NGFA Declares Opening of Mid-Mississippi River

Pursuant to the NGFA Trade Rules, NGFA has declared that the Mid-Mississippi River opened for navigation as of 7 a.m. on Thursday, April 9, 2020.

NGFA Barge Freight Trading Rule 18(J) provides as follows: “The Dubuque and South (Mid-Mississippi) opening commences the first 07:00 hours of the first business day after the first empty dry cargo covered barge suitable for loading, originating at or below Winfield, Mo., reaches Dubuque, Iowa.

"The Mid-Miss opening shall be determined by a majority vote of a three-person committee appointed by the NGFA Chairman and shall be announced by publishing the committee’s confirmation of the opening on the NGFA website.”

As set forth in the rule, the special three-person committee determined that the Mid-Mississippi River was opened at 7 a.m. on Thursday, April 9, 2020, after the MV John R. Operle reached Dubuque at 7:55 p.m. on Wednesday, April 8, with at least one empty dry cargo covered barge suitable for loading.

Serving on the special committee are: Jeff Webb, chairperson, President, Cargill Marine and Terminal, Minneapolis, Minn.; Jamie Clendenin, Merchandising Manager, Farmers Grain Terminal Inc., Greenville, Miss.; and Matt Tomayko, Manager, Grain Sales, Ingram Barge Company, Nashville, Tenn.