Direct Drive drives logger to Deere p/3

New feller-buncher introduced...p/6 Processing head right idea...p/8 Happy birthday, dear John...p/10

MARCH 04

DKMAG94F_ReviewDMAG94F_Review 2/2/04 3:33 PM Page 1

There are many challenges in the forestry

industry, but financing shouldn’t be one of

them. That’s because John Deere Credit is

here to help. When you finance your new

Deere loaders, skidders,

and feller-bunchers

though John Deere

Credit**, you can acquire

your equipment with the

flexibility you need.

We understand the

forestry industry, so we

give you the option to set your retail note

with skip payments to meet your seasonal

cash flow needs**. We’ll also help you

work out contract terms and details to

fit your budget.

For credit solutions to your day-to-day

business needs, talk to John Deere Credit.

Put us to work for you and we’ll help build

your success, season after season. For

more information, call 1-800-468-8518 (US)

or 1-800-520-0502 (Canada) and refer to

“real financial solutions.”

“I’m a forestry contractorwith a lot on my mind —the weather, keeping asteady workforce, andmaintaining my equip-ment. I don’t have thetime to become familiarwith all the financingoptions* out there.”

When you want real financial solutions.

* Consult your tax advisor.**Subject to John Deere Credit approval.

www.Construction.JohnDeereCredit.com (US)www.Construction.JohnDeereCredit.ca (Canada) 3

C O V E R S T O R Y

Not all products sold at all locations.

Dirt, gunk, crud, particulate contamination. Whatever youwant to call it, the stuff could be wreaking havoc on yourmachinery and costing you big time.

Maybe that’s not earthshaking news, but the fact thatmore than 90 percent of hydraulic system failures are causedby contamination is.

A recent John Deere survey discovered contaminatedhydraulic systems cost contractors more than any othermachine maintenance problem. And what’s equally dis-turbing is that on machines with sophisticated, high-flowsystems, the amount of dirt doing the dirty deed wouldn’tfill a bottle cap.

John Deere is looking at promising new solutions to helpprevent this vexing problem. For example, we’ve adopted afilter caddy system that will clean fluids as they run throughthe filtration unit and back into your equipment.

There is also a new technology called the Ultra-CleanSystem that scours hydraulic systems by shooting a rapid-fire projectile through hose and tube assemblies. The projec-tile strips out internal contamination as it travels throughcouplings and around bends, forcing the contamination outin front of it. So oil stays clean as it reaches expensive com-ponents, which extends system and filter life.

We can’t stress enough how important a vigilant fluid-analy-sis program is. Obviously, changing fluids and filters at recom-mended intervals is critical, too. You can count on Deere to beyour ally in the fight against productivity robbing dirt.

quality timber, as whole logs, to anOSB mill. He recently downsized hisoperation from three crews to one,and shaped that crew into a modelof efficiency.

“I enjoy being able to keep a closeeye on my work,” says Bedell. “I wasspending too much time in my truckdriving from one job to the next. NowI can do a better job of making sureour production is on target and we’reworking as efficiently as possible.Running just one job is also a lot lessstressful.”

Bedell’s job is aided by a chipperand a loader that runs stems througha processor that delimbs and cuts tolength. Cutting is done with rubber-tired machines equipped with feller-

Sincerely,

Mikko RysaVice President, Worldwide Forestry Sales and Marketing

Allen Bedell, president of Circle BLogging, Inc. in Fordyce, Arkansas., hasbeen working in the woods for 44 yearsand running his own logging businesssince 1973. In that time he’s seen theindustry change in many positiveways. Improvement to the machineryused in harvesting has increased speedand efficiency, and made logging asafer profession. Changes in practiceshave made the industry more environ-mentally responsible and enabledthose who work in the industry to belooked upon with higher esteem bythose both in and out of the loggingcommunity.

Bedell’s company does contractthinning, chipping the lower qualitywood for paper and sending the higher

Dirt may be robbing you blind.

Arkansas logger focuses on an efficient operation and shaping the industry’s future

continued on page 4

4 5

a while. His big concern isgetting it up and going again,quickly. “The dealer is a veryinfluential factor in our equip-ment-purchasing decision,”says Bedell. “We look for peo-ple who do what they say theycan do, and for good parts andservice support. We get thatfrom Warrior.”

Bedell has been workingwith Warrior of Arkansasor its predecessorsince 1978 and looksupon the relation-ship favorably. “I

buncher heads. Two John Deere648G-III Skidders with dual-archgrapples transport the trees tothe landing and remove slash.

“We’re using a very high-capacity chipper,” says Bedell,“so it’s important to get goodproduction from the skidder.The 648Gs are definitely theright machines for the job.”

