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%.
