# Low river levels causing challenge for farmers trying to transport their harvest | <span class="tnt-section-tag no-link">News</span> | WPSD Local 6

> Low Mississippi River levels are limiting how much grain barges can carry in Ballard County, Kentucky, during harvest. Granaries pass the added cost to farmers, and one row-crop farmer estimates a 10-cent bean discount would cost him $6,000 on 1,000 acres. The Soybean Transportation Coalition is pushing for dredging.

- Date: 2020-10-10 · published 2020-10-10T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: logistics · region US · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/50540-low-river-levels-causing-challenge-for-farmers-trying-to-transport-their
- Commodities: [Barge Freight (St. Louis)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/BARGE.md), [Soybeans](https://feedsoft.ai/c/SOY.md), [Corn](https://feedsoft.ai/c/CORN.md)

## Why it matters

Shallower drafts mean more barges are needed per cargo, which raises freight costs and widens basis discounts for farmers. This weighs on farm-gate soybean and corn values even when futures are firm.

## Read by commodity

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

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| SOY | 2017-11-02 | [Lower River Water Levels Causing Concern for Farmers \| WMIX](https://feedsoft.ai/events/67872-lower-river-water-levels-causing-concern-for-farmers-wmix.md) | +0.7% | +0.5% |
| SOY | 2023-09-18 | [High Barge Freight, Low River Levels Detrimental to Farmers at Harvest](https://feedsoft.ai/events/34292-high-barge-freight-low-river-levels-detrimental-to-farmers-at-harvest.md) | -3.3% | -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 | 2023-08-30 | [Low Mississippi River level will challenge grain movement again this harvest](https://feedsoft.ai/events/12853-low-mississippi-river-level-will-challenge-grain-movement-again-this-harvest.md) | -1.6% | -5.7% |
| SOY | 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) | -0.4% | -5.3% |
| CORN | 2017-11-02 | [Lower River Water Levels Causing Concern for Farmers \| WMIX](https://feedsoft.ai/events/67872-lower-river-water-levels-causing-concern-for-farmers-wmix.md) | -3.6% | -4.7% |
| CORN | 2023-09-18 | [High Barge Freight, Low River Levels Detrimental to Farmers at Harvest](https://feedsoft.ai/events/34292-high-barge-freight-low-river-levels-detrimental-to-farmers-at-harvest.md) | -8.5% | -6.6% |
| 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% |

## Sources

- wpsdlocal6.com: https://www.wpsdlocal6.com/news/low-river-levels-causing-challenge-for-farmers-trying-to-transport-their-harvest/article_4368d85a-0b33-11eb-bdd1-27379dc8a2c3.html

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