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

Politics

Confidence in USDA Reports Erodes as USDA Launches Internal Review

Confidence in USDA reports is wavering after recent acreage misses, leaving many producers and retailers skeptical. While experts call it the “best data available,” transparency is needed to restore industry trust.

February 18, 2026 01:45 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Grains Rally With Soybeans Chasing China and Biofuels Headlines

Darin Newsom, Senior market analyst with Barchart, Inc. says the algorithm traders have been chasing the headlines of the China story and increased biofuels blending levels.

February 18, 2026 10:30 AM

Michelle Rook

Markets

Soybeans Resilient on Demand: Corn and Wheat See Corrective Selling Tuesday

Mike Zuzolo with Global Commodity Analytics says soybeans saw continued resilience due to strong demand including expectations of renewable biofuel increases.

February 17, 2026 04:04 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Soybeans Hold on Strong: Corn, Wheat See Corrective Selling Pressure Early Tuesday

Soybeans started off slightly lower on corrective selling but quickly found buying interest says Randy Martinson of Martinson Ag.

February 17, 2026 10:20 AM

Michelle Rook

Policy

Life After DEF: What Rolling Back The Endangerment Finding Means for Farmers

EPA’s unwinding of the Obama-era endangerment finding could amount to the largest deregulation in history. One positive outcome for farmers is the change it could mean for the use of Diesel Exhaust Fluid.

February 17, 2026 08:41 AM

Michelle Rook

Markets

Are You Ready for The China Effect?

Jerry Gulke, president of the Gulke Group, says many are skeptical, based on past experience, that China will honor the deal to buy the additional soybeans for this marketing year.

February 14, 2026 11:17 AM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Grains End Higher for the Week Riding the China Wave

Soybeans were lower by 3 to 4 cents on Friday on profit taking heading into the holiday according to Darren Frye with Water Street Solutions but ended higher for the week.

February 13, 2026 04:56 PM

Michelle Rook

Markets

Cattle Futures Await Cash Push to Break to New Highs: Grains See Profit Taking

Scott Varilek with Kooima Kooima Varilek says the cattle futures have been chopping back and forth this week and need to take out last week’s highs on the charts to break out and to new highs.

February 13, 2026 10:21 AM

Michelle Rook

Policy

U.S.-China Trade Truce Extension Fuels Hope in Agriculture for Final Deal in April

An official with the Chinese embassy in the U.S. confirms President Trump and Chinese President Xi might be getting ready to sign a permanent trade deal when they meet in China in April.

February 13, 2026 10:20 AM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Soybeans Rally on China Trade Truce Extension, Grains See Technical Buying: Livestock Fall

Mark Schultz with Northstar Commodity says news of a possible China trade truce extension fueled hopes for additional purchases of American agricultural products, including soybeans.

February 12, 2026 03:59 PM

Michelle Rook