U.S. Inland Waterways Need Ongoing Investment to Support Agriculture Trade: Last year's record low water levels on the Mississippi River coupled with aging infrastructure exposed transportation risks.

The article focuses on the critical need for ongoing investment in the U.S. inland waterways infrastructure, particularly locks and dams on the Mississippi River system, to support efficient and cost-effective agricultural trade. Aging infrastructure, with many locks exceeding their 50-year design lifespan, combined with recent low water levels, has caused significant disruptions to barge traffic, increasing freight costs and impacting the broader supply chain, including rail and trucking. Stakeholders such as the National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) advocate for congressional action to improve rail and trucking capacity alongside waterway modernization efforts under the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). Additionally, the Port of South Louisiana is actively investing in infrastructure improvements and partnerships with agribusiness companies to enhance cargo movement and supply chain resilience.