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 Fade Ahead of USDA Data Dump: China, Export Disappointment

Tommy Grisafi with Nesvick Trading says the soybean market faded after hitting chart resistance but also seemed disappointed with the lack of confirmed China export business. The grain complex also saw report positioning.

January 08, 2026 03:23 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

What Rallied Grains and Can the Market Extend Gains? Livestock Fall on Wednesday

Garrett Toay with AgTraderTalk attributes the rally mostly to corrective buying after a $1.40 break from the highs in soybeans. Traders are also short in the wheat market, which just came off of contract lows in SRW futures.

January 07, 2026 03:29 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Grains Rally on Fund Buying: Crude Oil Eyes Venezuela News

Darin Newsom, senior market analyst with Barchart, says the grain complex may be some rebalancing by hedge and index fund traders to start a new year and with grains under valued.

January 07, 2026 10:24 AM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Soybeans Fade China Buys: Corn, Wheat Fail Pre-WASDE

Chip Nellinger with Blue Reef Agri-Marketing says soybeans sold off in a classic “buy the rumor, sell the fact,” reaction to USDA confirming China export sales.

January 06, 2026 03:26 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

What it Will Take for Cattle Markets to Hit New Highs in 1Q

Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek says the recent strength in cattle has been a combination of fund buying and higher cash trade. He predicts that will continue into first quarter of 2026.

January 06, 2026 10:07 AM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Grains Rally on Corrective Buying, China Biz, Venezuela News: Livestock Post Gains

Chuck Shelby of Risk Management Commodities says soybeans, corn and wheat were oversold and saw some corrective buying but there was also some risk on buying across the ag complex.

January 05, 2026 03:28 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Grains See Short Covering Rally to Start the Week: What Drove it Fundamentally?

Grain markets are all higher to start the week. Mark Knight with Farmer’s Keeper Financial says some of the strength is tied to short covering after lower weekly closes in corn, soybeans and wheat last week.

January 05, 2026 10:21 AM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Cattle Break to Near Term Highs With Cash, NWS: Soybeans Grind to Fresh Lows

Scott Varilek with Kooima Kooima Varilek says cattle futures saw a chart breakout, pushed by fundamental factors. Meanwhile, the soybean market saw technical selling and pressure from mostly favorable weather in South America.

January 02, 2026 03:07 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Grains Fall to End 2025 as Soybeans Plunge: Cattle Rally

Soybeans scored new lows for the move on the last trading day of 2025. Randy Martinson says the market saw technical selling with end of quarter and end of year positioning and favorable weather in Brazil.

December 31, 2025 03:29 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Is the Slide in Grains All About South America? What Rallied Livestock Tuesday

Rich Nelson with Allendale, Inc. says there is a general lack of news for the grain markets so some of the pressure is coming from end of the quarter and end of the year positioning by traders.

December 30, 2025 03:25 PM

Michelle Rook