PRODUCTION RATES AND COSTS OF GROUP SELECTION

Group selection harvest studies in Eastern hardwoods have shown that economic success of such harvests rests heavily on product market values, tree quality, and logging costs (Boucher and Hall 4989; Bell 1989). Other studies have attempted to define group selection harvests-and where they can be used (Roach 1974).-Additional studies have documented the reproduction of hardwoods 10 years after cutting as affected by site and opening size (Minckler and Woerheide 1965). In this study, the group selection units are defined as small groups,- 8 1 ha (2 acres) or less in area, on which most of the trees will be harvested. The studies reported above, although valuable, either use different techniques to develop cost and production rates or fail to report such at all. This report summarizes results of more comprehensive, detailed time studies in calculating incremental stump-to-landing production rates and costs per volume for cable yarding hardwood