Kabul Times (Apr-June, 1965)

Kabul Times, April to June 1965
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Merrifield, Urban Wildlife Management Inc., and California Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators Association, v. Lockyer and California Structural Pest Control Board: United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, Case No. 05-16613

Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Northern District of California, Maxine M. Chesney, District Judge, Presiding.
Argued and Submitted August 16, 2007–San Francisco, California.
Filed September 16, 2008, Before: Diarmuid F. O’Scannlain, Michael Daly Hawkins,
and Kim McLane Wardlaw, Circuit Judges. Opinion by Judge O’Scannlain;
Partial Concurrence and Partial Dissent by Judge Hawkins

Timothy Sandefur, Pacific Legal Foundation, Sacramento,
California, argued the cause for the plaintiffs-appellants and
filed briefs; Meriem L. Hubbard, Pacific Legal Foundation,
Sacramento, California, was on the briefs.
Diann Sokoloff, Deputy Attorney General, Oakland, California,
argued the cause for the defendants-appellees and filed a
brief; Bill Lockyer, Attorney General for the State of California,
Alfredo Terrazas, Senior Assistant Attorney General,
Wilbert E. Bennett Supervising Deputy Attorney General,
Oakland, California, were on the brief.

The court must decide whether a state regulatory scheme violates
the equal protection rights of pest controllers.
Alan Merrifield appeals from a grant of summary judgment
denying his request for a permanent, prospective injunction of
California’s structural pest control licensing requirements. He
engages in “non-pesticide animal damage prevention and bird
control” (”ADP & BC”), which includes installing spikes,
screens, and other mechanical devices in or on buildings and
other structures so as to remove vertebrate pests–e.g.,
skunks, raccoons, squirrels, rats, pigeons, starlings, bats–or
to keep them away from structures. California law requires all
persons engaged in structural pest control to obtain licenses,
with certain statutory exemptions. Merrifield argues that the
applicable licensing requirement is intended for pesticide-based
pest control, and that he should be exempt from such
requirement because he does not use pesticides.
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Weather and Management Impact on Crop Yield Variability in Rotations

Crop rotations are designed to increase productivity and reduce costs. These
advantages are contingent upon favorable weather and require appropriate management.
Unpredictable weather poses risks to dryland crop production. Information
on how weather affects yields in different cropping systems and how
farmers could respond with management would help minimize risk and stabilize
yield and income. We evaluated the effects of preseason and growing season
weather variability on continuous and sequential cropping of corn, sorghum,
and soybean in a 12-yr span, and suggest how management decisions could
influence cropping system performance.
Models of different levels of sophistication have been developed to link yields
of individual crops with weather factors. But there is a paucity of information
on how weather and management affect yields in whole cropping systems.
Furthermore, many models demand a large amount of input data, which is a
major limitation to routine application by potential users. This study developed
simple empirical models to relate yield and management with a combined index
of composite weather variables in whole cropping systems.
The study was conducted from 1984 to 1995 at the Agricultural Research and
Development Center near Mead, NE. Correlation and regression analyses were
used to relate system performance to weather. Yield was the dependent variable
and several combined indices of weather factors were predictor variables. The
combined indices of weather or composite weather variables were biological
windows (BW) and standardized precipitation index (SPI). Biological windows
represent the time during the entire year during which rainfall and air temperature
favor biological activities. The biological windows are derived from the
mean monthly precipitation and temperature data. The SPI is the difference of
precipitation from the long-term average (>30 yr) divided by the standard deviation,
a measure used to determine how wet or dry a period of time is compared
with average weather patterns, up to a certain date. Both BW and SPI are calculated
with simple computer programs. Standard deviation was used as a measure
of yield/income variability. Weather effects on yield and income fluctuations
of the cropping systems are discussed, along with potentials for the farmer
to influence this variability through management.
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Soil Surface Fluxes of Greenhouse Gases in an Irrigated Maize-Based Agroecosystem

