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

Grains Fade Early Gains: So Do Cattle, Despite Strong Cash

Brad Kooima, Kooima Kooima Varilek, says grains lose early strength running into chart resistance. While cattle also started higher with the sharply higher cash trade Thursday but faded.

April 21, 2025 09:55 AM

Michelle Rook

Markets

Higher Cash Trumps Slightly Bearish Cattle on Feed Report

Scott Varilek, Kooima Kooima Varilek, says the slightly higher placements than expectations in the USDA Cattle on Feed Report are not a concern to him. He thinks cash is ultimately king!

April 17, 2025 04:09 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Reports

Cattle and Soybeans Extend Gains: Can Markets Continue to Recover?

Brad Kooima, Kooima Kooima Varilek, says cattle are seeing followthrough buying and strength Monday morning as the S&P 500 continues to stabilize and recover after the tariff delays.

April 14, 2025 09:56 AM

Michelle Rook

Market Reports

Tariff Delay Rallies Ag and Outside Markets, Trumps China Trade War

Arlan Suderman, StoneX Chief Commodities Economist says the markets reacted positively to the 90-day delay on reciprocal tariffs for countries that reached out to negotiate with the U.S. and did not retaliate.

April 09, 2025 02:54 PM

Michelle Rook

Markets

Cattle and Hog Markets See Opposite Impact of Tariffs

While tariffs are negative for grain and hog producers, tariffs on U.S. beef and cattle imports have a net effect of tightening supplies and that’s price positive.

March 17, 2025 05:02 PM

Michelle Rook

Market Reports

Live Cattle Hold Gains After Higher Cash: Soybeans See China Tariff, SA Harvest Pressure

Brad Kooima of Kooima Kooima Varilek says live cattle see buying interest after strong cash late last week. Corn tries to hold gains with soybeans seeing South American harvest pressure and concern about China’s 10% tariffs on U.S. soybeans.

March 10, 2025 09:53 AM

Michelle Rook

Market Reports

Grains and Hogs Fall, Cattle Bounce on Tariffs, Acreage and More

Darren Frye, Water Street Solutions, says corn, wheat and hogs reacted negatively to the 25% tariffs being imposed on Canada and Mexico on March 4.

February 28, 2025 11:37 AM

Michelle Rook

Markets

State of the Beef Industry: Why Cattle Prices Could Stay Record High in 2025

CattleFax released its annual price projections at CattleCon and expects cattle prices to stay strong for a while.

February 10, 2025 04:22 PM

Michelle Rook

Beef Production

Are More Record Cattle Prices Ahead in 2025?

Kevin Good, Vice President of Industry Relations and Analysis with CattleFax, says the herd is still shrinking and so are slaughter levels and that will mean more record prices in 2025.

February 06, 2025 09:37 AM

Michelle Rook

Markets

Cash Cattle Trade To Record Highs: What’s Driving Prices?

Brad Kooima of Kooima Kooima Varilek in Sioux Center, Iowa, says cash fed cattle trade hit record highs last week and could be steady to even a bit higher again this week. Historically tight supplies continue to support the rally.

January 07, 2025 09:13 PM

Michelle Rook