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News Release: Tri-County Pest Board

On March 9, the Boards of County Commissioners in Chelan, Douglas and Okanogan counties finalized an agreement combining the Okanogan County Horticultural Pest & Disease Board with the joint Chelan-Douglas Horticultural Pest & Disease Board. The new board is named the Tri-County Horticultural Pest & Disease Board.

In December 2020, Dan McCarthy retired after 23 years serving Okanogan County as its pest control agent. The director/pest control agent for the previous Chelan-Douglas Pest Board, Will Carpenter, will take on the new role of director/pest control agent of the Tri-County Pest Board.

The Tri-County Pest Board now serves the tree fruit industry throughout Chelan, Douglas and Okanogan counties. Its mission is to eradicate pest- and disease-infested vegetation that threatens commercial tree fruit growers. The department works closely with the public to keep backyard fruit trees and hobby orchards free from pest and disease infestations.

By combining resources, the Tri-County Horticultural Pest & Disease Board enables Chelan, Douglas and Okanogan counties to more effectively control and prevent the spread of horticultural pests and diseases. This merger creates a central point of contact for orchardists, warehouses, fieldmen and the general public when reporting tree fruit pest and disease infestations.

The Tri-County Pest Board is granted its authority within Washington State RCW 15.09. The department investigates complaints received on unmanaged, neglected or abandoned vegetation that may harbor these pests and diseases. The complaints are typically made against backyard fruit trees, but can be as large as commercial orchards.

The Tri-County Pest Board Department is managed by the director/pest control agent, who is appointed by the board of representatives. The board is comprised of four tree fruit industry representatives from each county, one WSU Extension agent and a member appointed by the director of the Washington State Department of Agriculture. The department’s website is at https://www.co.chelan.wa.us/horticultural-pest-and-disease-board.

 

Last Updated: 08/24/2021 09:05 AM

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