# Drought Shrivels the Mississippi River, Threatens to Disrupt US Food Exports - Bloomberg

> Drought across the central US is shrinking the Mississippi River, sending barge rates soaring. Dry conditions in the Ohio River basin, which feeds the Mississippi, have worsened already low water levels. Shipments of corn and gasoline are threatened.

- Date: 2024-09-05 · published 2024-09-05T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: logistics · region US · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/28522-drought-shrivels-the-mississippi-river-threatens-to-disrupt-us-food-exports
- Commodities: [Barge Freight (St. Louis)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/BARGE.md)

## Why it matters

Low river levels cut barge tow sizes and raise freight costs, which widens the gap between Midwest farm prices and Gulf export prices. Buyers should expect higher delivered feed costs and possible delays in grain loadings.

## Read by commodity

- BARGE: bullish ▲

## Sources

- bloomberg.com: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-09-05/drought-shrivels-the-mississippi-river-and-threatens-to-disrupt-us-food-exports

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