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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 Crash on Trump’s Plan to Lower Beef Prices: Row Crops Rally
Joe Kooima of Kooima Kooima Varilek says the funds were liquidating long positions on the open Friday after President Donald Trump said the administration was working on a plan to lower beef prices. Some of it was triggered by algorithm trades that key their formulas off headlines.
October 17, 2025 10:13 AM
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Michelle Rook
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Markets
Cattle Hit Record Highs but is a Top Close? Soybeans Try to Recover as China Tensions Ease
Brad Kooima of Kooima Kooima Varilek says November feeder cattle futures were up over $20 last week and have led the rally on strong cash, tight supplies and the continued cases of New World Screwworm (NWS) in Mexico keeping the border shut.
October 13, 2025 09:52 AM
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Michelle Rook
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Markets
What Finally Stops the Cattle Rally? Grains Fall on China Trade Tensions
Scott Varilek, Kooima Kooima Varilek says the feeder futures have put on $22 this week and were due for a correction but still project to $388. Grains see pressure from China trade news.
October 10, 2025 09:53 AM
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Michelle Rook
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Markets
Can the Cattle Market Hold? Grains Pin Hopes on China Deal
Brad Kooima, Kooima Kooima Varilek, says the market is staying intact and absorbing a great deal of bearish news including last week’s lower fed cash trade and lower cutouts.
October 06, 2025 09:58 AM
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Michelle Rook
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Markets
Can Cattle Hold Uptrends as Cash Feeders Lead? Grains Hit Resistance, See Harvest Pressure
Scott Varilek with Kooima Kooima Varilek says it has been another volatile week in the cattle futures but they are still trading sideways and holding the uptrend lines. Grains are pausing after hitting chart resistance.
October 03, 2025 09:46 AM
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Michelle Rook
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Markets
Can Cash Feeders Lead Cattle Back to New Highs? Corn and Soybeans See Harvest Pressure
Brad Kooima of Kooima Kooima Varilek says live and feeder cattle futures are higher early Monday. The cash feeder market has continued to move higher, so will it be able to lead the cattle futures back to new highs?
September 29, 2025 09:55 AM
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Michelle Rook
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Market Reports
Cattle Surge as NWS Nears U.S.: Soybeans Tank as Argentina Drops Export Tax
Brad Kooima of Kooima Kooima Varilek says live and feeder cattle futures are sharply higher on Monday as news came late Sunday that New World Screwworm (NWS) had been detected 70 miles from the U.S. Mexican border. in an 8-month-old calf from a transported herd.
September 22, 2025 10:03 AM
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Michelle Rook
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Markets
Cattle on Feed Placements Down 10%: Is Heifer Retention Beginning?
Scott Varilek with Kooima Kooima Varilek, says the last time placements and markets were this low was in 2015, which may be signaling heifer retention is starting to take place.
September 19, 2025 03:34 PM
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Michelle Rook
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Markets
Cattle Higher Friday but Has the Market Topped? Corn and Soybeans Chop
Scott Varilek with Kooima Kooima Varilek says cattle futures have seen a choppy week but are higher to start Friday after some better than expected cash trade.
September 19, 2025 10:00 AM
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Michelle Rook
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Markets
Cattle Bounce but Can They Fully Recover? Corn Falls, With Soybeans up on China Hopes
Joe Kooima of Kooima Kooima Varilek says live and feeder cattle futures are higher early Monday but after a second week of lower weekly closes, he’s not sure if the market can retest the highs.
September 15, 2025 10:05 AM
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Michelle Rook
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