Michelle Rook

National Reporter

Michelle Rook is a national agricultural reporter and market analyst for Farm Journal’s AgDay and U.S. Farm Report, and she is the host of Markets Now. With expertise in commodity markets, grain trading, and agricultural journalism, she delivers daily market updates and analysis to farmers nationwide. She earned the NAFB Farm Broadcaster of the Year award and the prestigious Doan Excellence in Reporting Award.

Latest Stories

Markets

Grain Markets and Farmers Prepare For August WASDE

Jerry Gulke, president of the Gulke Group, says with the amount of variability in this year’s crop it makes yields difficult to determine. So, he suggests producers do some risk management before the August WASDE.

August 07, 2026 08:18 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Grains Trade Firm Pre-WASDE: What Yield is Priced In and Are Acres the Wild Card?

DuWayne Bosse with Bolt Marketing says corn and soybeans traded both sides of steady on Friday gearing up for the WASDE.

August 07, 2026 04:19 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Cattle Futures Recover With Higher Cash but How Far? Grains Bounce Pre-WASDE

Scott Varilek with Kooima Kooima Varilek says cattle futures hit resistance on the charts despite higher cash. So what will it take to get through those resistance areas?

August 07, 2026 10:38 AM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Corn, Soybeans Bounce on Report Positioning: Technical Selling Hits Wheat, Cattle

Mike Castle of StoneX says with a lack of any major news, corn and soybeans saw a bit of positioning ahead of the Aug. 12 WASDE Report

August 06, 2026 04:24 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Grains Mixed Early on Lack of News, Pre-Report Positioning

Allison Thompson with The Money Farm says grains are drifting quietly lower with no fresh new news and awaiting the WASDE.

August 06, 2026 11:10 AM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Row Crops Slide on Weather and Higher Corn Yield Estimates, While Wheat Trades Export Concerns

Kevin Duling with K.D. Investors says corn and soybeans are keying off of private estimates which are raising yields, especially for corn.

August 05, 2026 04:49 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Corn, Soybeans Test Support on Weather, Yield Estimates but Wheat Pops: Cattle Test Resistance

Randy Martinson with Martinson Ag says there is more rain in the forecast for most of the Corn Belt in the extended. Plus, private yield estimates are weighing on corn and soybeans.

August 05, 2026 10:55 AM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Grains Fall on Profit Taking, Weather, Money Flow: Cattle See Strong Chart Action

Chuck Shelby of Zaner Ag Hedge says the grain markets tried to extend gains in the overnight session and hit chart resistance causing consolidation.

August 04, 2026 04:45 PM

Michelle Rook

News

Nighttime Heat, No Airflow Cause Thousands of Cattle Deaths Across the Plains

Beyond feedlot death loss, cow-calf herds face hard-to-measure hits in sickness, weight gain, foot health and future calf performance when heat and humidity stack up.

August 04, 2026 11:12 AM

Angie Stump Denton

Market Analysis

Grains Consolidate Removing Weather, War Premium: Cattle Challenge Resistance

Mark Knight with Farmer’s Keeper Financial says the grains were seeing profit taking early Tuesday but the big story headlines were again war and weather.

August 04, 2026 10:48 AM

Michelle Rook