Pest Management Coordinator places an insect trap
WSU Extension > Skagit County > Agriculture > Horticultural Pest Control Board

Horticultural Pest Control Board

Entomology and Horticulture in the News

CAHNRS Cougs, Cosmic Crisp® apples bring community together for USA 250th party

Sarah and Steve Vining, a married couple with proud links to Washington State University’s College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences, invited their lakeside community to a floating celebration that connected the nation’s 250th birthday, Cougar pride, and Washington’s own Cosmic Crisp® apple.

  • Early Season Numbers of Spotted Wing Drosophila  Monitoring for Spotted Wing Drosophila Begins in Skagit County  Monitoring for Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD) in blueberry fields throughout Skagit County began on May 26, 2026. Traps are checked weekly to track […]
  • End of Season Pest Report 2025  Current Pest Board Targets:  Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD)  A grand total of 16,214 adult SWD flies were caught in Skagit County this season. An average of 257 individuals were found on each sampling day, or about […]

Why We Are Here

On May 26, 1998, the Skagit County Board of Commissioners approved the formation of a Horticultural Pest and Disease Board. The Board is charged with the responsibility of receiving complaints concerning pests and diseases in Skagit County and taking action to control priority pests and diseases that threaten agriculture in the county. The Board operates under the rules of the State of Washington, RCW 15.09. 

  • Pest Board members include representatives from the local agricultural and research community  
  • Active Pest Board members determine which pest species will be monitored and what actions to take against threats to the county  
  • Operates from spring through summer of each year  
  • Trapping occurs on residential and commercial properties  
  • Traps for several common pests are made available to the public for purchase 

Mission Statement   

To safeguard the economic integrity and stability of Skagit County, the Horticultural Pest Control Board was established to monitor and control the spread of invasive insects which are a threat to agricultural products and environmental resources of our county.   

Email Katherine:

  • Subscribe to the Pest Alerts newsletter
  • Participate in the monitoring program
  • Become a member of the Skagit County Horticultural Pest Control Board

The Law 

According to RCW 15.09.060 – Each owner of land containing any plant or plants shall perform or cause to be performed such acts as may be necessary to control and to prevent the spread of horticultural pests and diseases, such pests and diseases are defined under RCW 15.08.010, as now or hereafter amended, or as such pests and diseases are defined by the director of the department of agriculture in accordance with the purpose of this chapter and with the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act, chapter 34.05 RCW. The word “owner” as used in this section shall mean the possessor or possessors of any form of legal or equitable title to land and entitlement to possession. For purposes of liability under this chapter, the owners of land shall be jointly and severally liable. RCW 15.09.080 for more information. 

Summary: Homeowners may be liable for losses suffered by neighboring commercial orchards.