Commercial Fruit Growers
The primary focus of the Horticultural Pest & Disease Board is to serve commercial producers of Yakima County by protecting orchards from invasive pests and diseases of tree fruit.
Pests of tree fruit such as codling moth, pear psylla, and cherry fruit fly, as well as diseases such
as fire blight, apple scab and others are found in neglected orchards and backyard trees. These
pests and diseases reproduce in these unmanaged trees and spread to commercial orchards and cause
economic losses.
If you are experiencing unusual pest or disease pressure, and are unsure how to proceed, please alert us!
Is the pest or disease apparent on a nearby property? Do you have a friendly relationship with the owner? Often a friendly reminder is all it takes!
RCW 15.08 and RCW 15.09 are laws written to protect agricultural producers of Washington State
An online complaint form is available here (link).
Complaints need to be signed in order for the Pest & Disease Board to proceed beyond an inspection and notification to the problem site owner. Be aware that the Pest & Disease Board will protect a complainants identity up to and until a court case. In the event of a court case it is the right of the accused to face their accuser – it very seldom proceeds to this!