Wildland Fire Behavior & Forest Structure

Environmental Consequences

Economics

Social Concerns

My Fuel Treatment Planner:

A User Guide

United States Department of Agriculture

Forest Service

Pacific Northwest Research Station

General Technical Report

PNW-GTR-663

January 2006

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Pacific Northwest Research Station

333 SW First Avenue

P.O. Box 3890

Portland, OR 97208-3890

Official Business

Penalty for Private Use, $300

Robin L. Biesecker and Roger D. Fight
The Forest Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture is dedicated to the principle of multiple 

use management of the Nation’s forest resources for sustained yields of wood, water, forage, 

wildlife, and recreation. Through forestry research, cooperation with the states and private forest 

owners, and management of the national forests and national grasslands, it strives—as directed 

by Congress—to provide increasingly greater service to a growing Nation.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and 

activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, 

marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, 

political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of individual’s income is derived from any public 

assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities 

who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, 

audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 

Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) 

or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Authors

Robin L. Biesecker is a forester and Roger D. Fight is a research forester, Forestry Sciences 

Laboratory, P.O. Box 3890, Portland, OR 97208. 
Abstract

Biesecker, Robin L.; Fight, Roger D. 2006. My fuel treatment planner: a user guide. Gen. 

Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-663. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, 

Pacific Northwest Research Station. 31 p.

My Fuel Treatment Planner (MyFTP) is a tool for calculating and displaying the financial costs 

and potential revenues associated with forest fuel reduction treatments. It was designed for fuel 

treatment planners including those with little or no background in economics, forest management, or timber sales. This guide provides the information needed to acquire, load, and begin to 

use MyFTP. 

Keywords: Financial analysis, silviculture, fire, prescriptions, economics, treatment cost, software.
Preface

This document is part of the Fuels Planning: 

Science Synthesis and Integration Project, a pilot 

project initiated by the U.S. Forest Service to respond to the need for tools and information useful 

for planning site-specific fuel (vegetation) treatment 

projects. The information primarily addresses fuel 

and forest conditions of the dry inland forests of 

the Western United States: those dominated by 

ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir, dry grand fir/white fir, 

and dry lodgepole pine potential vegetation types. 

Information, other than social science research, 

was developed for application at the stand level 

and is intended to be useful within this forest type 

regardless of ownership. Portions of the information also will be directly applicable to the pinyon 

pine/juniper potential vegetation types. Many of 

the concepts and tools developed by the project 

may be useful for planning fuel projects in other 

forest types. In particular, many of the social science findings would have direct applicability to 

fuel planning activities for forests throughout the 

United States. As is the case in the use of all models 

and information developed for specific purposes, 

our tools should be used with a full understanding 

of their limitations and applicability. 

The science team, although organized functionally, worked hard at integrating the approaches, 

analyses, and tools. It is the collective effort of the 

team members that provides the depth and understanding of the work. The science team leadership 

included Deputy Science Team Leader Sarah McCaffrey (USDA FS, North Central Research Station); 

forest structure and fire behavior—Dave Peterson 

and Morris Johnson (USDA FS, Pacific Northwest 

Research Station); environmental consequences—

Elaine Kennedy-Sutherland and Anne Black (USDA 

FS, Rocky Mountain Research Station); economic 

uses of materials—Jamie Barbour and Roger Fight 

(USDA FS, Pacific Northwest Research Station); 

public attitudes and beliefs—Pam Jakes and Sue 

Barro (USDA FS, North Central Research Station); 

and technology transfer—John Szymoniak, (USDA 

FS, Pacific Southwest Research Station). 

This project would not have been possible were it 

not for the vision and financial support of Washington Office Fire and Aviation Management individuals Janet Anderson Tyler and Leslie Sekavec. 

Russell T. Graham 

USDA FS, Rocky Mountain Research Station

Science Team Leader
Contents

1 Introduction

1 Installation of MyFTP

1 System Recommendations

2 Installation Step By Step

2 Using My Fuel Treatment Planner

2 Conventions 

4 Starting MyFTP

6 Organization and Flow

7 Closing and Exiting

8 Required Input

8 Rules

11 Enter Cut Tree Data

14 Harvesting Cost

16 Hauling Cost

17 Mastication

17 Mechanical Treatments

18 Prescribed Fire

19 Treatment Summary

20 Log and Chip Prices

21 Saving Scenarios

22 Compare Scenario Results

24 Create a Scenario Totals File

24 Enter User Documentation

24 Results

24 Treatment Summary

26 Economic Impact

29 Glossary

30 Species List

30 Metric Equivalents

31 References



Introduction

In face of rapidly changing public and political attitudes toward fire and fuel planning, the fuel 

planner is ultimately responsible for making decisions on the land. Of course, the planner works 

within the framework of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other regulations to 

achieve objectives at the national, regional, and local levels, but the method of achieving those 

objectives (mechanical thinning or prescribed fire, for example) is often left to the planner’s discretion. To evaluate the range of available alternatives, quality information about different treatment 

strategies is required, including estimates of how much treatments will cost. 

My Fuel Treatment Planner (MyFTP) is an MS Excel-based tool for calculating costs and benefits 

of fuel treatments.1 Designed for ease of use and integration with other available planning tools, 

MyFTP can assist fuel planners in evaluating the economic costs of fuel treatments and other 

management activities. It also provides direction on how to think through economic analyses and 

a discussion of the environmental, social, and other values associated with fuel treatments. 

More information about stand structure, environmental impacts, economics, and human responses 

to these factors can be found in a series of fact sheets prepared by the USDA Forest Service. These 

can be accessed from the introductory page or from the navigation page of MyFTP. Information in 

the fact sheets is targeted for the dry forests of the inland West but is often applicable across broad 

regions of the country. For more information, visit the Web site at www.fs.fed.us/fire/tech_transfer/synthesis/synthesis_index .

