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

Soybean Strength Returns and Supports Corn, Wheat Retreats

Vince Boddicker with Farmers Trading Company says soybeans continue to see Brazil weather concerns and technical buying. When soybeans put in an early harvest low they tend to rally around 80 cents and have cleared that mark already. However, if Brazil stays dry the market could continue to price that in.

September 27, 2024 09:43 AM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Grains End Lower on Farmer Selling: Higher Cash Pulls Up Cattle Futures

Scott Varilek, Kooima Kooima Varilek, says cattle futures reversed with $2 higher cash in Southern feedlot areas. Grain markets ended lower as fund short covering was overrun by an increase in farmer selling.

September 26, 2024 01:59 PM

Michelle Rook

News

Legislation Offered to Extend 45Z Tax Credits, Restrict to Domestic Feedstocks

The Farmer First Fuel Incentives Act has been introduced in both the Senate and the House. A bipartisan group of lawmakers has proposed extending the 45Z tax credit through 2034.

September 26, 2024 11:37 AM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Grains Impressively Reverse to Close Higher: Is The Rally Just Technical Buying?

Matt Bennett, AgMarket.Net, says the market has been resilient as the funds are exiting shorts and taking profits end of quarter.

September 25, 2024 02:46 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Grains Continue to Show Resilience as Funds Exit Short Positions

Grains started out mostly lower Wednesday but Darin Newsom with Barchart says they continue to see buying on the dips as funds are covering shorts and taking profits.

September 25, 2024 09:40 AM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Grains Disappoint Tuesday Ending Well Off Highs: Is the Market Tired?

Kevin Duling, KD Investors, says it wasn’t the best close for the grains as the markets ran up into some chart resistance and are starting to look a little tired.

September 24, 2024 02:51 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Grains Continue to Rally: What’s Driving it and How Far Could the Market Run?

Randy Martinson, Martinson Ag, says funds are covering shorts and there is new technical buying as well as the markets have cleared some key chart resistance.

September 24, 2024 09:36 AM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Grains End With Double Digit Gains Led by Soybeans: Will the Rally Continue?

Allison Thompson with The Money Farm says a combination of factors drove soybeans higher including South American weather and China economic news. Corn and wheat followed. Cattle futures also made new highs for the move pushed by cash.

September 23, 2024 02:45 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Cattle Rally on Higher Cash: Grains Soar Early Led by Soybeans

Brad Kooima of Kooima Kooima Varilek says cattle are hitting new highs for the move after a chart breakout and pushed by stronger cash last week. Grains are all strong early with soybeans making near term highs on the convergence of several fundamentals.

September 23, 2024 09:40 AM

Michelle Rook

Market Analysis

Grains End Mostly Lower Friday on Hedge Pressure: Will the Markets Retest the Lows?

Jim McCormick, AgMarket.Net, says corn and soybeans ended lower on Friday on farmer selling of both old and new crop inventory. However, both corn and wheat had lower weekly closes which could indicate a trend change.

September 20, 2024 03:01 PM

Michelle Rook