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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
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Markets
Cattle Start Higher Monday on COF Report, Cash: Uncertainty on Plant Strike, Tariffs Remains
Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek says the USDA Cattle on Feed report was providing some support. The on feed number came in at 98% of a year ago, placements were at 95% which was below trade estimates and marketings were at 87%.
February 23, 2026 10:29 AM
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Michelle Rook
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Markets
Cattle Fall on COF, JBS Plant Strike Caution: Hogs Rally
Scott Varilek with Kooima Kooima Varilek says the cattle market is also awaiting cash direction.
February 20, 2026 10:31 AM
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Michelle Rook
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Markets
Cattle Futures Pause But Can $250 Cash Spark New Highs? Corn, Soybeans End Flat
Brad Kooima of Kooima Kooima Varilek says cattle futures are getting overbought and ran into another layer of chart resistance Wednesday but higher cash could push the market to new highs.
February 18, 2026 04:15 PM
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Michelle Rook
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Ag Policy
Life After DEF: What Rolling Back The Endangerment Finding Means for Farmers
EPA’s unwinding of the Obama-era endangerment finding could amount to the largest deregulation in history. One positive outcome for farmers is the change it could mean for the use of Diesel Exhaust Fluid.
February 17, 2026 08:41 AM
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Michelle Rook
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Markets
Cattle Futures Await Cash Push to Break to New Highs: Grains See Profit Taking
Scott Varilek with Kooima Kooima Varilek says the cattle futures have been chopping back and forth this week and need to take out last week’s highs on the charts to break out and to new highs.
February 13, 2026 10:21 AM
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Michelle Rook
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Markets
Cattle Extend Gains on Higher Cash, Fade Argentina Beef Import Hike: Will Cash be Higher Again This Week?
Live and feeder cattle futures were higher early Monday extending gains after Friday’s higher cash trade says Brad Kooima of Kooima Kooima Varilek.
He thinks cash could be higher again this week.
February 09, 2026 10:44 AM
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Michelle Rook
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Markets
Cattle Recover on Higher Cash, Fade Plant Strike: Soybeans Hit New Highs with China Push
Scott Varilek with Kooima Kooima Varilek says after crashing Thursday on fears of a beef plant strike, cattle are recovering on higher cash.
February 06, 2026 10:12 AM
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Michelle Rook
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Markets
CattleFax Provides Optimistic 2026 Price Outlook at CattleCon
Randy Blach, CEO of CattleFax, says fed cattle cash prices may exceed last year’s but the average will be similar to 2025.
February 05, 2026 03:14 PM
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Michelle Rook
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News
High Cattle Prices Driven Not Just by Supply, but Strong Demand
Don Close with Terrain says consumers have not seen sticker shock with the record retail beef prices in the store.
February 04, 2026 12:40 AM
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Michelle Rook
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Markets
Cattle Make Near Term Highs Again: Soybeans Rally on 45Z Guidance, Pulling up Grains
Tyler Schau of AgMarket says cattle futures make new highs for the move on higher cash and the report tailwind. Soybeans followed soybean oil which rallied as Treasury released 45Z guidance and that pulled up corn.
February 03, 2026 03:24 PM
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Michelle Rook
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