Installation of MyFTP

System Recommendations

Hardware

• A personal computer with a Pentium III or faster processor

• At least 128 megabytes (MB) of total random access memory (RAM)

• Hard drive with at least 90 MB of free space (MyFTP application and related files take 

up 44 MB)

Software

• Microsoft Windows 98, 2000, NT 4.0, or Windows XP

• Microsoft Excel 2000, 2002, or 2003

1The use of trade or firm names in this publication is for reader information and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. 

Department of Agriculture of any product or service. 


Installation Step by Step

1. The installation process will stop if a previous version of MyFTP is found. To uninstall 

a previous version, click on the Start button in the lower left-hand corner of the screen, 

select Settings / Control Panel / Add Remove Programs. Find MyFTP_installer, click on 

it and select Remove. 

2. Access the MyFTP Web page: http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/data/soft.htm.

3. Several files will be found in the directory including MyFTP.zip and readme.txt. The 

readme.txt file has change notifications and the most current installation instructions.

4. After examining the readme.txt file for changes or updates, download MyFTP.zip and 

other files of interest.

5. After file extraction, double click on Setup MyFTP.bat and answer the setup questions. 

(Check Step 1 for questions about uninstalling previous versions). The installation process places a MyFTP icon on the desktop.

6. Users of Office XP only: Press the Start button in the lower left-hand corner of the 

screen, select MyFTP and then select Only For Office XP. A file required for biomass 

calculations will be loaded onto the C drive.

7. Files should now be properly loaded and MyFTP ready for use. 

Using My Fuel Treatment Planner

Conventions 

1. The small red triangles located throughout MyFTP indicate definitions or other useful 

information. These comment triangles are located in the upper right-hand corner of 

the cell. Notice the triangle below. 


When in MyFTP, hover the cursor over the triangle and the comment will appear as shown below.

2. White cells are user input cells. Notice the white input cells in the Rules table.

3.Buttons with blue text are connected to documentation and helpful hints.


Starting MyFTP

1. Start the program by double clicking on the MyFTP icon on the desktop or press the 

Start button in the lower left-hand corner of the screen, select MyFTP, then MyFTP. 

2. If the following security warning appears,

2Try the following steps to change the security level. Choose Tools/Options and then select the Security tab. Activate the 

Macro Security button and set the security level to medium. The medium level allows the user to select whether or not to 

run macros. If you are unable to change your security level, consult your network administrator. 

choose Enable Macros. Macros must be enabled for MyFTP to run. If your macro 

security level is set on high, it must be changed in order to use MyFTP.2

3. Five Excel workbooks should now be open: MyFtpa.xls, Fuelsvolumecalculator.xls, 

FRCS.xls, TreatmentSum.xls, and Error_file.xls. User input will only occur in 

MyFtpa.xls. Workbooks Fuelsvolumecalculator.xls and FRCS.xls perform calculations and store data. These workbooks should not be directly changed by the user. 

Changes made to Fuelsvolumecalculator.xls and FRCS.xls may create errors in or 

disable the functionality of MyFTP. Workbooks TreatmentSum.xls and Error_file.xls 

are used in batch file entry.

If some of the five workbooks do not open, close the workbook(s) that are open and 

start over with step 1. If some of the workbooks still do not open, try to open each 

workbook individually by double-clicking each file name. All five workbooks help 


MyFTP function properly. The Analysis ToolPak must be selected as an Add-In. Select 

Tools/Add-Ins and check the box for Analysis ToolPak, as shown below.

4. Select Tools/Options and then select the Save tab. Uncheck the Save AutoRecover and 

check Disable AutoRecover as shown below:


5. You are now ready to start using MyFTP. Begin by reading the following sections, 

“Organization and Flow” and “Required Input.”

Organization and Flow

My Fuel Treatment Planner has been designed for ease of use and to flow logically through all 

the necessary input steps. There are two primary means of navigation through MyFTP. One is the 

MyFTP toolbar. It is available at the top of every screen within MyFTP. This will usually be the 

quickest and easiest means to get from place to place in MyFTP. The first button on the toolbar is a 

dropdown menu with all MyFTP pages ordered to provide a natural flow of data entry. The MyFTP 

toolbar and the dropdown for the first button on the toolbar (MyFTP Navigation) is shown below.

 allows the user to return to the previous page. This button only returns 

one level. If the button is pressed repeatedly, the user will simply toggle between the last two 

pages.

 moves the cursor to the top of the current page.

 brings up a dialog box for saving your work. This is covered in detail in 

a subsequent section.


 provides a quick exit avoiding all the Save Workbook messages. You will be given 

two warnings before exiting. Answer “yes” to the first question to enter documentation or “no” to 

continue the exit process. Answer “no” to the second question to return to MyFTP in order to save 

data or answer “yes” to exit MyFTP. See the sections, “Enter Documentation” and “Saving Scenarios,” 

located in this guide for more information.

The Navigation page of MyFTP, shown below, provides a brief description of the navigation buttons. Clicking on any button on the Navigation page will move the user to that location. 

Closing and Exiting

The best way to close MyFTP is to select Exit MyFTP from the MyFTP toolbar. Before closing 

MyFTP, enter documentation on the User Documentation page and save scenario data on the Save/

Load Scenarios page or on the Compare Scenario Results page.

If File/Exit or the X at the top right of the screen is selected, MyFtpa.xls, Fuelsvolumecalculator.xls, 

and FRCS.xls will close without being saved. If the warning, “Microsoft Excel has encountered a 

problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience,” occurs when the files are closing, 


uncheck the box “Recover my work and restart Microsoft Excel” and click the Don’t 

Send button. 

Required Input

Rules

From the Navigation page or on the navigation dropdown menu click Rules. Biomass calculations 

are performed immediately after each cut tree is entered. Therefore, changes to the Rules page 

must be made before any cut tree information is entered.

