AGRICULTURE

Assemblywoman Noreen Evans, D-Santa Rosa, is sponsoring legislation that would create harsher criminal and civil penalties for stealing or vandalizing beehives.

Honeybee crop pollination adds more than $6 billion to the value of the state's agricultural products, Evans said in a press release. But the theft of beehives has cost state beekeepers an estimated $330,000 in the last 18 months.

The bill, AB 2849, would increase the penalty for stealing beehives from a misdemeanor to a felony. And the legislation would add civil penalties valued at five times the damage for those who take, destroy or vandalize beehives.

The bill won approval this week from the Assembly Committee on Public Safety. It next will be reviewed by the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

Workshop for pesticide users

Farmers and commercial users of pesticides can learn about the new 2008 respirator regulations on May 7 at the Spring Workshop for North Coast Pesticide Applicators.

The workshop will be given from 8 a.m. until noon at the Sonoma County Farm Bureau, 970 Piner Road, Santa Rosa.

The workshop, to be given in English, also will cover bee removal and relocation procedures and pesticide-free rodent control measures.

Licensed pesticide applicators can earn four hours of continuing education credits.

Cost is $55. Registration is required by April 30 and can be made by calling 544-5575.

Banquet for dairy herders

The North Bay Dairy Herd Improvement Association will hold its annual dinner and awards presentation Friday at the Hotel Petaluma Banquet Facility, 205 Keller St., Petaluma.

The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. with no host cocktails, followed by dinner at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $25. Reservations are required by Monday and can be made calling (415) 663-1154.

-- Robert Digitale