# The Mississippi River is running low again: It’s a problem for farmers moving beans and grain – AgriNews

> The Mississippi River is unusually low for the third straight year, forcing barge companies to limit cargo loads. About 60% of U.S. grain exports move by barge down the river to New Orleans. USDA data showed St. Louis-origin freight rates were up 57% versus the three-year average.

- Date: 2024-10-04 · published 2024-10-04T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: logistics · region US · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/28041-the-mississippi-river-is-running-low-again-it-s-a-problem-for-farmers-moving
- 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

Cargo limits on barges cut the volume of grain reaching Gulf export terminals and push freight costs sharply higher. Elevated freight rates lower farm-gate bids for corn and soybeans from interior regions.

## Read by commodity

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

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| CORN | 2024-09-11 | [The Mississippi River is running low again. It’s a problem for farmers moving beans and grain \| AP News](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16508-the-mississippi-river-is-running-low-again-it-s-a-problem-for-farmers-moving.md) | +5.0% | +5.3% |
| CORN | 2019-03-16 | [Swollen Mississippi River adds more headaches for grain farmers](https://feedsoft.ai/events/59982-swollen-mississippi-river-adds-more-headaches-for-grain-farmers.md) | +2.6% | -3.5% |
| CORN | 2024-10-16 | [As Harvest Ramps Up, the Lower Mississippi River Is Falling Again](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16504-as-harvest-ramps-up-the-lower-mississippi-river-is-falling-again.md) | +2.5% | +3.9% |
| 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 | 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% |
| SOY | 2024-09-11 | [The Mississippi River is running low again. It’s a problem for farmers moving beans and grain \| AP News](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16508-the-mississippi-river-is-running-low-again-it-s-a-problem-for-farmers-moving.md) | +2.9% | +4.0% |
| SOY | 2024-10-16 | [As Harvest Ramps Up, the Lower Mississippi River Is Falling Again](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16504-as-harvest-ramps-up-the-lower-mississippi-river-is-falling-again.md) | +0.1% | +1.3% |
| SOY | 2019-03-16 | [Swollen Mississippi River adds more headaches for grain farmers](https://feedsoft.ai/events/59982-swollen-mississippi-river-adds-more-headaches-for-grain-farmers.md) | -0.6% | -1.5% |

## Sources

- agrinews-pubs.com: https://www.agrinews-pubs.com/business/2024/10/07/the-mississippi-river-is-running-low-again-its-a-problem-for-farmers-moving-beans-and-grain/

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