# Low river levels expected to again impact barge traffic this fall | Profitability | farmweeknow.com

> Major river shippers, including ADM's ARTCo unit, warned that low Mississippi River water could again reduce barge capacity and loading this harvest season. The St. Louis gauge was 6 feet above zero stage on August 18 but was forecast to fall below zero.

- Date: 2023-08-22 · published 2023-08-22T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: logistics · region US · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/16607-low-river-levels-expected-to-again-impact-barge-traffic-this-fall-profitability
- 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), [Wheat (SRW)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/WHEAT.md)

## Why it matters

Reduced barge capacity and smaller tows raise freight costs and can cut export volumes, pressuring Gulf basis and Midwest cash bids while lifting barge freight rates.

## Read by commodity

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

## Linked price moves

| Commodity | Date | Window | Change % | z-score | Why linked |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| BARGE | 2023-08-29 | 1 | +48.0% | 2.6 | Shipper warnings of reduced barge capacity and forecast of the St. Louis gauge falling below zero raised expectations of scarcer barges ahead of harvest, feeding freight rates. |

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| CORN | 2025-10-22 | [Low river levels disrupt harvest logistics \| Profitability \| farmweeknow.com](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16414-low-river-levels-disrupt-harvest-logistics-profitability-farmweeknow-com.md) | +2.0% | +4.9% |
| CORN | 2022-11-07 | [Mississippi River's Low Levels Causing Barge Traffic Issues](https://feedsoft.ai/events/10337-mississippi-river-s-low-levels-causing-barge-traffic-issues.md) | -0.7% | -5.4% |
| 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 | 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 | 2024-08-20 | [Low Mississippi River levels expected  to amplify weaker basis at harvest time](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16518-low-mississippi-river-levels-expected-to-amplify-weaker-basis-at-harvest-time.md) | -3.5% | +5.3% |
| SOY | 2025-10-22 | [Low river levels disrupt harvest logistics \| Profitability \| farmweeknow.com](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16414-low-river-levels-disrupt-harvest-logistics-profitability-farmweeknow-com.md) | +4.6% | +11.9% |
| SOY | 2022-11-07 | [Mississippi River's Low Levels Causing Barge Traffic Issues](https://feedsoft.ai/events/10337-mississippi-river-s-low-levels-causing-barge-traffic-issues.md) | +0.3% | -0.9% |
| 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

- farmweeknow.com: https://www.farmweeknow.com/profitability/low-river-levels-expected-to-again-impact-barge-traffic-this-fall/article_0ea1010e-3dcd-11ee-903a-d3d994b77d78.html

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