Bedell points to the avail-ability of a direct-drive trans-mission as a reason for choosingJohn Deere. “The direct driveallows the skidder to pull heav-ier loads, and it does so more

efficiently, using less fuel, andwithout the higher mainte-nance costs associated withtorque-converter-type trans-missions,” he says. “While thistransmission is a bit more diffi-cult to operate, I’d have to saythat it is more ‘owner friendly.’In today’s competitive marketwe need to look at every waypossible to lower operatingcosts. The direct-drive trans-mission is one.”

Another is choosing a dealeror supplier. Bedell points outthat everything breaks once in

C O V E R S T O R Y

guess if I were filling out a ques-tionnaire, when it came to ‘Howdo you feel about Warrior?,’I’d have to check the box thatsays, ‘Meets or exceeds expec-tations.’ They do great workfor us.”

Bedell’s current job involvesa tract that was harvest cut 27years ago and reseeded by“Mother Nature.” “We’re look-ing at about 700 trees per acrehere,” he says. “We’re thinningto 200 per acre, leaving onlythe best to mature.”

The crew operates a nine-hour shift and is averaging tenacres a day, filling a chip vanevery 30 minutes or so and awhole log truck every hour.It’s a busy place.

Throughout his career Bedellhas actively participated in anumber of state and nationalindustry associations, andstrongly believes that taking a

proactive position is not onlygood for business but the rightthing to do.

“I want to be able to influencehow things in our industry aredone,” he says. “Participatingin these associations helpsmake that happen.” He observesthat having a person who hasactually been on a forestry jobsitting at a table with scientists,legislators, and others involvedin setting policy for the timberindustry is crucial. “Often thesepeople don’t have a good feelfor how things are actually done.Being able to express our viewadds some reality to the discus-sion and is appreciated.”

Bedell was actively involvedwith the Sustainable ForestryInitiative, which shows every-one in the industry how to bebetter stewards of the land,and he points to this as oneconcrete example of how

involvement can affect thebusiness in a positive way.

The company’s visible pro-file in the industry doesn’t gounrecognized. Circle B Loggingwas the winner of the firstTimber Harvesting OutstandingLogging Business of the YearAward in 1998. Bedell’s proud-est accomplishment, however,was being named the chairmanof the Forest Resources Associ-ation, a position he currentlyholds. “This is a very impor-tant, influential organization,”says Bedell. “Being namedchairman is a great honor.”

Bedell’s extremely efficientone-crew operation will allowhim to continue to be a highlysuccessful logger, and his con-tinued involvement in shapingthe future of the industry willleave a legacy that he and hisfamily will be proud of formany years to come."

Climate-controlled cab keeps Circle Boperators at peak efficiency no matterwhat weather conditions exist.

Center: Alen Bedellhas been working inthe woods for nearly45 years. Above:Dual-arch grapplesserve Circle B’sneeds well.

76

F E L L E R - B U N C H E R

John Deere’s new 903 is a purpose-built forestrymachine with a full-size, heavy-duty undercarriage.Its high power-to-weight ratio and excellent trac-tion allow it to work in difficult terrain with ease.

A good understanding.The 903G has a big footprint; a high, 29-inch (400

mm) ground clearance; and 8.5-inch (216 mm) pitch,nine-roller undercarriage. Available with 24-, 28-, and30-inch (610, 710, and 760 mm) pads, it provides sure-footed performance with as little as 7.3 psi (58 kPa)ground pressure.

It’s automatic.The Deere 903G’s performance is managed by the

revolutionary Total Machine Control (TMC) system.TMC automatically manages the machine’s hydraulicsystem, engine, swing, propel, and boom functions.

Operators can customize the 903G’s settings forspeed or sensitivity, or choose one of two that are pre-set. TMC stores settings for up to seven operators. Vitalmachine functions are monitored, with audible andvisible warning provided for critical machine functions.

The power to please.An 8.1-L John Deere diesel delivers 225 hp (190kW)

and an impressive 922 lb.-ft. (1250 Nm) of torque at aneasy-on-fuel engine speed of 1,500 rpm.

A hydraulically opened, walk-through compartmentprovides unmatched access to the engine, hydrauliccomponents, and daily service areas.

Just like home.The 903’s quiet, spacious, pressurized cab has

unmatched visibility. Controls are well located andoperate with minimum effort. Gauges are clustered formonitoring at a glance. The suspension seat has mul-tiple adjustments to provide the operator optimumcomfort and allow peak productivity all shift long.

Where the work gets done.The 903G can be equipped with a 22-in. (560 mm)

capacity, high-accumulation side pocket, low-velocityfront-discharge saw head as standard equipment. Twoheads with 220-degree rotation are also available.

