"Most years we cover 16,000 acres over four states during our five-month winter season," says Stephen Singleton, owner of Singleton Forestry Services, Buena Vista, Georgia. "We run 13 days straight, then take a Sunday off. Time management is everything, and the only time our equipment isn't working is when it's being moved on a truck." Welcome to mechanized tree planting, Singleton-style.

Singleton pulls tree planters behind dozers, and since uptime is essential to his operation, choosing John Deere is a big vote of confidence. He has acquired eight new John Deere 650J Dozers the past four years running. Recently, Singleton has been taking advantage of John Deere Credit's Rental Alternative Lease program. The machines are leased by the month and are always under warranty.

Eight dozers, two crews, unlimited uptime
Singleton works the eight dozers in two crews of four machines each. The goal is to keep one crew moving at all times. "We move one set of four dozers and planters while the other crew plants," says Singleton. "I've always got at least four of them planting at once — that's time management. And we've never had a real problem with our John Deere dozers."

Four dozers were planting a 45-acre tract outside of Columbus, Georgia, when we visited with Singleton. "On average, we plant 135 to 140 acres per day," he says. "With our eight dozers we plant as many as 225 acres a day in South Carolina, Geogia, Alabama, and Florida. We're probably one of the largest mechanized planters in the Southeast."

Regeneration next
Planting conditions are difficult, with dozers pulling one-row tree planters through tracts in the regeneration-harvesting process. Because this process leaves the land covered with brush and low-lying stumps, Singleton's shop fabricates V-blades for the dozers that push brush and dead branches aside to clear a path for new seedlings. "Hamp Butler, one of our crew foremen, fabricates those V-blades for us," says Singleton.

The 99-horsepower 650J Dozers pack plenty of power to push brush and pull the planters. Each planter consists of a covered cart to carry an operator and seedling trees. A 36-inch rolling coulter slices down about 14 inches into the ground to create a furrow. The operator affixes seedlings onto a large wheel that rotates down into the furrow and plants the trees. Behind the furrow, two packer wheels — one on each side of the row — firm the soil into place.

Trees are planted in various populations, according to what the forester calls for. A common pattern, and the one Singleton was using when we visited him, is to plant trees spaced six feet apart in rows that are 12 feet apart. This technique produces a tree population of 605 trees per acre.

No spinning out
Singleton likes the hydrostatic-drive systems on the 650Js because when the dozer hits a stump, the track will stop temporarily and save wear on the undercarriage. By contrast, a direct-drive dozer would hit the stump and spin out, causing undue wear on the pins and bushings of the undercarriage. "The engine needs to stall just a little bit out here," says Singleton. "That's because when the rpms of the engine drop, you get maximum torque out of the machine."

Singleton says the 650J Dozers are operator friendly. "A brand-new operator can come out here and I can teach him to run one of these dozers in a week. I teach him to stay off the driveways and out of the creek and wet spots."

"I love the 640H Skidder"
In the summer, Singleton also runs a tree-spraying business. "Johnny Barrett, one of our crew foremen, is also our spraying operations manager," says Singleton.

For the tree-spraying business, three John Deere skidders are used, including a Deere 640H fitted with 500-gallon spray tanks and sprayer bars, standard equipment on all Singleton's machines. "We do mid-rotation-release herbicide, which kills underbrush and thinned pines," he continues. "Last year we sprayed 12,000 acres. I love the 640H Skidder. It has great creature comforts."

The bond between Singleton Forestry Services and its dealer appears to be rock solid. Singleton appreciates Metrac's efforts to keep his dozers up and running. Speaking with the dealership, the respect between the companies is mutual. "We understand his needs and his business," says Mike Henderson, who heads up the Columbus, Georgia, store for Metrac. "He runs an impressive business, and we're proud to be allied with Stephen Singleton."

Whether planting with their John Deere 650Js or spraying with their specially equipped skidders, the tree experts at Singleton Forestry Services are keeping forests healthy in Georgia and throughout the south.

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