Feller-bunchers are similar to single grip-harvesters, but have the additional capacity to hold stems while additional felling cuts are made. The development of hydraulic accumulator arms that act like mechanical fingers on the felling head gives these machines the ability to hold one or more stems in place while a second or third is cut. Furthermore, this gives feller-bunchers the capacity to pre-brunch stems for a skidding or forwarding machine, without stopping harvesting.

14.6.3 Short-Rotation Woody Crop Harvesters

Short rotation woody crop harvesters, also called swath harvesters, are forage harvesters that are modified to harvest small diameter woody energy crops. These machines are typically able to harvest stems less than five inches in diameter. Stems are harvested and chipped, ground, or shredded, and fed through an auger to a trailer that is either pulled by the harvester or pulled by a second tractor driving in parallel.