“Color blindness is a true handicap, and we learn to adapt. We just see things in a different color than most,” the salesman wrote. FarmWeek’s Kay Shipman previously reported on how color blindness can make farming even more difficult. Readers who experience these challenges shared how they work with color blindness and changes they make to stay safe and efficient. Read more

Farmers have a new tool to stay a step ahead of potential disease pressure in their fields. A collaboration between Evergreen FS and Ceres Imaging will expand the reach of a field disease risk product through Agtrinsic this season. “We realize what input costs are and our goal, as a cooperative, has always been to help maximize inputs our (farmer customers) put into the crop,” said Matt Free, Evergreen FS agronomy department manager. Read more

With trapping season underway, State Pest Survey Coordinator Kelly Estes says black cutworm and true armyworm flights are picking up. During an update on the RFD Radio, she discussed pest alerts in Champaign, Piatt and Lee counties, if slugs could be a concern later this spring and crop concerns. Listen

The May 21 Tri-State Forest Stewardship Conference will feature Illinois and Iowa experts discussing woodland management, invasive species identification, wildlife, soils and more. The field day provides a great networking opportunity for natural resource practitioners, landowners and students. Read more

For the first time in over 50 years, the White House plans to host a conference on hunger, nutrition and health. The conference intends to “catalyze the public and private sectors around a coordinated strategy to accelerate progress and drive transformative change in the U.S. to end hunger, improve nutrition and physical activity, and close the disparities surrounding them,” the White House said. Read more

For farmers who have been waiting for a window of opportunity, the green flag is about to drop on planting season. “The market’s looking at the forecast. Basically from Nebraska to Ohio, the weather looks sunny and low- to mid-80s for the entire week,” said Ben Kasch of Bower Trading. Read more