# Amid Virus Crisis, Let’s Not Forget High Water - The Waterways Journal

> The Waterways Journal reports that the Lower Mississippi is in flood stage from Cairo to the Gulf, forcing 5 to 10 barge tow size reductions and daylight-only transit restrictions at Memphis, Vicksburg and Baton Rouge. The National Weather Service lowered its Upper Mississippi flood forecast from severe to moderate, and barge operations continue amid coronavirus restrictions.

- Date: 2020-03-31 · published 2020-03-31T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: logistics · region US · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/54028-amid-virus-crisis-let-s-not-forget-high-water-the-waterways-journal
- 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

Reduced tow sizes and longer transit times raise barge freight costs and slow grain delivery to Gulf export elevators, supporting Gulf basis and barge rates.

## Read by commodity

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

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| CORN | 2020-06-13 | [Low water is crippling South American grain highway - High Plains Journal](https://feedsoft.ai/events/52444-low-water-is-crippling-south-american-grain-highway-high-plains-journal.md) | +0.4% | +0.1% |
| CORN | 2018-11-16 | [Tariffs Bite At End Of Better Year For Barging - The Waterways Journal](https://feedsoft.ai/events/61940-tariffs-bite-at-end-of-better-year-for-barging-the-waterways-journal.md) | -1.2% | +7.2% |
| CORN | 2022-01-10 | [First Deeper-Draft Vessel Transits Lower Mississippi Ship Channel - The Waterways Journal](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16737-first-deeper-draft-vessel-transits-lower-mississippi-ship-channel-the-waterways.md) | +1.3% | +3.3% |
| CORN | 2025-08-15 | [Surging Grain, Soybean Exports Buoy Covered Barge Market - The Waterways Journal](https://feedsoft.ai/events/23511-surging-grain-soybean-exports-buoy-covered-barge-market-the-waterways-journal.md) | +2.6% | +5.0% |
| CORN | 2022-01-07 | [Channel Deepening Milestone—Thanks To Industry Allies - The Waterways Journal](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16739-channel-deepening-milestone-thanks-to-industry-allies-the-waterways-journal.md) | +0.7% | +3.3% |
| SOY | 2020-06-13 | [Low water is crippling South American grain highway - High Plains Journal](https://feedsoft.ai/events/52444-low-water-is-crippling-south-american-grain-highway-high-plains-journal.md) | +0.6% | +0.6% |
| SOY | 2022-01-10 | [First Deeper-Draft Vessel Transits Lower Mississippi Ship Channel - The Waterways Journal](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16737-first-deeper-draft-vessel-transits-lower-mississippi-ship-channel-the-waterways.md) | -3.2% | +12.9% |
| SOY | 2025-08-15 | [Surging Grain, Soybean Exports Buoy Covered Barge Market - The Waterways Journal](https://feedsoft.ai/events/23511-surging-grain-soybean-exports-buoy-covered-barge-market-the-waterways-journal.md) | +2.6% | +1.7% |

## Sources

- waterwaysjournal.net: https://www.waterwaysjournal.net/2020/03/31/amid-virus-crisis-lets-not-forget-high-water/

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