1. SOUTHERN UTAH WOODY BIOMASS FIELD DAYS
Mark Nelson
Utah State University
USU Extension Agent, Beaver County, Box 466, Beaver UT 84713
Abstract Objectives
Currently there are nearly 50 million acres of Pinyon/Juniper woodlands across the West and • Bring attention to the problems that the Pinyon/Juniper
more acres are being invaded each year. The risks presented by expanding and overstocked invasion are causing in Utah and other western states.
Pinyon/Juniper woodlands and the associated impacts on ecosystem biodiversity, wildlife • Demonstrate what woody biomass harvesting is all about
habitat, and water quantity and quality are cause for major concern. Recently the BLM and and the state of the art equipment that is available
Forest Service are renewing its efforts to control this problem. Proactive management can
provide positive use of (PJ) fuels while reducing fire suppression and restoration costs. In • Find new markets for the materials that are being harvested
order to make it possible to clear more ground, many groups are trying to find ways to use the
Pinyon/ Juniper to recoup some of the costs of the harvesting. Thanks to the work of Lance
and Michelle Lindbloom of Bloomin Ranch Service, a private contractor currently working in
Beaver County, we were able to hold two field days. The field days demonstrated different
methods of harvesting the pinyon/juniper and looked at ways of adding value to the harvested
trees. During the field days, harvesting, handling and processing equipment were
demonstrated. Leading experts in the woody biomass and forestry industry addressed the
importance of restoring the woodlands and ways for industry and government to partner
together to address the problem. A total of over 450 people have attended the two field days
and plans are being made to make this an annual event.
Impacts
• Over 450 people attend the two field days and plans are
underway to make this an annual event
Program Activities • Leading experts in the woody biomass and forestry
industry taught participants the importance of
The first Southern Utah Biomass Field day was held south of restoring the woodlands and ways for industry and
Beaver, on October 18, 2010. Many expensive pieces of government to partner together to address the problem.
equipment were brought to the field day at the owners expense. • Since the field days other equipment have been brought
The second field day was held on June 3rd and 4th , 2011 and in and tested to see how it works on harvesting
focuses on biomass education and utilization. One of the Pinyon/Juniper
highlights of the 2011 field day was a demonstration of
gasification provided by the University of Montana’s BioMax • The rangeland where the Pinyon/Juniper were thinned
biomass generator. The BioMax’s gasification technology has become much more productive with grasses
creates combustible gasses from a woody feedstock. Vendors growing where the trees were removed and the chance
Introduction representing eight forestry equipment companies provided
attendees with an up-close glimpse of biomass harvesting and
of catastrophic fires has been greatly reduced.
Lance and Michelle Lindbloom of Bloomin Ranch Service with the help of other groups processing in action. Equipment exhibits included a Bobcat
organized the event. The watershed contract that the BLM has with Bloomin Ranch skid steer with a Fecon BullHog mulcher, a WoodMizer
Service requires thinning of the Pinyon/Juniper while still leaving some Pinyon trees for portable sawmill, a BioBaler mulcher and compactor, and
wildlife. Their contract also calls for removing excess slash from the treated areas. many others.