Mississippi River

October is a big month for barge transportation on the Mississippi River, but restrictions are in place and the weather forecast shows little promise for improving water levels.

UPDATE: BAMWX.com meteorologist Bret Walts is forecasting potentially damaging wind storms forming over large parts of Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska and North and South Dakota starting Monday evening and lasting into the night.

ENSO-neutral means conditions could be close to average, but Eric Snodgrass, Nutrien’s principal atmospheric scientist, says that doesn’t mean the weather will be normal this spring and summer with growing concerns about drought.

Get ready for the months ahead to look a lot different than last year.

The Soy Transportation Coalition says every foot of reduced water depth or draft is the equivalent of loading 7,000 fewer bushels of soybeans per barge.

“The low water disruption will be felt not only by our U.S. producers of food, farm, and fiber but also by U.S. and international consumers as well,” says Friedmann of the Agriculture Transportation Coalition.