The Washington State Department of Agriculture hopes more property owners this year will give the department access to spray for Japanese beetles, a pest gaining ground in Eastern Washington. The department will seek consent from more than 17,600 property owners in Benton, Franklin and Yakima counties, about double the number of property owners contacted last year.

Now that the New Year has come and gone, the WSDA is reminding residents now is the time to sign up for Japanese Beetle treatments.