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

Tyson Foods to Close Lexington, Neb., Beef Plant

The company will end operations in early 2026 in the plant that employs nearly 3,200 people and can slaughter almost 5,000 cattle a day and convert its Amarillo, Texas, beef facility to a single, full-capacity shift.

November 21, 2025 03:42 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Cattle Slide with Brazil’s 40% Tariff Cut: Is the News Priced In?

Scott Varilek with Kooima Kooima Varilek says the market had been anticipating the tariffs to be lowered on Brazil beef for several days and it was part of the recent selloff in cattle. “So I think a lot of this was already penciled into prices.” he explains.

November 21, 2025 10:05 AM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Grain and Cattle Markets Further Implode Thursday

Jim McCormick with AgMarket.Net says soybeans continue to sell off though as this business has already been priced into the market with the nearly $1.50 rally off the lows.

November 20, 2025 03:25 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Grains Crash on Profit Taking, Dollar and Biofuels News

Grains futures saw sharp losses on Wednesday on profit taking according to Rich Nelson with Allendale, Inc. However, there were several other factors at play.

November 19, 2025 03:58 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Grains Fall Wednesday Despite More China Bean Buys: Is it Just Profit Taking?

Kevin Duling with KD Investors says the additional six cargoes of soybeans sold to China were part of the rumored business earlier in the week and have already been priced into the market.

November 19, 2025 10:14 AM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Soybeans See Profit Taking After Big China Sales: What Do Bulls Need to Sustain the Rally?

Mike Minor says the agency reported 29 million bushels of soybean purchases Tuesday morning which brings China’s total to from 8% to 12% of the total 12 MMT commitments they’ve made.

November 18, 2025 04:26 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Soybeans Fade Confirmation of Big China Purchases: Are More in the Works?

Randy Martinson says confirmation of 29 million bushels of soybeans sold to China is already priced into the market after the big rally to 17-month highs in soybeans. So, the market is seeing a traditional “buy to rumor sell the fact” reaction.

November 18, 2025 10:41 AM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Grains Resume Rally, Soybeans Lead on Talk of China Buys: Is $12 Next?

Soybean futures closed nearly $.33 higher on the January contract. Craig Turner with StoneX said there was unconfirmed market talk of multiple cargoes of soybeans being sold to China through the Pacific Northwest.

November 17, 2025 04:08 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Cattle Rally Despite Lower Brazil Tariffs: Soybeans Lead Grains Higher on China Bean Buys

Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek says the fear of Brazilian beef tariffs being lowered was part of the selloff in the cattle futures last week. However, Brazil tariffs are still at 66.4% so he says it was already priced into the market.

November 17, 2025 10:12 AM

Michelle Rook

Markets

Gulke: Market Resets After USDA Data Dump

Jerry Gulke, president of the Gulke Group, says soybeans had rallied into the report as the market priced in additional China demand. So, he wasn’t surprised with the reaction,

November 15, 2025 12:06 AM

Michelle Rook