June 2026 SHARP Logger Newsletter

June 2026 SHARP Logger Newsletter (pdf)

June 2026 SHARP Logger Newsletter (video)

Email-only Newsletter Option

Would you rather receive a pdf version of this newsletter by email? By default, all SHARP Loggers are mailed a printed copy of this newsletter. Please let us know if you would rather be emailed a pdf version. The pdf should have universal accessibility features and work with screen readers, and the links should be clickable. The pdf is also available on our website, www.SharpLogger.vt.edu/news.html. To switch from a printed, mailed newsletter to an emailed pdf newsletter, contact us (SharpLogger@vt.eduor 540-231-6494) or use the Contact Info Update Survey (https://virginiatech.questionpro.com/t/Ab6n7Z5hrO).

USDA Web Soil Survey

The USDA maintains an online soil survey. If you outline a tract on this website, it will show you a map of the soils on the property. You can also look up information about the soil, including how good it is for growing different types of trees and how suitable it is for decks and haul roads. The website is https://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/. After pushing the green button to launch the service, start by entering the address of the property or one nearby. Use the AOI Tool above the map to outline your area of interest by clicking the corners and double clicking to finish. The “soil map” tab at the top of your screen will show you where each type of soil is on the property. The “soil data explorer” tab has over 150 different categories of information. Forest productivity –how good the land is for growing different types of trees –is under “vegetative productivity”. Under “land management”, you can find “construction limitations for haul roads and log landings”, “erosion hazard”, “harvest equipment operability”, “soil rutting hazard”, and other useful topics. Click “view rating” to color code the map and display a chart that includes the reasons for each rating. This information can be very helpful in preharvest planning. More in depth instructions can be found at https://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/Help/WSS_HomePage_HowTo.pdf.

Virginia Tech College of Natural Resources and Environment Sustainable Supply Chain Collaborative

Virginia Tech, home of the SHARP Logger Program, has launched a Sustainable Forest Supply Chain Collaborative. The Collaborative is a group of faculty, industry partners, landowners, and community leaders working together. The goal is to support a sustainable, resilient supply chain, from woodland owners and managers, to timber harvesters, to mills and manufacturers. The Collaborative is interested in environmental, economic, and social sustainability. That means that “forests are managed responsibly, forest businesses are viable, and forest products are available for future generations”. The Collaborative will do this through applied research that answers real life challenges, teaching the next generation of forestry professionals, and Extension Programs like the Virginia Forest Landowner Education Program and the SHARP Logger Program.

The Collaborative wants to have actively involved participants from all segments of the forest supply chain including landowners and the professionals helping manage forests, logging businesses, and the mills producing products from the forest. We want to utilize this collaborative to improve our current research, teaching, and extension programs and to build our capacity to do even more and have a greater impact. We want to collectively work on projects that will improve the sustainability of the forest supply chain and work to prepare the next generation of the workforce for the forest industry. Your advice, input, and participation is always welcomed. We will be doing a formal needs assessment to help us prioritize issues and projects we can work on. These needs would include topics that would benefit from more research, skills and experiences that students should have to be successful, and outreach needs, or just general ideas about what we can do that would help you in your business. If you would like to be involved, we have more information on the Collaborative’s website: https://sfsc.cnre.vt.edu/. If you are interested, you can fill out the form at the bottom of the website homepage and give us your contact information so that we can keep in touch with you about the Collaborative.

A Safety Short
By Pat Donnelly, WVU

Have you ever run a piece of equipment that caught on fire? You are literally in the hot seat! I have been on several jobs where equipment has burned, and thankfully the operators have gotten out safely! Why do I bring this up? To remind us all about the necessity of a fully charged fire extinguisher. On the last job I was on, it was the feller-buncher that caught on fire. It took all 7 fire extinguishers to knock down the fire, and most of the machine still burned. Keep them handy, inspect them every month, and if not fully charged, get them recharged. Have replacements ready so one is always available. Markets and fuel prices are bad enough. We do not need to add a burned-up machine to the list!