The National Corn Grower’s Association says eroding river infrastructure is a major worry for corn farmers. That’s following just released research by the Mid America Freight Coalition and the USDA. The study shows the failure of the nation’s aging locks and dams along the Mississippi River would cost billions of dollars. NCGA Board member and South Dakota Corn Grower’s President Keith Alverson says with more commodities being shipped to export markets, the age of that system is a big concern.
The research indicates that a disruption on just one lock on the Mississippi River could result in a loss of more than 7,000 jobs, $1.3billion of labor income and about $ 2.4 billion of economic activity annually. Alverson says that shows how serious the infrastructure problem is.
He says the cost of any foul up with the infrastructure system gets passed onto farmers who are already suffering from low commodity prices.
Alverson is hoping Congress will help address the problem by conferencing the WRDA legislation when they return for the lame duck session.
