The Mississippi River is suffering from low waters for the third straight autumn, a crucial time of year when American farmers rely on the route to deliver their crops to the world. 

Months of limited rainfall — with few chances for more during the rest of the season — have left the vital waterway so shallow that barges are starting to run aground, even after shippers started running lighter loads to prevent boats from hitting the river bottom. 

While the situation isn’t as chaotic as in years past, the lack of water is again creating headaches for shippers and farmers. The drying of the Mississippi over the past three years is raising shipping costs and hindering farmers’ ability to compete for markets overseas. During the best of times, nearly two-thirds of US crop exports are shipped on the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.

“Longer periods of low water, and increased transportation costs to get bushels to port in the US, ultimately starve off business,” said No Bull Inc. grain analyst Susan Stroud. 

Shipping costs are currently about 55% above the average for the past five years. While demand for American soy and corn is strong, those elevated costs could create a competitive disadvantage once farmers in Brazil start harvesting early in 2025.