 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
Current Articles Farm
Bureau president penalized By TIM TESCONI / THE PRESS DEMOCRAT / April 2, 2003
The unusual action was taken against Bill Pauli, 54, president of the California Farm Bureau, by the Mendocino County Agricultural Commissioner's office following a 10-month investigation. Agricultural officials said revoking a grower's pesticide use permit is reserved for the most egregious pesticide violations. The Pauli Ranch permit was canceled because Pauli unlawfully blocked an agricultural worker from inspecting the spraying of a restricted chemical on his vineyard, according to the investigation report. Mendocino County agricultural commissioner David Bengston said Pauli violated the provisions of his ranch's pesticide-use permit, leading to cancellation of the permit and a $400 fine. Bengston said the Paulis can reapply for a new pesticide permit so they can continue farming. Pauli "verbally assaulted" agricultural inspector Cindy Beaver on June 1, 2002, and then locked the gate to his vineyard to prevent the emotionally distraught inspector from driving off his property, Bengston's report states. "We felt it was a pretty extreme reaction," Bengston said. Bob Krauter, manager of communications for the California Farm Bureau Federation in Sacramento, declined to comment about the enforcement action against Pauli and the impact on the 73,000-member organization. Pauli has been a leader in the group for years and was elected to head the organization in 1997. Pauli on Tuesday said he would have no comment on the action taken by the Mendocino County Agricultural Commis-sioner's office or the incident leading to the 10-month investigation. The incident occurred when Beaver visited the Pauli Ranch in Potter Valley to monitor the application of a restricted material called paraquat. The Paulis had filed a notice of intent with the agricultural office to apply the chemical in their vineyards. Beaver, who arrived in her own vehicle early on a Saturday morning to do the pesticide inspection, was confronted by Pauli, who demanded to know who she was and what she was doing on his property. Beaver, according to the report, explained she was from the agricultural commission-er's office and was at the vineyard to inspect the pesticide spraying that was under way. "Mr. Pauli proceeded to verbally assault Ms. Beaver (after she introduced herself as a county inspector) yelled at her to get off his property and then locked Ms. Beaver in the vineyard," according to the Notice of Proposed Action against the Pauli Ranch by Bengston. Pauli detained Beaver for 10 minutes until his wife, Janet Pauli, arrived and unlocked the gate so the inspector could leave. Beaver left the property without doing the inspection. Although Pauli and his wife, partners in the 500-acre Pauli Ranch, have applied for a new pesticide-use permit, they are unable to use restricted pesticides at this time because of the permit revocation by the agricultural commissioner's office. According to Pauli's testimony in the investigation, he was concerned because Beaver was not wearing an identification badge and was not in a county-issued vehicle. He'd also had a recent run-in with other regulatory officials because he had removed trees along a waterway. The Paulis have agreed to the contents of Bengston's investigation and the enforcement action. They have waived all rights to a hearing or appeal of the matter. Beaver, who left the agricultural commissioner's office shortly after the incident, now works for the United States Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency in Ukiah. She declined to comment on the incident, saying she stands by the written testimony she submitted to her boss, agricultural commissioner Bengston. Beaver, 28, wants to make it clear that she left the agricultural commissioner's office on her own accord. Beaver said she didn't file a report with the Sheriff's Office and no other legal action is pending. In addition to 500 acres of wine grapes, Bill and Janet Pauli farm 75 acres of pears. They also are partners in Braren-Pauli Winery and Redwood Valley Cellars in Mendocino County. Pauli, a third-generation Potter Valley rancher, has been a leader for more than 20 years in the California Farm Bureau Federation, which represents the interests of farmers. With his election as president, he became the first rancher from the North Coast ever elected to head the California Farm Bureau, which for 80 years plucked its leaders from the Central Valley and Southern California. Traditionally,
most Farm Bureau presidents serve eight years, giving Pauli
another three years as the top elected official of the state's
leading agricultural organization. Pauli divides his time between
Sacramento, Potter Valley and domestic and international travel
to represent the state's $28 billion farming industry. You
can reach Staff Writer Tim Tesconi at 521-5289 or
|