The Soy Transportation Coalition is continuing to monitor the lower Mississippi River shipping channel that’s used for a large portion of soybean and corn exports. That area was hit recently by Hurricane IDA and since then barge freight costs have gone up. STC Executive Director Mike Steenhoek says damage from the Hurricane to those barges has contributed to the freight cost increase with less barges available.

He says what’s positive is that barges are being re loaded with grain but this time of year it’s common for those shipping rates to increase.

Steenhoek says two of the ports on the lower Mississippi have yet be reopened, one could happen by the end of this month once power is restored to a CHS facility,. He says the other, a Cargill facility could take more time before its operational again.

Steenhoek says they’ll be watching carefully what happens with pork repairs and barge shipments on the Mississippi River as the harvest season ramps up.