An agreement between a beekeeper and the County of Sonoma is being terminated. Back in February, the county made an agreement with Tauzer Apiaries that would allow Tauzer to “park” as many as 120 hives on vacant public land next to the Healdsburg Transfer Station. This would happen while the bees were not pollinating crops in the central valley. In exchange, the County got just $5 annually for each colony. However, other beekeepers have since spoken out to the Healdsburg City Council claiming that “migratory hives” like Tauzer’s degrade local ecology rather than benefit it. The County listened and will terminate its contract with Tauzer following a 60-day period for public notice. Tauzer disagrees with the other beekeepers regarding his hives, telling the Press Democrat that their protests are, quote, “cherry-picked pseudo-science.”
