Drastically low river levels impacting grain transportation

Drastically low river levels impacting grain transportation

Severely low water levels on the Mississippi River have slowed grain transportation.

South Central Illinois farmer Dan Hiestand tells Brownfield this is a major concern as they harvest corn and soybeans.

“The river is low so they can only fill the barges half to two-thirds full to keep them from grounding. That is a concern, especially right now during harvest time, when barges are most in demand.”

The USDA’s latest grain transportation report shows tonnages per southbound barge are down more than 20% and the number of barges per tow have been reduced as much as 38%.

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