# USDA Explores Third-Quarter Barged Grain Movements on the Mississippi River - Farm Policy News

> USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service reported that downbound barged grain on the Mississippi totaled 3.9 million tons from July 8 to September 30, 35 percent below the third quarter of 2022 and 53 percent below the five-year average. Low water restrictions began in June, about two months earlier than in 2022. The report draws on the Grain Transportation Report of October 5.

- Date: 2023-10-08 · published 2023-10-08T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: logistics · region US · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/16595-usda-explores-third-quarter-barged-grain-movements-on-the-mississippi-river
- 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

Sharply lower barge volumes mean less grain reaches Gulf export terminals, which tightens nearby supplies and weakens basis for inland elevators. Freight costs are rising on restricted sections, pressuring basis further.

## Read by commodity

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

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| CORN | 2025-09-25 | [Restrictions, Freight Costs Pressure Grain Movement on the Mississippi River - RFD](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16424-restrictions-freight-costs-pressure-grain-movement-on-the-mississippi-river-rfd.md) | -2.5% | -1.8% |
| CORN | 2025-10-15 | [Low Mississippi River levels threaten fall grain movement - Brownfield Ag News](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16417-low-mississippi-river-levels-threaten-fall-grain-movement-brownfield-ag-news.md) | +0.1% | +2.9% |
| 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 | 2022-09-29 | [Low water on the Mississippi River impacting barge traffic \| AP News](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16679-low-water-on-the-mississippi-river-impacting-barge-traffic-ap-news.md) | +1.7% | +4.0% |
| CORN | 2023-11-06 | [CoBank – Strong US dollar, low Mississippi River limit grain movement & oilseed exports](https://feedsoft.ai/events/33357-cobank-strong-us-dollar-low-mississippi-river-limit-grain-movement-and-oilseed.md) | -0.5% | -0.9% |
| SOY | 2025-10-01 | [Low Mississippi River Levels Pressure Grain Barge Movement - RFD-TV](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16421-low-mississippi-river-levels-pressure-grain-barge-movement-rfd-tv.md) | +2.0% | +7.6% |
| SOY | 2025-09-25 | [Restrictions, Freight Costs Pressure Grain Movement on the Mississippi River - RFD](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16424-restrictions-freight-costs-pressure-grain-movement-on-the-mississippi-river-rfd.md) | +0.4% | +2.6% |
| SOY | 2025-10-15 | [Low Mississippi River levels threaten fall grain movement - Brownfield Ag News](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16417-low-mississippi-river-levels-threaten-fall-grain-movement-brownfield-ag-news.md) | +2.4% | +10.6% |

## Sources

- farmpolicynews.illinois.edu: https://farmpolicynews.illinois.edu/2023/10/usda-explores-third-quarter-barged-grain-movements-on-the-mississippi-river/

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