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

Policy

What President Trump’s Support Means for E15 and Corn Farmers

Monte Shaw with the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association says the president’s direction to Congress could be the game changer to pass E15 legislation after a decade-long fight.

January 28, 2026 05:36 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Grains Rally Wednesday: What was the Catalyst and Do Funds Keep Buying?

Grains markets ended higher across the complex, driven mostly by money flow according to Dave Chatterton with Strategic Farm Marketing.

January 28, 2026 04:06 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Grain Markets Rally on Money Flow: Can They Stage a Chart Breakout?

Jamie Gieseke with Paradigm Futures says soybeans were also getting a push from South American weather, with wheat adding risk premium on U.S. weather concerns.

January 28, 2026 10:09 AM

Michelle Rook

Policy

Biofuels Groups Urge President Trump to Expedite Biofuels Policy

Preceding President Donald Trump’s visit to a Clive, Iowa, farm, several groups sent a letter asking him to support biofuels policy that would provide certainty for corn and soybean farmers.

January 27, 2026 05:27 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Soybeans Bounce on Biofuels Hopes: Corn and Cattle Consolidate

Soybeans and soybean oil saw a higher day on Tuesday driven by hopes President Trump would make a biofuels policy announcement regarding 45Z or the RVO proposal while speaking in Iowa after the market close says Naomi Blohm with Total Farm Marketing.

January 27, 2026 03:31 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Soybeans Pop on 45Z Hopes: Corn, Wheat and Cattle Consolidate Tuesday

Soybeans and bean oil were slightly higher on Tuesday morning with hopes President Trump may make an announcement or at least talk positive about the 45Z program according to Mark Schultz with Northstar Commodity.

January 27, 2026 10:58 AM

Michelle Rook

Weather

Record Breaking Winter Storm Fern Slams Farmers and Ranchers in 28 States

Meteorologist Eric Snodgrass says the storm hit 28 states with ice, snow and record breaking cold temperatures and the polar vortex could linger for a while.

January 26, 2026 08:50 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

What Caused Grains to Fail on Monday? Cattle Chase Cash

Sam Hudson with Corn Belt Marketing says the grain markets all hit technical resistance on the charts and may have seen profit taking.

January 26, 2026 03:35 PM

Michelle Rook

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