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The Rural Voice, 2004-05, Page 50Warren D. Moore Forest Specialist specializing in: * Woodlot Management * Timber Marking and Marketing * Tree Pruning, Tree Removal * Tree Planting Services Certified Managed Forest Plan Approver 4' Provincial Tree Marker Blyth 523-9855 The Rural Voice welcomes your opinions for our Feedback letters to the editor column. Mail to: The Rural Voice, PO Box 429, Blyth, ON NOM 1H0 HELP FOR ONTARIO FARMERS IN CRISIS Queen's Bush Rural Ministries Provides - a free confidential service to listen and offer a network of helpful contacts. Call Collect 1-519-369-6774 46 THE RURAL VOICE Woodlot Management for farmland. Most feeder roots for trees are near to the surface and are easily injured by compaction, reducing their effectiveness and thus tree vigour and growth. Rutting can sever or seriously injure roots, also impacting tree vigour and growth and eventually causing stain or decay in the tree and even tree mortality or blow down. Trails that are seriously rutted may not be suitable to use in future harvests. Ruts on steep slopes can funnel surface water runoff, causing serious erosion problems. Above ground damage to residual trees is also of concern. This is primarily caused by the skidder, or the logs it is pulling, banging into or running over other trees on the site. Serious wounds can potentially result in reduced tree vigour or even mortality. Also, wounds to the stems of residual trees are almost certain to result in stain and eventually decay. This increases the amount of cull (the amount of material not suitable for lumber) in those logs when they are eventually harvested. Research has shown that bigger wounds result in more cull. Also wounds in contact with the ground are likely to result in more defect due to the moister environment and proximity of soil - borne decay and stain organisms. Deugo offered a number of practical options to reduce logging damage. The first was timing. Obviously, rutting and compaction are more likely to occur during wet soil conditions. This is often the case in the spring, which is also when most active growth occurs and the cambium layer just under the bark more easily separated. As a result trees are more easily injured in the spring, when a minor impact can cause a much more serious injury than might be caused at other times of the year. Careful layout of trails can minimize the amount of trail coverage in the woodlot reducing the amount of compaction. Most skidders carry well over 100 feet of cable, so there is no need to drive to CUSTOM WELDED HORSE STALL PENNING We specialize in grill work and horse stall penning for your special design. No job «& , f i, K l rb , too small or too big. Show us your idea i I ' and we'll custom build to meet your requirements. Quality workmanship at very reasonable rates. TILMANSHERK • Bu} direct or from our nearest dealer • Weimer Line #4475, Phone or Fax (519) 656-3338 RR 3# Wellesley, Ontario Toll Free 1-800-804-9838 46 THE RURAL VOICE Woodlot Management for farmland. Most feeder roots for trees are near to the surface and are easily injured by compaction, reducing their effectiveness and thus tree vigour and growth. Rutting can sever or seriously injure roots, also impacting tree vigour and growth and eventually causing stain or decay in the tree and even tree mortality or blow down. Trails that are seriously rutted may not be suitable to use in future harvests. Ruts on steep slopes can funnel surface water runoff, causing serious erosion problems. Above ground damage to residual trees is also of concern. This is primarily caused by the skidder, or the logs it is pulling, banging into or running over other trees on the site. Serious wounds can potentially result in reduced tree vigour or even mortality. Also, wounds to the stems of residual trees are almost certain to result in stain and eventually decay. This increases the amount of cull (the amount of material not suitable for lumber) in those logs when they are eventually harvested. Research has shown that bigger wounds result in more cull. Also wounds in contact with the ground are likely to result in more defect due to the moister environment and proximity of soil - borne decay and stain organisms. Deugo offered a number of practical options to reduce logging damage. The first was timing. Obviously, rutting and compaction are more likely to occur during wet soil conditions. This is often the case in the spring, which is also when most active growth occurs and the cambium layer just under the bark more easily separated. As a result trees are more easily injured in the spring, when a minor impact can cause a much more serious injury than might be caused at other times of the year. Careful layout of trails can minimize the amount of trail coverage in the woodlot reducing the amount of compaction. Most skidders carry well over 100 feet of cable, so there is no need to drive to