User input is allowed in white boxes within MyFTP. The scenario input portion of the Rules page is 

shown above. Select the state and county with the dropdown arrows. Click in the white box to the 

right of Scenario Size, type the scenario unit size and hit the Enter key. Follow the same process 

to enter average slope, pretreatment surface fuels, and elevation. The tons per acre of pretreatment 

surface fuels is optional, but is needed to account for surface fuels in the summary information. 

Click in the scenario name box to change the name. The box on the right-hand side shows the Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS) regions (Dixon 2004) and the Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) 

regions. These regions are important in biomass calculations, are based on the state and county 

selected, and can only be changed by selecting a different state and county combination.


The volume model is selected from the dropdown menu on the bottom of the Rules page. The 

Inland Growth and Yield Cooperative (INGY) volume model is a set of volume equations for major 

commercial species developed from recent data with an equation that provides profile calculations (diameters at any point on the bole) and volume calculations that are fully consistent with 

each other (Flewelling and Ernst 1996). The INGY profile equations are used to divide each tree 

selected for the log treatment into one or more logs. The total volume per tree will be calculated by 

using the selected volume model (FIA or INGY), but the INGY profile equations are always used to 

allocate the volume to logs.

The INGY equations generally apply in the northern Rockies and east of the Cascade Range Crest 

(see INGY map by clicking the View INGY map button in the background information dialog). 

Within this area we encourage the use of the INGY volume model. Outside this area, however, 

the user takes responsibility for determining when the INGY model is a reasonable choice. A 4- or 

6-in-top diameter limit for logs can be selected in the Pacific Coast States whereas only a 4-in-top 

diameter limit is allowed in the interior West. 

Entering Data in the Rules Table—The first selection in the Rules table (fig. 1) is the chip type; 

only one chip type is allowed per scenario. Clean chips exclude bark, limbs, and foliage. Dirty 

Figure 1—Rules table.
10

chips include bark, limbs, and foliage and are usually used as fuel. The next section of the Rules 

table is used to enter specifications for record processing. Tree treatment choices are Log and 

Chipped. Log trees, as used in MyFTP, are trees with at least one merchantable log at least 16.5 ft 

long that is delivered to the landing, loaded on a truck, and hauled to a market. Chipped trees are 

felled, delivered to the landing, and chipped on site; chips are then loaded on a truck and hauled 

to a market. Any cut tree not meeting the requirements for either log or chipped will be designated 

as unutilized and will be cut, but not removed from the site; often some or all of the unutilized 

trees are selected for some subsequent treatment such as mastication or prescribed fire. Trees that 

are designated in the Rules table to be logs but do not have at least one 16.5-ft log may be moved to 

the chipped category. Treatments are changed from log to chipped when the species to be changed 

has a chipped entry in the Rules table and meets the minimum diameter breast height (DBH) 

requirement for chips. If the clean chips category is selected, the tree will only be classified as 

chipped if an INGY profile is available and if the tree is large enough to make a 16.5-ft log to a 3-in 

inside bark small-end diameter. Trees that do not meet the chipped qualifications are dropped into 

the unutilized category. 

Select a treatment (either Log or Chipped) and then a species from the dropdown menus. Species 

selection depends on the treatment chosen. When the log treatment is picked, only 12 conifer 

species are available. The INGY log profile equations (Flewelling and Ernst 1996) are currently 

available for 12 conifer species (subalpine fir, Douglas-fir, Engelmann spruce, grand fir, lodgepole 

pine, mountain hemlock, ponderosa pine, western redcedar, white fir, western hemlock, western 

larch, and western white pine) and no hardwood species (see “Species List” for scientific names). 

Certain species may not be available in the state and county selected (even if they are shown on 

the dropdown menu). During record processing on the Enter Tree Data page, if volume or biomass 

equations are not available for a species in a specific location, an error message is either shown on 

the screen (in individual entry) or written to the error_file.xls (in batch mode). 

Click in the white box below Minimum DBH and enter the smallest DBH that will be processed for 

the selected treatment. For logs only, click in the white box below “Top DIB” and select either 4 or 

6 inches for the top diameter inside bark (DIB). (Note: in the Rocky Mountain region the only 

available top DIB for volume calculations is 4 in.) 

If the treatment selected is logs and if there will be a price reduction for dead trees, click first in the 

white box below Volume % and enter the percentage of the volume that will have a price reduction. 

After entering the volume reduction percentage, click in the white box below Price Reduction % 

and enter the percentage reduction in the price for logs from dead trees. If no substantial dead tree 

volume occurs or if all logs will be treated the same, enter 0 in the Volume % box and in the Price 

Reduction % box, or just leave both boxes blank. After filling out the data line, activate the button: 
11

Other buttons associated with the Rules table:

 Use the “Clear Selected Entry” to delete a single species from the Rules 

table. Place the cursor in the table in the cell with the species name and click on the button.

 Activating this button will clear all entries from the Rules table.

Application of Rules—Most rules are applied during the tree entry process, either as each tree is 

entered individually or as the trees are processed during batch entry. The rules page information 

should be fully specified before entering data on cut trees by either method.

Log Volumes—Only species listed on the Select Species dropdown when Log is the selected 

treatment can be designated for logs. Log volumes for other species can be calculated by selecting 

a listed species of similar form and by using the “Change a Species Code in Imported File” utility 

found on the Enter Cut Tree Data page.

Rules Table Example Entry—Enter the minimum DBH values for each species in the log and 

chipped treatment categories. For log treatments, also enter the top DIB and dead tree information. 

For example, if log, DF, 8, 4, 0, and 0 are entered, every Douglas-fir with a DBH of 8 in or greater 

will be treated as a log with a 4-in top DIB and with no deductions for dead trees. If chipped, DF, 

and 6 are then entered, every Douglas-fir tree less than 8 and greater than or equal to 6 in DBH 

will be chipped. All Douglas-fir trees with a DBH of less than 6 in will be designated unutilized. 

