# Mississippi and Illinois Rivers Begin Predicted Decline | RiverBender.com

> The Mississippi and Illinois river levels at Alton, Grafton and Hardin are dropping as forecast by the National Water Prediction Service. Grafton Ferry operations resumed on May 3 after a closure caused by high water. Flood warnings had been issued for the area the prior week.

- Date: 2026-05-03 · published 2026-05-03T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: logistics · region US · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/16368-mississippi-and-illinois-rivers-begin-predicted-decline-riverbender-com
- 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

Falling river levels should ease flood-related barge port closures and restore normal barge operations. The effect on grain prices is minor and localized.

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| CORN | 2025-11-03 | [Mississippi River Decline Squeezes Grain Shipments and Basis Levels - RFD](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16409-mississippi-river-decline-squeezes-grain-shipments-and-basis-levels-rfd.md) | -0.7% | +2.3% |
| CORN | 2022-01-10 | [Misery for Shippers on Mississippi, Illinois, Ohio Rivers](https://feedsoft.ai/events/43328-misery-for-shippers-on-mississippi-illinois-ohio-rivers.md) | +1.3% | +3.3% |
| CORN | 2024-06-27 | [U.S. Army Corps Monitors Mississippi and Illinois Rivers Amid Rising Water Levels \| WSIU](https://feedsoft.ai/events/29954-u-s-army-corps-monitors-mississippi-and-illinois-rivers-amid-rising-water.md) | -2.3% | -0.1% |
| CORN | 2018-04-25 | [Damaged lock forces closure of Mississippi River in Illinois – Professional Mariner](https://feedsoft.ai/events/65675-damaged-lock-forces-closure-of-mississippi-river-in-illinois-professional.md) | +2.4% | +5.0% |
| CORN | 2020-10-02 | [Barge Freight Starting to Ease on Mississippi, Illinois Rivers \| Feed & Grain](https://feedsoft.ai/events/50543-barge-freight-starting-to-ease-on-mississippi-illinois-rivers-feed-and-grain.md) | -1.1% | +5.3% |
| SOY | 2025-11-03 | [Mississippi River Decline Squeezes Grain Shipments and Basis Levels - RFD](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16409-mississippi-river-decline-squeezes-grain-shipments-and-basis-levels-rfd.md) | +0.2% | +2.6% |
| SOY | 2022-01-10 | [Misery for Shippers on Mississippi, Illinois, Ohio Rivers](https://feedsoft.ai/events/43328-misery-for-shippers-on-mississippi-illinois-ohio-rivers.md) | -3.2% | +12.9% |
| SOY | 2024-06-27 | [U.S. Army Corps Monitors Mississippi and Illinois Rivers Amid Rising Water Levels \| WSIU](https://feedsoft.ai/events/29954-u-s-army-corps-monitors-mississippi-and-illinois-rivers-amid-rising-water.md) | +1.2% | -4.0% |

## Sources

- m.riverbender.com: https://m.riverbender.com/news/details.cfm?id=93003

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