Wit the mild winter and early spring, SC Ag Commissioner Hugh Weathers says that we should be prepared for an onslaught of bugs this year. While scientists arn't necessarily saying there will be more ticks and mosquitoes than usual due to the warm weather, but it doesn't hurt to be prepared.
Since farmers are often in or near the woods a great deal of the time, and since thy're around animals it's very likly that they can be the next meal for a tick or mosquito.
Commissioner Weathers suggests farmers, and everyone else for that matter protect themselves from these potential disease carriers by wearing long pants and sleeves while outdoors, and using an insect repelleant with DEET.