• Ketcheson, D.E.
  Canadian Forestry Service
  

This report was sponsored by the Ontario Forest Industries Association, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, and the Great Lakes Forest Research Centre of the Canadian Forestry Service. The results, summarized in the table below, combine the low and high estimates for each activity for which cost estimates were made. They are presented by leave period, which is an important variable in determining the magnitude of extra costs, and they distinguish between the Clay Belt and non-Clay Belt areas so as to reflect the differences in logging operations and silvicultural problems encountered in the two areas.

The report deals with the impact of strip cutting on planning, layout and supervision, in-strip operations, roadside processing, movement of mean and materials, and roads. Extra planning and layout costs range from $5 to $10 per acre of strip cut. The magnitude of extra costs depends upon the size of the strip cut and the width of the strips. Supervision of logging operations is affected by strip cutting but it is not clear whether extra costs will be involved.

In-strip effects refer to the effects of strip cutting on the productivity of felling and forwarding. Extra-cost estimates were not made for this item. The factors likely to affect productivity and costs are strip width and the amount of blowdown in the second-cut strips. Supervision of logging operations is affected by strip cutting but it is not clear whether extra costs will be involved.

In-strip effects refer to the effects of strip cutting on the productivity of felling and forwarding. Extra-cost estimates were not made for this item. The factors likely to affect productivity and costs are strip width and the amount of blowdown in the second-cut strips. If strip width is greater than 5 chains, extra costs are likely to be minimal. The extra costs will be high if there is an extraordinary amount of blowdown on the residual strips.

Roadside processing includes a review of the impact of strip cutting on slashing tree-length material to 8 ft lengths and loading and hauling. The results of the review of the impact on slashing provide estimates ranging from $.60 per acre to $2.20 per acre, depending upon factors such as strip width, average slashing costs, and volume delivered to roadside. With respect to loading and hauling, it was concluded that there is no significant impact on costs attributable to strip cutting.

Movement of men and materials was considered in terms of moving machinery between locations, moving men to and from the work site, and moving garages and machines within the work area. It was concluded that machinery would have to be moved more often as a result of strip cutting, but no cost estimates were made. Movement of men to and from the work site would not be affected materially by strip cutting except in those cases in which walking time is added because all-weather roads are not available. The cost of moving field garages and of moving equipment within the work area would be affected by strip cutting. The extra cost estimates ranged from $1.75 per acre of strip cut for a feller-buncher system to $3.25 per acre for a conventional cut and skid system to $6.75 per acre for a shortwood-harvester system.

Roads are the greatest source of extra costs. Factors such as average construction costs and resultant capital costs, leave period, and terrain affect the results. The extra costs range from a low of $15 per acre for a case outside the Clay Belt with a 3-year leave period to $72 per acre for a case outside the Clay Belt with a 10-year leave period.