# Despite Winter Weather, Commodities Still Move on U.S. Rivers | Southern Farm Network

> Barge captain Jimmy Cheatham says the lower Mississippi rarely shuts down and still moves large tonnage in winter, while the Upper Mississippi, Missouri and Ohio systems typically close or slow due to ice. River levels remain low in many places after multiple years of drought, and St. Louis-south navigation is treacherous with barges loaded to about 25 feet.

- Date: 2026-02-26 · published 2026-02-26T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: logistics · region US · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/20781-despite-winter-weather-commodities-still-move-on-u-s-rivers-southern-farm
- 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 water and ice restrict barge capacity on the main US grain export corridor, raising freight costs and pushing up CIF NOLA basis for corn and soybeans. Tighter river logistics support export-linked grain prices and widen the gap between Gulf and interior values.

## Read by commodity

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

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| CORN | 2026-02-20 | [2025 barge grain movements rise despite weather challenges on Mississippi River System \| Feed & Grain](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16383-2025-barge-grain-movements-rise-despite-weather-challenges-on-mississippi-river.md) | +1.4% | +8.9% |
| CORN | 2019-05-14 | [Fertilizer Supplies Being Spread Thin \| Red River Farm Network](https://feedsoft.ai/events/59376-fertilizer-supplies-being-spread-thin-red-river-farm-network.md) | +7.0% | +11.7% |
| CORN | 2021-03-19 | [Barge Operations Open Up as Spring Begins \| Red River Farm Network](https://feedsoft.ai/events/48007-barge-operations-open-up-as-spring-begins-red-river-farm-network.md) | +11.4% | +14.1% |
| CORN | 2019-04-01 | [Northern Rivers Come out of Hibernation With a Vengeance](https://feedsoft.ai/events/59486-northern-rivers-come-out-of-hibernation-with-a-vengeance.md) | +0.2% | -2.9% |
| 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% |
| SOY | 2021-03-19 | [Barge Operations Open Up as Spring Begins \| Red River Farm Network](https://feedsoft.ai/events/48007-barge-operations-open-up-as-spring-begins-red-river-farm-network.md) | +1.6% | +2.9% |
| SOY | 2019-04-01 | [Northern Rivers Come out of Hibernation With a Vengeance](https://feedsoft.ai/events/59486-northern-rivers-come-out-of-hibernation-with-a-vengeance.md) | +1.7% | -4.2% |
| 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% |

## Sources

- sfntoday.com: https://www.sfntoday.com/2026/02/26/despite-winter-weather-commodities-still-move-on-u-s-rivers/

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