# How low Mississippi River water levels could disrupt grain harvests, again | Agriculture Dive

> A shrinking Mississippi River is again clogging barge shipping, with Memphis levels about two feet below last year and an all-time record low of -10.97 feet reached in September. Drought across the basin is limiting precipitation runoff, and salt water intrusion prompted a state of emergency. Barge operators are losing boats aground and farmers face limited transport options at harvest.

- Date: 2023-10-09 · published 2023-10-09T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: logistics · region US · magnitude high
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/16594-how-low-mississippi-river-water-levels-could-disrupt-grain-harvests-again
- 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

Restricted barge capacity raises freight costs and widens basis at river elevators, which lowers farm-gate prices there. Renewed low water threatens to repeat last year's freight spike and reduce export competitiveness of Gulf-bound grain.

## Read by commodity

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

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| CORN | 2024-09-16 | [Low Mississippi River water levels disrupt barge shipping for third consecutive year \| Agriculture Dive](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16507-low-mississippi-river-water-levels-disrupt-barge-shipping-for-third-consecutive.md) | +1.6% | +2.7% |
| 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 | 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) | -0.0% | -8.2% |
| CORN | 2022-09-30 | [Low Mississippi River water levels threaten U.S. agricultural exports - Marine Log](https://feedsoft.ai/events/39755-low-mississippi-river-water-levels-threaten-u-s-agricultural-exports-marine-log.md) | +1.0% | +3.8% |
| SOY | 2024-09-16 | [Low Mississippi River water levels disrupt barge shipping for third consecutive year \| Agriculture Dive](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16507-low-mississippi-river-water-levels-disrupt-barge-shipping-for-third-consecutive.md) | +2.6% | +1.9% |
| 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% |

## Sources

- agriculturedive.com: https://www.agriculturedive.com/news/mississippi-river-drought-barge-exports-transportation/696003/

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