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

Cattle Rally on Higher Cash, Trumping COF: Tightest Numbers Ahead

Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek says he was concerned the trade might view a slightly bearish Cattle on Feed report placement number as a reason to sell but the market was more focused on the higher cash trade Friday.

January 26, 2026 10:19 AM

Michelle Rook

Planting

Will Farmers Really Plant Less Corn in 2026?

Pro Farmer economist Lane Akre says at the current corn to soybean price ratio and with market conditions, soybeans need to buy some additional acres.

January 25, 2026 10:51 PM

Michelle Rook

Markets

Gulke: Is Something Brewing in the Corn Market?

Many will attribute last week’s corn market rally to the cold weather and slowing grain movement from truck to barge. However, Jerry Gulke says the corn market has technically looked good for a while.

January 24, 2026 10:48 AM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Grain Prices Higher For the Week: What Three Factors Drove it?

Grain markets closed strong on Friday and posted higher weekly closes across the complex. What drove the rally? Jim McCormick of AgMarket.Net points to a few notable factors.

January 23, 2026 04:17 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Cattle Cautious Pre-COF but Higher Cash Trumps All

Live and feeder cattle futures were weaker to start Friday as the market was seeing some profit taking and caution ahead of the USDA Cattle on Feed Report according to Scott Varilek with Kooima Kooima Varilek.

January 23, 2026 10:10 AM

Michelle Rook

Policy

Corn Growers Disgusted as Congress Leaves E15 Out of Government Spending Bills

Geoff Cooper with the Renewable Fuels Association says it appears Congress is going to kick the can again on getting the E15 legislation done.

January 22, 2026 09:54 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Grains End Mostly Higher Thursday with Wheat Leading

Randy Martinson with Martinson Ag says wheat saw support on a combination of technical buying or short covering and the market was adding some weather premium.

January 22, 2026 04:46 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Can Soybeans Rally to $11 Bidding for Acres?

Soybeans continued to rally on Thursday. Lane Akre, economist with Pro Farmer, says this isn’t just short covering.

January 22, 2026 10:28 AM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Soybeans Rally on China Export Hopes, SA Wx: Funds Sell Corn and Wheat

Greg McBride with Allendale, Inc. says hot, dry weather is expected in much of Argentina and Southern Brazil in the next 10 days and it is hitting at the critical pod filling stage for some of the soybean crop.

January 21, 2026 03:44 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Corn, Soybeans Pop on China, EU Trade News or Just Short Covering? Cattle Extend Recovery

Soybean futures are higher early Wednesday with the easing of risk-off selling pressure.

January 21, 2026 09:59 AM

Michelle Rook