# Low Mississippi River water levels disrupt barge shipping for third consecutive year | Agriculture Dive

> Low Mississippi water levels forced barge operators to cut tow sizes by up to 34% as of September 12, the third consecutive year of restrictions. Southbound freight rates at several river points were up double digits versus the three-year average. Rain from Hurricane Francine gave temporary relief, but levels were expected to fall back below the low-water threshold later in the month.

- Date: 2024-09-16 · published 2024-09-16T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: logistics · region US · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/16507-low-mississippi-river-water-levels-disrupt-barge-shipping-for-third-consecutive
- Commodities: [Soybeans](https://feedsoft.ai/c/SOY.md), [Corn](https://feedsoft.ai/c/CORN.md), [Barge Freight (St. Louis)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/BARGE.md)

## Why it matters

Restricted barge capacity lifts freight costs during harvest, which widens the gap between Gulf and Midwest prices and weakens farm-gate bids for corn and soybeans.

## Read by commodity

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

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| SOY | 2023-10-09 | [How low Mississippi River water levels could disrupt grain harvests, again \| Agriculture Dive](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16594-how-low-mississippi-river-water-levels-could-disrupt-grain-harvests-again.md) | +1.1% | +4.9% |
| SOY | 2026-06-01 | [Low Mississippi River Water Levels Raise Shipping Costs for Farmers](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16363-low-mississippi-river-water-levels-raise-shipping-costs-for-farmers.md) | -5.0% | -4.5% |
| SOY | 2022-11-04 | [Decade-low water levels on Mississippi River slow barges, disrupt food supply chain](https://feedsoft.ai/events/10335-decade-low-water-levels-on-mississippi-river-slow-barges-disrupt-food-supply.md) | +0.3% | +0.8% |
| SOY | 2025-10-01 | [Low Miss. River levels to disrupt harvest shipping for fourth straight year \| Agri-Pulse Communications, Inc.](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16418-low-miss-river-levels-to-disrupt-harvest-shipping-for-fourth-straight-year-agri.md) | +2.0% | +7.6% |
| SOY | 2022-11-15 | [Low Mississippi River water levels drive up shipping costs - Marketplace](https://feedsoft.ai/events/38859-low-mississippi-river-water-levels-drive-up-shipping-costs-marketplace.md) | -0.3% | +2.6% |
| CORN | 2023-10-09 | [How low Mississippi River water levels could disrupt grain harvests, again \| Agriculture Dive](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16594-how-low-mississippi-river-water-levels-could-disrupt-grain-harvests-again.md) | -0.2% | -3.4% |
| CORN | 2026-06-01 | [Low Mississippi River Water Levels Raise Shipping Costs for Farmers](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16363-low-mississippi-river-water-levels-raise-shipping-costs-for-farmers.md) | -5.0% | -5.7% |
| CORN | 2022-11-04 | [Decade-low water levels on Mississippi River slow barges, disrupt food supply chain](https://feedsoft.ai/events/10335-decade-low-water-levels-on-mississippi-river-slow-barges-disrupt-food-supply.md) | -0.9% | -4.5% |

## Sources

- agriculturedive.com: https://www.agriculturedive.com/news/mississippi-low-water-levels-third-year-barge-grain-shipping/727105/
- supplychaindive.com: https://www.supplychaindive.com/news/mississippi-low-water-levels-third-year-barge-grain-shipping/727113/

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