Kentucky Master Logger - Advanced Training Program
Impact Statement
All commercial timber harvesting business are required to have Kentucky Master Loggers on-site and in charge of each logging operation. Over 4,500 loggers in Kentucky have obtained Kentucky Master Logger status and they represent 1,451 businesses contributing to Kentucky’s rural economies. To stay compliant with state law Kentucky Master Loggers must obtain certified continuing education credits through approved continuing education programs. In 2005/2006 the Kentucky Master Logger program conducted 34 advanced training courses for 1,604 Kentucky Master Loggers (a total of 9,624 logger training hours). Topics included Logging Aesthetics, Advanced BMPs, Timber Cruising Basics, Logging Mechanics and Equipment, Map and GPS for Loggers, and Log, Lumber and Tie Grading. Post-training evaluation indicated that 517 logging business maintain compliance with state laws through this training. These firms impacted 93,032 acres of timberlands and harvested 347,395,924 board feet of timber worth $50,272,568 dollars to Kentucky landowners. Post-training evaluation indicated a use rate average of between 45 and 90 percent for the programs conducted in 2005/2006.
In total the Kentucky Master Logger Program conducted 44 programs in 2005/2006 for a total of 64 program days (34 one-day programs for recertification and 10 three-day programs for first time loggers). A total of 1,954 loggers were trained resulting in 113,332 acres impacted and 423 million board feet of timber harvested worth $61.2 million to 4,494 landowners in Kentucky. The training also positively affected 1,449 small logging businesses allowing them to remain compliant with state laws and 32 new logging firms to become established.