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

Double Trouble from Flooding and H5N1 hits Some Iowa Farms

Floodwaters breached levees in parts of Iowa on Tuesday, with more flooding anticipated for Wednesday. The damage to row-crop and livestock operations is likely significant, according to state officials.

June 26, 2024 08:17 AM

Rhonda Brooks

Graphic for Boots in the Field Report with agronomist Ken Ferrie who has spent over 40 years helping farmers maximize corn and soybean yields.

Ferrie: Great Yield Potential This Season, So Fix These Five Agronomic Problems

Rootless corn syndrome, nitrates, carbon penalty, waterhemp woes and tar spot are bearing down on corn and soybean crops now. The good news? You can take action so they aren’t a drag on crop performance all season.

June 24, 2024 10:00 AM

Rhonda Brooks

Barb Peterson Sunrise Veterinary Services by Dylan Voyles - milk sampling dairy cows for H5N1 avian flu 05-01-2024 near Amarillo Texas - milk sample milk vial

USDA Identifies Ways HPAI H5N1 Has Likely Spread in Michigan Dairy and Poultry Operations

Shared employment, housing and movement of employees between facilities are possible factors. Such insights could potentially be leveraged to address biosecurity needs in the state and others as well, the agency says.

June 17, 2024 05:29 PM

Rhonda Brooks

The Correlation (Or Lack Of) Between Soil Health And Fungicide Use

Ken Ferrie says fields with good soil health can have as much disease present as an unhealthy field, but healthy plants handle stress better than unhealthy ones.

June 06, 2024 03:51 PM

Rhonda Brooks

New Corn Herbicide Works at Applications from Preplant Up to 24" Tall

Resicore REV features three active ingredients and modes of action – clopyralid (Group 4), mesotrione (Group 27) and acetochlor (Group 15) – to control more than 75 broadleaf weeds and grasses for up to eight weeks.

June 06, 2024 11:14 AM

Rhonda Brooks

Give Soil Erosion the Boot with Farmable Waterways

Heavy rains and high winds are contributing to dangerous dust storms and other issues in farm country. Ken Ferrie offers his take on stewardship practices that can help growers prevent or minimize these problems.

June 03, 2024 03:40 PM

Rhonda Brooks

Barb Peterson Sunrise Veterinary Services by Dylan Voyles - blood sampling dairy cows for H5N1 avain flu near Amarillo Texas 05-01-2024 blood sample syringe needle

Second Michigan Farmworker Tests Positive For H5N1 Virus

This is the third human case associated with the virus. Last week the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced a plan to produce 4.8 million doses of a vaccine for human use to counter H5N1.

May 30, 2024 04:40 PM

Rhonda Brooks

young corn field wet soil clouds weather rain - Lindsey Pound

More Wind, Rain and Hail Likely Ahead in June

There have been 469 tornadoes, 3,475 severe wind events and 1,640 severe hail events reported in the U.S. during the month of May. Meterologists say to expect more as the country transitions to a La Niña.

May 29, 2024 03:14 PM

Rhonda Brooks

2024 Is Shaping Up To Bring Out Corn Rootworm

One report says heat unit thresholds for the pest to develop have been met/exceeded in parts of states such as southeast Kansas, central Missouri, central/southern Illinois, central Indiana and western/central Ohio.

May 29, 2024 01:45 PM

Rhonda Brooks

A Better U.S.-Mexico Trade Relationship Is Coming, Ag Economist Predicts

A new president of Mexico will be elected on June 2. The two front-runners in the presidential race are both pro trade with the United States. That’s good news for U.S. farmers and livestock producers.

May 24, 2024 01:31 PM

Rhonda Brooks