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

Soybeans Fall on China Concerns and Cattle on Rumors of Plant Strike

.Matt Bennett with AgMarket.Net says there’s a report from China that says the talks by trade officials prior to the summit in China is not going well.

February 27, 2026 01:15 AM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Soybeans Lead Corn Higher Wednesday: Livestock End Mostly Higher

Arlan Suderman with StoneX says the soybean market is still pricing in optimism about China and biofuels.

February 25, 2026 11:12 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Soybeans Rally on Talk of China Purchases, Corn and Wheat Weak

Soybeans recovered on Tuesday on market talk that China was looking to buy soybeans off the Pacific Northwest says Jim McCormick with AgMarket.Net.

February 25, 2026 04:53 AM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Grains and Cattle End Mostly Lower with Outside Markets on Tariff Uncertainty

Grain and cattle futures ended mostly lower on Monday caught up in money flow and the selloff in the stock market tied to tariff concerns says Mike Minor with Professional Ag Marketing.

February 23, 2026 11:26 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Cattle Start Higher Monday on COF Report, Cash: Uncertainty on Plant Strike, Tariffs Remains

Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek says the USDA Cattle on Feed report was providing some support. The on feed number came in at 98% of a year ago, placements were at 95% which was below trade estimates and marketings were at 87%.

February 23, 2026 10:29 AM

Michelle Rook

Markets

USDA Predicts Brighter Picture For Ag After 2026

Jerry Gulke, president of the Gulke Group, says he was impressed with the outlook USDA provided on biofuels and trade at the Ag Outlook Forum, but does not agree with their acreage projections.

February 21, 2026 09:21 AM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Soybeans Fall on SCOTUS Tariff Ruling, China Fears: Wheat Hits Fresh Highs to Lift Corn

Shawn Hackett with Hackett Financial Advisors says the market fears that China will use the ruling as leverage to get out of its trade framework struck with the U.S. on Oct. 30 and that could include its soybean purchase commitments.

February 20, 2026 04:00 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Cattle Fall on COF, JBS Plant Strike Caution: Hogs Rally

Scott Varilek with Kooima Kooima Varilek says the cattle market is also awaiting cash direction.

February 20, 2026 10:31 AM

Michelle Rook

Markets

Soybeans and Wheat Break to Fresh Highs on Technical Buying: Why Can’t Corn Follow?

Sam Hudson with Corn Belt Marketing says the wheat and soybean market continue to see fund buying, but corn can’t follow. Corn is repeating the same trend it exhibited last year at this time.

February 19, 2026 04:58 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Cattle Futures Pause But Can $250 Cash Spark New Highs? Corn, Soybeans End Flat

Brad Kooima of Kooima Kooima Varilek says cattle futures are getting overbought and ran into another layer of chart resistance Wednesday but higher cash could push the market to new highs.

February 18, 2026 04:15 PM

Michelle Rook