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

Ken Ferrie, Farm Journal Field Agronomist

Harvest

Ferrie: 3 Corn Harvest Takeaways to Consider when Planning for 2022

Too much rain fueled disease pressure, double fungicide applications actually paid for themselves in some situations, and hybrid diversification was and is critical to your overall yield success.

September 30, 2021 02:51 PM

Rhonda Brooks

Crop Production

Biostimulant Use gains Traction on U.S. Crop Ground, Report Says

These biological products have the ability to increase germination, improve nutrient uptake, enhance nutrient-use efficiency and increase tolerance to and recovery from abiotic stresses.

September 27, 2021 02:13 PM

Rhonda Brooks

Corn

Ferrie: 4 Timely Harvest Reminders plus Yield Highlights for Illinois Corn and Soybeans

Plant health is making serious contributions to crop-yield outcomes this year. In some cases, the thanks is due to hybrid genetics while in others, timely fungicide applications paid for themselves.

September 22, 2021 01:26 PM

Rhonda Brooks

For the first half of the year, nearly $612 million in government payments have been issued, a vastly different picture compared to last year.

Politics

AgriTalk: Clarity Needed on $3.5 Trillion Budget Reconciliation Bill

On Tuesday, Bill Northey weighed in with some perspective on the budget reconciliation bill, which is part of the Biden administration’s Build Back Better agenda.

September 21, 2021 04:14 PM

Rhonda Brooks

Corn

Ferrie: Tar Spot is ‘Causing the Wheels to come off the Bus’

The disease is shutting down corn crop growth prematurely in parts of Illinois, especially in fields with D hybrids. You may need to harvest those fields sooner than later.

September 17, 2021 08:33 AM

Rhonda Brooks

Cutting costs can sometimes hurt your bottom line. Spending “extra” money can sometimes improve your margins.

Corn

3 Factors to Consider before you Pick Hybrids for 2022

Plan for a normal crop – hope for the biggest crop of your career – and then mitigate the risk of a drought or crop failure.

September 09, 2021 05:06 PM

Rhonda Brooks

Harvest

Ferrie: Disease Pressure is Bringing Corn to its Knees

Check the stalk quality of D and L-1 hybrids. One has been hit by late-season disease, while high winds have taken a toll on the other.

September 08, 2021 04:32 PM

Rhonda Brooks

Lukas Fricke was able to review data from his farm collected and processed during the past five years to inform his family's decision to sign a carbon contract.

Technology

Computer Connectivity and Carbon Contracts go Hand In Hand

Good data forms the framework for management decisions Lukas Fricke and his brother make on their Ulysses, Neb., farm operation, including the one they made recently to sign a carbon contract.

September 02, 2021 04:46 PM

Rhonda Brooks

Corn

Ferrie: Severe Tar Spot is Shutting Down Corn, Encouraging Top Leaf Dieback

Cornfields that had promised above-average or record yields, prior to being affected, are now more likely to produce average results at harvest.

September 01, 2021 01:20 PM

Rhonda Brooks

Conservation

Clarity in Carbon Marketplace Needed, say Iowa State and EDF Reports

Soil carbon sequestration can become an important mitigation strategy if there is agreed upon, credible, cost-effective and consistent measurement, reporting and verification behind the credits, according to researchers.

August 26, 2021 08:48 AM

Rhonda Brooks