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

Market Analysis

Grains and Cattle Trading War Headlines, Not Fundamentals

Darin Newsom, senior market analyst with Barchart says the grains are chasing the sharply higher crude oil prices which were up over $10 and Iran war headlines.

April 02, 2026 10:36 AM

Michelle Rook

Policy

Farmers Could See Increased Farm Program Payments With Eligibility Changes

The One Big Beautiful Bill’s new rules will allow for additional farm program payments, according to Richard Fordyce, USDA Undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation.

April 01, 2026 08:26 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Grains End Lower Removing Risk Premium: Cattle Make New Highs

Bryan Doherty with Total Farm Marketing says the grain markets markets were removing war and weather premium. Will that continue with if the Iran war is indeed over?

April 01, 2026 04:15 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Grains Retreat with Crude Oil: So is the Rally Done if the Iran War is Over?

DuWayne Bosse with Bolt Marketing says with the reports out of the way the grain market has gone back to trading Iran war headlines and following the crude oil market

April 01, 2026 10:39 AM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Soybeans, Wheat Rally as Acreage Below Expectations: Will Corn Acres Fall Further?

Arlan Suderman with StoneX some of the support in the grains Tuesday came from money flow but lower wheat and soybean acreage than anticipated also added to the buying interest.

March 31, 2026 04:14 PM

Michelle Rook

Markets

Corn Lower, Soybeans Hold on Report Positioning: Cattle Make Near-Term Highs

Corn ended lower divorcing itself from the energy markets and shifting to the USDA reports on Tuesday according to Jeff Hoogendoorn with Professional Ag Marketing.

March 30, 2026 03:38 PM

Michelle Rook

Markets

Cattle Rally on NWS, Cash, Technicals: Will Cash be Higher This Week?

Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek says the rally late last week was impressive considering the equity markets were sharply lower on Thursday and Friday plus crude oil was higher.

March 30, 2026 10:28 AM

Michelle Rook

Markets

Markets Fail to Rally on Positive News

Jerry Gulke president of the Gulke Group says when a market reacts negatively to positive news that’s not a good sign.

March 28, 2026 09:50 AM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Corn and Soybeans Fade RVOs, See Profit Taking Pre-Report: Will the Funds Return to Buy?

Corn, soybeans and bean oil futures ended lower on Friday fading EPA’s final Renewable Fuel Standard volumes. Dan Basse, Ag Resource Company, says the news was already priced into the markets.

March 27, 2026 04:11 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Cattle Higher Fading Lower Equities, Hogs Rally on Report: Corn, Beans Ease

Joe Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek says the ability of the cattle market to divorce itself from the outside markets the last two sessions has been very impressive.

March 27, 2026 10:55 AM

Michelle Rook