Export bound grain is piling up at elevators because historically low water levels in the Mississippi River are hampering navigation. Barge traffic along the crucial trade artery has been severely disrupted, driving up the cost of moving grain intended for export to deepwater ports in New Orleans, Louisiana.
The Mississippi supports a $12.6-billion shipping industry with 35,300 related jobs. It’s one of the most significant water highways on earth, carrying commerce and food to the world.