Vino Farms Company

A vineyard management company has agreed to pay $67,000 to settle a case that arose after 400 birds died from pesticide poisoning in the Alexander Valley last fall. Sonoma County prosecutors negotiated the settlement with Lodi-based Vino Farms Inc., which managed the vineyard. Under the settlement--filed Thursday in county Superior Court--Vino Farms will give $15,000 to the Santa Rosa Bird Rescue Center and will cover costs incurred by state and local water and wildlife officials.

A vineyard management company has agreed to pay $67,000 to settle a case that arose after 400 birds died from pesticide poisoning in the Alexander Valley last fall. Sonoma County prosecutors negotiated the settlement with Lodi-based Vino Farms Inc., which managed the vineyard. Under the settlement--filed Thursday in county Superior Court--Vino Farms will give $15,000 to the Santa Rosa Bird Rescue Center and will cover costs incurred by state and local water and wildlife officials.

A vineyard management company pleaded no contest to one criminal charge and agreed to a civil settlement in connection with the deaths of 400 birds near a vineyard in Sonoma County. Vino Farms of Lodi applied the pesticide Nemacur in November at a vineyard near Geyserville without taking required precautions. Tests showed that many of the dead birds had been exposed to the pesticide, perhaps when attracted to contaminated puddles of water. Vino Farms will pay a $5,000 criminal fine, and $62,683.

A vineyard management company pleaded no contest to one criminal charge and agreed to a civil settlement in connection with the deaths of 400 birds near a vineyard in Sonoma County. Vino Farms of Lodi applied the pesticide Nemacur in November at a vineyard near Geyserville without taking required precautions. Tests showed that many of the dead birds had been exposed to the pesticide, perhaps when attracted to contaminated puddles of water. Vino Farms will pay a $5,000 criminal fine, and $62,683.