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 Quietly Higher as Outside Markets Trade Middle East Conflict

Darin Newsom, senior market analyst with Barchart, says grains are slightly higher Tuesday morning. While outside markets are reacting to the conflict between Israel and Iran.

June 17, 2025 09:56 AM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Soybeans Try to Extend Gains, as Corn and Wheat Fall: Cattle Recover

Tomm Pftizenmaier of Summit Commodity Brokerage says soybeans saw some follow through buying on Monday but it was somewhat disappointing considering the limit up move in soybean oil.

June 16, 2025 03:30 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Cattle Recover on ICE News: Soybeans Try to Extend Rally but What’s Wrong with Corn?

Brad Kooima of Kooima Kooima Varilek says cattle futures started the day higher in recovery mode after a poor technical close on Friday and a bearish reversal lower for the week. Soybeans continue to rally on the heels of the surge in bean oil on EPA’s surprise biofuels news.

June 16, 2025 10:13 AM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

How Bullish are EPA’s Blending Mandates for Soybean Prices?

Jerry Gulke, president of the Gulke Group, says the news EPA is raising blending mandates for biomass-based diesel above expectations came as a surprise but was positive for farmers and the biofuels industry.

June 13, 2025 04:36 PM

Michelle Rook

Policy

Biofuels Industry Gets Big Boost From EPA’s Blending Mandates

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed record blending mandates for biomass based diesel in the Renewable Fuels Standard.

June 13, 2025 03:32 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Soybeans and Bean Oil Surge on RVO News: How High Will Prices Run?

Soybeans were up sharply on Friday with soybean oil locked limit up on all of the contracts. Alan Brugler, A&N Economics, says it was in reaction to the EPA’s proposed Renewable Volume Obligations, which were especially bullish for biomass based diesel.

June 13, 2025 03:13 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Soybeans, Bean Oil Soar on Bullish RVOs: Cattle Fall with Geopolitical Uncertainty

Scott Varilek, Kooima Kooima Varilek, says cattle are seeing risk off selling tied to the news overnight of escalating war between Iran and Israel which has the financial markets sharply lower. Bean oil is limit up on news of higher blending levels for biomass based diesel.

June 13, 2025 09:53 AM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Corn Firm as WASDE Tightens Stocks, Soybeans Fall on RVO Rumor: Cattle Disappoint

Dave Chatterton of Strategic Farm Marketing says corn was slightly higher with tighter ending stocks, while soybeans fell on the rumor of lower RVO levels.

June 12, 2025 02:47 PM

Michelle Rook

USDA Reports

June WASDE Slightly Friendly for Corn and Wheat

USDA lowered old crop corn ending stocks 50 million bushels, but Brian Splitt, AgMarket.Net, says the market doesn’t feel like it’s trading a 1.365 billion bushel carryout nor do the July/December spreads.

June 12, 2025 12:58 PM

Michelle Rook

News

Rollins Defends Trump Policies at House Ag Committee Hearing

USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins was questioned by several House Ag Committee members about USDA’s cuts, including the impact of the 6,000 DOGE firings at the agency, that were later reinstated by the court.

June 11, 2025 08:41 PM

Michelle Rook