# Drought Status Update for the Midwest U.S. | October 19, 2023 | Drought.gov

> The Drought Monitor shows drought affecting 50% of the Midwest, with 94% of Iowa in drought. Record-low water levels on the Ohio and Lower Mississippi rivers are affecting barge navigation, with levels recovering to just above record stages.

- Date: 2023-10-19 · published 2023-10-19T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: logistics · region US · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/13240-drought-status-update-for-the-midwest-u-s-october-19-2023-drought-gov
- Commodities: [Barge Freight (St. Louis)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/BARGE.md), [Corn](https://feedsoft.ai/c/CORN.md), [Soybeans](https://feedsoft.ai/c/SOY.md)

## Why it matters

Low river levels raise barge freight costs and slow grain shipments from the Midwest, widening basis and pressuring prices at inland origins.

## Read by commodity

- SOY: bearish ▼
- CORN: bearish ▼
- BARGE: bullish ▲

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| CORN | 2023-10-19 | [Grain Transportation Report, October 19, 2023](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16592-grain-transportation-report-october-19-2023.md) | +1.0% | -2.6% |
| CORN | 2024-10-17 | [Another Midwest Drought Is Causing Transit Headaches on the Mississippi River](https://feedsoft.ai/events/28038-another-midwest-drought-is-causing-transit-headaches-on-the-mississippi-river.md) | +2.1% | +2.9% |
| CORN | 2024-10-17 | [Grain Transportation Report, October 17, 2024](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16503-grain-transportation-report-october-17-2024.md) | +2.1% | +2.9% |
| CORN | 2024-10-24 | [Grain Transportation Report, October 24, 2024](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16498-grain-transportation-report-october-24-2024.md) | -1.3% | +1.0% |
| CORN | 2023-07-10 | [Midwest drought prompts barge shipping concerns \| Agriculture Dive](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16611-midwest-drought-prompts-barge-shipping-concerns-agriculture-dive.md) | +4.0% | -8.3% |
| SOY | 2023-10-19 | [Grain Transportation Report, October 19, 2023](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16592-grain-transportation-report-october-19-2023.md) | -1.7% | +5.6% |
| SOY | 2024-10-17 | [Another Midwest Drought Is Causing Transit Headaches on the Mississippi River](https://feedsoft.ai/events/28038-another-midwest-drought-is-causing-transit-headaches-on-the-mississippi-river.md) | +1.8% | +2.5% |
| SOY | 2024-10-24 | [Grain Transportation Report, October 24, 2024](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16498-grain-transportation-report-october-24-2024.md) | -2.1% | -0.7% |

## Sources

- drought.gov: https://www.drought.gov/drought-status-updates/drought-status-update-midwest-us-2023-10-19

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