Only one log entry and one chipped entry are allowed per species. Two catch-all species categories 

are available: XC and XH. The XC category is for all conifers if listed alone or for all remaining 

conifers if listed with other species. The XH category is used correspondingly for the hardwood 

designations. If a species has no DBH specifications listed in the table (and the catch-all category is 

not entered), all entries for that species will be designated unutilized regardless of size.

Dead Tree Information—Dead tree information is entered only for the Log category. The catch-all 

category of XC cannot be used for entering dead tree information. Any species with dead information must be entered individually. 

Enter Cut Tree Data

Description of Data Fields—From the Navigation page or the navigation dropdown menu click 

Enter Cut Tree Data. Three data entry fields (species, DBH, and trees per acre) must be completed 

for every tree; the fourth, height, is optional. 

The DBH entries have a minimum of 1 in and a maximum of 30 in. The trees per acre entered 

must be greater than zero. Top DIB choices can be either 4 in or 6 in depending upon the current 

location and volume model. If known, tree height should be entered. If the height field is left blank 
12

or entered as zero, MyFTP will attempt to calculate a tree height, based on the current FVS region. 

If height coefficients for the species are not available, the height cannot be calculated, and the 

biomass for that tree cannot be determined.

In My FTP, trees can be entered two ways; individually tree by tree or in batch mode by entering a 

text file containing multiple trees. 

Individual Tree Entry—Start individual tree entry by clicking on the 

button found on the Enter Cut Tree Data page. When the button is activated, the following tree 

form will appear. 

Begin filling out the tree data form by clicking on the down arrow in the FVS species code and 

selecting the desired species. Enter numbers greater than zero in the DBH, Trees per Acre, and 

Height fields. If height is unknown, leave the cell blank or enter 0 and MyFTP will attempt to 

calculate the height. After all fields have been entered, hit the enter key or press the Calculate 

Biomass button to calculate the biomass for the entered tree. If MyFTP was able to complete the 

biomass calculations, the user will be given the option to add the tree to the current table. When 

all trees have been entered, select the EXIT Tree Entry button on the Enter Tree Data form. The 

trees entered in the table on the Enter Cut Tree Data page should then be reviewed for accuracy. 

The data line shown on the screen in blue is the current calculated data and is not a part of the 

data table. To clear an entry from the data table, click in the species name cell of the tree to delete 

and press the Remove Selected Tree button.

When the data table is complete, as shown in figure 2, push the button to 

process the trees and update the Treatment Summary page.

Batch or Multiple-Tree Entry—Multiple-tree entry is possible with MyFTP. An FVS cut list file 

can be imported. The cut list file must have the .trl extension to be processed by the FVS import 

utility (see fig. 3). 
13

Start the import process by clicking . During the import process, a text 

file is created from the .trl cut list file. The text file is brought into MyFTP by clicking

Figure 2—Enter Cut Tree Data page.

Figure 3—An example FVS cut list. 

Using an Excel File for Batch Processing—An Excel file can be selected directly for processing 

and the Import FVS File step omitted. The Excel fields must be positioned as shown in figure 

4. Row 1 is an identifier row with data processing beginning in row 2. The StandId must be in 

column A, the StandYear in column B, and so forth with column G (TPA or trees per acre) the last 

column processed. The TreeId field is currently just a place holder and can be left blank. All other 

fields must be in the same columns as shown in the Excel example in figure 4. The crown ratio is 

imported by the FVS import utility but not currently used by MyFTP. Click on “Select batch file for 

processing” button to process the Excel file.

Batch Processing Results—All records in the tree data table (on the Enter Cut Tree Data page) are 

deleted. New cut tree records are added as the batch file is processed. The scenario name is a combination of the StandId and StandYear fields (the first two fields in the batch file); if either or both 

change, a new scenario is produced and the tree data table is cleared. During the batch run, the 

TreatmentSum.xls workbook is populated and contains the treatment summaries of all scenarios 

within the current run. Error_file.xls workbook is also populated and lists the errors from the 

.
14

current run. Both of these files are cleared when a new batch run is initiated. The results from the 

final scenario in the batch file can be viewed on the Treatment Summary page. The cut trees from 

the final scenario will be found on the tree data table on the Enter Cut Tree Data page.

Changing a Species Code in a Batch File—Currently, 12 conifer species can be treated as logs 

(see “Description of Data Fields”). If, for example, a batch file contained one or more Jeffrey pine 

(JP) that should be treated as logs, the JP could be changed to PP (ponderosa pine) and then processed as logs. Click the Change a Species Code in Batch File button and rename JP to PP. This will 

result in the profile equations for PP being used in the volume calculations and the weights for PP 

being used in the weight calculations. 

Figure 4—Example Excel file with data formatted to be read into MyFTP. 

Species Availability—States and counties do not all have the same species available for biomass 

processing. The species dropdown lists contain all possible species for all combinations of Western 

States and counties. However, even if the species is found on the dropdown list, it may not be 

available in the selected state and county.

Harvesting Cost

From the Navigation page or the navigation dropdown menu click Harvesting Cost. 
15

Check the current entries for yarding and move-in distances and change by clicking in the box and 

entering a new number. Change the slope percentage and total acres by clicking on the adjacent 

box. Select either Partial cut or Clear Cut. Check or uncheck the boxes to include move-in and 

residue collection costs. 

Costs of moving equipment to the harvest unit are spread over the number of acres treated. The 

move-in costs are a small part of total harvesting costs unless the acreage treated is very small or 

the distance the equipment comes from is quite high, so this is not normally a number to agonize 

over. If nearby units could be treated together, the move-in distance might be an average of the 

initial move-in and short distances to a number of subsequent units.