John Deere’s exclusive SECURE-Extended™ warrantycan be custom designed to meet the owner’s operat-ing schedule, providing fixed machine costs for aspecified period of time.

Now available.The John Deere 903G is available today. See your

dealer for details."

In mid-August of 2002 Charlesand Larry Hill, owners of HillLogging in Jeffersonville,Georgia, made a decision thatwould dramatically improvethe efficiency of their busi-ness — they purchased a usedJohn Deere 200LC Excavatorequipped with a new WaratahHTH622 processing head.

“Prior to that purchase wewere using a gate delimber anda man on the ground to cleanup the logs and cut them toproper length,” says Hill. “Ournew setup has proven very

efficient. First, getting a manoff the ground was a decisionwe felt good about. It’s a dan-gerous job and was very time-consuming. But where we reallynoticed the difference was inour output. Production justmultiplied.”

Hill does selective cuttingand final harvesting in planta-tions that have already beenthinned once, sometimes twice.“We do multiple separations,”explains Hill. “We separateout the logs that will becomepoles. Those are 12 to 14 inch-

es in diameter at the butt and7 inches at the top. Logs des-tined for a mill that buys sawlumber are 28 inches and largerin diameter and tree length.The plywood mill buys logsthat are 18 to 28 inches indiameter and tree length. Theplywood mill buys logs in mul-tiple lengths that are 18 to 28inches in diameter. Anotherwants 10- to 18-inch diameterlogs for dimensional lumber.Other mills have differentspecifications. All of thisrequired measuring on the

This feller-buncher delivers go-anywhere production in a reliable, versatile package

Waratah processing head and 200LC Excavator enhance output, increase accuracy and safety.

98

W A R A T A H C O N T .

ground, and marking each logwith paint.”

Now all the delimbing, mea-suring, and cutting to lengthis done by the computers builtinto the processing head, at17 feet per second. “It’s notinstant, but it’s really fast,”observes Hill.

The Hills didn’t become suc-cessful southern loggers bymaking quick, impulsive deci-sions. Theirs are calculated andwell thought through. This wasno exception. “We had beenlooking for a ‘better way’ forfour years,” says Hill. “My sonJeremy first mentioned the ideaof processing heads. My firstthought was that this was some-thing that we couldn’t afford,but Jeremy was persistent. Welooked at different processingheads, different carriers.

“We talked to manufacturers’reps and other loggers. I talkedto Buddy Long, an Arkansas log-ger who had more than 16,000hours on his Waratah head andhad no problem with it at all,”notes Hill. “That was a big influ-ence in choosing the processinghead. We also knew that Ron Harewith Waratah has his phone on24 hours a day, 7 days a week,and would be available to helpus troubleshoot any problemswe might have.

“As for the carrier, there area lot of John Deere 200LCs outin the field, and everyone wetalked to gave them high markson efficiency and reliability,”says Hill. “We’re real happywith our decision.”

Like a video game.James Faulk, Jr., Charles and

Larry’s nephew, likens operatingthe unit to playing a video game.“It takes good eye/hand coordi-nation, and you’re using mostfingers on both hands. Once youget onto it, it’s really kind of fun.I can run the machine all daylong, and not be all that wornout at the end of the day.”

The Hills’ company keepsvery accurate records on eachmachine’s operating costs, andthe John Deere machines in theiroperation come out real good onpaper. “The 200LC uses 4 to 5 gal-lons of fuel per hour. That’s veryreasonable,” says Hill. He has a748C-II Skidder and a competitiveunit. “The Deere engine in theskidder is much easier on fuel,”he says. “I’d say 10 to 15 gallonsa day better. Multiply that by thenumber of days a year we oper-ate, and it adds up to a good bit.”

Religious experience.Preventive maintenance is

almost a religious experience

at Hill Logging. “Our daddyalways told us oil was thecheapest thing that you couldbuy, so we change the oil andfilters every two hundredhours,” says Larry Hill, Charles’brother. The company has acustom-made oil-change trailerthat it brings to the field. It’sextraction system can quicklyremove and store old oil andused filters. New oil is pumpedin and the job is done in a mat-ter of minutes. “It’s an efficientand environmentally friendlyway to do things,” Hill says.“And it’s so simple that we aresure to do it on schedule.” Henotes that, with the Deeremachines, preventive mainte-nance items are easily accessi-ble, which helps in making thisvital procedure fast and easy.

