Southern Loggin’ Times magazine Associate Editor Jay Donnell travels to Beulah, Alabama to spend some time with Southern Harvesting. In 1981, Ray Murphy and his son, Lamar, shut down their logging operation and went in separate directions. Ray began contract hauling and Lamar began working for other loggers. But 12 years later, in 1993, Ray and Lamar saw a cut-to-length system in action and it inspired them to start Murphy & Son Wood Processing. The two started off using a new Franklin 3000 3-wheel tractor with the Franklin harvester head, along with a Hanover forwarder. After a year, the Murphys traded the Hanover for a Franklin 6-wheel 170 Pack-A-Back PML forwarder with a Franklin 4600 Post Mounted loader. From there, Murphy & Son Wood Processing began to grow. The father-son team ran cut-to-length for 18 years and the two really enjoyed operating the equipment themselves.

Featured Story: “Taking Over”

Written By: Jay Donnell
Company: Southern Harvesting
Location: Beulah, Alabama
SLT Issue: October 2014

Check out other featured articles in the October 2014 issue of Southern Loggin’ Times magazine.
Southern Loggin’ Times magazine’s October 2014 issue features Greenville, Georgia’s Flint Forest Products, LLC, Beulah, Alabama’s Southern Harvesting, and Hamburg, Arkansas’ T&A Timber. Also highlighted was the recent Mid-South Forestry Equipment Show, held September 19-20 in Starkville, Mississippi. Other articles cover the latest industry news and new products and technology.