mississippi river
Newsletter
Credit: Justin Wilkens/Unsplash
Mississippi River's low water levels hurt farmers shipping grain
For the third year in a row, unusually low water levels in the Mississippi River are causing barge companies to limit their cargo, reducing farmers' profits as they ship grain to international buyers.
In short:
- Low water levels in the Mississippi River are forcing barge companies to limit their loads, especially impacting grain shipments.
- Grain freight costs from St. Louis and Memphis are sharply higher compared to last year and the three-year average.
- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is frequently shifting dredging operations to address the situation.
Key quote:
“When you’ve got a transportation cost increase in any industry the question is, ‘Do I pass those costs onto the customer in the form of a higher price?’”
— Mike Steenhoek, executive director of the Soy Transportation Coalition
Why this matters:
Low water levels on the Mississippi River threaten the efficient transportation of U.S. grain exports. As freight costs rise, farmers can't easily pass on these costs in global markets, impacting their livelihoods.
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Photo by ADIGUN AMPA on Unsplash
Judge limits EPA regs in La. minority, low-income areas
A federal judge in Lake Charles has at least temporarily blocked the Environmental Protection Agency from enforcing so-called "disparate impact" rules in Louisiana that require industries to reduce toxic pollutants in minority and low-income areas, such as the so-called "Cancer Alley" region along the Mississippi River.
Louisiana Sea Grant College Program Louisiana State University/Flickrhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/
The Mississippi is losing its fight with the ocean
A combination of drought and sea-level rise has sent a wedge of salt water moving up the river.
Image by Ron Porter from Pixabay
Salt continues slow contamination of Baton Rouge fresh water
The saltwater wedge moving up the Mississippi River has cities downriver of Baton Rouge on high alert to keep supplied with fresh drinking water.
Photo by Justin Wilkens on Unsplash
Listen: Mississippi River infrastructure needs and climate change
Lock and dam infrastructure on the Mississippi River is in desperate need of improvements. But some say before that investment is made, studies should be done to determine the effect it has on climate change.
Newsletter
Image by Gregory Waddell from Pixabay
New Orleans declares emergency over saltwater intrusion in drinking water
New Orleans mayor LaToya Cantrell signed an emergency declaration for the city last week amid concerns about saltwater from the the Gulf of Mexico that has been creeping up the drought-hit Mississippi River in Louisiana.
A saltwater wedge climbing the Mississippi River threatens drinking water
A saltwater wedge is making its way up the drought-stricken Mississippi River, threatening drinking water for parts of southern Louisiana. It could travel north to New Orleans.
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