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

Cattle Crash on Fear of MX Border Reopening: Grains See Profit Taking as CA Talks Off

Scott Varilek with Kooima Kooima Varilek says cattle futures gapped lower on the opening Friday and feeder quickly pushed to limit down status with fear of the U.S. opening the border to Mexican feeder imports.

October 24, 2025 09:51 AM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Soybeans Lead Grains Higher Betting on China Deal: Cattle Digest Trump Beef Plan

Soybeans futures hit new highs for the move on Thursday as Greg McBride with Allendale, Inc. says there is growing optimism about a trade deal with China that will include soybean purchases.

October 23, 2025 04:23 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Grains Rally as Trump Touts China Deal: Cattle Try to Recover as U.S. to Buy Argentina Beef

Randy Martinson with Martinson Ag says soybeans are hitting new highs for the move with the tailwind of comments from President Trump about getting a trade deal with China next week in South Korea.

October 23, 2025 10:43 AM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Grains See Fund Buying, Chasing China Headlines: Cattle Meltdown on Trump’s Beef Post

Grains ended mostly higher on renewed technical buying, while cattle closed with limit down moves in feeder cattle in reaction to President Trump’s social media comments about beef.

October 22, 2025 06:47 PM

Michelle Rook

Harvest

Harvest of a Lifetime: Farmer Sees Record Corn Yields in Southern Minnesota

Mike Madsen’s corn yields at harvest are 20 to 30 bushels over his actual production history (APH), with even the early maturities exceeding expectations.

October 21, 2025 04:36 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Grains Correct on Profit Taking, Outside Markets, China Flip: Cattle Recovery Continues

Garrett Toay with AgTraderTalk says after the recent rally corn and soybeans ran into chart resistance. However, outside markets had a negative impact with the selloff in precious metals and the rally in the dollar.

October 21, 2025 03:46 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Grains See Profit Taking, Farmer Pricing: Cattle Recovery Continues Tuesday

Jamie Gieseke with Paradigm Futures says soybeans are seeing some profit taking after a 35 cents rally off of last week’s lows but also some farmer pricing. The higher dollar is weighing on corn and wheat.

October 21, 2025 10:02 AM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Row Crops Rally as China Tensions Ease: Cattle Bounce as U.S. Touts Argentina Beef Buys

Jeff Hoogendoorn, Professional Ag Marketing, says soybeans ended higher on Monday and extended gains after a higher weekly close last week. Cattle tried to recover after Friday’s meltdown and after President Trump comments about the U.S. buying Argentina beef to lower prices for consumers.

October 20, 2025 04:15 PM

Michelle Rook

Markets

Cattle Recover as Trump Floats Argentina Beef Buys: Soybeans Rally on China Hopes

Brad Kooima of Kooima Kooima Varilek says cattle futures saw some recovery on the opening Monday after a melt down on Friday which produced limit down closes in most of the feeder cattle contracts.

October 20, 2025 10:04 AM

Michelle Rook

Markets

Corn and Soybean Charts Confirming Harvest Lows

The price action in corn was impressive to Jerry Gulke, president of the Gulke Group, in part because it came during the gut slot of harvest when farmers are gathering a predicted record crop.

October 17, 2025 07:05 PM

Michelle Rook