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

As Hearings for the Farm Bill Ratchet Up, You can Do 3 Things to Help Agriculture

Increasingly the members of Congress who hold the primary responsibility of drafting the farm bill come from suburban and urban areas. They need the information and insights farmers are uniquely equipped to provide.

November 04, 2022 02:40 PM

Rhonda Brooks

Ken Ferrie, Farm Journal Field Agronomist

Ferrie: Do Fall Tillage if Fields are Dry, Consider No-Till Corn and Soybeans for 2023

If conditions are good in your area, you won’t have wheel tracks or ruts to deal with. However, you do need to think about a winter burndown to keep fields clean before planting next spring.

November 01, 2022 11:20 AM

Rhonda Brooks

New Weed Species Confirmed in Iowa Fields a Second Time

Asian copperleaf was found in an Iowa soybean field this summer. Agronomists are evaluating how much of a concern the weed poses to row crops there. It has been confirmed in only one other U.S. location: New York City.

October 25, 2022 03:11 PM

Rhonda Brooks

Ferrie: 5 Things to Know about Spinners that can Help or Hinder Spreading Crop Residue

How good a job you do spreading residue behind the harvester makes a big difference in how uniform your corn stand will be next spring and how uniform its growth and development will be.

October 25, 2022 08:50 AM

Rhonda Brooks

Ferrie: Soybean Yields are Swinging More than Usual, September Rains Helped Corn

Results are also in from some corn teaching plots planted at the Heyworth, Ill., campus, including four starter plots, a series of sulfur timing plots, plus nitrogen and planting population plots.

October 19, 2022 04:42 PM

Rhonda Brooks

This was a familiar scene in Midwest soybean fields this season. Volunteer corn contribute to yield loss and can also shelter corn rootworm eggs. Agronomists recommend planning ahead to control or monitor the pest for the 2023 season.

Volunteer Corn in Soybeans Harbors Secret Pest Problem

This was a familiar scene in fields across the Midwest this season. Not only did volunteer corn impact soybean yields, agronomists say it sheltered rootworm eggs that can overwinter and infest corn crops next spring.

October 13, 2022 02:55 PM

Rhonda Brooks

Ferrie: Dry Conditions Make Fall Anhydrous Applications ‘Nearly Impossible’ to Seal

Moisture is needed to temporarily hold the ammonia so it can become attached to clay or organic matter in the soil. In addition, if dry soils are cloddy and do not seal properly, the ammonia can be lost.

October 10, 2022 04:24 PM

Rhonda Brooks

Ferrie: Beware the Temptation to Plan 2022 Based on this Season

Farmers will need to sift through their production data from this year carefully to see what they need to change or keep the same.

October 05, 2022 01:44 PM

Rhonda Brooks

Ferrie: Here’s What the Textbook Photo Finish Looks Like in Corn

As the crop nears black layer, you can determine whether it’s going to be the bin buster you hoped for, an average crop or simply “meh.” Ken Ferrie says there are several things to look for now.

September 27, 2022 04:31 PM

Rhonda Brooks

Ferrie: Evaluating Hybrid Characteristics Supplies Great Insights for Seed Selection

Harvest is underway with corn yields showing a wide range of results, particularly based on how much moisture the crop received and when it was received. Planting population and stresses also shed light on the results.

September 23, 2022 06:37 PM

Rhonda Brooks