Sonja Begemann

Sonja Begemann provides information about seeds, chemicals and anything that affects crop production. A recent graduate of the University of Missouri (Science and Agricultural Journalism), Sonja is excited to help provide farmers with information they need to know. She has a strong background in row crop production and learned valuable agronomic skills in corn, soybeans, sorghum and alfalfa. Her roots in agriculture began with both of her grandparents, who were corn and soybean farmers and continued to grow throughout her childhood on a small family farm where she raised chickens and pigs for 4-H and FFA. When Sonja looks to relax she enjoys spending time with friends and family, cooking and doing anything outside.

Latest Stories
Litigation continues against common pesticides—this time targeting two insecticides and one herbicide. At the heart of the bill, Udall and Neguse claim that EPA and the current pesticide laws do not keep citizens safe.
“The level of infestation in any given field ranges from a small pocket where a mother plant went to seed in 2019, to an area covering several acres in a field.”
New technology from BioConsortia could reduce reliance on synthetic chemical fertilizers.
This year will mark 28 years Pro Farmer has completed its annual Crop Tour—an event where scouts from around the Midwest take in-field estimates to determine yield and crop conditions across the Corn Belt.
Tar Spot has been lurking in Midwest fields since 2015—and possibly even earlier by escaping detection. In five years, it has spread to eight states and decimated yield potential in its path.
While herbicide damage—really any damage—isn’t something you want to see in your growing crop, the reality is it happens. This year it seems to be popping up more than usual in soybean fields.
Wednesday Bayer reached a settlement with plaintiffs in its Roundup, glyphosate, lawsuits and litigation concerning dicamba drift and PCB water. The company agreed to a total payment of $10.1 billion to $10.9 billion
In a recent Farm Journal Pulse, with 539 responses, 36% of farmers said they were done with dicamba applications for the season. With 64% of respondents saying they still have acres to spray.
On Friday, judges in California with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against a petition to halt all use of Engenia, FeXapan and XtendiMax dicamba herbicides.
“Petitioners’ motion to ‘Enforce this Court’s Vacatur and to Hold EPA in Contempt,’ is a thinly-veiled attempt to revive arguments the court already rejected or declined to reach. It should be denied.”