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 See Profit Taking on Lack of News and China Bean Buys

The entire grain complex saw profit taking Monday after hitting chart resistance according to Allison Thompson with The Money Farm.

December 01, 2025 03:55 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Cattle Fail Monday So What Will Confirm a Low? Grains See Profit Taking

Brad Kooima of Kooima Kooima Varilek says he would be more confident about the lows holding in the cattle futures if three factors would turn positive.

December 01, 2025 10:01 AM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Cattle See Higher Weekly Close but is the Bottom In? Corn, Soybeans Also Rally

The question now is was this just a correction of the oversold status in the cattle markets? While a higher weekly close is positive, Varilek says recoveries often come in three day waves.

November 28, 2025 02:34 PM

Michelle Rook

Beef

Unexpected Blessings: How Regenerative Cattle Production Shaped One Family’s Faith Journey

The use of regenerative practices at Stoney Creek Farm has lowered their costs and improved their profitability, but its also shaped their faith journey.

November 26, 2025 05:13 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Grains Rally on News of China Buys, As Farmer Selling Eases: Cattle Soar

DuWayne Bosse with Bolt Marketing says grains staged a surprise rally on news of China soybean buys but farmer selling pressure also subsided ahead of first notice day on Friday.

November 26, 2025 04:20 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Grains Pop as Month End Selling Eases, Talk of China Buys: Cattle Rally

Hillari Mason with Pro Farmer says farmers had to roll or sell December futures or basis fixed contracts before Wednesday or risk delivery and so most of the commercial positioning is done which will take pressure off the market.

November 26, 2025 10:24 AM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Grains See Corrective Bounce Tuesday: Is the Bleeding Over in Cattle?

Mike Zuzolo with Global Commodity Analytics says the grain complex also saw some buying interest on the lower U.S. dollar index, which reacted to U.S. economic data.

November 25, 2025 03:42 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Grains Quiet Pre-Holiday: What’s the Next Catalyst Needed for a Rally?

Jamie Gieseke with Paradigm Futures says the weakness in the grain markets last week and to start this week was tied to liquidation and pricing of basis fixed contracts against December futures before the delivery period starts. Once that’s out of the way what is the next move?

November 25, 2025 10:30 AM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Grains Lower in Holiday Mode, Fading China Sales: Cattle Limit Down

Dave Chatterton with Strategic Farm Marketing says the soybean market is tired of rhetoric and wants to see results in the form of sales to China.

November 24, 2025 03:15 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Cattle Limit Down on Tyson Plant Closures: How Far Will Prices Drop?

Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek says cattle were limit down early Monday on news that Tyson Foods will be closing its Lexington, Neb. beef processing plant on Jan. 20 and the Amarillo, Texas plant will go down to one shift.

November 24, 2025 10:26 AM

Michelle Rook