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Floods impacting transportation of farm products

The Executive Director of the U.S. Soy Transportation Coalition says flooding is causing problems for farmers beyond delays in field work. Mike Steenhoek tells Brownfield high water is impacting barge traffic. “We’re seeing the size of the barge flotillas being constricted so you’re not having as many of them that you can lash together, so that really decreases the efficience and cost effectiveness of the barge.”

And, he says the flooding is impacting local roads and railroad service where some repairs might be delayed. “When you still are anticipating additional and subsequent flooding conditions, you’re worried about, ‘If I replace it today, is it just going to get washed out tomorrow?’”

Steenhoek tells Brownfield it will likely be a matter of weeks before ground and water transportation gets back to normal, delaying fertilizer and other shipments from the Gulf. 

His advice to farmers? “Be attentive to the various modes and just kind of be expecting that there might need to be some detours, and really plan on that. Unfortunately, these detours can be costly.”

The Mississippi River is open to traffic south of LeClair, Iowa.  Several railroads are closed in the Omaha, Lincoln, and Sioux City region and in parts of South Dakota.