The size and shape of units and the location of landings determine the average distance that logs 

or trees need to be transported to the landing. In some cases it might involve transporting logs 

or trees outside the unit boundary to a landing located some distance from the unit. Considering 

these factors, specify an average distance along the slope (in feet) for transporting logs or trees to 

the landing except for helicopter logging where horizontal distance is used. Maximums have not 

been set for ground skidding and forwarding distances, but cable yarding distances are limited by 

the drum capacity of yarders. Thirteen hundred feet is the maximum average yarding distance 

allowed by the program for cost calculation for cable systems.

The weight of trees or logs affects machine speeds and turn loads, and therefore costs. Log or tree 

volumes are for the bolewood inside the bark, but the weight includes the bark, and in the case of 

whole-tree logging, it also includes the weight of limbs and foliage. These conversions are calculated by MyFTP from biomass and equations for each species that give the relative weights of tree 

components. 

Select the harvest system, as shown in figure 5. Only one system can be selected. Four groundbased systems are available: manual log length, manual whole tree, mechanical whole tree, and 

mechanical cut-to-length. Four yarder or cable systems are available: manual log length, manual 

whole tree, manual whole tree with logs for larger trees, and mechanical cut-to-length. Two helicopter systems are available: manual log length and mechanical cut-to-length.

Figure 5—Harvesting system selections.
16

Information and pictures of the various harvesting systems are found in MyFTP by clicking on the 

Harvest Equipment button shown below.

Override the calculated harvest costs by checking the box and then entering the per-acre cost in 

the white cell below $/acre. Other costs will be adjusted proportionately. If the override box is 

checked, the system costs summary line will use the numbers in the white override cells even if 

they are zero.

Hauling Cost

From the Navigation page or the navigation dropdown menu, click Hauling Cost. Enter the hauling information for logs or chips or both. Only one type of chip can be selected (on the Rules Page) 

per scenario, clean or dirty. Clean chips exclude bark, limbs, and foliage. Dirty chips include bark, 

limbs, and foliage and are usually used as fuel. Start with the hauling distance and verify the default values for loads per day, cost per day, and truck capacity. Change any of these values that are 

not valid for your area. Remember the white cells are user entry cells. Be sure to select the option 

button next to each value you want to use. 
17

Mastication

From the Navigation page or the navigation dropdown menu click Mastication. Mastication is 

the process of reducing biomass material in the stand into smaller pieces that are left onsite for 

subsequent burning or decomposition. This term covers a wide range of equipment designs with 

capabilities that range from mowing brush to felling and grinding large-diameter trees. Machines 

may be known as brush hogs, mulching machines, slashbusters, or grinders.

Masticated tons in MyFTP originate from unutilized trees, utilized trees, and pretreatment surface 

fuels. Cut trees that have been classified as unutilized (see the Edit Cut Tree Data page) are often 

selected for some subsequent treatment such as mastication or prescribed fire. These trees are usually smaller than the logs or chipped trees and are expensive to process and yard to the landing. 

The tops and limbs of utilized trees also can be masticated. The final onsite fuels that are sometimes masticated are the logs, limbs, and other woody debris that existed before the planned treatment—the pretreatment surface fuels. The total dry tons available for mastication are shown to the 

right of TOTAL. Tons and acres masticated are entered in the white cells as shown in figure 6.

Figure 6—Mastication page.

Slope and residual stand density have a substantial effect on the production rate per hour and 

should be changed if they do not represent current scenario conditions. Based on slope, stand density, fuel and operator costs, largest piece size, and tons per acre to be masticated, the mastication 

costs are calculated and shown on the bottom of the Mastication page. Review the production rates 

per hour and the total costs. Enter your own costs if the calculated costs do not seem appropriate. 

Mechanical Treatments

From the Navigation page or the navigation dropdown menu click Mechanical Treatments. Near 

the top portion of this page is data entry for predicted costs (see fig. 7). Please read the documentation and then complete the data entry. The default fuel load is the sum of the remaining activity 

fuels, before burning, and the pretreatment fuels. Override the default fuel load by entering a 

number in the white cell immediately below the default value (shown as a 10 in fig. 7) to reflect 

treatment of a nonrepresentative portion of the unit or to leave some fuel untreated.
18

The predicted costs will not show up in the Mechanical Treatments table unless the number of 

acres entered for a treatment method (in the area below what is shown in fig. 7) is greater than 

zero.

Prescribed Fire

From the Navigation page or the navigation dropdown menu click Prescribed Fire. Near the top 

portion of the Prescribed Fire page is data entry for predicted prescribed fire costs. Please read 

the documentation and then complete the data entry. The predicted costs will not show up in the 

Prescribed Fire Customized Treatment table unless the number of acres entered for a treatment 

method is greater than zero. 

In figure 8, the user has indicated that machine piles of a 250-ac unit will be burned and 100 ac 

of the unit will be broadcast burned. Twenty percent of the total activity fuels will be consumed in 

the broadcast burn, and 50 percent of the activity fuels will be consumed when the machine piles 

are burned. Fifty percent of the pretreatment fuels will be consumed in the broadcast burn, but no 

pretreatment fuels will be consumed when the machine piles are burned. Predicted cost per acre 

(based on the user’s input) for burning machine piles is $8. The user accepted this cost (by leaving 

$0 in the User Overrides column) and $8 is shown in the final column of the table. Cost of $50 

per acre is predicted for the broadcast burn. The user entered a different cost of $131 in the User 

Overrides column. The final column of the table shows the $131 as the per-acre cost used in the 

calculations. 

The Activity Fuels Consumed and Pretreatment Fuels Consumed columns contain percentages 

that cannot total more than 100 (total shown in bold print in the bottom row). The bottom cell in 

the per-acre costs column is a weighted average of per-acre costs spread over total scenario acres. 

Figure 7— Portion of data entry form on Mechanical Treatments page.
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For this example:

((100 acres × $131 / acre) + (250 acres × $8 / acre)) / 250 acres = $60 per acre.

