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

Are China Buys or Weather the Only Hope for Retesting Highs in the Grain Markets?

Mike Castle of StoneX says corn and soybeans added some war premium on Friday but are trading under recent highs. What could trigger a rally to retest those prices?

May 22, 2026 04:31 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

What’s Behind the Crash in Cattle Futures, Will Selling Continue? Grains Add War Premium

Scott Varilek with Kooima Kooima Varilek says the pressure came from fund long liquidation and was continuing on Friday with significant chart damage done.

May 22, 2026 10:51 AM

Michelle Rook

Corn

Record Planting Pace Adds Corn Acres in Southern Minnesota

Farmers in Southern Minnesota like Chris Schnek finished planting in record time and as a result planted more corn this year.

May 21, 2026 11:15 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Grains Fall on Pre-Holiday Profit Taking, With a Void of News: Cattle Crash

Grains markets were lower seeing speculative selling pressure on a lack of fresh bullish news and profit taking end of month according to Naomi Blohm with Total Farm Marketing.

May 21, 2026 07:08 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Grains Look for Bullish News: Are Intermediate Tops Forming?

Jon Scheve with Scheve Grain says the grain markets are looking for bullish news and without China purchases soon have the grain markets put highs in?

May 21, 2026 11:04 AM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Grains See Profit Taking on Doubts on China Deal, Crude Oil Collapse

Mark Schultz with Northstar Commodity says the market was skeptical about the lack of specifics in the framework before China denied the purchase amounts.

May 20, 2026 05:44 PM

Michelle Rook

Markets

China’s Failure to Acknowledge $17 Billion Trade Deal, Weather and Lower Crude Oil Pressure Grains

Corn and soybeans face pressure from China trade doubts, fast planting and lower crude oil. Meanwhile, rising interest rates signal inflationary fears.

May 20, 2026 10:54 AM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Grains Fail Awaiting China Buys and Details: Cattle Bounce

The grain market failed on profit taking as traders want to see more details on China purchases or flash sales says Brian Grete with CommStock Investments.

May 19, 2026 04:38 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Grains Stall After China Rally: Cattle Bounce

Lane Akre, economist with Pro Farmer, says much of the China news is priced into grain futures so to continue to see momentum the market will need to see some proof of purchases.

May 19, 2026 11:14 AM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Grains Explode on China’s $17B of Ag Buys: How High Will Prices Go and Why Livestock Didn’t Follow

Mike Zuzolo with Global Commodity Analytics says the $17 billion is above the 25 MMT of soybean purchases China committed to in October of 2025.

May 18, 2026 05:46 PM

Michelle Rook