18 Locks & Dams and Counting: An update on shipping on the Mississippi River

18 locks and dams are now closed along the Mississippi River.

A very wet winter has caused an above average snow melt along the waterway, with many communities reporting record high levels. From Minneapolis to Illinois, the Army Corps of Engineers has halted barge traffic, with no boats on the river above St. Louis.

Mike Steenhoek with the Soy Transportation Coalition says this will impact any remaining soy or grain exports, but the real worry is with fertilizer. So far, the USDA estimates more than two million tons of fertilizer have been delivered in 2023.

Locks and dams are expected to be closed for the next three weeks.

Related Stories
Wilmar International terminal was the primary route for Ukrainian grain exports to Africa and Asia during the ongoing conflict with Russia.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

National Sorghum Producers Executive Director Greg Ruehle says there’s a discrepancy between sorghum producer’s reports of this year’s crop and the USDA’s forecast.
Upcoming changes to the EPA’s pesticide labeling system aim to avoid blanket use restrictions that impact all farmers and increase safety for endangered species.
Since the break out of the Russian-Ukraine War, many European Union and partner countries have placed sanctions on Russia.
A beef specialist with the Iowa State University Extension recommends producers develop a pasture “to-do list” to keep their lands thriving despite challenging conditions.
Below-average snowfall is a concern for tree fruit growers in Washington State.