One hundred acres are broadcast burned at $131 per acre. Two hundred and fifty acres of machine 

piles are burned at $8 per acre. The total burning costs are divided by the total scenario acres of 

250, and the final per-acre cost of prescribed fire is $60. 

Treatment Summary

A portion of the Treatment Summary page for the same example is shown in figure 9. Notice the 

$60 for prescribed burn costs. Also notice the fuels burned of 4.0 dry tons/acre. The fuel burned is 

calculated based on the percentages consumed entered in the Prescribed Fire Customized Treatment table. 

Notice that 20 percent of the activity fuels (2.2 tons/acre) and 50 percent of the pretreatment fuels 

(5.0 tons/acre) were expected to be consumed in the broadcast burn. Burning the machine piles 

was expected to reduce the activity fuels by 50 percent.

The formula for this example is:

(20 % × 2.2 tons) + (50 % × 5.0 tons) + (50 % × 2.2 tons) = 0.4 + 2.5 + 1.1 = 4.0 dry tons / acre 

Figure 8— Prescribed fire example.

Figure 9—A portion of the Treatment Summary page.
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Log and Chip Prices

From the Navigation page or the navigation dropdown menu click Log/Chip Prices. Log prices can 

be added for the following species groups: Douglas-fir and larch; ponderosa, sugar, and white pine; 

true firs, hemlock, and spruce; lodgepole pine; and western redcedar. Log prices are added according to the small-end diameter (SED). For example, if the Douglas-fir and larch species group, SED 

of 12 in, and price per thousand board feet (mbf) of $600 are entered, a Douglas-fir log must have 

an SED of at least 12 in to receive a price of $600. If no prices are entered for SEDs less than 12 in, 

all logs with small-end diameters less than 12 in will have a price of $0. When an SED is not listed 

in the table, the log price for the next smallest SED is applied. If a price is $150 for a 4-in SED and 

$493 for a 7-in SED, a log with a 6-in SED will have a price of $150.

Shown in figure 10 is a portion of the Log/Chip Prices page. Select the species group with the 

dropdown arrow. Enter the SED and the price per mbf. When the species group, the SED, and the 

price per mbf have been entered, click in a new cell and then select the Enter Price in Table button. 

Figure 10 shows the current inputs (SED of 12 in and price of $600) as the last entry for Douglasfir and larch. These prices can be entered in any order. The program will sort them so that in each 

group the SEDs go from lowest to highest. To clear a single entry from the table, click in the SED 

cell of the price to delete and then click the Clear Selected Entry button. The Clear Price Table 

button will clear the entire log price table.

Log prices can also be entered by the ton in the Log Prices per Ton table on the Log/Chip Price 

page. The process is similar to the one described above for entering log prices per mbf except the 

price entered is per green ton. All logs with SEDs the same size and smaller than the entered SED 

will be evaluated by the ton price entered in the Log Prices per Ton table instead of a price per 

Figure 10—The log prices per mbf portion of the Log and Chip Prices page.
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mbf. A new entry in either the Log Prices per Ton table or the Log Prices per mbf table will override a previous entry in the corresponding table. For example, if lodgepole pine, 6-in SED, and 

$400 are entered in the Log Prices per mbf table and a maximum SED of 6 in with a green ton 

price of $50 for lodgepole pine was previously entered in the Log Prices per Ton table, the price for 

a log with a 6-in SED will be $400 per mbf, and the price of a 5-in SED log will be $50 per ton. 

Note: SED classes are whole number diameter classes. For example, an SED of 6 in includes the 

range of small-end diameters from 5.6 to 6.5 in.

Enter chip prices on the bottom of the page as shown below:

Saving Scenarios 

The workbooks of the MyFTP application are very large, and saving a new workbook for every new 

scenario would soon take up a large chunk of disk space. A better solution for saving scenario data 

can be found on the Save/Load Scenario page. From the Navigation page or the MyFTP toolbar, 

click Save/Load Scenarios. On this page, the current scenario can be saved or a previously saved 

scenario can be loaded. All scenario details, including tables and user input data are saved. Saving scenario data is useful for comparing two or more scenarios and is important if the current 

scenario will be used again.

To save the current scenario, including all tables and inputs, click the button on the 

Load/Save Scenario page. The save screen pops up.
22

The file is given a default name of MyFTP_ScenarioName. In this case the default name is MyFTP_

Default Data because “Default Data” is the current scenario name. Numbers could be added to the 

end of the file name if more than one version of the same scenario is saved.

Load scenarios by clicking the Open Scenario button and finding the scenario to load. Note: opening a new scenario will replace all current data in MyFTP. 

Compare Scenario Results

From the Navigation page or the navigation dropdown menu click Compare Scenario Results. On 

this page, the current scenario is located on the far left with other scenarios loaded immediately to 

the right. Scroll down on the page to view the content of the input fields. 
23

Load previously saved scenario results by clicking the Load Comparison Scenario Results button 

and finding the MyFTP file to load. The new scenario is inserted immediately to the right of the 

current scenario (Default Data). Three scenarios are compared below: base case, pile and burn, and 

mastication. Remove a scenario by first clicking in the first cell of the scenario name and then by 

clicking the button Remove Scenario Results. 
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Create a Scenario Totals File

The ScenarioTOTALS file can be used to sum up scenarios that might be combined as a unit 

for broader scale comparisons. It calculates the overall totals for each scenario as well as a final 

TOTALS column that summarizes the data fields for the scenarios shown on the Compare Scenario Results page. Activate the Create TOTALS File button and a save menu will appear. The default 

file name will be ScenarioTOTALS.xls. Shown below is a portion of the ScenarioTOTALS.xls file 

for the three scenarios previously discussed. 

Enter User Documentation

From the Navigation page or the navigation dropdown menu click Enter User Documentation. 

