# Low Mississippi River Levels Pressure Grain Barge Movement - RFD-TV

> Low water on the Mississippi System is reducing barge capacity during harvest, with restrictions on tow sizes and draft depths at Cairo and Memphis. USDA projects record US corn production of 427 million metric tons and exports of 75.6 mmt. Soybean export sales are down sharply as China has not finalized purchases.

- Date: 2025-10-01 · published 2025-10-01T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: logistics · region US · magnitude high
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/16421-low-mississippi-river-levels-pressure-grain-barge-movement-rfd-tv
- 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), [Soybean Meal](https://feedsoft.ai/c/SBM.md)

## Why it matters

Reduced barge capacity raises freight rates and pressures Gulf-bound basis, while record corn exports and weak soybean demand shape the price outlook for each crop.

## Read by commodity

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

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 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 | 2024-02-23 | [Mississippi River levels return to normal](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16563-mississippi-river-levels-return-to-normal.md) | +0.1% | +7.0% |
| CORN | 2026-02-20 | [2025 barge grain movements rise despite weather challenges on Mississippi River System \| Feed & Grain](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16383-2025-barge-grain-movements-rise-despite-weather-challenges-on-mississippi-river.md) | +1.4% | +8.9% |
| CORN | 2020-06-02 | [River levels allow favorable barge movement compared to 2019 - Mid-West Farm Report](https://feedsoft.ai/events/52496-river-levels-allow-favorable-barge-movement-compared-to-2019-mid-west-farm.md) | +2.9% | +1.2% |
| CORN | 2017-06-07 | [WEEKLY GRAIN MOVEMENT: River market improves as water levels drop](https://feedsoft.ai/events/70373-weekly-grain-movement-river-market-improves-as-water-levels-drop.md) | +0.6% | +1.5% |
| SOY | 2023-09-07 | [Barge rates pressured by low Mississippi River water levels \| Supply Chain Dive](https://feedsoft.ai/events/34291-barge-rates-pressured-by-low-mississippi-river-water-levels-supply-chain-dive.md) | -1.8% | -6.4% |
| SOY | 2025-09-25 | [Restrictions, Freight Costs Pressure Grain Movement on the Mississippi River - RFD](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16424-restrictions-freight-costs-pressure-grain-movement-on-the-mississippi-river-rfd.md) | +0.4% | +2.6% |
| SOY | 2025-10-15 | [Low Mississippi River levels threaten fall grain movement - Brownfield Ag News](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16417-low-mississippi-river-levels-threaten-fall-grain-movement-brownfield-ag-news.md) | +2.4% | +10.6% |

## Sources

- rfdtv.com: https://www.rfdtv.com/low-mississippi-river-levels-pressure-grain-barge-movement

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