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Rhonda Brooks

Agronomy Editor, Farm Journal

Rhonda Brooks is the Agronomy Editor for Farm Journal and AgWeb, covering all aspects of crop production. A Missouri native with a background in agricultural communications, she has previously worked on multiple Farm Journal brands.

Latest Stories
Corn, Soybeans
Ag Economy
The 180-Million-Acre Lock: Why U.S. Agriculture Remains Anchored to Corn and Soybeans
From canola to hemp, recent history shows new crops only stick when margin and infrastructure line up for years—not seasons.
May 29, 2026 03:42 PM
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Rhonda Brooks
Boots in the Field -- Ken Ferrie
Crop Production
Carbon Penalty Looms As Corn Enters ‘Ugly’ Growth Stage
Nitrogen availability, root development and residue load determine whether crops stumble or race through June.
May 29, 2026 11:54 AM
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Rhonda Brooks
Tim Gregerson.jpg
Crop Production
Tight Margins Force Corn Belt Farmers To Slash Inputs
From dropping phosphorus to switching from corn acres to soybeans, growers are navigating a difficult “recipe for success” as fertilizer prices remain high and grain markets soften.
May 28, 2026 12:47 PM
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Rhonda Brooks
Aledo 1.jpg
Conservation
The Farm Town That Refused to Fade Away
Community members have rallied around Aledo, Ill., demonstrating that rural towns can thrive by blending historic tradition and charm with modern economic tools.
May 27, 2026 10:11 AM
 · 
Rhonda Brooks
Time management clock
Ag Economy
The 1% Rule: How 14 Minutes a Day Can Help Future-Proof Your Farm
Inspired by her father’s resilience in the 1980s, Angie Traetow shares why farmers must trade distractions for deliberate planning.
May 26, 2026 01:42 PM
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Rhonda Brooks
Sidedressing nitrogen central Illinois
Corn
Is Your Corn Sidedress Strategy Ready For The V10 Surge?
Agronomists explain why nitrogen must be present in the root zone well before the crop’s daily demand peaks.
May 21, 2026 03:37 PM
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Rhonda Brooks
Seed
Policy
DOJ Settlement With Bayer Aims To Lower Barriers for American Farmers
The company commits to a seven-year ban on restrictive provisions to foster competition in the corn and soybean markets. The settlement highlights a deepening partnership between federal antitrust regulators and agricultural authorities.

May 21, 2026 08:45 AM
 · 
Rhonda Brooks
Corn planting
Crop Production
A $60-Per-Acre Risk: The High Cost Of Switching Corn Hybrids Too Early
Data shows late-planted corn can “cheat” the clock with GDU acceleration, making the case for holding the line on your original hybrids for now.
May 20, 2026 01:10 PM
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Rhonda Brooks
Use.jpg
Crop Production
Asian Copperleaf On The Move In Iowa And Illinois
Given the weed’s yield-loss potential and long emergence pattern, farmers in its path are taking notice and putting control measures in place.
May 19, 2026 11:35 AM
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Rhonda Brooks
Sidedressing nitrogen central Illinois
Corn
Balance The Nutrient Checkbook: Why This Year’s Sidedress Is A ‘Make-or-Break’ Moment
Sidedressing is often the best opportunity in-season to address corn nutrient needs, but Ken Ferrie urges caution if you plan to go with “blind sidedressing” before the crop emerges or at spike. He offers three considerations.
May 18, 2026 12:26 PM
 · 
Rhonda Brooks
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