# 2025 barge grain movements rise despite weather challenges on Mississippi River System | Feed & Grain

> USDA AMS data show total grain barge movements on the Mississippi River System rose 11% in 2025 to the highest level since 2022, despite low water, ice and lock closures. First-quarter St. Louis spot rates reached $16.92 per ton, up 37% year over year, and third-quarter spot rates averaged $19.21 per ton.

- Date: 2026-02-20 · published 2026-02-20T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: logistics · region US · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/16383-2025-barge-grain-movements-rise-despite-weather-challenges-on-mississippi-river
- Commodities: [Barge Freight (St. Louis)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/BARGE.md), [Corn](https://feedsoft.ai/c/CORN.md)

## Why it matters

Higher barge freight costs widen the gap between interior and Gulf export prices, lowering farm-gate bids and raising delivered costs for feed buyers. Strong corn volumes keep barge demand firm.

## Read by commodity

- CORN: neutral
- BARGE: bullish ▲

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| CORN | 2025-10-01 | [Low Mississippi River Levels Pressure Grain Barge Movement - RFD-TV](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16421-low-mississippi-river-levels-pressure-grain-barge-movement-rfd-tv.md) | +1.4% | +2.3% |
| CORN | 2017-05-30 | [WEEKLY GRAIN MOVEMENT: Rising water slows Mississippi River shipping](https://feedsoft.ai/events/70890-weekly-grain-movement-rising-water-slows-mississippi-river-shipping.md) | -0.2% | -3.5% |
| CORN | 2019-06-21 | [Armada of barges cleared for Mississippi River shipments after floods](https://feedsoft.ai/events/58495-armada-of-barges-cleared-for-mississippi-river-shipments-after-floods.md) | +0.2% | -2.4% |
| CORN | 2023-05-01 | [USDA: Grain barge delays from Mississippi flooding \| Feed & Grain](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16625-usda-grain-barge-delays-from-mississippi-flooding-feed-and-grain.md) | +0.3% | -1.8% |
| CORN | 2024-02-26 | [Mississippi River Basin drought officially ends confirms USACE \| Feed & Grain](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16562-mississippi-river-basin-drought-officially-ends-confirms-usace-feed-and-grain.md) | +0.5% | +7.8% |

## Sources

- feedandgrain.com: https://www.feedandgrain.com/grain-supply-chain/grain-trade-export/news/15817782/2025-barge-grain-movements-rise-despite-weather-challenges-on-mississippi-river-system

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