Forty-eight harvesting contractors over 13 states submitted data on cost and production over a period from 2003-2006. Within this group, 30 harvesting contractors submitted data for all four years in the study period. Discussions of logging development is presented in Chapter II focusing on labor and equipment. Data analysis focused on production estimates and cost information from a firm size and regional standpoint in Chapter IV. Analysis of consecutive data in Chapter V focused on shifts over time in labor, equipment and related cost categories. Contractors in the Coastal Plains were most numerous and demonstrated a distinct difference in sub-groups. Piedmont firms were second in number followed by Appalachian and Lake States firms. Consumables costs affected all firms most especially between 2004 and 2005. The number of medium sized firms dropped sharply in 2005 indicating attempts to either reduce operating costs or spread increased operating costs over higher production levels.

A cost accounting analysis of full-scale logging operations in old-growth redwood during 2 years revealed that it cost 12.24 per M bd. ft. (gross Scribner log scale) to get logs on trucks. Road development costs averaged another 5.19 per M bd. ft. Felling-bucking production was calculated by average tree d.b.h. Both skidding and loading outputs per hour were determined by average log volume for a landing area and for a short time period. Costs of logging were highest on shelterwood, and lowest and about equal on the selection and clear cuttings.