felling is addressed across motor manual and mechanised systems, with the directional felling technique that keeps a cutter alive. Cross cutting and log making are covered as the value decision they are, since a log cut to the wrong length loses grade and price. Extraction follows through skidding, forwarding and cable systems on steep ground. Landing operations, stacking and loading are addressed. Transport is covered, including payload, road condition, load security and the cost per tonne kilometre. Safety is treated throughout rather than as a module. The course closes on residue, on site rehabilitation after harvest and on measuring delivered cost.