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

Beef

Need A Veterinarian In Your Area? Then Support This Legislation Now

Less than 5% of new grads choose rural food animal practice. That needs to change to protect the U.S. food supply and public health. Contacting legislators is one way farmers and ranchers can weigh in and help.

September 29, 2023 11:50 AM

Rhonda Brooks

Politics

‘Shutdown Shenanigans’ Could be Big Negatives for Grain Markets and U.S. Credit Ratings

If Congress doesn’t pass stopgap funding, crop production and progress reports will probably stall. That won’t bode well for markets. “Usually it means that we’ve got some selling pressure ahead,” says one analyst.

September 28, 2023 11:18 AM

Rhonda Brooks

Soybeans

Ferrie: Reduce Header Losses In Soybeans To Pick Up $50 More Per Acre

Yields can take a 5-bu.-per-acre hit as a result of the sickle running so high on stems it cuts off branches and allows them to fall below the deck. Losses can be reduced to 1 bu. per acre with header adjustments.

September 23, 2023 08:08 AM

Rhonda Brooks

Corn

April-Planted Corn Hybrids Took A Blow To The Chin

Ken Ferrie expects yields to climb as Illinois farmers start harvesting more of their May-planted corn. Looking ahead, he says farmers will see some challenges from herbicide carryover in 2024.

September 15, 2023 03:05 PM

Rhonda Brooks

Harvest

5 Ways to Ready Your Grain Bins For Harvest

Your annual harvest goal: Get grain out of the field in good condition. But what about how well that grain holds up in storage?

September 11, 2023 02:03 PM

Rhonda Brooks

Corn

Ferrie: Corn Top Dieback And Lack of Uniformity Are Contributing to Unrealistic Yield Estimates Now

Some farmers in central Illinois are making yield estimates of 250 to 270 bushels per acre. Ken Ferrie says in many of those cases a more realistic estimate, though disappointing, would be in the 170 to 220 range.

September 07, 2023 09:19 AM

Rhonda Brooks

Crop Production

Two Likely Dicamba-Resistant Waterhemp Populations Found In Iowa

Illinois, Missouri and Nebraska have previously confirmed populations of dicamba-resistant waterhemp. Extension stresses the importance of not allowing any seed-bearing waterhemp to remain in the field at harvest.

September 06, 2023 12:43 PM

Rhonda Brooks

Crop Production

Ferrie: 3,000-Mile Crop Tour Reveals the Good, Bad and Ugly

Out East, Ken Ferrie saw good corn crops with delayed maturity. Black layer will be pushed out to October. In the West, one Iowa field had the highest corn yield check of the season, while other fields were burned up.

September 01, 2023 11:37 AM

Rhonda Brooks

Crop Production

Syngenta Seeds, Sustainable Oils Announce Commercial Agreement to Sell Camelina Seed

The oilseed crop offers farmers the opportunity to grow three crops in two years. It can be used for sustainable aviation fuel, renewable diesel and animal feed production.

September 01, 2023 06:17 AM

Rhonda Brooks

Soybeans

New Soybean Fungicides Target White Mold and Phytophthora Root Rot

Corteva Agriscience introduces Viatude and LumiTreo to address tough disease issues and protect soybean yield potential. Both will be available for use in 2024. There are limited supplies of Viatude this season, as well.

August 29, 2023 11:04 AM

Rhonda Brooks