This article has been reprinted from the USDA's March 12 Grain Transportation Report.
Consistent flood conditions on the Lower Mississippi River are causing disruptions from Cairo, IL, to the Gulf of Mexico.
As a result, tow size has been reduced by 5-10 barges and productivity has been reduced by 14-24 percent.
According to the American Commercial Barge Line, flood conditions are based on the river stage at Baton Rouge that crested above 40 feet and is currently slowly falling.
As of March 11, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasted Baton Rouge to remain above the 35-foot flood stage until late March.