Agriculture briefs

<p class="bold allcaps">Former SRJC prof to be honored</p> <p>Santa Rosa Junior College professor emeritus Richard Thomas will receive a “Leadership in Agriculture” award Aug. 29 at the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce's 40th annual Agribusiness BBQ.</p><p>The event and dinner will begin with a reception at 4:30 p.m. at Richard's Grove & Saralee's Vineyard, 3575 Slusser Road, Windsor.</p><p>Thomas was the first coordinator for the Sonoma County Harvest Fair. He often judges U.S. wine competitions and is considered to have greatly helped raise the status of Sonoma County wines.</p><p>Tickets are $55 each. For reservations, contact Janet Rogers at the chamber, 545-1414 ext.213.</p><h3>Workshop on improving grazing</h3> <p>Ranchers can learn how to improve the productivity of their land at a grazing workshop Sept. 25-27 at Ridgewood Ranch in Willits.</p><p>The workshop will be presented by the Mendocino County Resource Conservation District, the California Native Grasslands Association, the National Resources Conservation Service and the Mendocino County Farm Bureau.</p><p>The hands-on workshop will teach how to develop and implement a grazing plan that can boost productivity of ranch land, while keeping costs low and providing good animal performance.</p><p>The workshop leader is Richard King, who has been practicing grazing planning for 21 years and is certified in range management.</p><p>The cost is $150 for ranchers and $90 for students. Register at www.cnga.org.</p><h3>Products falsely labeled organic</h3> <p>A major fertilizer producer from California could face up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine after pleading guilty to fraudulently providing products that were falsely labeled organic.</p><p>Once one of the largest organic-fertilizer operators in the western United States, Kenneth Noel Nelson Jr., of Bakersfield pleaded guilty to four counts of mail fraud. He will be sentenced in early November.</p><p>Nelson, 59, sold an estimated $40 million worth of purportedly organic fertilizer from 2003 to 2009, according to the Department of Justice. He didn't tell customers he was using chemicals that included aqueous ammonia and ammonium sulfate. Those products cost less than using true organic materials such as fish meal or bird guano.</p><p>Nelson secured his valuable organic certification with false applications.</p><p>— Press Democrat news services</p>