NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RFD-TV) — Low water on the Mississippi River System is once again disrupting harvest logistics, reducing barge capacity at a critical time for U.S. grain exports. Following an unusually dry August in the Ohio River Basin—the driest on record—tributary flow into the lower Mississippi has dropped sharply.
Gauges at Cairo, IL, and Memphis, TN, are hovering just above low-water thresholds, prompting restrictions by the U.S. Coast Guard and dredging operations by the Army Corps of Engineers to keep navigation open. Restrictions now limit tow sizes and draft depths, cutting efficiency for both southbound grain and northbound fertilizer shipments.
The USDA projects record U.S. corn production this fall at 427 million metric tons, with exports expected to reach 75.6 mmt. Year-to-date sales are running 46 percent above average, with Mexico, Japan, and Colombia leading buyers. By contrast, soybean export sales are down sharply, as China has yet to finalize purchases, although soybean meal exports are expected to reach record levels.
Barge freight rates out of Cairo and Memphis have risen 31 percent over the past month but remain well below the extreme highs of 2022. Analysts note that lessons learned since then, combined with lower soybean export volumes, have tempered rate spikes. Still, strong corn exports and any rebound in soybean demand could add pressure if river conditions deteriorate further.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Farmers face tighter barge capacity and higher freight costs during peak harvest. Strong corn exports may further strain logistics if low water levels persist, although weaker soybean exports are currently tempering rate spikes.
Bioethanol continues to gain ground as the bridge fuel connecting agriculture, aviation, and maritime industries in the global shift toward lower-carbon energy.
October 23, 2025 10:14 AM
·
Expanding bioethanol use strengthens rural economies, supports farm markets, and positions U.S. agriculture at the center of global low-carbon trade.
October 23, 2025 10:10 AM
·
Lyndsey Smith with RealAg Radio discusses how global trade dynamics could shape the future of Canada’s pulse exports.
October 22, 2025 03:08 PM
·
“Farmers for Free Trade” warns that disaster is brewing as President Trump’s trade policy is causing farm input costs to rise even more.
October 22, 2025 12:07 PM
·
Corn and wheat inspections outpaced last year, but soybean movement remains seasonally active yet behind, keeping basis and freight dynamics in focus by corridor.
October 21, 2025 04:00 PM
·
Bubba and Amy Miller run Miller Cattle Company in Eros, Louisiana. After visiting other homesteading fairs, they decided to put on their own.
October 21, 2025 02:28 PM
·
University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL) representative Dr. Dirac Twidwell joins us with the latest on woody encroachment conservation efforts in the Great Plains.
October 21, 2025 01:42 PM
·
Lawmakers are pressing for answers on how Washington’s “managed trade” approach — keeping leverage through long-term tariffs — will affect farmers, global markets, and future export opportunities.
October 21, 2025 12:17 PM
·
In the meantime, Senate Majority Leader John Thune is asking that farmers be allowed to use marketing assistance loans to help stay afloat.
October 21, 2025 11:57 AM
·