Jeremy Hill, Charles’ son,who sometimes runs the JohnDeere 200LC, tells of anotherway this machine increased thecompany’s production. “We hada wet spell a couple of monthsago that had most loggers inthis part of the country shutdown. We worked right throughit by using the machine as a har-vester. Because the machinehas such good floatation, wewould take it into the wet spots,cut the trees, and shoot themout to dryer ground so the skid-

ders could pull them up to thelanding. As we were doing this,the branches that were beingremoved developed a ‘pad’ thatthe skidders could run on.”

Another production boostaccomplished with Hill Log-ging’s excavator/processorcombination is getting moreusable logs out of the woods.“This machine so accuratelymeasures length and diameterthat we can process and removea lot of the shorter logs that wewould have left in the past,”says Ken Hill, Charles’ nephew.“We get paid by the deliveredton, so every extra bit we can

get out is a big plus for us, aswell as the landowner.”

The Hill’s decision to go withthe John Deere machines wasalso influenced by the serviceprovided by his dealer, Metrac,headquartered in Atlanta, withfacilities also located in Braselton,Adairsville, Columbus, Macon,and Augusta, Georgia. “They’rea big company and are devotedto backing up the machinesthey sell,” observes Hill. “Whenthey don’t have a part in stock,they bend over backwards toget it to you fast. In fact, rightnow my Metrac salesman is onhis way to the parts depot near

Atlanta to get a part for us. It’sreally hard to put a dollar valueon service like that, but I cantell you this, we sure do appre-ciate it. It’s something we won’tsoon forget.”

Hill Logging’s combinationof John Deere machines and theWaratah processor head hasgiven their operation a big boostin productivity. It’s a combina-tion that just might do the samefor you. Your John Deere salesrep can help you put together apackage right for your opera-tion. Talk to him, today."

Charles Hill, Hill Logging

Making money in CTL harvesting in small-to-medium wood is a matter of

choosing the right equipment. Nothing’s easier on the jobsite – or easier to

run – than John Deere harvesters and forwarders. They go quietly and efficiently

about their job with hardly a trace of disturbance, getting strong production

numbers and the highest quality logs. Make your move into the future

as a preferred CTL contractor. Choose John Deere.

There’s a John Deere team right for you.

Don’t sweat the

small stuff

CTL

HARVESTING F O R E S T R Y E Q U I P M E N T

Two six-wheel harvesters.Three tracked harvesters.Four forwarders in seven different base configura-tions, four-wheel,six-wheel, and eight-wheel.

LEADING THE WAYProductivity – Uptime – Low daily operating costs

And nobody serves forestry customers better

than your Deere forestry focused dealer10

F O U N D E R ’ S B I R T H D A Y

When John Deere crafted hisfamous steel plow in his black-smith shop in 1837, he alsoforged the beginnings of Deere& Company — a company thathas not only survived 166years, but has grown into aworldwide corporation thattoday does business in morethan 160 countries.

As we celebrate the 200thanniversary of the birth of thisenterprising pioneer, it’s appro-priate to look back on his lifeand legacy.

In 1821 at the age of 17 Johnleft home to become an appren-tice blacksmith. Completing hisapprenticeship in 1825, theyoung and eager John Deeremoved on to journeyman posi-tions, where he honed his skillsand learned firsthand that ablacksmith’s workmanship washis signature. John plied his

trade as he raised a family incentral Vermont.

In 1836 he made the difficultdecision to leave his family andhead West to seek his fortune.He made a trip taking severalweeks to Grand Detour with just$73 in his pocket. Upon arrivalhe rented land and hastily builta small blacksmith shop.

It wasn’t long before heheard tales of frustration fromfarmers struggling to break thetough prairie sod. Soil clung totheir cast-iron plows and had tobe removed by hand every fewsteps, making plowing an ardu-ous and time-consuming task.

One day in 1837 John spot-ted a broken saw blade in thecorner of a sawmill and askedthe owner if he could take itback to his shop. There, JohnDeere fashioned the world’sfirst successful steel plow and,

in doing so, opened up the Westto agricultural development.

In 1848, John Deere movedhis operation to Moline, Illinois,to take advantage of the bettertransportation and water powerprovided by the MississippiRiver. Within a few years, pro-duction had reached 1,600 plowsa year, and John was gettingsteel rolled to his specificationsfrom Pittsburgh.

It was during these earlydays that John Deere laid downhis principles of doing businessthat are still followed by thecompany that bears his nametoday. Among them was hisinsistence on high standardsof quality. “I will never put myname on a product that doesnot have in it the best that isin me,” he vowed."

www.johndeere.com

Legendary Deere skidders, for years powered by

an ultra-efficient direct-drive transmission,

now offer a torque-converter option on the mid-

size 648G-III Grapple Skidder and 640G-III

Cable Skidder. See us for details.

Feel the power of choice.

DKMAG94F Litho in U.S.A. (04-03) Not all products sold at all locations.