The water level of the Mississippi River is unusually low for the third straight year, forcing barge companies to put limits on how much cargo they can carry and cutting into farm profits.
It was just two months ago that much of the Mississippi River was above flood stage north of St. Louis. Since then, the river level has dropped steadily. The area south of St. Louis has been hit especially hard, mirroring low-water concerns that began around this same time of year in both 2022 and 2023.
As part of the fallout, barge companies are forced to limit the soybeans, grain and other cargo they carry to prevent barges from potentially getting stuck. That means less profit for farmers.
About 60% of U.S. grain exports are taken by barge down the Mississippi to New Orleans, where the corn, soybeans and wheat is stored and ultimately transferred for shipment to other countries. It’s an efficient way to transport crops—a typical group of 15 barges lashed together carries as much cargo as about 1,000 trucks.
With cargoes limited, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s most recent Grain Transportation Report showed that for the week ending Aug. 31, 480,750 tons of grain moved on barges—a 17% drop from the previous week.
Meanwhile, costs were up sharply. Freight rates originating in St. Louis were 8% higher than the same period last year and up 57% compared to the three-year average. Freight rates originating in Memphis were 10% higher than last year, and 63% higher than the three-year average.
Consumers won’t necessarily feel much impact, but farmers will, says Mike Steenhoek, executive director of the Iowa-based Soy Transportation Coalition.
“When you’ve got a transportation cost increase in any industry the question is, ‘Do I pass those costs onto the customer in the form of a higher price?’” Steenhoek says.
