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<DIV><FONT size=2>Here's new issue facing commercial beekeepers in California.
Beekeepers are being asked to move hives away from a crop that doesn't want
pollination, with the threat of legal action against them if they do not
move. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><STRONG>Right-to-farm issue causes buzz in
SJV</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>By Christine Souza; 5/10/06</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Full article on website of California Farm Bureau
Federation, at </FONT><A
href="http://www.cfbf.com/agalert/AgAlertStory.cfm?ID=588&ck=DACA41214B39C5DC66674D09081940F0"><FONT
size=2>http://www.cfbf.com/agalert/AgAlertStory.cfm?ID=588&ck=DACA41214B39C5DC66674D09081940F0</FONT></A></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Concern by Paramount Citrus about damage to its mandarin crop
caused by bees pollinating neighboring crops in Tulare, Kern, Fresno and Madera
counties has prompted the company to demand that nearby landowners keep beehives
at least 2 miles away from its groves. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>In response, some beekeepers assert that state law protects
their right to continue their long-standing agricultural activity. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>"What we're asking people to do is be reasonable. We have in
our farming portfolio a need for bees too and what we're asking for is simply to
respect the specific crops of the mandarin Clementine," said Fiona Posell,
Paramount Citrus spokeswoman. "There are plenty of people who have already
moved. So we are very encouraged and we have seen more people being cooperative
than not." </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>At issue is Paramount Citrus' discovery that its seedless
mandarin varieties growing within the Central Valley's citrus belt are suffering
damage due to cross-pollination by bees placed near its groves. </FONT><FONT
size=2>The distribution by bees of pollen in these mandarin citrus groves
results in a high number of seeds in the fruit. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>"A landlord asked me to leave and when I didn't get them out
that night, Paramount called me the next day to say, 'if you don't get these
out, you'll be hearing from our legal department,'" said Tulare County beekeeper
Paul Godlin. "Paramount is encouraging growers to be good neighbors and not
allow their beekeeper that they've dealt with for many years to put bees in the
area. To the best of my knowledge, they have no legal right to do that. A lot of
wringing of hands is going on right now." </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>The few landowners who refused to comply with Paramount's
request to remove bees received the letter by Paramount Citrus attorney Andrew
Ashe, who stated the company's request that they move the hives or face legal
action. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>"Paramount hereby demands that you immediately move your bee
hives a minimum of two miles away from Paramount's property. If you fail to do
so...we will have no choice but to immediately take legal action against you,
including filing suit against you for negligence, trespass, nuisance and other
claims," Ashe stated. "Should such action become necessary, please be advised
that Paramount will seek injunctive relief, compensation for any and all damages
caused to its crops as well as punitive damages." </FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>
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<DIV><FONT
size=1>______________________________________________________</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><STRONG>The Xerces Society for Invertebrate
Conservation</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=1>
<DIV><FONT size=1>Protecting wildlife through science-based advocacy,
</FONT><FONT size=1>education, </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=1>and conservation projects since 1971. To join the Society,
make a </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=1>contribution</FONT><FONT size=1>, </FONT><FONT size=1>or read
about our work, please visit </FONT><FONT size=1><A
href="http://www.xerces.org/">www.xerces.org</A>.</FONT></DIV></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=1></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=1>Matthew Shepherd</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=1>Director, Pollinator Conservation Program</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=1>4828 SE Hawthorne Boulevard, Portland, OR 97215,
USA</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=1>Tel: 503-232 6639 Fax: 503-233 6794</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=1>Email: </FONT><A href="mailto:mdshepherd@xerces.org"><FONT
size=1>mdshepherd@xerces.org</FONT></A><FONT size=1> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><FONT
size=1>______________________________________________________</FONT></DIV>
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