Value Recovery with Harvesters in Southeastern U.S. Pine Stands‪.‬

Abstract Cut-to-length is not the harvesting system of choice in the southeastern United States although it is perceived by many to have the ability to recover more value from cut stems. In this paper, the value recovery aspect of harvesters is addressed by comparing the optimal recoverable value, as calculated by optimization software, to the actual value recovered by harvesters at three harvest sites. The actual values recovered at the sites were 93 percent, 90 percent, and 94 percent, respectively, of the optimal recoverable value. Value losses were caused by the harvesters' tendency to cut fewer but longer logs than the optimal solution suggested, making logs that did not adequately meet product specifications, and harvester measuring errors.