Massive storm clean up

[Streetcar]

Similar damage in my area a couple of years ago. Most of the trees were chipped on-site. Very little was logged. They used huge chipper. Used excavator to move trees to chipper. On clearing site ,tub grinder was slower and messier.

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

I gotta say, for you to be the one that type of clientele calls for something like this... You must be a well respected business owner. You are doing it right.

 

[ruffdog]

That’s not going to happen, but appreciate the concern.

Here is a thread with some people with experience:

Chipper - chipping pine - sticky sap increases clogging frequency

 

[riptides]

Maybe talk with your local Fire Department for a controlled burn? You have a lot of material. A lot.

With the recent events regarding fires, perhaps with this large mass a training event with multiple departments may help your predicament.

 

[TN8Man]

Monday August 7th. We has a very strong storm blow through my little town. Top wind speeds in my area of 110MPH.
One of my farm customers bore the brunt of the damage. An estimated 300 medium-large trees blown over or snapped off like tooth picks.
Amazing is the power of nature. Huge trees just uprooted and blown over. Their 100 year existence over in one gust of air.

Their “tree guy” is going to be busy for a long time, so they have called me offering tractor & chainsaw work for the month of August.

Nothing set in stone yet, all just talk with the groundskeeper right now. He’s a very solid guy I have farmed & worked for for years. He was a meteorologist in the Navy and knows his stuff about weather.

Some pictures of the damage. Looks like a hurricane came through, but it’s isolated to a small area-maybe 1,000 acres, and the strangest part is it’s a very narrow swath.
Everyone thought it was a tornado, but no tornado activity was confirmed. Fallen


trees down point towards the east. No “swirl” to any of the debris.

View attachment 815348


View attachment 815349




View attachment 815350


I can’t really get back far enough to show all the damage, but it is extensive. No buildings, barns or houses were damaged, which is hard to believe.

Now begins the clean-up process. If I am to take on this job, it will probably be done in several steps, first being clear areas used daily like tractor paths, then farm fields. The trees that fell in the woods are probably last, if ever done at all.
A huge mess. Beginning to think a tub grinder is going to be needed.

No idea how to price this other than time and equipment. I have what’s left of the month of August to knock out the first part out, then have to return to hay farming.
First, have to confirm I have the work!!! Could be an interesting and long term job. Going to have to find some help.

"He was a meteorologist in the Navy and knows his stuff about weather."

I bet the guy has a pretty good idea on what caused this but probably won't say much.

As they say ... Loose lips sink ships.

 

[2manyrocks]

Are there any pine pellet manufacturing companies that would be interested in these trees?

 

[Citydude]

Organizing that mess would take an excavator around 30K pounds and two proficient chainsaw operators.

 

[fruitcakesa]

Are there any pine pellet manufacturing companies that would be interested in these trees?

This is a good suggestion if the trucking distance is reasonable. They were paying $30/ton split with the trucker near me. Not a big pay day but it would make it up in sheer volume of wood.

 

[Hay Dude]

Organizing that mess would take an excavator around 30K pounds and two proficient chainsaw operators.

I have a Cat 315 (15 metric tons) coming Monday. Has hydraulic thumb. I have 2 ground guys available on/off as long as I want.

It’s a GO!

 

[Hay Dude]

Maybe talk with your local Fire Department for a controlled burn? You have a lot of material. A lot.

With the recent events regarding fires, perhaps with this large mass a training event with multiple departments may help your predicament.

As stated earlier, NO burning. It’s not because of codes, it’s because of the customer-they won’t allow it.
What will happen is the branches will be put into massive piles and chipped late fall/winter.

 

[Hay Dude]

"He was a meteorologist in the Navy and knows his stuff about weather."

I bet the guy has a pretty good idea on what caused this but probably won't say much.

As they say ... Loose lips sink ships.

He has been a terrific help to me and we have become friends. He told me about “C.A.P.E.”

Convective available potential energy - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Hay Dude]

Look at this beast for picking up large trees.
Also has winch.
Articulates.
Diesel
Made by Case

Owner asking $7,000

 

[bigtiller]

Neat-o!
It's the first time I have seen an articulated case all-terrain forklift.

Is it army surplus?

 

[4570Man]

Look at this beast for picking up large trees.
Also has winch.
Articulates.
Diesel
Made by Case

Owner asking $7,000

View attachment 816426

I’d just use the 315. You can pick up a big log with that size machine. Forklifts are annoying for moving logs.

 

[Hay Dude]

Neat-o!
It's the first time I have seen an articulated case all-terrain forklift.

Is it army surplus?

Yes

 

[Hay Dude]

I’d just use the 315. You can pick up a big log with that size machine. Forklifts are annoying for moving logs.

I just thought it was an interesting machine.

 

[2manyrocks]

Looks like a giant power trac with a forklift attachment.

 

[workinonit]

Almost all of that wood would pulp out around here. Pulp wood has value. That must be what your buddy is doing with what he hauls off for 300 a load.

 

[Hay Dude]

Almost all of that wood would pulp out around here. Pulp wood has value. That must be what your buddy is doing with what he hauls off for 300 a load.

Yes, that’s right. A few years ago, they had too much supply and they would take it, but give you nothing for it.

 

[workinonit]

Lots of paper companies around here.