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

News

Will Congressional Inaction Force Farmers to Choose Between Health Insurance and Their Farm Budget?

Farmers need to be prepared to pay substantially more for their coverage in 2026, unless Congress acts now to address the impending price surge.

December 15, 2025 04:40 PM

Rhonda Brooks

Industry

Iowa Farmer Battles Today’s Pests While Eyeing Tomorrow’s ‘Mean Sixteen’ Threats

A new report details the need for more ag funding to address existing weeds, insects and diseases as well as agronomic problems that have yet to reach U.S. shores.

December 12, 2025 12:51 PM

Rhonda Brooks

Ag Policy

Grassley Urges Trump To Prioritize A Trade Deal With China

The senior senator from Iowa says the president ‘has to’ get an agreement made that will enable trade between China and the U.S. to resume.

October 21, 2025 11:10 AM

Rhonda Brooks

Ag Policy

Has Government Shutdown Stalled Farm Financial Aid Package?

Various programs and reports are on hold. Among them are EQIP and SDRP. Also in jeopardy of being delayed or cancelled is the October WASDE, due this Thursday.

October 07, 2025 05:10 PM

Rhonda Brooks

Hog Production

West Nile Virus Activity Spikes to 20-Year High in the Midwest

Elevated levels of the disease are trending currently, and are of ‘serious concern’ over the next eight weeks, say researchers.

August 14, 2025 03:03 PM

Rhonda Brooks

Ag Policy

Could EPA Decision Signal The Beginning Of The End For DEF?

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin proposes rescinding the 2009 Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding. If the proposal goes into effect, it could potentially lead to DEF systems no longer being required in tractors, trucks and other equipment using diesel-powered engines — a decision many farmers and others in the ag community would applaud.

July 31, 2025 11:05 AM

Rhonda Brooks

Industry

Chinese Scientist Accused Of Smuggling ‘Potential Agroterrorism Weapon’ Into the U.S.

A 25-page criminal complaint alleges the researcher and her boyfriend were attempting to bring Fusarium graminearum into the country. The fungus causes significant diseases in a number of food crops, including corn, wheat, barley, soybeans and rice. Toxins from the fungus are harmful to humans and livestock.

June 04, 2025 04:10 PM

Rhonda Brooks

Ag Policy

Pork Industry Expresses Concerns Over New Round Of Trade Tariffs

President Trump has announced a series of reciprocal tariffs, scheduled to roll out over the next few days, on some of agriculture’s most significant trade partners. The potential outcomes are worrisome to some U.S. industry leaders and farmers.

April 03, 2025 01:37 PM

Rhonda Brooks

Ag Policy

More Funding Going to Tackle HPAI H5N1, Egg Imports are Now Underway to Stabilize Supply

USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins says the agency is hyper-focused on poultry, but no vaccine is yet available. The agency has ‘separate work streams’ to address the virus in the ‘cattle and dairy’ industries, but dairy is not part of USDA’s primary focus for now.

March 20, 2025 12:10 PM

Rhonda Brooks

Water-Pond-Lake-Green Wheat-Lindsey Pound.jpg

Ag Policy

EPA To Address ‘Government Overreach’ on Defining WOTUS

The agency will hold at least six listening sessions for stakeholders between late March and into April. Persons or organizations wishing to provide input will be selected on a first-come, first-serve basis.

March 13, 2025 01:12 PM

Rhonda Brooks