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

Is the Resiliency in Corn and Soybeans the Mark of a Bull Market?

Corn, soybeans and wheat all closed higher for the week in the face of heightened uncertainty. Jerry Gulke, president of the Gulke Group, says to him that kind of resilience is an underlying sign of a bull market.

January 24, 2025 04:59 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

With All the Noise.....What is the Grain Market Really Trading?

Darin Newsom with Barchart says the forward spreads have been bullish in corn since August indicating strong underlying demand.

January 22, 2025 09:58 AM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Could the Bull Market in Corn Spill Over Into Soybeans and Wheat?

Jerry Gulke, president of the Gulke Group, says the strength in corn can pull the soybean markets and maybe even wheat higher for a handful of fundamental reasons.

January 17, 2025 05:15 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Corn and Soybeans Try to Extend Rally in the Face of Profit Taking and Farmer Selling

Craig Turner, with StoneX, says corn and soybeans saw some early pressure on profit taking after hitting chart resistance and some farmer selling was also noted, both from U.S. and South American producers.

January 14, 2025 09:54 AM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Corn and Soybeans Hit Near Term Highs on Bullish USDA Data: Cattle Consolidate After Record Cash

Brad Kooima, Kooima Kooima Varilek, says live cattle futures are consolidating which is healthy. Meanwhile, corn and soybeans make new highs for the move still digesting USDA’s bullish report data and the shocking cuts in yield, production and ending stocks.

January 13, 2025 09:48 AM

Michelle Rook

Markets

How Much Money Was Left on the Table Due to Past USDA Corn Yield Projections?

Jerry Gulke, president of the Gulke Group, says as of Friday’s report, USDA has dropped corn ending stocks nearly 1 billion bushels from their initial estimate during the February 2024 Ag Outlook Forum when the agency projected carryout at 2.532 billion bushels based on trend-line yield.

January 10, 2025 05:40 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

USDA Reports a Game Changer, as Corn and Soybean Yields are Slashed

USDA lowered corn yield a whopping 3.8 bu. and soybeans 1 bu. which led to lower production and ending stocks.

January 10, 2025 01:16 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

What Do Corn and Soybeans Need in USDA’s Reports to Keep Prices Moving Higher?

Allison Thompson with The Money Farm says corn has rallied nearly $1 and soybeans around 50 cents off the lows. So production and ending stocks will need to come in well under trade estimates in the USDA reports for prices to push higher.

January 09, 2025 02:41 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Grains Ease Wednesday Ahead of USDA Data Dump: Cattle Consolidate Under Highs

Rich Nelson with Allendale, Inc. says grain markets are seeing early pressure with a rebound in the U.S. dollar index back near recent highs, but also watching South American weather and ahead of USDA reports on Friday.

January 08, 2025 09:31 AM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Grains Steady to Firmer Pre-Reports: Cattle Hit Fresh Highs

Matt Bennett, AgMarket.Net, says corn and soybeans came back from early profit taking pressure to end steady as trader position ahead of Friday’s USDA reports and watch South American weather.

January 07, 2025 02:43 PM

Michelle Rook