Low River Levels Show High Need For Resilient Shipping Options

A series of barges carrying soybeans makes its way through Lock and Dam Number 25 along the Mississippi River outside Winfield, Mo. (Photo courtesy of Mike Steenhoek, Soy Transportation Coalition)

While the best solution for returning barge traffic to normal on the Mississippi River is for more rain to arrive, resources can be positioned to better deal with the river’s low levels. That’s according to Mike Steenhoek, executive director of the Soy Transportation Coalition.

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Railroads and other modes of transportation may be in a position to take up the load left behind by reduced barge capacity. However, Steenhoek notes that while it’s important to maintain multiple modes, the Mississippi River remains a key route for America’s grain exports.

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Low water levels on the Mississippi River for the second consecutive harvest have resulted in a reduction of the number of barges that can be attached per tow, as well as the amount of grain each barge can haul.