Cost comparisons for three harvesting systems operating in northern hardwood stands

Production rates, break-even piece (tree) sizes/costs (BEP), and operating costs were compared for a Koller K-300 cable yarder, a cut-to-length (CTL) harvester, and an A60F Holder tractor operating at three machine utilization rates (MUR) in northern hardwood stands. At an average product price of $0.40/ft3, the BEP size at an MUR of 90 was 7.64 ft3 for the Koller yarder, 4.63 ft3 for the CTL harvester, and 3.74 ft3 for the A60F tractor, respectively. At MUR?s of 75 and 60 percent, the break-even piece size was 9.18 and 10.82 ft3 for the Koller, 5.64 and 8.31 ft3 for the CTL harvester, and 4.55 and 5.74 ft3 for the Holder tractor. The most important attributes of these systems are reduced soil compaction and disturbance, ease of movement to and from the logging site, and minimal residual stand damage.