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

News

FarmDoc Releases Farmer Bridge Assistance Payment Estimates

Another set of estimates have been released to divvy up the $11 million earmarked for eligible row crop producers. Payments range from $21 per acre for barley to a high of $134 per acre for rice.

December 19, 2025 12:53 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Cattle Futures Pop Despite Weak Cash: Grains Slide

Scott Varilek, Kooima Kooima Varilek says live cattle futures are higher despite some lower Northern cash trade. However, this week the trend has been sideways with the market unable to take out chart resistance.

December 19, 2025 10:00 AM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Why Can’t Soybeans Bottom With China Purchases? Are They Buying Corn?

Ted Seifried with Zaner Ag Hedge says rumors of China purchases circulate nearly every time the corn market rallies.

December 18, 2025 03:25 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Why Corn, Wheat See a Bounce But Soybeans Continue to Slide

Darin Newsom, senior market analyst with Barchart, Inc. says corn is seeing some short covering but demand has also been a factor with ethanol production at a record level this week and exports continuing to run at a record pace.

December 18, 2025 10:20 AM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Soybeans Make Fresh Lows, Corn Holds Sideways: What Changes That Trend?

Naomi Blohm with Total Farm Marketing says soybeans have also confirmed the head and shoulders top and are working lower completing the shoulder.

December 17, 2025 03:22 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Grains Make Fresh Lows: What’s the Problem and Is a Low Close?

Bryan Doherty with Total Farm Marketing says soybeans have served as an anchor for the grain markets on a host of bearish news items and fund liquidation.

December 16, 2025 04:20 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Grains Fall Further, But is the Bleeding Over? Cattle Eye 62% Retracement

Don Roose with U.S. Commodities says the soybeans and wheat made new lows for the move on Monday. Grains have been suffering from a lack of bullish news and for soybeans China fatigue is also a factor.

December 15, 2025 03:57 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Cattle Hold Uptrend After Correcting with CA Plant Closure a Non-Event: Soybeans Fall Further

Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek says the cattle futures are overbought after last week’s higher weekly closes. So this is a healthy correction.

December 15, 2025 10:09 AM

Michelle Rook

Markets

Gulke: Soybeans Confirm Market Top

Jerry Gulke, president of the Gulke Group, says the bearish lower weekly closes for a second week confirms the top is in the soybean market.

December 12, 2025 08:04 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Why Soybeans Sank and Pulled Grains Lower Friday and For the Week

Shawn Hackett with Hackett Financial Advisors says part of the pressure in soybeans was technical selling but the market is also starting to trade the big crop potential in South America.

December 12, 2025 03:53 PM

Michelle Rook