# Low Mississippi River levels could affect prices farmers receive for crops

> Low water on the Mississippi River at Memphis reached -1 foot, with forecasts of further declines to -8 feet by November 12. Harvest is nearing completion across the Mid-South.

- Date: 2026-10-30 · published 2026-10-31T10:05:58.459Z
- Category: logistics · region US · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/3006-low-mississippi-river-levels-could-affect-prices-farmers-receive-for-crops
- 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

Shallow water restricts barge loadings and raises freight costs, which lowers local farm-gate grain prices and widens export basis.

## Read by commodity

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

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 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 | 2024-10-24 | [Low Mississippi River levels during harvest cut profits for farmers, freighters](https://feedsoft.ai/events/28043-low-mississippi-river-levels-during-harvest-cut-profits-for-farmers-freighters.md) | -1.3% | +1.0% |
| CORN | 2023-11-08 | [U.S. Army Corps of Engineers discusses record low Mississippi River levels](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16585-u-s-army-corps-of-engineers-discusses-record-low-mississippi-river-levels.md) | +0.4% | -0.5% |
| CORN | 2026-05-26 | [Low Mississippi River Water Levels Raise Shipping Costs For Farmers — Louisiana Farm Bureau News](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16362-low-mississippi-river-water-levels-raise-shipping-costs-for-farmers-louisiana.md) | -1.8% | -6.6% |
| CORN | 2024-02-01 | [Low River Levels are Creating Higher Costs for Farmers](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16570-low-river-levels-are-creating-higher-costs-for-farmers.md) | -4.7% | -6.6% |
| SOY | 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% | -4.5% |
| SOY | 2024-10-24 | [Low Mississippi River levels during harvest cut profits for farmers, freighters](https://feedsoft.ai/events/28043-low-mississippi-river-levels-during-harvest-cut-profits-for-farmers-freighters.md) | -2.1% | -0.7% |
| SOY | 2023-11-08 | [U.S. Army Corps of Engineers discusses record low Mississippi River levels](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16585-u-s-army-corps-of-engineers-discusses-record-low-mississippi-river-levels.md) | +1.5% | -3.9% |

## Sources

- thewynneprogress.com: https://thewynneprogress.com/low-mississippi-river-levels-could-affect-prices-farmers-receive-for-crops/

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