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

A Kick-Start For Corn: When to Use Plant Growth Regulators

If weather stresses have you looking for ways to give your crop a stronger start this spring, consider whether a plant growth regulator could be part of the solution, especially in high-yield environments.

March 12, 2024 03:17 PM

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: Four Ways to Scratch the Planting Itch Without Regret

Don’t take equipment to fields too soon and create headaches that will linger all season. While you wait for the right timing, consider doing prep work and projects that can help set you up for yield success.

March 08, 2024 12:14 PM

Rhonda Brooks

Handy Bt Trait Table Updated and Available Now

Corn growers can use this free tool to understand which hybrids have which traits, as well as evaluate insect problems and herbicide needs in-season.

March 05, 2024 04:50 PM

Rhonda Brooks

Tall Order for Short Corn: The Latest On Short-Stature Hybrids

Compact corn hybrids appear to take winds 50 mph in stride with little greensnap or lodging resulting. However, yield performance hasn’t been as consistent, and technology providers are working to change that.

March 05, 2024 02:24 PM

Rhonda Brooks

Sprayer - Burn down - spraying - Lindsey Pound

3 Tips For Better Weed-Control Outcomes This Season

Do you want to plant early-season soybeans? Do you grow non-GMO crops? If the answer to either question is yes, Ken Ferrie, Farm Journal field agronomist, says to address weeds in the process.

March 05, 2024 09:09 AM

Rhonda Brooks

New Water-Use Management Tool For Commercial Crops

Helena introduces Resgenix to help farmers manage the water available to crops and optimize its use.

March 01, 2024 03:51 PM

Rhonda Brooks

Ferrie: It’s Only February, but Iowa Farmers are Considering Field Work and Anhydrous Applications

Before heading to the field to apply anhydrous, firm up what crop you’re going to plant. Growers have been kicking around the idea of going beans-on-beans, given the markets. But anhydrous essentially ties you to corn.

February 26, 2024 02:51 PM

Rhonda Brooks

Ferrie: Freezing and Thawing Cycles Can Help Or Hurt Compaction

A sudden change in soil density that occurs from the freezing-thawing process can cause problems with corn root growth this spring and impede water movement in the soil during the growing season.

February 16, 2024 05:04 PM

Rhonda Brooks

Young soybean field - soybeans - soybean plants - By Lindsey Pound

Court Rules Dicamba ‘Was Unlawfully Approved’ By EPA and Halts Use

Forty million dicamba-tolerant soybean and cotton acres would be directly impacted by the ruling the U.S. District Court of Arizona in Tucson made Tuesday. EPA has not said when it will respond to the court’s decision.

February 08, 2024 12:21 PM

Rhonda Brooks

Ferrie: Does Spring Or Fall Horizontal Tillage Cause More Density Layers?

Ken Ferrie answers two additional questions: Was it allelopathic toxins in the cereal rye ahead of corn that caused such a yield ding last season? Will there be a cap to Carbon Initiative payments per farm operation?

February 07, 2024 08:43 AM

Rhonda Brooks