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

Breaking_Barriers_06-20-2025_finish_the_game_strong.jpg

Corn

Is Water Quality Sabotaging Your Fungicide’s Success?

David Hula believes a high-quality carrier is so critical to the performance of his crop protection products that he loads and hauls all the water to the local airport that his aerial applicator uses.

June 25, 2025 11:53 AM

Rhonda Brooks

Weather

July Weather Outlook: Goodbye Rain, Hello Heat

The silver lining, meteorologists say, is many farmers and livestock producers in the central and eastern U.S. have had sufficient moisture this spring and milder temperatures headed into summer. For some, that’s about to change.

June 24, 2025 03:09 PM

Rhonda Brooks

Rain drops on corn leaves weather wet young corn field - Lindsey Pound

Crop Production

Crop Quality in the Midwest: Most States Soar, Some Flounder

Iowa corn quality leads the nation currently, with 83% of the state’s crop rated good to excellent. North Dakota is on the struggle bus for both corn and soybeans.

June 24, 2025 12:40 PM

Rhonda Brooks

Ag Economy

U.S. Ag Trade Deficit Hits Record High In First Four Months Of 2025

On a more hopeful note, some industry analysts believe the number has reached its peak and will start to move down this summer. Certainly, some trade deals that would open markets for U.S. ag products would help.

June 23, 2025 03:45 PM

Rhonda Brooks

Corn

3 Tips To Keep Corn Growing Strong Mid-Season

The ‘cure’ for low prices is more yield. David Hula and Randy Dowdy have some practical recommendations to help you take more corn to the bin this fall.

June 20, 2025 04:11 PM

Rhonda Brooks

Politics

EPA’s Proposed Rule A Potential ‘Game Changer’ for Farmers

The move would increase biomass-based diesel requirements, from 3.35 billion gallons in 2025 to 5.61 billion gallons in 2026, supporting American row-crop growers in the process.

June 18, 2025 04:21 PM

Rhonda Brooks

Corn

Sulfur Is The Secret Nutrient Your Corn Needs Now

In some cases, the sulfur deficiency can be traced back to last fall when ammonium sulfate and DAP were taken out of fertilizer programs to reduce costs. In other scenarios, the corn just isn’t getting adequate sulfur — but the problem can be corrected.

June 17, 2025 12:30 PM

Rhonda Brooks

Corn

How to Track the Potential for Your Corn Crop to Develop Tar Spot

Now’s the time to be scouting for the disease, especially where the inoculum is present. Tracking weather data, particularly daily humidity levels, can help you keep an eye on tar spot this season.

June 13, 2025 02:12 PM

Rhonda Brooks

Succession Planning

Farming Builds A Bridge Between Kentucky Family’s Past, Present And Future

Caleb Ragland is hopeful his boys will have the opportunity to be the 10^th generation to carry on the family’s farming roots, but he’s concerned the fallout from trade disruptions, high input costs and low commodity prices could deliver a death blow to that dream.

June 12, 2025 07:45 AM

Rhonda Brooks

Politics

Is The Trump Administration Trying To Make Trade Deals With Too Many Countries at Once?

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) says one of the challenges the U.S. is dealing with is trying to negotiate agreements with 18 of its biggest trading partners simultaneously. Grassley would like to see a dialed-back strategy used instead.

June 10, 2025 03:33 PM

Rhonda Brooks