Add documentation to support the assumptions used in the scenario and for any clarifications 

that may help future users. The design of this page will allow the user to either add to a current 

comment box or add a completely new box. Click on Add New Comment Box to add a blank 

documentation area at the top of the screen. When a new box is added, the date and time are 

automatically inserted at the top of the box. Enter a user name under the date stamp and then 

enter comments in the large white area below the name cell. Scroll down the page to view or edit 

previous documentation.

Results

Treatment Summary

From the Navigation page or the navigation dropdown menu click Treatment Summary. The information on this page is based on the current status of several other pages: Log/Chip Prices, Harvesting Cost, Hauling Cost, Mastication, Mechanical Treatments, and Prescribed Fire. If the input values on any of the pages listed above change, values on the treatment summary will be immediately 

updated. Certain values on the Rules page also connect directly to the treatment summary. If the 
25

scenario name, size, pretreatment surface fuels, or percentages of dead volume or dead price reduction are changed, the adjustments are reflected in the treatment summary. Current data in the tree 

data entry table on the Enter Cut Tree Data page and the location, volume model, minimum DBH, 

and top DIB fields located on the Rules page are not directly connected to the treatment summary. 

If these data are changed, the treatment summary results will only be changed when the Calculate 

Tree Data button on the Enter Cut Tree Data Page is clicked or when a new batch file is loaded into 

the Enter Cut Tree Data Page.

The treatment summary table is shown in figure 11. Notice the scenario name (Base Case) at the 

top of the table. Gross revenue is just the summation of prices times volumes for all trees and products. The costs listed on the left side of the table are taken directly from the related table with the 

exception of the Other Costs category, which the user enters (notice the white cell designating user 

input allowed). This cell can be used for any cost that should be included in the project cost that 

has not been provided for elsewhere in MyFTP.

Figure 11—Treatment summary table.

Dry tons per acre of logs, chipped trees, and residue collected are calculated from the trees input 

on the Enter Cut Tree Data page. Foliage is not accounted for in MyFTP calculations. The Logs 

Removed category is the weight of boles of all trees designated for logs. The contents of the 

Chipped Trees category depends on the type of chip selected. For clean chips, the chipped trees 

weight is chipped boles excluding bark. For dirty chips it is the weight of chipped boles including 

bark plus, if the collect residue option is selected, the weight of tops and limbs from chipped trees. 

The Harvesting Cost page includes the option to collect residue. In the example shown above, this 

box was checked. Residue collected includes the tops and limbs of the trees classified as logs. Some 
26

portion of tops and limbs remains as activity fuel because of breakage in harvesting and practicalities involved in collecting residues. If clean chips are selected, residue cannot be collected because 

only clean chips are hauled. The remaining activity fuels are the cut tree biomass created by the 

treatment minus the tons of logs, chipped trees, and residue removed from the site. The pretreatment surface fuels are user entered on the Rules page. Masticated fuels are selected on the Mastication page and appear in the table when the “Mastication Costs” button is checked. 

Biomass is calculated for each tree as it is entered in the data table on the Enter Cut Tree Data 

table. The calculations for that tree are based on the current location and volume model selected. 

Once a tree is entered in the data table, the biomass calculations for that tree can only be changed 

by deleting the record and reentering. Changing the location and volume model will only affect 

the biomass calculations of trees that have not been added to the data table. In batch mode, the 

treatment (log, chipped, or unutilized) is matched to a tree entry according to the specifications in 

the Rules table. Changes to the DBH or top DIB (Rules table) or to the location and volume model 

made after a batch file has been processed will not change the biomass calculations of the tree 

records that are in the data table on the Enter Cut Tree Data page. To change those, reenter the cut 

tree data.

Economic Impact3

The objective of the economic impact module is to estimate regional economic effects stemming 

from stand-level fuel-reduction treatments. Costs, revenues, and volumes that have been calculated 

in the cost calculator part of MyFTP are used to estimate economic impact, so the results shown 

in the treatment summary should be considered complete before moving on to estimate economic 

impacts. The Forest Service’s Inventory and Monitoring Institute (IMI) has developed and long 

supported the IMPLAN system for economic impact analysis. The IMI has also developed standard 

analysis protocols using IMPLAN for assessing economic impacts of Forest Service work activities, projects, and programs (Alward et al. 2003, Minnesota IMPLAN Group 1999). The IMPLAN 

processes and models have been customized to work with other parts of MyFTP.

Open the economic impact module by clicking the Economic Impacts button on the Navigation 

page or by selecting Economic Impacts from the MyFTP Toolbar. 

The Economic Impacts module begins by requiring the user to enter the DBH of the smallest tree 

that will be considered a saw log (fig. 12). All trees with that DBH and larger will be categorized as 

saw logs and all trees with a smaller DBH will be roundwood. These classifications are necessary 

because of the varying economic impacts of producing solid wood products (saw logs) versus pulp 

(roundwood) production.

3The model underlying the economic impact calculations and the description of the model was provided by Greg Alward, 

Mike Niccolucci, Doug Smith, and Susan Winter all with the Inventory and Monitoring Institute, 2150 Centre Ave., Bldg. A, 

Suite 300, Fort Collins, CO 80526.
27

The Economic Impacts Input screen is shown in figure 13. The Results Year and the Costs Year are 

both required. The default value for both years is the current year. The dollar amounts on the Economic Impacts Report are based on the results year, and the cost year is the year of the cost data. 

If historical cost data are used to estimate economic impacts, the year the historical costs occurred 

should be entered as the costs year. If the estimated cost for the project is in the year of implementation, the results year and the cost year should be the same.

Forest Service administration costs and hours are entered, if they occur, below the year entries. 

Total contract costs are the values currently found in MyFTP for those activities. If Forest Service 

Figure 12—Input box for entering the minimum DBH of saw logs.

