My Account
My Account
Rhonda-Brooks.jpg

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
Farmland
Here’s 3 Things to Know About Purchasing Farmland Now
Paul Schadegg, with Farmers National Company, shares his perspective on agricultural real estate demand, the impact of interest rates on the market and the outlook for land values later this year.
July 06, 2023 08:39 AM
 · 
Rhonda Brooks
Corn in central Illinois took a beating from 80 to 100 mph derecho-style winds on Thursday. The good news is that much of the corn was not snapped off and is likely to straighten up.
Ferrie: Derecho Took 20 to 30 Bu. Off the Top of April Corn but Don’t Throw in the Towel
Flattened corn can often recover, stand and produce decent yields. Soybeans can shake off a storm and flourish, but beware spider mites in the next 10 days if temperatures stay 85-plus degrees with low humidity.
July 05, 2023 03:54 PM
 · 
Rhonda Brooks
The pest is showing up in early-season soybeans. Current numbers don't necessarily warrant treatment. Because the pests can double in population in only a few days, scouting is the only way to stay on top of them.
Soybean Aphids Have Arrived. Send in the Scouts
The pest is showing up in early-season soybeans. Current numbers don’t necessarily warrant treatment. Because the pests can double in population in only a few days, scouting is the only way to stay on top of them.
June 30, 2023 09:08 AM
 · 
Rhonda Brooks
A light blanket of smoke envelops a set of grain bins on an Illinois farm on Wednesday morning.
Smoky Skies and Reduced Air Quality Return to the Midwest and Mid-South
Unhealthy levels of air pollutants are spreading across some parts of the U.S., a result of the worst-ever start to wildfire season in Canada. Sixteen million acres have burned--an area a bit larger than West Virginia.
June 28, 2023 02:11 PM
 · 
Rhonda Brooks
Tar Spot
Homegrown Tar Spot Is Showing Up Now Thanks To Inoculant From 2021
Farmers with cornfields affected two years ago need to be ready this season, based on a corn-soybean rotation. Fields with high levels of residue are more susceptible, and beware heavy rains just prior to canopy.
June 27, 2023 02:25 PM
 · 
Rhonda Brooks
Axel Trautwein, Ph.D., is head of small molecules research for Bayer Crop Science.
Technology Unlocks The Door to New Modes of Action for Controlling Insects, Disease and Weeds
Bayer Crop Science has unveiled a novel approach to the discovery and development of crop protection solutions, called CropKey. Company officials say it is helping them bring new products to the marketplace faster.
June 27, 2023 11:35 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: If You Want Agronomic Answers, Read Your Crown Roots
Many Midwest farmers are seeing their corn crop struggle from compaction, nutrient deficiencies and herbicide carryover. Some of these issues can be addressed yet this season.
June 21, 2023 01:48 PM
 · 
Rhonda Brooks
ag barometer
One Silver Lining In Clouds Of Economic Concern
The latest Ag Economy Barometer shows farmer sentiment has soured as crop prices have tumbled over the past month, but it’s not all gloom and doom. Strong working capital can help address the downturn in farm country.
June 13, 2023 02:40 PM
 · 
Rhonda Brooks
An air pocket in the furrow prevented good seed-to-soil contact in this case, which prevented the seedling from emerging well.
4 Reasons Your Corn Crop Leafed Out Underground This Spring
Weather conditions at planting, herbicide damage, insects and poor closure of the furrow are just a handful of the factors that can hinder corn emergence success.
June 13, 2023 12:17 PM
 · 
Rhonda Brooks
BioLumic CEO Steve Sibulkin, left, and Chief Science Officer Jason Wargent inspect an Illinois soybean trial plot to validate beneficial crop outcomes from the company's proprietary light-signaling seed treatment technology.
UV Light Seed Treatment For Corn and Soybeans Headed to Farmers’ Fields
The new technology is designed to improve seedling vigor, boost root biomass and contribute to yield increases – up to 15% in corn and 12% in soybeans. It will be commercially available starting in 2024.
June 12, 2023 02:59 PM
 · 
Rhonda Brooks
Load More