Low Mississippi River Levels Pose Challenges for Farmers Eager to Transport Crops
💧 Low Mississippi River Levels Pose Challenges for Farmers Eager to Transport Crops.
A prolonged period of hot, dry weather has caused the Mississippi River's water levels to drop significantly, leading to transport restrictions for barge companies. This development is particularly concerning for Midwest farmers who are about to harvest their crops and rely on the river to transport corn and soybeans to the Gulf of Mexico. Due to the low river levels, barge companies are reducing their loads, which results in higher transportation costs for farmers. Around 60% of U.S. grain exports are typically transported by barge on the Mississippi River. This situation comes after a year of drought in the region, and without significant rain in the forecast, river levels are expected to remain low.
This week, the South and Mississippi Valley are facing another severe weather threat, hot on the heels of a storm last week that resulted in at least three fatalities.