Figure 13—Economic Impacts-Input page.
28

employees performed any work or incurred any costs, check the appropriate box next to the activity. After the box is checked, additional cells will be available for entering Forest Service labor 

hours, labor costs, and other costs.

Products created by a commercial thinning activity are shown in the lower left portion of the input 

screen. If saw logs or roundwood have been produced, the percentage of the volume that is posts 

and poles and the percentage of the volume that is processed locally must be entered. Volume that 

is processed outside of the local area does not contribute to local jobs and income. Determine the 

local processing area by clicking on the CEA Map (view local counties) button. The local counties 

are also listed on the Economic Impacts Report.

The Economic Impacts Report (fig. 14), shows the economic impact results of all previous user 

entries and MyFTP calculations. This report is accessed by clicking the Economic Impacts Report 

button on the Economic Impacts-Input screen. No user entry is allowed on the report page. Print 

this report by clicking the Print Report button and selecting Print. This report may be suitable as 

an attachment to required environmental documents.

Figure 14—Economic impacts report.
29

Glossary

activity fuels—Fuels added to surface fuels as a result of some forest operation or treatment.

biomass—Total weight of aboveground parts of a tree. 

bole—The central stem of a tree. Bole in MyFTP refers to the bole above the stump and may be to 

the tip of the tree or to the merchantable height where the minimum merchantable diameter 

is reached.

diameter at breast height (DBH)—Tree diameter measured outside bark at 4.5 ft (1.3 m) above 

ground level.

diameter inside bark (DIB)—The DIB measurement at the top of the log is used to determine 

log volume. Within MyFTP, a 4-in or 6-in top diameter limit for logs can be selected in the Pacific 

Coast States, but only a 4-in top diameter limit is allowed in the interior West. 

Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA)—The mission of the FIA Program of the U.S. Department of 

Agriculture Forest Service is to determine the extent and condition of forest resources and analyze 

how these resources change over time.

Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS)—A model commonly used by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service and other federal and state agencies for predicting forest stand dynamics. 

Forest managers have used FVS extensively to summarize current stand conditions, predict future 

stand conditions under various management alternatives, and update inventory statistics. More 

information and FVS software are available at http://www.fs.fed.us/fmsc/fvs/index.php.

Inland Northwest Growth and Yield Cooperative (INGY)—Established in 1984 to address 

mutual technical problems and concerns regarding the growth and yield of forests in the Inland 

Northwest. Participants come from industry, states or provinces, tribal councils, private consulting firms, federal agencies, and universities. For more information, see the INGY Web site at 

http://www.forestry.umt.edu/research/MFCES/programs/INGY/DEFAULT.HTM.

log—The portion of the delimbed bole of a tree that is intended to be used for some product.

My Fuel Treatment Planner (MyFTP)—An MS Excel-based tool for calculating costs and benefits 

of fuel treatments.

small-end diameter (SED)—The DIB of the small end of a log. 

volume model—Set of volume equations that determine the log volume of the specified species. 

MyFTP includes two volume model choices: FIA and INGY. The INGY volume model was developed from recent data with an equation that provides profile calculations (diameters at any point 

on the bole) and volume calculations that are fully consistent. The INGY volume calculations generally apply in the northern Rockies and east of the Cascade Range crest. The FIA volume model is 
30

a collection of equations that directly estimate volume. Log diameters are not available from 

this approach. When the FIA volume model is selected, the bole volumes are calculated with the 

FIA volume equations and the INGY equations are used to allocate the bole volume into logs.

Species List

Common name Scientific name

Douglas-fir Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco

Engelmann spruce Picea engelmannii Parry ex Engelm.

Grand fir Abies grandis (Dougl. ex D. Don) Lindl.

Jeffrey pine Pinus jeffreyi Grev. & Balf.

Lodgepole pine Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud.

Mountain hemlock Tsuga mertensiana (Bong.) Carr.

Ponderosa pine Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex Laws.

Subalpine fir Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt.

Western hemlock Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.

Western larch Larix occidentalis Nutt.

Western redcedar Thuja plicata Donn ex D. Don

Western white pine Pinus monticola Dougl. ex D. Don

White fir Abies concolor (Gord. & Glend.) Lindl. ex Hildebr.

Metric Equivalents

When you know: Multiply by: To find:

Inches (in) 2.54 Centimeters

Feet (ft) .3048 Meters (m)

Miles (mi) 1.609 Kilometers

Acres (ac) .405 Hectares

Tons (ton) .907 Tonnes 

Board feet .00566 Cubic meters
31

References

Alward, G.S.; Arnold, R.; Niccolucci, M.; Winter, S. 2003. Economic significance of the USDA 

Forest Service strategic plan (2000 revision): programmatic methods and results. Report No. 6. 

Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Inventory and Monitoring 

Institute. 45 p.

Dixon, G.E. 2004. Essential FVS: a user’s guide to the forest vegetation simulator. Rev. Internal 

Rep. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Management 

Service Center. 196 p. http://www.fs.fed.us/fmsc/ftp/fvs/docs/gtr/EssentialFVS.pdf. (14 April 

2005).

Flewelling, J.W.; Ernst, R.l. 1996. Stem profile estimation—east-side species. Unpublished report 

for the Inland Northwest Growth and Yield Cooperative. On file with: USDA Forest Service, 

Forest Management Service Center, 2150 Centre Ave., Bldg. A, Suite 300, Fort Collins, CO 

80526.

Minnesota IMPLAN Group. 1999. IMPLAN professional users guide. IMPLAN professional, 

version 2.0, social accounting and impact analysis software. Minneapolis, MN: Minnesota 

IMPLAN Group, Inc. 418 p.

Pacific Northwest Research Station

Web site http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw

Telephone (503) 808-2592

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FAX (503) 808-2130

E-mail pnw_pnwpubs@fs.fed.us

Mailing address Publications Distribution

	 	 Pacific Northwest Research Station

 P.O. Box 3890

	 	 Portland, OR 97208-3890