Teaching Responsibilities

• FOR 2714 Introduction to Industrial Forestry Operations
• FOR 3734 Timber Procurement
• FOR 3344 Forestry Field Studies

Selected Research and Extension Activities

• Virginia SHARP Logger Training and Education Program. (Virginia Sustainable Forestry Initiative [SFI] State Committee / Virginia Forestry Association, 2002-07): Overall Program management for statewide logger training and education program funded and supported by forest industry.
• Analysis of Logging Injuries on Mechanized Operations in the South. (Timber Harvesting and Transportation Foundation, 2002-03): Proprietary Worker's Compensation Insurance (WCI) injury data is collected and analyzed to develop recommendations for targeted logging safety training materials and programs.
• Establishing (and Tracking) Annual Accident and Injury Rates for the Logging Industry in the South. (Timber Harvesting and Transportation Safety Foundation / Forest Resources Association Southwide Logging Safety Committee): Sample claims data from cooperating Worker's Compensation Insurance providers are used to determine the annual TCIR for mechanized logging operations in the South.
• Analysis of Timber Theft in the Southern Appalachians. (Industrial Forestry Operations Research Cooperative): Determine the current extent of timber theft in the Southern Appalachian region and the experience, knowledge level, and opinions of local prosecuting attorneys and law enforcement personnel regarding the problem.
• Evaluating Planning and Communications in the Industrial Wood Supply System. (Wood Supply Research Institute, 2001-02): On-site interviews of 160+ loggers, foresters, and wood dealers were conducted to document the current state of strategic, tactical and operational planning in the U.S. industrial wood supply system.
• A Timber Harvesting Computer Simulation Model. (Westvaco Corp., USDA Forest Service, 2000-02): Development of a comprehensive computer simulation model using the STELLA systems modeling software package to predict productivity and cost for selected common logging systems operating across a range of site and timber stand characteristics.

Selected Publications

• Shaffer, R.M. and T.A. Walbridge. 2003. Timber Harvesting. In: Introduction to Forest Ecosystem Science and Management, [Editors: R.A. Young and R.L. Giese], John Wiley and Sons, Inc., pp. 412-420.
• Shaffer, R. M. 2002. Logging safety improvement in the South: An ongoing success story. Forest Landowner 61(1):17-19.
• Shaffer, R.M. 1999. A ten-year evaluation of Virginia's forestry water quality protection program. Virginia Forests 54(4):15-19.
• Shaffer, R. M. and J. S. Milburn. 1999. Injuries on feller buncher/grapple skidder operations. American Pulpwood Association Technical Release No. 99-R-2. 2pp.
• Shaffer R. M., H. L. Haney, E. G. Worrell and W. M. Aust. 1998. Forestry BMP implementation costs for Virginia. Forest Products Journal 48(9):27-29.
• Shaffer, R.M. and G.S. Meade. 1997. Evaluation of timber harvest planning training for loggers in the Virginia piedmont. Forest Products Journal 47(7/8):69-71.
• Shaffer R. M. 1997. Logging: Not in my backyard! Virginia Issues and Answers 4(1):28-32.
• Shaffer, R.M. 1994. Timber harvesting systems: from horses to helicopters. Forest Farmer 53(1):8-11.
• Shaffer, R.M., K. R. Brummel, T. W. Reisinger and B. J. Stokes. 1993. Impact of group selection silviculture on timber harvesting productivity and cost. Northern Journal of Applied Forestry 10(4):170-174.
• Shaffer, R.M. 1991. Forestry by regulation - California style. Virginia Forests 47(3):15-18.
• Shaffer, R.M. 1985. Sealed-bid timber sales: performance indicators and bidding strategies. Southern Journal of Applied Forestry 9(1):6-10.
• Shaffer, R.M. 1984. Valuation of certain long-term timber cutting contracts. Forest Science 30(3):774-787.

Professional Achievements

• Extension Forester of the Year Award, Forest Landowners Association, 2003
• "Excellence in Extension" Award, Virginia Tech Alumni Association, 2000
• "Man of the Year in Forestry" Award, Virginia Forestry Association, 1998
• American Pulpwood Association National Technical Writing Award, 1991, 1993, 1998, 1999
• Extension Forest Resources Association Excellence in Programming Award, 1991, 1992
• President, Virginia Forestry Association, 1995-96