ben_inthewoods

Will that not mean Baltic labour rates? Would be great to automate that crate stacking - is this possible?

How about 10" rounds? I would have challenged the VOSA guy, (but not perhaps when just done for being overloaded).

page15 of the VOSA document on lithographs (revised 2011 GV262 - 03) does not suggest this is a problem at all (under 3.5t)

Our tr110 powers through 4x2 material and similar slab wood. Here is a you tube link to ours going through 2-4" beech....[ame= ] [/ame] [ame] [/ame] This material is the dogs for log boilers and not bad for small stoves either. A retro fitted conveyor would be useful, but 77ltr sacks have advantages too.

It is a no brainer....consult the electricity supplier.

Altyre sawmill also have a biomass grade chipper that is hired out in the area, plus Harper. Big investment.

Farming is still subject to PUWER Regs so a dangerous agri vehicle could or should lead to sanction.....but no policing leads to these problems, not the right priorities in the HSE?

Perhaps Peridermium pini (a rust fungi) if the pine are Scots, is there a black coloured scar/wound on the main stem?

They do help with the symptoms of HAVS. Definitely worth the money.

Scottish school of forestry (Inverness) have a very swanky harvested/forwarder simulator. Quite possible that short courses are available on this prior to real world operating.

Branchlogger nuggets are fantastic for log boilers 2-4" diameter. A really hot burn stored in a thermal store. Quick to season and better than chipping.

Woodwork's results = 2.2 loose m3 per solid m3 Finnish data = 2.5 loose m3 per solid m3 that's 12% variation between the two results, which is not that bad in terms of timber mensuration. A bit of replication and factors such as log length and average log diameter might yield more results.

Not far off, but better to be precise; according to the Finns 1 loose m3 = 0.4m3 solid with the stacked volume being 0.6 of a solid m3, sounds more like other's estimates? And a calc for fair comparison?

Sorry here is the conversion that I was trying to recall: Conversion Factors - Small Giant of Bio Energy

Surely with labour costs increasing in EU countries over time the loose m3 will be more popular unless stacked crates could be automated on a small producer scale. I agree that loose m3 is a good way to process where labour costs are high. Seasoning and or forced air drying may be more effective, but knowing the conversion factors and having them agreed would do no harm and would help consumers compare apples with apples.

Correct me if I'm wrong but in Finland and other countries where there is a more standardised market volume relates to a solid cubic metre. A stacked m3 as with kilned crates = 0.7 of a solid m3 A loose m3 = 0.3 of a solid m3 This convention is based on a log length and diameter ra It is interesting to compare prices on this basis. To my calculations the price of much UK firewood is high when compared to imports and oil.

We have started using the rovince anti tick clothing and they have proved really effective in reducing and almost eliminating tick bites. There was talk of treated chainsaw trousers.

Are pellets made from highly processed and dry wood? Not justifying pellet imports for other reasons, but it is a world away from the opening picture of mouldy, wet logs in the bark. It would be devastating to introduce Asian Longhorn beetle via dodgy logs or packaging. DEFRA used a scenario of ALHB outbreaking in Croyden to illustrate the problems faced - not pretty I can assure you. Granted responsible importers are not likely to do this, but how close to the wind do you need to sail?

The self certification at the exporter side is the weak link in the chain and FC/DEFRA/FERA are fully aware of this but are under resourced and are bound to work within EU rules which are slacker than most other trading zones. Try importing unprocessed spruce into the UK? you can't because of Ips The newly launched Plant Health Risk Register deals with all current and on the horizon plant health issues and whether it is tatties or logs the risks are objectively assessed. Firewood and bark of some tree species if not heat treated is a risk (ALHB, EAB, Bronse birch borer etc), properly treated it is a lower risk. If all business was acting above board the risk and worry associated with importing kilned firewood/packaging etc would not be an issue. There are unfortunately some businesses in all sectors and this will include firewood/plant importers that cut corners to make a better cut (think of pet passports, horse meat, plant passports). As said the impact of these diseases/pathogens is objectively assessed via the plant health risk register, but still once out in the wider environment the cost of dealing with them is huge and crucially rarely effective in getting the genie back in the bottle. Firewood is not a highly processed commodity and my own opinion is that a more cautious approach is needed that that of importing cotton t-shirts. With firewood in particular the carbon calculation of importing is one which i would like to know more about. Carbon calcs are required for all products including timber in the construction trade. Firewood would fair significantly worse than construction wood as the carbon is not stored - anyone done the sum or been asked to do the sum for RHI?

We're an Estate Forestry Enterprise and we got NO grant for processor, tractor, loader or trailer. Firewood helps maintain skilled forestry workforce . Certainly no panacea though.

We've just bought one of the Welmac TR110 branch logger. They are £6.5k, but they are CE marked, approved by the HSE and adequately guarded. They are rapid to say the least. The product we are calling log nuggets are very good burners, hot and if hardwood long lasting in stoves. Better still you utilise material that would be otherwise left on the forest floor or chipped. So far we have been very pleased with the TR110 and the product. cheers ben

Following up this thread from a week or two ago Forest Research called yesterday to confirm that the sample of Thuja was a NEGATIVE for P. lateralis :thumbup: Wind scorch - perhaps a hang over from last year? Late frost this year? Cheers Ben

No missed that one - better not try to multi task when reading arbtalk!##

No matter JimM's relationship with the trees in this case this is one of many examples in Moray and as this lack of adherence to national planning guidance puts third party trees at risk.

An estimate of volume using a tariff method will give you the volume +/- 10%. But as Sitka is sold by the tonne you will have to make an estimate on the vol/tonne conversion. As important or more important than the weight/vol is the cost of harvesting including access for haulage. Poor road access and the value is much reduced. cheers Ben