The Dog Days of Summer often bring the Pest Days of Plenty to Southern farms, and this year is no different. As insect pressure intensifies across the region, take a look at what they're dealing with in Florida’s Panhandle: a standing occupation of armyworms, and Georgia peanut farms infested with spider mites. And what is a Redneck Worm?

“So far it looks like pyrethroids are giving good control of fall and beet armyworms, as long as they are less than an inch long. Some of the larger seem to be able to escape control, however. Insect growth regulators such as Dimilin have also been showing good results as long as they are applied while the caterpillars are small,” says Josh Thompson, area University of Florida Extension agent located in Jackson County.