An understanding of the effect of fertility management on soil
surface fluxes of CO2, N2O, and CH4 is essential in evaluating C
sequestration measures that attempt to increase the amount of crop
residue returned to the soil through increased fertilizer inputs. In this,
soil surface CO2 flux was measured over a 27-mo sampling
period in continuous maize (Zea mays L.) plots managed under either an intensive fertility regime (M2) or recommended best management
(M1). Flux was significantly higher in the M2 treatment on only 2 d
during the first growing season. Annual estimates of soil surface CO2 flux, based on a modified exponential equation that incorporates leaf area index (LAI) to predict temporal changes in soil respiration, averaged 11 550 kg C ha-1 yr-1 for both treatments (approximately 31.64 kg C ha-1 d-1 on average). Within row soil surface CO2 flux was,
on average, 64% higher than between row flux. Plant population did not significantly affect measured soil surface CO2 flux. While
fertility management had no significant effect on CH4 flux, N2O flux as measured on 3 d during the 2000 growing season was significantly
higher in the M2 treatment. In 2001, no significant differences in N2O flux were observed, possibly due to changes in N management and irrigation method. Electrical conductivity measured during the 2000
and 2001 growing seasons was significantly higher in the M2 treatment
while pH measured during the 2001 season was significantly lower for M2.
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Changes In Nitrogen Use Efficiency And Soil Quality After Five Years Of Managing For High Yield Corn And Soybean

Average corn grain yields in the USA have increased linearly at a rate of 1.7
bu/acre over the past 35 years with a national yield average of 140 bu/acre. Corn yield
contest winners and simulation models, however, indicate there is ~100 bu/a in
exploitable corn yield gap. Four years (1999-2002) of plant development, grain yield and
nutrient uptake were compared in intensive irrigated maize systems representing (a)
recommended best management practices for a yield goal of 200 bu/acre (M1) and (b)
intensive management aiming at a yield goal of 300 bu/acre (M2). For each management
level, three levels of plant density (30000-P1, 37000-P2 and 44000-P3 seed/acre) were
compared in a continuous corn and corn- soybean rotation. Over five years, the grain
yields increased 11% as a function of management and this effect was manifest under
higher plant densities. A high yield of 285 bu/acre was achieved at the M2, P2 treatment
in 2003. Higher population resulted in greater demand for N and K per unit grain yield.
Over the past five years, nitrogen use efficiency has steadily improved in the M2
treatment due to improvements in soil quality. Intensive management and population
levels significantly increased residue carbon inputs with disproportionately lower soil
respiration. Closing the yield gap requires higher plant population and improved nutrient
management to maintain efficient and profitable improvement in maize production. Soil
quality improvements and higher residue inputs under intensive management should
make this task easier with time.
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EC95-815 Extending the Safe Drinking Water Act: Issues and Alternatives

Author’s note: This publication was written in the months immediately prior to the beginning of the 104th Congress in January, 1995. While the basic issues have not changed, the schedule for reauthorization of the Safe Drinking Water Act and the approach to issues may have been altered by the change in political-party leadership in the Congress. For example, contamination standards for drinking water may become a part of general “risk-assessment” legislation in 1995. In 1974, Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), P.L. 93-523. Its purpose was to protect the nation’s drinking water from harmful biological and chemical contaminants. The act also addressed groundwater protection, specifically providing for controls on the underground injection of wastes, e.g., from oil-drilling, that might contaminate water supplies. Under the act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was given responsibility for establishing quality standards and treatment requirements for drinking water. States were asked to implement national standards and enforce compliance.
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EC95-816 Extending the Clean Water Act: Issues and Alternatives

Author’s note: This publication was written in the months immediately prior to the beginning of the 104th Congress in January 1995. While the basic issues ave not changed, the schedule for reauthorization of the Clean Water Act and the approach to issues may have been altered by the change in political-party leadership in the Congress. For example, wetlands policy and private property rights may be treated as separate pieces of legislation in 1995. The Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972, frequently referred to as the Clean Water Act (CWA), was last amended and updated in 1987. This reauthorization expired on September 30, 1994. Although hearings and other activities leading to yet another reauthorization took place in 1993 and 1994, disputes over key provisions precluded final action. It is expected to be considered again in 1995. The following overview identifies major issues to be resolved in the Clean Water Act reauthorization. No attempt has been made to array these issues by priority, either for members of Congress or for particular groups of citizens.
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Should have got a tractor a decade ago!

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Trio of farms for sale in West Country

Three substantial farms in the West Country have come on the market with Savills.
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Crown to sell Welsh research farm

The Crown Estate is selling one of the largest farms to come to the market in Wales this year.
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