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 Close Higher Again: How Much Upside Potential is There?

Rich Nelson with Allendale says supply and demand factors are combining to push the market higher and he isn’t sure the rally is over yet.

September 04, 2024 05:44 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Grain Markets Extend Rally on Short Covering as Yield Ideas Dialed Back: How Much Higher Could Prices Go?

Rich Nelson with Allendale, Inc. says grains are pricing in ideas that corn and soybean yields are not as big as feared. That’s what they found in their nationwide annual yield survey. However, South America’s crop size may also be declining. So what will that mean for the September WASDE and can grain prices continue to rally as a result?

September 04, 2024 03:13 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Grains Continue to Rally Wednesday But For How Long?

Dave Chatterton, Strategic Farm Marketing, says grain are higher early Wednesday. The market has been pushed by fund short covering, lower yield ideas and better demand. However, upside may be limited especially as farmers sell on the rally. Livestock are mixed.

September 04, 2024 09:28 AM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Grains Close Higher Again Tuesday: What’s Finally Driving the Buying Interest?

Randy Martinson, Martinson Ag, says he was encouraged grains were all able to close higher and build on last week’s higher weekly closes. So was it all fund short covering?

September 03, 2024 05:58 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Grain Markets Close Higher on Money Flow: Plus, Corn and Soybeans Price in Lower Yields

Randy Martinson with Martinson Ag says grains saw fund short covering and profit taking building on higher weekly closes. There was also some money flowing into the grains with the stock market melt down. However, buying also stemmed from weather and ideas of lower yield and crop conditions in corn and soybeans.

September 03, 2024 02:31 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

What Will Confirm a Low in the Corn and Soybean Markets?

Bryan Doherty, Total Farm Marketing, shares what he’s looking for this week in the markets to prove last week’s higher closes in the grains wasn’t just a head fake or a bear trap.

September 01, 2024 09:47 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Grain Prices All Post Higher Weekly Closes: Is This a Trend Change? Livestock Also Close Higher.

Bryan Doherty, Total Farm Marketing, says while the technical action in the grain markets was encouraging grains need to close higher again next week for confirmation. Cattle and hogs also closed higher Friday and for the week.

August 30, 2024 02:49 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Grains and Cattle in the Green Friday: But Can They Finish Strong and Change Trend?

Scott Varilek with Kooima Kooima Varilek says long term continuation charts for live cattle still look positive. Corn and soybeans could post higher weekly closes but he thinks it might be a bear trap.

August 30, 2024 09:28 AM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Jeff Hoogendoorn Discusses Whether or Not Corn and Soybeans Have Priced in the Most Bearish News

Corn and soybeans rally Thursday putting in some weather premium but may have reached a value level which is uncovering strong end user demand.

August 29, 2024 06:14 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Corn and Soybeans Rally on Weather and Exports: How Much Upside is There? Livestock End Mixed.

Jeff Hoogendoorn, Professional Ag Marketing, says corn and soybean may have dialed in the biggest yield and with hot dry weather trimming yield and demand picking up the markets could see more buying.

August 29, 2024 02:40 PM

Michelle Rook