# Drought Status Update for the Midwest | December 7, 2023 | Drought.gov

> The U.S. Drought Monitor showed 43% of the Midwest in drought, with Extreme Drought in Iowa and parts of Missouri. Mississippi River water levels were below normal and were expected to keep falling through December, with a risk of ice formation on the Upper Mississippi. A strong El Niño was developing and expected to bring warmer, drier winter conditions to the Midwest.

- Date: 2023-12-07 · published 2023-12-07T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: weather · region US · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/13220-drought-status-update-for-the-midwest-december-7-2023-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

Low river levels raise barge freight costs and can limit grain movement on the Mississippi, supporting prices for Midwest corn and soybeans. Persistent dryness also adds uncertainty for the next crop.

## Read by commodity

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

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 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 | 2023-06-23 | [Drought Status Update for the Midwest U.S. \| June 23, 2023 \| Drought.gov](https://feedsoft.ai/events/13269-drought-status-update-for-the-midwest-u-s-june-23-2023-drought-gov.md) | -8.6% | -15.1% |
| CORN | 2024-10-22 | [Drought Status Update for the Midwest \| October 22, 2024 \| Drought.gov](https://feedsoft.ai/events/13141-drought-status-update-for-the-midwest-october-22-2024-drought-gov.md) | -0.0% | +2.2% |
| CORN | 2023-08-25 | [Drought Status Update for the Midwest U.S. \| August 25, 2023 \| Drought.gov](https://feedsoft.ai/events/13253-drought-status-update-for-the-midwest-u-s-august-25-2023-drought-gov.md) | -2.2% | -9.0% |
| 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% |
| 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 | 2023-06-23 | [Drought Status Update for the Midwest U.S. \| June 23, 2023 \| Drought.gov](https://feedsoft.ai/events/13269-drought-status-update-for-the-midwest-u-s-june-23-2023-drought-gov.md) | -1.2% | +0.0% |
| SOY | 2024-10-22 | [Drought Status Update for the Midwest \| October 22, 2024 \| Drought.gov](https://feedsoft.ai/events/13141-drought-status-update-for-the-midwest-october-22-2024-drought-gov.md) | -0.7% | +2.9% |

## Sources

- drought.gov: https://www.drought.gov/drought-status-updates/drought-status-update-midwest-2023-12-07

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