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

Markets

Cattle Rally but What Will it Take for the Recovery to Continue?

Scott Varilek with Kooima Kooima Varilek says the recovery in the cattle market this week feels good but he is watching for several signs to feel confident about sustaining it.

September 11, 2026 10:44 AM

Michelle Rook

Markets

Cattle Bounce With Cash: What Impact do the Executive Orders Have on the Market?

Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek says the presidential executive orders will not have any immediate impact on the cattle industry or the market.

September 08, 2026 10:35 AM

Michelle Rook

Markets

Cattle Bounce Early But Why Can’t the Market Sustain a Rally? Hogs, Grains Fall Pre-Holiday

Scott Varilek with Kooima Kooima Varilek says the cattle market is very oversold and due for a bounce but the long term charts have been damaged.

September 04, 2026 10:32 AM

Michelle Rook

Markets

Cattle Bounce Monday but Can the Market Recover After Trump’s Beef Plan?

Cattle futures were trying to bounce early Monday as both live and feeder cattle are oversold after lower weekly closes says Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek. However, he was cautious about it holding.

August 31, 2026 10:46 AM

Michelle Rook

Markets

What Will it Take to Bottom the Cattle Market? Grains Rip to New Contract Highs

Scott Varilek with Kooima Kooima Varilek says after a bounce on Thursday many producers were asking if a bottom was starting to be forged but the negative stories won’t die down.

August 28, 2026 10:43 AM

Michelle Rook

Markets

Cattle Break the 6-Year Uptrend with Trump’s Beef Plan, Border Reopening Battling a Bullish COF

Brad Kooima of Kooima Kooima Varilek says the placements were 11% below last year and a bullish surprise for him and the trade. However, the President’s beef plan it stifling the recovery.

August 24, 2026 10:56 AM

Michelle Rook

News

Bullish Cattle on Feed Report Clashes With Plant Closures, Policy Fears

Placements down 11% signal tighter front-end supplies, but Northern feedyards face renewed basis pressure as packer capacity shrinks and trade policy headlines add fresh uncertainty.

August 21, 2026 03:52 PM

Angie Stump Denton

Markets

Cattle Selloff Early Friday on Trump’s Lower Beef Price Post: Challenge 6-Year Uptrend

Scott Varilek with Kooima Kooima Varilek says the Truth Social post from President Trump that 300,000 MT of beef imports will enter the U.S. duty free over the next 90 days to lower beef prices tanked the cattle market early Friday.

August 21, 2026 11:44 AM

Michelle Rook

Markets

Cattle Crash on Tyson Plant Closure, Lower Cash but How Low Will Prices Fall? Grains Rally

Joe Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek says the cattle were down early Friday pricing in the plant closure news, but this time seems different regarding the long term implications for the market.

August 14, 2026 11:07 AM

Michelle Rook

News

Tyson Announces Closing Two Facilities, Aims to Sell Washington Facility

The company will end operations at its Joslin, Ill., beef facility and its Eagle Mountain, Utah, case-ready facility plus it is pursuing the sale of its Pasco, Wash., beef facility.

August 13, 2026 03:41 PM

Angie Stump Denton