# Insights from NAFB: The Critical Role of Inland Waters in Global Agriculture - Oklahoma Farm Report

> A panel at the NAFB Summer Agri-Business Meeting in St. Louis discussed the importance of inland waterways to global agriculture. Dennis Wilmsmeyer of America's Central Port said prolonged low water on the Mississippi had left a share of barge loads on the dock, cutting volumes and profits.

- Date: 2024-07-23 · published 2024-07-23T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: logistics · region US · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/16522-insights-from-nafb-the-critical-role-of-inland-waters-in-global-agriculture
- 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

Low river levels force partial barge loads, raising effective freight costs and reducing grain movement, which can widen basis and weigh on Gulf and river-origin prices.

## Read by commodity

- SOY: neutral
- CORN: neutral
- BARGE: bullish ▲

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| CORN | 2025-06-27 | [UMR Serves As Agriculture Export Backbone - The Waterways Journal](https://feedsoft.ai/events/24389-umr-serves-as-agriculture-export-backbone-the-waterways-journal.md) | +5.1% | -1.7% |
| CORN | 2025-05-30 | [From Fields To Freight: Illinois Farmers Count On River Routes  - The Waterways Journal](https://feedsoft.ai/events/24848-from-fields-to-freight-illinois-farmers-count-on-river-routes-the-waterways.md) | -0.3% | -4.7% |
| CORN | 2025-11-05 | [Freight rates for grain stabilized after a short increase - ProAgro Group Leader of the Ukrainian market of agricultural business events](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16901-freight-rates-for-grain-stabilized-after-a-short-increase-proagro-group-leader.md) | +1.0% | +2.3% |
| CORN | 2025-11-26 | [Sea freight rates remain mostly stable - ProAgro Group Leader of the Ukrainian market of agricultural business events](https://feedsoft.ai/events/14163-sea-freight-rates-remain-mostly-stable-proagro-group-leader-of-the-ukrainian.md) | +1.3% | +3.2% |
| CORN | 2019-04-26 | [The future of the Panama Canal: What’s next for grain and coal shipping - FreightWaves](https://feedsoft.ai/events/59492-the-future-of-the-panama-canal-what-s-next-for-grain-and-coal-shipping.md) | +0.6% | +5.3% |
| SOY | 2025-06-27 | [UMR Serves As Agriculture Export Backbone - The Waterways Journal](https://feedsoft.ai/events/24389-umr-serves-as-agriculture-export-backbone-the-waterways-journal.md) | +3.3% | -2.3% |
| SOY | 2025-05-30 | [From Fields To Freight: Illinois Farmers Count On River Routes  - The Waterways Journal](https://feedsoft.ai/events/24848-from-fields-to-freight-illinois-farmers-count-on-river-routes-the-waterways.md) | -0.0% | -2.3% |
| SOY | 2019-04-26 | [The future of the Panama Canal: What’s next for grain and coal shipping - FreightWaves](https://feedsoft.ai/events/59492-the-future-of-the-panama-canal-what-s-next-for-grain-and-coal-shipping.md) | -3.3% | -4.4% |

## Sources

- oklahomafarmreport.com: https://www.oklahomafarmreport.com/2024/07/23/insights-from-nafb-the-critical-role-of-inland-waters-in-global-agriculture/

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