# Drought Status Update for the Midwest | October 22, 2024 | Drought.gov

> The U.S. Drought Monitor shows 53% of the Midwest in drought (D1-D4), up 11% from the prior week, with Ohio the most affected at 64%. Low Mississippi River flows have imposed barge draft restrictions and saltwater intrusion, and low flows are expected to persist until late fall or early winter.

- Date: 2024-10-22 · published 2024-10-22T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: weather · region US · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/13141-drought-status-update-for-the-midwest-october-22-2024-drought-gov
- Commodities: [Corn](https://feedsoft.ai/c/CORN.md), [Soybeans](https://feedsoft.ai/c/SOY.md), [Barge Freight (St. Louis)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/BARGE.md)

## Why it matters

Drought cuts yield prospects for corn and soybeans, while low river levels raise barge freight costs and limit cargo loads, which tightens grain and meal movement and supports prices.

## Read by commodity

- SOY: bullish ▲
- CORN: bullish ▲
- BARGE: bullish ▲

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| CORN | 2024-04-25 | [Drought Status Update for the Midwest \| April 25, 2024 \| Drought.gov](https://feedsoft.ai/events/13189-drought-status-update-for-the-midwest-april-25-2024-drought-gov.md) | +0.7% | +4.5% |
| CORN | 2022-09-02 | [Drought Status Update for the Midwest U.S. \| September 2, 2022 \| Drought.gov](https://feedsoft.ai/events/13327-drought-status-update-for-the-midwest-u-s-september-2-2022-drought-gov.md) | -0.6% | -1.6% |
| CORN | 2023-12-07 | [Drought Status Update for the Midwest \| December 7, 2023 \| Drought.gov](https://feedsoft.ai/events/13220-drought-status-update-for-the-midwest-december-7-2023-drought-gov.md) | -2.3% | +0.0% |
| CORN | 2024-10-01 | [Drought Status Update for the Midwest \| September 20, 2024](https://feedsoft.ai/events/13149-drought-status-update-for-the-midwest-september-20-2024.md) | +0.2% | -2.4% |
| CORN | 2022-07-21 | [Drought Status Update for the Midwest U.S. \| July 21, 2022 \| Drought.gov](https://feedsoft.ai/events/13342-drought-status-update-for-the-midwest-u-s-july-21-2022-drought-gov.md) | -5.2% | -0.3% |
| SOY | 2024-04-25 | [Drought Status Update for the Midwest \| April 25, 2024 \| Drought.gov](https://feedsoft.ai/events/13189-drought-status-update-for-the-midwest-april-25-2024-drought-gov.md) | -0.9% | +6.9% |
| SOY | 2022-09-02 | [Drought Status Update for the Midwest U.S. \| September 2, 2022 \| Drought.gov](https://feedsoft.ai/events/13327-drought-status-update-for-the-midwest-u-s-september-2-2022-drought-gov.md) | +1.1% | -7.3% |
| SOY | 2023-12-07 | [Drought Status Update for the Midwest \| December 7, 2023 \| Drought.gov](https://feedsoft.ai/events/13220-drought-status-update-for-the-midwest-december-7-2023-drought-gov.md) | +0.9% | -3.5% |

## Sources

- drought.gov: https://www.drought.gov/drought-status-updates/drought-status-update-midwest-2024-10-22

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.