FARMER BEN: Local dairy, agriculture producers urged to beware latest confirmed sightings of 'Armyworm' in Central New York

On Friday, August 1, 2025, local agriculture figure, Ben Simons, joined North Country News with his latest 'Down on the Farm' segment.

For this edition, Farmer Ben is sounding the alarm over numerous confirmed reports of the 'Armyworm,' a pest that can wreak havoc on crops and cause headaches for farmers and agriculture producers alike. 

According to the Cornell Cooperative Extension Office, Armyworms will feed from the outside of the leaf to the midrib. As a result, plants end up looking ragged like they were shot with a shotgun.

During the day, Armyworms are often hiding down in the leaf whorls, agriculture officials say.

Here are some examples of the potential destruction Armyworms can unleash on crops:

Images by Cornell Cooperative Extension.

If you are a North Country area farmer or agriculture producer and you have problems with Armyworms, Farmer Ben advises that you contact your area Cornell Cooperative Extension and New York State DEC offices. 

Be sure to listen to our latest on-air segment for more details:

Ben Simons image.