The Lower Mississippi River is turning into a sandbox. Water levels at St. Louis and south have been dropping throughout the summer and, in September, levels became critical, slowing or in some cases stalling the 2022 harvest from getting to the Gulf for export. On top of many safety restrictions hampering shippers, barge freight costs soared to record highs and are continuing to rise for the month of October.
 
The low water is an issue throughout the entire system due to lack of rain in the entire Midwest and Ohio River Valley. Precipitation in these areas is very important for maintaining sufficient water levels on key rivers, Thomas Russell, Russell Marine Group, told DTN on Oct. 1. "In recent weeks, low water levels, particularly on the Lower Mississippi, have resulted in barge terminals having difficulty loading barges with some barge terminals unable to operate due to low water at docks."
 
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