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

News

Fear, Not Fundamentals, Drive Cattle Sell-Off on Mexican Border News

The reopening of the U.S.-Mexico border on Aug. 24 is expected to have a short-term impact on cattle markets, but analysts say the return of Mexican feeder cattle will not fundamentally change long-term supply.

July 27, 2026 05:18 PM

Angie Stump Denton

Markets

Cattle Crash as Mexican Border to Reopen but How Low Will Prices Fall? Grains Set Back on War, Weather

Joe Kooima of Kooima Kooima Varilek says the gap lower opening in cattle futures Monday in response to the border reopening to Mexican imports was volatile. They anticipate more to come to price in the news, even after a $25 to $30 break in the futures recently.

July 27, 2026 11:12 AM

Michelle Rook

News

Cattle Inventory Ticks Higher: Herd Rebuild Remains a Slow Grind

USDA’s latest cattle inventory and cattle on feed reports confirm the cyclical low is likely behind the industry, but structural headwinds and sky‑high calf prices are keeping expansion cautious and gradual.

July 24, 2026 04:00 PM

Angie Stump Denton

Markets

Cattle Bounce to End the Week: Is the Market Bottoming?

Scott Varilek with Kooima Kooima Varilek says the live cattle futures made new lows for the move Thursday before finding support and putting in key reversals.

July 24, 2026 10:58 AM

Michelle Rook

Markets

Is the Bleeding Over in the Cattle Market? Row Crop Make Fresh Highs on Weather, War, China

Joe Kooima, Kooima Kooima Varilek says the question is whether or not a bounce in the cattle can hold or if funds will use it to exit more of their long positions.

July 20, 2026 10:22 AM

Michelle Rook

Markets

Cattle See Record Slide, Searching for a Bottom: Grains Eye Weather, War, China

Scott Varilek of Kooima Kooima Varilek says everybody’s looking for the bottom in the cattle market and wants to know if it is close.

July 17, 2026 11:28 AM

Michelle Rook

Markets

Are Cattle Futures Getting Close to a Bottom? Can Row Crops Sustain a Weather Rally?

Brad Kooima, Kooima Kooima Varilek, says the cattle charts look tough right now.

July 13, 2026 10:43 AM

Michelle Rook

Markets

Will the Bleeding in the Cattle Market Stop Soon?

Early Friday cattle utures tried to stage an early recovery but it was short lived as funds have been selling every rally. Scott Varilek with Kooima Kooima Varilek says his fear is the high is in the cattle market.

July 10, 2026 10:56 AM

Michelle Rook

Markets

Live Cattle Lower Again, Feeders Rebound but is the Bull Market Over? Grains Consolidate

Live cattle futures were lower again on Wednesday and have spent several consecutive days under the 100-day moving average. Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek says it is looking like more than a healthy correction.

July 08, 2026 04:24 PM

Michelle Rook

Markets

Will Cattle Continue to Slide on Fund Selling, Lower Cash? Grains Rally on Weather, China Tariff News

Joe Kooima of Kooima Kooima Varilek says funds continue to pressure the cattle futures and he anticipates that will continue after last week’s lower weekly closes.

July 06, 2026 10:24 AM

Michelle Rook