# Low River Levels are Creating Higher Costs for Farmers

> Mississippi River levels fell to historic lows for a second consecutive autumn, complicating barge operations during the 2023 harvest. Barge rates far exceeded normal seasonal patterns in 2022 and 2023, though rates had recently eased as export demand slowed.

- Date: 2024-02-01 · published 2024-02-01T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: logistics · region US · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/16570-low-river-levels-are-creating-higher-costs-for-farmers
- Commodities: [Corn](https://feedsoft.ai/c/CORN.md), [Soybeans](https://feedsoft.ai/c/SOY.md), [Barge Freight (St. Louis)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/BARGE.md)

## Why it matters

Low water restricts barge loads and lifts freight costs, which lowers net farm prices and widens basis at inland elevators while supporting Gulf export spreads.

## Read by commodity

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

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 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 | 2017-11-02 | [Lower River Water Levels Causing Concern for Farmers \| WMIX](https://feedsoft.ai/events/67872-lower-river-water-levels-causing-concern-for-farmers-wmix.md) | -3.6% | -4.7% |
| CORN | 2026-05-26 | [Low Mississippi River Water Levels Raise Shipping Costs For Farmers — Louisiana Farm Bureau News](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16362-low-mississippi-river-water-levels-raise-shipping-costs-for-farmers-louisiana.md) | -1.8% | -6.6% |
| CORN | 2024-10-24 | [Low Mississippi River levels during harvest cut profits for farmers, freighters](https://feedsoft.ai/events/28043-low-mississippi-river-levels-during-harvest-cut-profits-for-farmers-freighters.md) | -1.3% | +1.0% |
| CORN | 2023-09-18 | [High Barge Freight, Low River Levels Detrimental to Farmers at Harvest](https://feedsoft.ai/events/34292-high-barge-freight-low-river-levels-detrimental-to-farmers-at-harvest.md) | -8.5% | -6.6% |
| 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 | 2017-11-02 | [Lower River Water Levels Causing Concern for Farmers \| WMIX](https://feedsoft.ai/events/67872-lower-river-water-levels-causing-concern-for-farmers-wmix.md) | +0.7% | +0.5% |
| SOY | 2026-05-26 | [Low Mississippi River Water Levels Raise Shipping Costs For Farmers — Louisiana Farm Bureau News](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16362-low-mississippi-river-water-levels-raise-shipping-costs-for-farmers-louisiana.md) | -0.4% | -5.3% |

## Sources

- cmegroup.com: https://www.cmegroup.com/openmarkets/agriculture/2024/Low-River-Levels-are-Creating-Higher-Costs-for-Farmers.html

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