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

Conservation

Got Deer? A Hunting Lease could be Your Ticket to More Income

Leasing ground for hunts and other recreational uses can sometimes help you get additional benefits from marginal ground or wooded acres.

February 02, 2022 12:58 PM

Rhonda Brooks

Ken Ferrie, Farm Journal Field Agronomist

Corn

Ferrie: How to Keep ‘$6 Corn’ Happy? Use Your Starter

If you normally use starter fertilizer, keep using it, advises Ken Ferrie. “Five gallons of 10-34-O will give you a bigger kick than 300 pounds of broadcast DAP, due to placement and timing,” he says.

January 27, 2022 03:48 PM

Rhonda Brooks

Crop Production

Combining Ingredients To Tackle Tough Weeds

Here’s a look at three products manufacturers plan to market for weed control in the near term.

January 05, 2022 03:43 PM

Rhonda Brooks

Farmland

40% of Farmers Struggle to Purchase Crop Inputs

Fertilizer is cited as the No. 1 concern. Plus, 45% of farmers say their plans for this spring are being impacted by the tight machinery inventory, according to the Ag Economy Barometer.

January 05, 2022 03:29 PM

Rhonda Brooks

Understanding the where and how of herbicide active ingredients can help you address weeds and manage your budget more effectively. That understanding can also help you avoid using the same technology repeatedly in a field, which can contribute to the very resistance problems you’re trying to avoid.

Corn

Focus on MOA and SOA to Improve Weed-Control Outcomes

Understanding the where and how of herbicide active ingredients can help you address weeds and manage your budget more effectively.

January 05, 2022 03:24 PM

Rhonda Brooks

Soybeans

2022 Soybean Planting Projections are a Moving Target, Prices will Whipsaw

USDA currently pegs soybean plantings at 87.5 million acres. Market analysts offer projections both above and below that number and explain their rationale, which includes the South America crop and weather forecasts.

December 30, 2021 09:30 AM

Rhonda Brooks

Corn

Ferrie: Expect a Rocky Start with Corn in 2022 from Fall Anhydrous Only Use

Most years you won’t see fall anhydrous applications kick-in and help your corn crop until around V6 or V8 when the corn is about knee-high, says Ken Ferrie. This week’s podcast offers some recommendations.

December 23, 2021 08:30 AM

Rhonda Brooks

In the face of shortages and escalating costs for traditional inputs, 2022 could be the year more farmers turn to biological products to bridge potential gaps.

Conservation

Do Input Shortages Open the Gate for Biological Products?

As you evaluate input options for next spring, here are five steps to size up whether a biological might be a good fit for your farm.

December 09, 2021 08:39 AM

Rhonda Brooks

The initiative is designed to help create a unique digital carbon footprint measurement to drive more sustainable supply chains and mitigate the impact agriculture has on the environment.

Conservation

Bayer and Partners Launch Project Carbonview

The initiative is designed to help create a unique digital carbon footprint measurement to drive more sustainable supply chains and mitigate the impact agriculture has on the environment.

December 08, 2021 08:36 AM

Rhonda Brooks

Erosion rates computed from NRI data are estimates of average annual (or expected) rates based upon long-term climate data, inherent soil and site characteristics, and cropping and management practices.

Conservation

Soil Erosion Trends in the U.S.

A USDA-National Resources Inventory report shows soil erosion rates on cropland decreased 35% from 1982 to 2017. Even so, some members of the agricultural community say rates are unsustainable for crop production.

December 07, 2021 11:01 AM

Rhonda Brooks