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

New Legislation Looks To Connect Farmland And Ranchland To Broadband

The Last Acre Act would help expand high-speed internet access across eligible farmland, ranchland and farm sites. At least 15% of farms and ranches have no access to the internet today.

November 10, 2023 09:39 AM

Rhonda Brooks

Soybean field soybeans sunset - Lindsey Pound

Are 100-Bushel Soybean Yield Averages On The Horizon?

Illinois farmer Ryan Myers has increased his 60-bushel-per-acre yield average to 70-plus-bushel averages in just three years. How? By focusing on the details from variety selection to in-season management.

November 09, 2023 10:08 AM

Rhonda Brooks

Election 2024 Is Shaping Up To Be A Doozy

While voters are casting ballots today, they’re also looking ahead. A Biden-Trump presidential race rematch is currently forecast, but their ages, economic turmoil at home and conflicts abroad are weighty concerns.

November 07, 2023 12:49 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 Steps to Make Sure NH3 Applications Stay in the Ground

Moisture availability is one of the biggies to check out, says Ken Ferrie. He also details some upcoming agronomic events, like his Beyond The Basics five-part webinar series and the virtual Corn & Soybean College.

November 02, 2023 11:53 AM

Rhonda Brooks

Six Sources of Soybean Harvest Losses And How To Address Them

A handful of soybeans scattered on the ground doesn’t look like much, but small numbers can quickly add up to large losses. Evaluating the situation and making adjustments can help you take more beans to the bin.

October 31, 2023 03:54 PM

Rhonda Brooks

Best Practice Do’s and Don’ts for Anhydrous Ammonia Applications

Farmers applying NH3 can maximize their dollars and use of the product by not applying it until soil temperatures are no more than 50 degrees and trending lower, according to Iowa State University Extension.

October 27, 2023 11:04 AM

Rhonda Brooks

Three Ways to Be a Successful Soybean Yield Sleuth

If your combine monitor is showing a wide range of yields in the field, Ken Ferrie says to investigate. Evaluate soybean stand, pod set and bean size while there’s agronomic evidence.

October 16, 2023 07:02 PM

Rhonda Brooks

Ferrie: Huge Yield Swings Found In Iowa and Illinois Cornfields

Weather woes took a huge bite out of corn yield potential this season, especially in northeast Iowa and parts of western Illinois. Where farmers got timely rains, the yield reports coming in are not as wide-ranging.

October 12, 2023 04:13 PM

Rhonda Brooks

In-season nitrogen use plays an important role in fueling corn growth, development and yield.

The Value of In-Season Nitrogen Use

Corn yields can swing 100 bu. to the positive or negative in some hybrids today based on nitrogen use that supports kernel depth. Tune into hybrid characteristics, and avoid “gapping” nitrogen and volatilization.

October 12, 2023 02:37 PM

Rhonda Brooks

Soybean-Cyst-Nematode-Calculator (1).jpg

New Profit Calculator Reveals How Much Soybean Cyst Nematode Costs You By Field

The online tool from the SCN Coalition is free and easy to use. It’s backed by research done on more than 25,000 university soybean research plots across the U.S.

October 12, 2023 11:32 AM

Rhonda Brooks