# Low Mississippi River levels expected  to amplify weaker basis at harvest time

> Farm Talk News reports that NOAA forecasts the Mississippi gauge at Memphis falling to minus 3.2 feet by August 27, below zero as harvest starts. The article notes that about 57 percent of US soybean exports and 47 percent of corn exports have moved out of New Orleans this marketing year. Extension economist Scott Stiles urges farmers to manage basis risk.

- Date: 2024-08-20 · published 2024-08-20T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: logistics · region US · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/16518-low-mississippi-river-levels-expected-to-amplify-weaker-basis-at-harvest-time
- Commodities: [Barge Freight (St. Louis)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/BARGE.md), [Soybeans](https://feedsoft.ai/c/SOY.md), [Corn](https://feedsoft.ai/c/CORN.md)

## Why it matters

Low water on the river that handles most Gulf grain exports raises freight and widens basis, which lowers farm-gate prices for soybeans and corn during harvest.

## Read by commodity

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

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| SOY | 2025-09-25 | [Low water levels return to Mississippi River as harvest season begins \| Feed & Grain](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16423-low-water-levels-return-to-mississippi-river-as-harvest-season-begins-feed-and.md) | +0.4% | +2.6% |
| SOY | 2024-09-04 | [Low water levels on the Mississippi River impact barges and grain exports before harvest](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16513-low-water-levels-on-the-mississippi-river-impact-barges-and-grain-exports.md) | -2.0% | +6.0% |
| SOY | 2024-09-10 | [Lower Mississippi River Water Levels Falling Just as Fall Harvest Begins](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16510-lower-mississippi-river-water-levels-falling-just-as-fall-harvest-begins.md) | +0.5% | +3.4% |
| SOY | 2022-10-31 | [Low Water Levels in the Mississippi River Result in Abnormally Weak Soybean Basis](https://feedsoft.ai/events/39337-low-water-levels-in-the-mississippi-river-result-in-abnormally-weak-soybean.md) | +4.6% | +5.0% |
| SOY | 2023-08-30 | [Low Mississippi River level will challenge grain movement again this harvest](https://feedsoft.ai/events/12853-low-mississippi-river-level-will-challenge-grain-movement-again-this-harvest.md) | -1.6% | -5.7% |
| CORN | 2025-09-25 | [Low water levels return to Mississippi River as harvest season begins \| Feed & Grain](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16423-low-water-levels-return-to-mississippi-river-as-harvest-season-begins-feed-and.md) | -2.5% | -1.8% |
| CORN | 2024-09-04 | [Low water levels on the Mississippi River impact barges and grain exports before harvest](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16513-low-water-levels-on-the-mississippi-river-impact-barges-and-grain-exports.md) | -1.4% | +4.9% |
| CORN | 2024-09-10 | [Lower Mississippi River Water Levels Falling Just as Fall Harvest Begins](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16510-lower-mississippi-river-water-levels-falling-just-as-fall-harvest-begins.md) | +4.0% | +5.3% |

## Sources

- farmtalknews.com: https://www.farmtalknews.com/news/low-mississippi-river-levels-expected-to-amplify-weaker-basis-at-harvest-time/article_1affcd1a-5f08-11ef-bbd9-57e04b490914.html

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