News & Innovation

The University of Idaho is working with Idaho loggers to help develop forest industry employees by offering a new two-year degree program: an associates degree in Forest Operations and Technology. According to Idaho Forest Products Commission Director Jennifer Okerlund, offering the degree responds to forest industry officials in the state and provides a direct route to employment for those who are interested in the industry. “This is not a foresters…

As Grote Industries enters its 121st year of operation, fourth-generation family members, Dominic, John and Mike Grote acquired 100% control of Grote Industries, Inc. Along with this expansion in their ownership, the vision for Grote has also progressed. The company is now poised to focus on creating and leading safety-related innovation, helping to make the world safer and smarter through connected visibility…

With fuel costs at historic highs this year, there is perhaps no better time to tempt loggers with the prospect of a fully-electric powered forestry machine that requires diesel only to charge the battery—and may eventually not even need that. Such a machine appears to be on the horizon soon…

This dozer model is the first to be produced through the collaboration of various departments at Hyundai Doosan Infracore (HDI), including development analysis, market research, competitive benchmarking, validation and pilot vehicle assembly…

A southwest Washington logger must serve 60 days home detention and repay more than $163,000 after he admitted stealing workers’ comp benefits from the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), which administers the state workers’ comp system, from January 2018 to January 2020. James Thomasson claimed injuries from working in the woods led to disabilities that affected his ability to work, and a medical provider said he was eligible for lost wages payments…

On August 2, Grant Somerville stepped away from his role as president of Tigercat Industries—related to his original intention to serve as president for a five-year term when he took on the role in 2017. Tigercat founder, Ken MacDonald has assumed the role of president; Somerville will continue with a company as a director offering advice and support to various initiatives focused on development of new products and improvement of existing products…

Officials with the California Dept. of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire), recently announced the addition of more than 2,500 acres to its demonstration state forest system, which increases opportunities for critical research, forest restoration and public recreation. The two new properties include 2,246 acres in Shasta County and 267 acres in the headwaters of the Bear River in Nevada and Placer counties…

Wisconsin state officials, including Gov. Tony Evers, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP) Chancellor Thomas Gibson, UWSP College of Natural Resources Dean Brian Sloss and others, recently came together on the UW-Stevens Point campus to celebrate the announcement of approximately $8 million in Workforce Innovation Grant funding for the Wisconsin Forestry Center at UWSP for their Forest Industry Workforce Recruitment and Development Initiative…

John Deere introduces the latest updates to its knuckleboom loader lineup, including visibility enhancements. Aiming to increase operator safety and accuracy, the 2022 models of 437E and 337E knuckleboom loaders feature a newly designed front window by removing the external mesh guard and replacing it with a clear, polycarbonate window for uninterrupted view…

In 2021 alone, natural disasters caused $145 billion worth of damage across the U.S.—and experts are forecasting above-normal hurricane and wildfire seasons this year. Since 2012, Oregon Products has been working to ensure that disaster cleanup professionals…